Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - BIG 10 SQUAD - Iowa Hawkeyes Can't Beat Missouri Tigers in Music City Bowl

Episode Date: January 9, 2025

Welcome to the newest episode of Big 10 Squad! Hosted by Craig Shemon of Locked On Big 10, this roundtable podcast brings together the best analysts from Locked On podcasts to break down everything happening in Big Ten football. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love college football, this episode is packed with all the insights and predictions you need!🚀 In This Episode:Game Previews & Predictions: Get a comprehensive look at the upcoming matchups featuring teams like the Illinois Fighting Illini, Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Nebraska Huskers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, Penn State Nittany Lions, Purdue Boilermakers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies, and Wisconsin Badgers.Expert Analysis: Hear Locked On hosts discuss game strategies, key players, and the tactical edge each team brings to the field.Player Spotlights: Learn about the standout players to watch who could make a big impact this week.Why You Should Tune In: Whether you're following the latest in Big Ten football or looking for expert predictions, this episode offers everything you need to stay ahead of the game and ready for the next round of action.🔔 Subscribe to Big 10 Squad for weekly previews, expert commentary, and all the latest Big Ten football insights! Hit the bell icon to stay updated on every new episode.Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts, predictions, and insights in the comments below — we want to hear from you!#Big10Squad #Big10Football #LockedOnBig10 #CollegeFootball #FootballAnalysis #CraigShemon #LockedOnPodcast #BigTenTeams #NCAA #FootballPreviews #BigTenRoundtable

There's a 50% chance the Big Ten wins the national championship. It might even be higher than that. Let's talk about it on the Locked On Big Ten Squad. You're talking ball with the Big Ten Squad. Sponsored by Game Time. From USC to Ohio State, from Michigan to Oregon, from Nebraska to Washington, it's the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network, bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview

of the upcoming Big Ten weekend. Know her feelings and thin skin aloud. Squad up. You're part of the Big Ten squad. 100 and however many teams went at it, and two Big Ten teams still remain in the chase for the national championship. I'm Spencer McLaughlin in for Craig Sheeman here on the Locked On Big Ten squad. That's Zach Anderson, Yaximer, Locked On UCLA, Zach Seiko, Locked On Nittany Lions,

Jay Stevens, Locked On something or other over there. Brought to you today by FanDuel. From big upsets to game-winning drives, the NFL playoffs are better with FanDuel. New customers can bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. Whether you win or lose, visit FanDuel.com to get started. Sit back, grab a beverage, kick your feet up, enjoy the banter here. I am Spencer McLaughlin, neutral arbiter of all things college football with no rooting interest anywhere, so no jokes need to be thrown.

That didn't sound neutral at all. What? That didn't sound neutral at all. Jay, you're breaking up, but let's go to you anyway since I can tell that you're trying to talk here. Ohio State looks like an unstoppable force, and I don't know that there is an immovable object that can get in their way if Ohio State plays as they have over the first

two games. This team right now is playing the way that they should have been playing the entire regular season. They should have won the Big Ten Championship. They had the talent to do it, but they didn't get it done in the regular season. All of a sudden, that loss to Michigan seems like it propelled Ohio State to be playing in a way that is great. And I don't know if there's a team out there that can stop them. Texas is talented. Notre Dame, Penn State, they have talent. I don't think any of those teams have what it takes to beat Ohio State

the way Ohio State's playing right now. Yeah, I don't really either. And I think Texas is good. But Texas isn't even the best Texas team we've seen in the last two years you know I think that what Steve Sarkeesian's done this year is really impressive but overall the talent composite of what they had last year I think is stronger than what they had this year they had two first and second round picks along the defensive line a first round wide receiver a couple other wide receivers. I think they are a slightly

watered down version of what they were a year ago, which is still a very good football team, of course. But Zach Saco locked on Nittany Lions. Penn State's just still kicking. Everybody, myself included, wrote him off in the middle of the year when they were down 20 to six at the half at USC. And what do you know? Here they are as a Final Four team for the first time under James Franklin. Yeah, they are able to write a lot of wrongs here in this case. I mean, this is your definition, or at least I guess the public consensus definition of the big game, because it's not Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. It's not SMU in the first round of the college football playoff. It's not on the road at USC when everybody else is losing all of these cross country

road games. I get it. They lost to Ohio State. I get it. They lost to Oregon, but those were the teams that I was most concerned about in this post season when Oregon's now knocked out. But if Penn State was going to avoid these teams, they did have a legitimate shot at the national championship game. So am I going to avoid these teams, they did have a legitimate shot at the national championship game. So am I going to favor them against if they hypothetically play Ohio State in that next round? No, but I do like their chances against Texas and I like their chances against Notre Dame as well. I think the only two teams that were better than Penn State going into this postseason were Ohio State and Oregon. One of them's knocked out and I'm rooting for Texas.

were Ohio State and Oregon. One of them's knocked out and I'm rooting for Texas. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I would, too. I would, too. Just in my 30,000 foot view observation of that Rose Bowl game. I don't think anybody wants to play the Buckeyes right now. But I want to stay on that point you touched on for a moment. The big game. But, Seiko, I want to stay on that point you touched on for a moment. The big game. This is the James Franklin narrative, right? One of the most hilarious tweets of all time, admittedly, is Ryan Day is the Michael Jordan of James Franklin's.

Like, that's a hilarious tweet. No matter how you slice it, no matter who you are, you better be able to laugh at that. But it seems to me, Zach, like we're losing the thread on James Franklin alin a bit i've defended him on the show because i saw it i watched it love your segment i'm glad you enjoyed it i want your thoughts there because i just look at him go man this guy wins a lot of football games he does win all the games he should not everybody does go ask alabama and their new head coach if you always win every game that you should. And I know it's an easier path than just playing Ohio State. But if you're a great team, don't you win your first two games by a combined 45 points?

It means you're better than Boise State SMU. I mean, there's levels to this, right? Those aren't not legitimate top 10 teams. That's just the distance between Penn State and the, and the, there's tears to this, right? Penn State's an elite team this season. They are in the same category as Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, but they're only, it's not like they're losing by two, three scores to those teams. They lost by eight to Oregon, really realistically one touchdown because they went for two because they like to do that kind of stuff. And then same thing, one score to Ohio State as well. Those were one score games and Penn State was on the doorstep against Ohio State. So it's not like there's this long gap between

these teams. They're in the same category, but Oregon and Ohio State are proven to be better. I'll keep it simple. There's a lot of reasons. I could go on a 30 minute rant about James Franklin doesn't win the big game, but let's just relegate it to the present. What James Franklin and Penn State did in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 21, 22, 23 have no bearing on what this team does in 24 and 25. It is all about matchup. I do not care. It does not matter that Penn State and James Franklin lost to Michigan in 22 and 23. That does not affect them in how they play Notre Dame in 2025. And think about this to build on that point, Seiko. They've got a new offensive coordinator.

So you look at last year and say, look, they couldn't do it. They couldn't do it with that. Well, this version of Penn State came up eight points short against Oregon, seven points short against Ohio State, and has beat the Daylights out of two teams that were ranked inside the top 10. So I just like James Franklin to get a little credit. Zach Anderson, Yoxheimer, locked on UCLA. Hi.

Rose Bowl was nice. Hi. You know, I get to see on UCLA. Hi, it was nice. Hi, you know, I get to see that. Thank you for lending that. We forget like there's games played in the fall that things happen in the Rose Bowl. I promise you.

Yeah. Yeah, it is. It is easy to, to forget that, but let's keep it on football for UCLA. Basketball is good. No surprise there.

I think it was the expectation coming into the year for the Bruins. But in the football sense, new offensive coordinator coming over from Indiana after Eric Bien-Ami relieved of his duties. I mean, what's the mood around the football program going into year 200, Deshaun Foster? It still seems like there's some weird people trying to figure out, do they like the Deshaun Foster hire? It still feels a little weird that Chip went to Ohio State.

So it's kind of, wait, Deshaun Foster gets his first full offseason, and he's proven in that miniature offseason he'd go get people, maybe not the most talented left after Chip left. And then with the first full offseason, he's gotten to quarterback. He's beefed up the O-line. They've got 20 defensive backs in the portal and a new DB coach. So it just seems like craziness. They haven't legitimately got 20, but it felt like that with all the guys coming in.

They're finding their weaknesses and pinpointing what they need to do to get better. And most importantly, get rid of the weakness, which was the offensive coordinator position. Get a new young hotshot, get a new quarterback, and give those youngsters in the program time to develop. I like what they're doing, and they're beefing up the O-line with potential. UCLA, I think, is certainly capable of a bull. I know we're sitting here with playoff teams on this show, but UCLA is not a year away in the day and age of college football where you can be a year away at this point.

Is that Sully in the corner of your of your frame there zach yeah i know i don't know where mike was asking went but oh well you should keep them together they're they're best pals speaking of best pals uh jay how is how are things with your best pal chip kelly is the offensive coordinator good now they're better than they were was it november 30th uh Things are going pretty well with Chip Kelly right now. He's done doing what he should have been doing the entire time. I don't understand why they weren't a pass-first team, but they are, and it's working out pretty well.

They didn't put their best game plan together for Michigan. They fully expected that they could conceal their best plays and save them for the postseason. That's why they're on this tear. Part of the reason is, yes, they're motivated and have to prove all the naysayers wrong, but you don't put your best game. I don't care if it's the game. Chip Kelly definitely did not put his best game plan, best foot forward against a six and five Michigan team. When you have postseason aspirations, Michigan had everything to gain in that game. Ohio State had at least something to save for

the future. They're playing for a national title. Michigan is not. Michigan had everything to gain in that one, Seiko, and Ohio State did not have everything to lose because we expanded the playoff. There's my daily 12-team playoff jab. I'm done with it for today. Wait until it's 16. Yeah, we're going to expand it to 24. Wait until it's 32. By the way, for all the expansionists will make parody better automatically crowd North Dakota state just won its 10th national championship in the last 14 years. FCS has a 2014 playoff and they've had it for a very long time. Next we're going to get to Seiko's game. We're going to talk about Jay's game as well, because those are, you

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rocketmoney.com slash locked on. All right, rolling along here with the Big Ten squad. Spencer McLaughlin here in for Craig Sheeman, Zach Anderson, Yach Seimer, Zach Seiko, and Jay Stevens, not Jack Stevens. I don't even know who Jack Stevens is. But Jay, let's start with you. You know Jack Sawyer, don't you?

I'm pretty sure you know him pretty well. I've not had the pleasure of meeting him personally. I'm sure he's a fine, well-mannered young man who might be good at football and also is eight feet tall. Eight feet tall. So I want to talk about that side of the ball, Jay, because Ohio State going into this game against Texas, the attention is on the offense.

Jeremiah Smith, I have no idea. Dan Lanning correctly said he's NFL ready right now. He is a true freshman. I mean, this is the position group that over the last couple of years in college football I feel like has evolved the most to give not just the most high-level players in college, but that go on to the NFL. And Smith is going to be another one of those guys, to be sure.

But this Ohio State defense, Jay, no one's talking about the masterclass of coaching that Jim Knowles cooked up against a team that torched him for 32 points. And Gabriel went crazy on October 12th. Every adjustment, everything went right for this Ohio State defense I don't think you can play Oregon that much better I don't think you can either and Jim Knowles has done a great job after that first loss or the loss to Oregon October 12th re-engineering the defense figuring out ways to get pressure changing and orchestrating different looks for the defense, moving Jordan

Hancock back deep, sometimes having Caleb Downs come down and be a wannabe Mike linebacker. And he's created different looks before the snap of the ball that are confusing quarterbacks. But I think it all starts with up front. Tyleek Williams, the past couple of games, even though there has been a reengineering of the defense, Tyleek Williams has been the anchor up front. And yes, Jack Sawyer and Toya Maloa, they're going to getengineering of the defense, Talik Williams has been the anchor up front. And yes, Jack Sawyer and Toya Maloa, they're going to get a lot of the attention, a lot more sacks than Talik Williams.

But Talik Williams in the middle, the way that he is playing, he seems fresher than he had been toward the last part of the regular season. And he is making a lot of noise in the middle, even actually getting some pressure in the middle and on the outside, looking around the defensive ends to really create havoc on the pass rush, too. We could talk all about Caleb Downs, all the other guys, even Cody Simon.

We could talk about him every single day. I think it all starts with Tyleek Williams up front. His presence has been felt, it has been known, and nobody has an answer for him. No sacks in the first game against Oregon. Eight sacks in the second game. And you went from over 100 yards rushing. Oregon outgained Ohio State on the ground in the first game. I forget exactly what the number was.

It was close, but Oregon was around five yards a carry. They went for minus 23 as a team. That's sack yardage included. You take that out, and it was a whopping 20 yards for an Oregon rushing attack that had been good really all season long. So I agree with the Williams love there, but I thought the secondary was as much a cause of the sacks, frankly, as the defensive line was. I mean, Gabriel's trying to get to his third or fourth progression.

Well, yeah, of course you're going to be able to get home if you're given that much time, if the coverage was that good. And that's i highlighted jim knowles as having had such a great day on january 1st in pasadena is when they were showing the replays dylan gabriel's looking around nothing's open correct there was the right play call and the execution of it was there every single time it was a coaching master class it sure seems like the jim knows knows how to use these guys now these tapped into an area where there's so much versatility with the guys in the secondary that you're correct. And I noticed that even while watching the game, I'm thinking, wait a minute. Gabriel's holding the ball for three, maybe four seconds.

Not just one play, not just two play, Spencer. Multiple plays. Most of the time, these are covered sacks. But you're talking and looking at the pressure Ohio State's getting, they weren't getting the same pressure they were getting on Nico, not in the same way. It was no Denzel Burke, who got burnt, got torched at first meeting, said, no, not going to happen today.

Igben Olsen, who has been a penalty machine this year, didn't happen on that day. Jordan Hancock, his versatility to play nickel corner and safety and just move him back and forth, those are the big reasons why those eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss were happening in that game. Yes, it was also Tyler Williams, but those guys in the secondary were covering their butts off that night. Yeah, they were really good.

Seiko, you're taking on Notre Dame and, boy, two teams here that I don't just feel like they want to run the ball. I feel like they have to run the ball or they won't move it on the other team. Notre Dame has to do that. Notre Dame can't throw football beyond five yards. What it seems like Georgia held them to 3.8 yards per per attempt. I mean, that's just, that that's a testament to Georgia's defense still being as competitive, but even with, I mean, Notre, Notre Dame is why, why they are at this point is because of the defense. This is

top five defense objectively, and they play ball control, control the time of possession. They have the ground game to just play keep away. But Penn State at least has a balanced attack. Drowler's better than Riley Leonard as a passer. They have Tyler Warren. Notre Dame doesn't have another option like that. If either of these teams get into a two-minute drill at the end of the game, I don't know that Notre Dame can overcome that. Can they put together a drive when time is actually against them? Can they even play from behind? I'm not going to say that they are Boise State. However, to an extent, this is a one-dimensional offense. We have not seen what Notre Dame is like when they are playing from behind. And if Penn State can actually build a 10-point lead or something like that in the fourth

quarter, because they're not going to build a 14-21 point lead like they could against a Boise State or an SMU. But if it's a double-digit lead and Notre Dame's from behind, can Riley Leonard be a dropback quarterback and will this team to victory? Probably not. So, easier said than done, but that's the formula to beating this Notre Dame team because if Penn State doesn't do it, Ohio State certainly will. I mean, and Texas would too. I think Texas would beat Notre Dame as well. So I agree with you that Penn State's passing game is stronger. What I disagree with is that Notre Dame's offense is one-dimensional. And what I mean is, yes, they're incredibly run-centric and run-driven,

but they don't have one way to run the ball. That's true. I think they do a great job, and if Drew Aller were more of a runner, and run driven, but they don't have one way to run the ball. That's true. I think they do a great job. And if Drew Aller were more of a runner, I think Andy Kotelnicki would do this a lot because he did it at Kansas when he was the offense coordinator with Jalen Daniels, not Jaden Daniels, the quarterback. Oh, what that offense would be like with.

Holy smokes. I know. We've been talking about Kotelnicki and Daniels. Boy, I bet you Daniels could like win a Heisman trophy or something so I I think for Notre Dame the health of Jeremiah Love I think is more important in this matchup than the health of Abdul Carter for Penn State because if you take Love out I think Notre Dame's backup running back is good but suddenly you're running Riley Leonard a lot and you're going to give that Penn State defense more opportunities to get hits on him. And I don't

think, you know, he's a big, tough guy. I don't think you're necessarily going to be able to knock him out of the game. Not that they'd be doing that on purpose, of course, but you could just make him less comfortable throwing the ball because he might be dinged up a little bit after taking some shots running the football. Let me add to that as well something that you know Probably in the Notre Dame circle is going to be discussed a little more but Cooper Flanagan second tight end for them Mitchell Evans is kind of that all-encompassing if he was healthier recovered fully from that ACL injury He'd be that kind of Tyler Warren comparable target. He does have that potential but he's not 100% Cooper Flanagan's there. They's kind of their dirty work tight end.

He is the blocking tight end. He's the reason why the ground game is so successful. He's out for the season. And then if you flip it over to the other side of the football, Howard Cross is dealing with injuries. Riley Mills is out. Those are arguably their two best overall defensive linemen. So these little things to us, this is a big deal for the Fighting Irish.

And these are impact players. So now you add Jeremiah Love. Now you add Cooper Flanagan, who's a big part of that rushing success. Then you add Howard Cross, Riley Mills. And you start to look around. Okay, it's Abdul Carter. Abdul Carter's expected to play. But that's four impact players for Notre Dame at a not-so-tim timely game with Penn State, who just has Abdul

Carter, probably not at 100%, but he's going to play and still be a pass rushing specialist. I think here, the simple game plan for Penn State is if you shut down Riley Leonard as a runner, you can win this game. Zach Anderson, Yock Seimer, what do you think the odds are we see an all Big Ten national championship game? I mean, it'd be pretty interesting, right? The first year we had a CFP, it was a Big Ten team that won it. Now we have an expanded CFP. It's a Big Ten team. Might be an all Big Ten team.

Does the Big Ten get to retcon that and say it was an all Big Ten national championship game then and last year? Because I watched the ACC once upon a time put up a graphic and say, Congratulations, Katie Ledecky. You're an all-time acc athlete and olympian i'm like katie ledecky never swam a single moment in the acc sorry i just made every super bowl did you know that a penn state football player has been a part of every super bowl did you know that oregon lost by 20 in new year's day in football and by 30 the next day in basketball man spencer i don't know what he was doing those two days.

Must have been rough. I'm surprised this wasn't a memorial. Sorry, I understand. You're running the show. Mick Laughlin, neutral arbiter. Yeah, I wonder what Locked on Ducks, pillow Ducks fan, you know, I don't know where he's at. People are going after you on X, too.

Some Oregon people aren't a big fan of you right now. Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah, I have the... Yach Seiber, you were interrupted. I apologize for that. Continue, sir. Who would have thought, like what? History repeats itself, right? Ohio State, when the first CFP happens, they were counted out, and then they went on a run, won the national championship. Now you go to this year, where it seems like they're counted out could be the first what i believe two loss regular season national champion with the cfp in play if i'm not mistaken you'd be correct we take away the we take away the the bcs days right with the

lsu way back and back in the day that but this would be an interesting one where it goes all big 10 i don't know if i trust notre d, but the defense was good and they did enough plays against Georgia. It would be fun, and it would also be like the most unlikely scenario to see those two teams because we would have expected that to be the Big Ten championship game, not the national championship game. Yeah, I mean, it was certainly supposed to be, but we got the second matchup regardless, and I think Oregon fans would look back and say,

boy, I wish that matchup would come in Indianapolis and not in Pasadena and curious you bring up that 2014 season first year they expanded the playoff that if they hadn't that year Ohio State wouldn't have been in wouldn't have won the national championship this year no 12 team playoff Ohio State is not in a 14 playoff this year so perhaps fortuitous there for the Buckeyes. When we come back, we're going to talk about what it would mean for the Big Ten to win the national championship, whether it's Penn State or Ohio State, and we're going to get picks for all, oh, both, I should say, semifinal games. That is coming up next.

All right. How great would it be if the big 10 had an all big 10 national championship game? It's been a while since two big 10 teams. I don't even know people who have perhaps, I don't know, been a part of this conference for longer than an hour. You could tell me the last time there was an all Big Ten national championship game, we have seen all SEC national championship games on multiple occasions. But I think it would be quite a statement in college football if no one is able to knock off Penn State, who people disregarded as, you know, they're just Penn State. They're the same old thing. And then they're just in the national championship game. Zach Harrison, Yaxam, I'll start with you. I think that would

be a pretty big statement for the conference. That'd be a big statement for, you got one coach who can't win the big game, gets to the big game in the national championship game. You've got the Ryan Day, Chip Kelly situation where they're mad at their offensive coordinator. They want to fire their coach for losing to Michigan. he could get to the national championship game. I wonder who, if they flame out in the semis, would get much more hate, right? What if they both flame out? What's the worst-case scenario?

Who would get more hate? That would be entertaining to see what happens, but they both make it. All the haterade everybody was drinking about these two guys, I would think would have to stop, mostly, right? drinking about these two guys, I would think would have to stop mostly. Right. Ryan, Ryan day has to win the national title because, because they lost to Oregon the first time they got revenge. So that's one box. But when you have all the, nobody had, there weren't all these articles about Penn state's payroll and how much NIL was being dished out and how many

players that could have gone off to the NFL ended up returning. If there were articles and articles about Penn State in that regard, then that's the conversation. But it's Ohio State is expected. If Penn State loses to Notre Dame or beats Notre Dame and then loses in the national title, kind of all is forgiven. But if they lose to Notre Dame, then it's, well, we expected this anyway. So Ohio State has the most, we expected this anyway. So it's it. Ohio

State has the most to lose in this situation. It's either par for the course of Penn State does not beat Notre Dame and then everything, all expectations are shouted shattered if they actually do from the public. I think they beat Notre Dame, but that's yeah. Jay is just over there grinning like Palpatine when Luke picks up the lightsaber in episode six. Not episode nine, Palpatine? Don't ever bring up that trash film that is such a disgrace to something I and millions of others love so dearly. That thing is an abomination to cinema. And yes, that is how I really feel that movie is an abomination to cinema everywhere all right so Seiko I think you make a lot of

good points that day probably faces the most pressure I think Franklin is probably second though cuz like I said earlier on Texas they're not even as good as they were last year they are very last year. I don't want you to get this construed, anybody out there listening or watching. I do believe Texas is a really good team. I think they're going to lose Ohio State. I don't think Texas is as talented as last year. I asked Steve Sarkeesian about that at SEC Media Days. He gave a really good answer talking about guys who have been developing

or awaiting their turn and then players they brought in via the portal I think that's more of a reason to feel like the team is good at a certain level but not at the same level they were a year ago but Jay this Ohio State roster has been hyped up since before the year the 20 million NIL rumors flying around and all that stuff that's what it looked like against an incredibly talented Oregon team that they just blasted like the Death Star. Ryan Day is under a lot of pressure if this thing does not get done this year. You had the guys that said, no, we don't want to go to the NFL. We're going to come back.

We have unfinished business. Right now, if you just look at the playoff, they're playing the best team, the best ball out of any playoff team. They're in the Final Four. If Ryan Day and Ohio State, for some reason, doesn't get done they may beat texas and then they may lose to whoever and the natty it's a problem it's a massive massive problem and it's a big problem because we've seen what ohio state is when they're hitting on all cylinders they can't be stopped they can't be touched yes oregon's a really good football team they had no answer at all for ohio state

that day or new year's day tennessee came in and brought a lot of fans to columbus they had no answer at all for ohio state that day or new year's day tennessee came in and brought a lot of fans to columbus they had no answer for ohio state that day got a 21-0 to tennessee got a 34-0 to oregon you do those you have those performances and all of a sudden you don't get it done in the semi-final or in the national championship that's a massive problem like you can take the money away from it you can take the regular season away from it. If you do what you've done in the playoff, the first two games, and then for some reason don't win the final game of the year, that's a problem for Ryan Day. Yeah.

Let's wrap up with our game picks. You guys want me to go first or last? It feels like it's the host of today's, the interim host of today's show. Craig should be back next week. Well, you're feeling last right now, so it depends what you want to do there, partner. Even locked on UCLA feels more bold than you, right? Yeah. You are fourth

in this hacking order. All right. I'll go last. Yachzheimer, you first. Who wins? Who covers? Ooh, this is interesting because I think the Ohio State Texas game will be pretty high scoring relatively to Notre Dame-Penn State.

But I think Penn State wins and Ohio State wins making it an All-Big Ten National Championship, which means the squad show will go crazy for a couple weeks. It will go crazy. Seiko? I'm going to go Penn State 24-20 over Notre Dame. So that's slightly under, that 45, because it's starting to shade down to 45. And I'm going to go Ohio State. I think they win by two touchdowns against Texas.

So if that requires a lot of points or whatever, I think it's by two, double digits for Ohio State. Give me something along the lines of 38-27. Stevens? 27 points scored by Texas.as that kind of hurts because there's only been a couple teams that have scored over seven i mean maybe they can throw the ball they can throw one of the teams that scored 27 or more points on ohio state just got dog walked by that same ohio state team only three teams this year scored over 17 points oregon did it twice

and then tennessee did it twice, and then Tennessee did it. I just don't think Texas is playing well enough right now to do that in this game. Even in mop-up duty, I don't see it. Due to some injuries at Notre Dame, I'm going with James Franklin on this one. It's a little weird that I'm doing that. Big game, James. There's only a few teams that James Franklin can't beat. Seiko is so happy. Oh, dude, he's about to get a game show right now.

I am legitimately confident. If they lose, fine. It happens. That'll prove all the biases correct. But I actually am confident in a Penn State win. Like, I'm not sitting on pins and needles here. This is, I think they're better than Notre Dame. I'll go Penn State 20, Notre Dame 17, Ohio State 31, Texas 14. I don't think Texas

is going to be able to really get any traction at all. I think they might find themselves down 21-0 just like Tennessee did, maybe 24-0. I just think the way that Texas is playing, they have a lot of talent, but they mess around a little bit too much. Quinn Ewers messes around a little bit too much. He gambles a little bit too much. Quinn Ewers messes around a little bit too much. He gambles a little bit too much. And you do that against this Ohio State team, they're going to take advantage of it. This defense is playing way too well to allow that to actually be a thing

where Quinn Ewers throws a ball up. It's a 50-50 ball, and Ohio State doesn't bat it down or intercept it. On offense, nobody has an answer for Jeremiah Smith. And as odd as it sounds, Spencer, trivia, Henderson might be an X factor, but I'll take that X factor in this game.

If that's actually what he is, because he's might be a hundred rush guy to touchdowns. It's easy walking into the game down there. AT&T stadium. We got Buckeyes and Nittany lions in the national championship. That's not what I thought at the beginning of the year, but we're all on the same page. I'm going to assume Spencer is too.

I'm going to assume Spencer's picking Penn State. I am picking Ohio State to win, Jay. I'm one point off on each in my head. I've got Ohio State winning 30-13. I think that Texas secondary can stiffen for a couple of field goal tries, but I do think Ohio State will be able to move the ball. Arizona State was able to. Ohio State is a more talented team. So I like Ohio State to win. I like Ohio State to cover 30-13. I'm going with Notre Dame though. I'm trusting the it factor

with Notre Dame because, Seiko, I hear your points and I think it's incredibly valid that you make the case that they've got more talent in these areas and whatnot. But Notre Dame is just playing winning football across the board for the last couple of months. And I don't think you can discount that in these do or die situations is it doesn't always look the same. You know, I don't think Notre Dame can win a shootout 38-35. I do think there are a lot of ways, though, for the game to look and Notre Dame to come out on top. I kind of feel that way about Penn State. I just like that Notre Dame defense a lot. I think that's the difference.

I will take the Irish 21-17. Close football game. That'll do it for the Big Ten squad this week. Zach Anderson, Yach Sammer, Locked On UCLA. Seiko of Locked On, Nittany Lions, and Jay Stephens of Locked On. But guys, I'm Spencer McLaughlin. In for Craig Sheeman this week. Zach Anderson, Yox, I'm locked on UCLA. Seiko, I've locked on Nittany Lions and Jay Stevens, I've locked on Buckeyes. I'm Spencer McLaughlin in for Craig Sheeman this week. I'm also over on Locked On Ducks and Locked On College Football. This has been the Locked On Big Ten

squad. We've got you covered with your team every day across the entire conference, so make sure you tune in. We'll see you next time, and until then, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.