Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - BIG 10 SQUAD - Nico Iamaleava's UCLA TRANSFER Rocks College Football, Impact on Iowa

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

Nico Iamaleava's move to UCLA Bruins football is shaking up the Big Ten landscape. Will this transfer be the game-changer UCLA needs, or just another chapter in their ongoing saga? Dive into the latest college football buzz as we explore Maryland Terrapins' season predictions and the dynamic shifts in the transfer portal. Key figures like Zach Anderson and Trent Condon weigh in on the potential impact of Iamaleava's transfer, Maryland's coaching strategies, and the financial implications of NIL deals. Discover how teams like USC Trojans and Iowa Hawkeyes are navigating these changes, with insights on players like Bryce George and Jeremiah Smith. Tune in for an engaging discussion that breaks down the evolving dynamics of Big Ten football. Don't miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives that could redefine your understanding of the upcoming season.

We put the Niko story to bed. Will Marilyn win a surprising Big 10 game again? And Portal Buzz, that's all today on the Locked On Big 10 Squad. You're talking ball with the Big 10 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. No hurt feelings and thin skin allowed. Squad up, you're part of the Big Ten Squad. Happy Thursday, everybody. Welcome into this edition of the Locked On Big Ten Squad.

I'm Spencer McLaughlin, your host, Jacob Goens of Locked On Hoosiers is here. Mark Holken of Locked On USC, Zach Anderson-Yaksheimer of Locked On UCLA, Jay Stevens, Locked On Buckeyes, Trent Condon locked on Hawkeyes. We might have some other stragglers roll in as well. I just want to get straight to it, Zach, because I'm just wondering, what's going to last longer,

Nico's tenure at UCLA or the Mariners' newly restarted playoff drought? I mean, I don't know, the Mariners like to go multiple decades between playoff runs, so that would last much longer, I think. I'm from locked on Iamaleava now, not locked on UCLA, but locked on... So we put all our hopes... Wait, if that's the name of your show, what's the name of my show? We're actually co-hosts, you didn't know that. Oh, that's right.

That's right, yeah, that's right. Anyway, continue. I think UCLA, when it comes to Nico, we might get a year if they're lucky too. And then it's off to Madden, and then the circus continues again. I guess we'll figure it out. But they made their move, they want the noise,

DeSean Foster wants the buzz and says, bring on the haters. So I'm like, all right, bring on the haters, Mark included and Spencer. Spencer's more of a hater than Mark actually. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. When did I pass Mark? You're like the biggest hater in UCLA fandom. Between Locked On, I think like they understand like USC,

just like natural, like, okay, we understand it. But Spencer, you're just like way Highlight I want to highlight the word that Zach used in there which was circus and I think that's the best way to describe What's been happening in UCLA and the whole Iamaleava stuff. I mean, it's a joke, right? I mean, it's embarrassing for college football not for you Zach in general But just for college football the fact that this is where we are We're having to discuss this with two brothers now? Like circus, good word. I like that. Mark, do you hear all these hurtful accusations being lobbed at us here to begin the squad this week? I'm incredibly offended. I'm a very sensitive guy.

I just want to get the record straight. I don't hate UCLA. I pity UCLA. Why is that worse? He's honest. Yeah, I mean, look, I, Zach, I didn't always feel the way I do now about the Bruins. I just don't like places that have potential that should be better than they are and just don't care as much as they should. That's where I guess Chip Kelly came and left is that for your Oregon hatred or no?

By the way, no, no, no, no. First of all, I don't know what this Oregon hatred is. I am Spencer McLaughlin, neutral arbiter of college football. Let's get that. Except locked on UCLA hater. Let's get that very quick. That might be the new title of my show. Down to his Oregon has an envy of everything LA.

So you and I can hold up our- Not the football players, they're mostly going up North. Well, not anymore. Here we go, here we go again. They tend to make a stop elsewhere and then go to UCLA. That's true, that's true. That's the UCLA way. I would just like to point out for the Bruins fans out there

who have very hurtfully labeled me a UCLA hater I picked them to go 10 and 2 a feat. They haven't accomplished since 2014 in DTRs final year they went 9 and 3 but still I like when they care I just haven't gotten the sense they do I think Sean Foster could be good We'll just have to wait and see but Jay Stevens locked on Buckeyes. You've got a 50,000 foot, I actually don't know what the mileage is from Columbus to Los Angeles. It's many thousands of miles, maybe not 50.

That might be a bit. That might be a bit. Might be a stretch. Might be a little far. What's your eight, no, 5,000? 5,000 mile view. I'm glad it's not happened at Ohio State. Keep that mess out there in Southern California

or Knoxville. That is nothing that Ryan Day nor the Buckeyes want to be a part of. The fiasco, the way that he even got to Tennessee, Nico that is, was a little weird. We all knew there was stuff going on, but then now to leave over this and this moment and having his brother be tied to it,

it's just a mess. And UCLA can be a good football program. The talent's right there in Southern California. I don't think this is the way for them to get back to being a respected program to try to pull off this stunt. Yeah, I do think there's kind of a Colorado angle to this, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I know in Mark's view,

it might be, but I don't think that it's the worst thing in the world because you talked about it earlier Zach, like attention or excitement, interest, intrigue in UCLA has been lacking. It's just, it's felt flat for a lot of different reasons. It's felt flat. You can't say UCLA football is flat now. Who doesn't want to watch them week one against Utah? That's must, that's must watch TV, right? I mean, well, Jay said no. Jay said no.

Look at this fake college football fan down here. It's just, it's just pooping on the whole idea. I don't care. I won't watch it. I don't care. I just don't believe that. I just don't believe you won't tune into at least one UCLA game in the first three weeks of the season just to see how he plays out. Here's what he said. He said week one. I may watch the first three weeks just to try to fill some space in my day but I don't really I don't care. Space in his day. I'm watching UCLA play football. Did you know that week one is part of

weeks one to three? Yes. Okay just making. Cause you said you won't tune in week one, but you'll tune in the first three weeks. I said I might. No, I, I will. I will. I watch UCLA football. Like that matchup is not going to be one where it's like, yes, I have to make an appointment to watch it. I mean, stumble upon a game just to do it,

but I'm not going to say, Oh, UCLA is playing Utah or somebody in the first few weeks. I got to watch the play. I don't care. I got, I wasn't the biggest Nico fan before this. Um, and this move kind of actually turns me off from watching it because I just don't, I don't like stuff like this. Like the whole Colorado thing, getting attention. They got attention, but they weren't good in year one. They weren't really that good at all. But that Colorado, Colorado state game year one was pretty epic.

Epic. And the CCU game. But then after that it was garbage. Yeah. Yeah, then they lost their first game of the year and it all went downhill after that. But Trent, I want your thoughts here. Are you looking at UCLA as a non-Bruin fan

as I wanna see how this plays out? I'm certainly intrigued by it. I think there's a lot of excitement that is behind it. And if you remember, we got the coming out party of Nico. That was that bowl game two years ago where he was thrust into the lineup. They had guys opting out. Joe Milton was moving on and they put Nico in there

and he was outstating against a very good Iowa defense. And that was when Iowa was still had the, boy wonder, run into offense there as they were shut out against the Vols. So I got to see Nico right away and I guess I'm a little bit intrigued because of that, but we're still talking about a guy that was 76 in the country last year and passing yards per game.

Touchdown passes, 42nd. Even completion percentage, 43%. I know he's an incredible athlete. I know he's a solid quarterback, but there's a part of me that says, what am I missing? What am I missing that is he a sure fire going to take UCLA and, and make them a contender or even make them an eight and four team? I don't know what we saw for big stretches of last year at Tennessee.

I don't think we saw that from him. Zachary? We did see from big stretches from UCLA last year. Their offense was woeful under Ethan Garber's Eric Bienemi, mainly Eric Bienemi. So anything should be much better. The hype under Nico is there, and we'll just see how it plays out.

Obviously, I wanted to stay away from the circus. I've been on the record saying that, but he's here. There's the intangibles. And I think regardless of how bad Nico's numbers are, whether you want to put it into positive light and negative light, it is an upgrade from what UCLA had a year ago and from what they had right now in Joey Aguilar before he transferred to Tennessee.

But by the way, Zach, I have not forgotten and will not forget, other people are not aware of this, but there is a one-sided wager between myself and the UCLA fans that if UCLA with Niko at quarterback if he's the reason they go out and win eight games this year as you said you win seven you said no I didn't I say over seven we might have to go back and double-check the record basically if they yeah no I think you're right if if they win seven or more games then I have to spend my own money to buy a Niko jersey at UCLA and wear

it and wear it on my show. And I look forward to not spending that money, Zach, because as you said, I mean, they weren't a quarterback away last year quarterback could have helped. So I'll give you I'll give you that. But wasn't a quarterback away when we come back because there's still much to get to today on the good old locked on Big Ten squad, is there a dangerous team at the bottom of the league? It's everybody's favorite discussion. And yeah, good. After the greatest toss to break that we've ever

had in the history of the squad show, you should know this episode is brought to you by our friends at Fandl. The NBA playoffs are here and Fandual is giving new customers an incredible way to get in on the action. Right now when you join Fandual and place your first $5 bet you'll get $250 in bonus bets if your bet wins. We're actually about to talk about something Fandual provides, win totals, which is a phenomenal discussion because they put this little 0.5 after the win total So you have to pick whether it goes over or under and everyone likes to look at the low win total teams and think they're all going to stink. Arizona State was four and a half last year.

They won the big 12. Is that brewing in the big 10 we're about to discuss but anything else you'd want to bet for college football? FanDuel has got you covered. You've got national championship odds, you've got Heisman odds, you got big 10 championship odds. It is all over there. So make sure you go and check them out. Don't miss out. Head to Fandle.com claim your $250 in bonus bets today. Check them out at Fandle.com. Nice work back there, Brandon. That was a nice adjustment clean, clean. So Maryland, right? Yeah. Oh, and goings just slides, just slides. That was a nice adjustment. Clean. Clean. So Maryland, right? Yeah. Oh, and goings just slides, just slides right, right in. Yeah. Oh, and there he goes. Boy, Brandon abuses his power behind the scene as the,

as the director. So, uh, Mark, I want to start with you on the idea of Maryland going over their win total of four and a half because, uh, I don't know if everybody else remembers, but they only won one big 10 game last year. Maryland going over their win total of four and a half because I don't know if everybody else remembers but they only won one big 10 game last year. Do you remember that game, Mark? I'm just asking randomly because you happen to be right next to me now.

No other reason, there's no other reason. I was actually gonna bring this up. Trivial point, trivial note. Name the team in the big conference that has a winning record against USC. All time? Name the one team in the big conference that has a winning record against USC. All time? Name the one team in the big conference that actually has a winning record against USC.

It must be Maryland, because wasn't last year their first meeting? Oh, look at that. Look at that. One and oh, undefeated, Levar ball of the big 10. Maryland never lost. Maryland has a higher status than UCLA, than Oregon, than Ohio State, than Michigan. They are undefeated against USC. In that very narrow, specifically

tailored to the Terrapins category? Yes, Mark, you're absolutely positively correct. But good news for USC, they don't have to deal with Maryland. This year on the schedule loss, right? So I was looking at their schedule and I don't see how they shouldn't win five games. I mean, it's not it's not a difficult schedule. It's really not like quarterback is I don't know who their star on defense is. They are literally like a no name team.

I know Billy Edwards left. So what is Maryland? Who is Maryland? What's the Terrapin? Fear the turtle. So five wins. I don't know where they're going to get five wins, but they'll find five wins on that schedule. I actually, I actually kind of like that angle, Mark, because the non-conference all being at home, five of their first six are going to be played in college park. Like I, I'm kind of with you there,

like FAU Northern Illinois, Towson, if they lose one of those games, they might only be winning two all season long. So Mark. What game Jay should tune into? Maryland UCLA. That is going to be a barn burner. That's Jay Stevens ideal.

Jay Stevens ideal Saturday night. Get the wife to take care of his kids so that he can sit on the couch and uninterrupted enjoy Maryland at UCLA led by Nico Iamaleava. So Mark is going over. I think I agree with him. Trent, what say you? Trent, that was directed at you. Oh, that was me. I missed. All right. I think you guys are crazy. And I can tell we got a lot of newbies into the conference.

We know what's gonna happen here. They very well could race out to a three and O record. They could look out state of eight, will be a dark horse contender in the Big Ten. And then they'll fall on their face and they'll go 4-8. I mean, this is Maryland football. It doesn't matter about the Under Armour, Armani.

It doesn't matter about Scott Van Pelt. They're going to build it up in September, crap the bed in October, fall apart in November. It's the same song and dance every single year under Mike Loxley. I can tell you guys are newbies. It'll be great early, it'll fall apart late. That's Maryland football.

Crab cakes and terrible in the late in the season. That's the most energetic anybody's ever been on this show talking about Maryland. I'm so here for it. So unbelievably here for it. Goins, you guys have to make that trip to take on the Terrapins. It's their homecoming game on November 1st.

One to 10, one being you're playing, I'm trying to think of an FCS team that hasn't pulled a big upset. You're playing East Tennessee State, and 10 being you're playing at Ohio State. Your concern level of going to take on the Terrapins, on homecoming, mind you. Indiana has a better chance to lose against themselves

in practice than they do to play Maryland at their place. I'm not concerned with this game at all. Okay, Maryland's bad. They're not good. Indiana is legit. And you look at this Maryland schedule that we're talking about, no Ohio State, no Penn State, right?

No Oregon. They do have Indiana. Michigan's on there, but who knows what that looks like. And then Michigan State, okay, but they go to Wisconsin looking at it right here. They do go to Rutgers. Hey, Zach Seco, speaking of Penn State, they're not on the schedule for Maryland. And yet I still don't think Maryland can get, is it five or five and a half? It's four and a half is the win total. The question is, do you think they can get to

five? Well, they got UCLA in the the schedule so it ain't happening. Yeah, oh wow deal breaker. There's four you know what just for the sake of the conversation I'll say that Maryland gets to five it won't be pretty but they'll find a way to do it by winning some game. I don't know at Rutgers or something because why not? I'll take you know, you know, you know the interesting interesting

thing about the schedule not just that there's no Ohio State, no Penn State and no Oregon in there. This might be the most manageable road slate of Big 10 games in the entire league. Camp Randall is a hard place to play, no doubt about it. But is Wisconsin gonna be a great team? No, they'll be good, maybe, but not great. At UCLA, at Rutgers, at Illinois, at Michigan State.

I don't know how much more favorable it can get. So Jay Stevens, I throw it to you. Are you going to over 4 and 1 half? So far, everybody kind of likes the over. Trent doesn't, and I don't. I don't at all. I don't see why anybody would buy into this Maryland team with Mike Loxley.

Is his quarterback above average? No. And so if you have an above average quarterback, there's no reason why you should believe there'll be over four. Yeah, they're going to win their non-conference games, but that's it. I don't even see them winning a conference game next year. Mike Loxley should be fired before the season starts.

He won't be. He'll be fired probably mid-season. His time there is over. And this year is going to be another year where you see success early, you fall apart in the middle of the season and it's just a dumpster fire, loss, loss, loss, loss and he's going to be one of those big 10 coaches that's going to get fired. Seiko, you think that Loxley is the first big 10 coach to be relieved of his duties this fall? Is the first Big 10 coach to be relieved of his duties this fall?

it is all dependent on Malik Washington the freshman quarterback I Will see I was going to say does Mike locks Lee even survived the season He has what Zion Ely they have all of the all of the NIL money going to one or two prospects Which is why the entire offensive line has gone into the portal because they have to pay the piper here. So if that's the case, if Maryland's offensive line is absolutely decimated here, that's going to be the big thing. I don't think Maryland has had a competent, capable offensive line in the past decade. Maybe if I'm being conservative, five years. So whether you start the transfer at quarterback, whether you start Malik Washington, the true freshman,

who I think is pretty talented, he had some connections to Penn State when he was getting recruited. No matter who's the QB, your offensive line is gonna fall apart. This very well might be a three-win team. Zach, I'll close it out with your thoughts here because I think he finds what I think the backdrop of the NIL commitment is a legitimately interesting discussion point with Marin.

Like, they want to be good. They have made legitimate commitments to go out. They're one of the teams, one of the favorites to get Emmanuel Ihenacho, who's a five star offensive tackle and one of the top, I think, five in his position. That Oregon's upset about that. Someone's trying to outbid Oregon in NIL for a top tier prospect. Yeah, it turns out it happens more than anybody thinks.

But that's OK. But Maryland being in the fold for him, for a guy that is getting offers from all the biggest blue blood recruiters right now in college football. I was like, that's kind of surprising, but that's what they want to do. So Zach, let's get you out of here on this. Are you riding the under?

Are you riding the over here for Maryland? I'm pretty sure I've hit the over on the last three we've done in terms of wins, if I'm not mistaken, because we had Purdue, we had UCLA. I could be wrong on that. I'm finally hitting the under. I don't think it's gonna happen. I think Nico against Maryland's gonna go for 354 touchdowns.

It's gonna be his Heisman campaign. Maybe it's his Heisman moment in one game, but I didn't say it's season long, but I might as well ride the wave, right? If we're in the circus, I might as well join. I might be being thrown through the hoops, so let's go for a ride, man. But Maryland, they're their own circus under.

Under, under, under four and a half. Mark, you look like you wanted to say something. I was just gonna ask to puff up pass, man. I want whatever. Easy. Oh, all right. Well, I think that's enough Terrapins talk for today. But what about the spring transfer portal windows still open players are flying around the latest buzz from everybody here in the chat right after this. First this episode brought to you by Amazon Fire TV.

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select devices including Fire TV stick 4K, including Fire TV Stick 4K 2nd Generation, Fire TV Stick 4K Max 1st and 2nd Generation, and Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation. Get your all-in-one gaming console and entertainment with Amazon Fire TV Stick. Check them out today. Spring Portal Buzz, USC. We'll start there because the recruiting news

just keeps cycling in for the Trojans. They got crystal ball to get Ryder Lions one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2026. But with with the spring transfer portal mark did USC do most of its work having guys leave and enter in the winter portal or do you think they might make a move in the next week. You know you was you I think USC might actually be done in the next week? You know, I think USC might actually be done with the transfer portal. They got their depth piece at linebacker with Tonear Robinson.

They brought in. You're welcome. I said depth piece. I didn't say starter. Oh, damn. They needed somebody. They needed some linebacker help. I remember last time I checked, USC's defense wasn't that good last

season. Actually they weren't, they weren't, they weren't that bad. 24 points per game given up is pretty good. And when you're considering it's a Lincoln Riley thing, that's a really good defense. So Zach, it took you over time. USC where they historically try for, strive for pretty good, right? Yeah. So anyways, um, I think they're done with the spring transfer

for you might see one more player leave just because of there might be too many players in a certain position group. But they're done. The roster is they haven't set up the way they want it. They got like you mentioned they got a crystal ball for Ryder Lions. That's leaving Oregon with no quarterbacks In their class so far maybe well. Yeah, I mean they they still don't have one

They're waiting on the number one quarterback in the class Jared Curtis who commits on May 5th I heard that from I heard that from an Oregon friend of mine by the way He was so yeah, I think he was he's done with the portal. They they've been loading up They did most of their damage in the in the winter one back in December. They pulled in a couple of defense of Lyman. They're good. Everybody else is trying to play catch up now. Trent, the latest from Iowa, Hawkeye land. we hope is an offensive tackle that USC was also after in Bryce George. D2 Kid from Ferris State won a couple of national championships there. The question is obviously making that jump. We've seen some guys that can go in there and be a left tackle. Other people believe he's more of a guard prospect, so that'll be the question mark there.

But they needed help on the offensive line. They returned three starters, but we're hoping to develop a little bit more. So getting Georgia was a big one. And they're also looking at cornerback. That is going to be the big thing for Iowa. A very down year last year at the cornerback spot for Iowa, something that Phil Parker, the award winner two years ago for assistant coach of the year in college football,

it just un-very Iowa-like what they gave up a season ago. So that's what they're still looking. They tried to do it last summer, last spring and summer, looking for a cornerback, never could find that guy. They're going through that same process right now. And in true Iowa fashion, we got a transfer portal long snapper. How about that?

Yeah! That's what I'm talking about right there. It's good to see Iowa's aware that the offensive side of the ball exists, Trent. But just to be clear, you were saying cornerback, like defensive back right corner corner we got a national champion quarterback in Mark Gronowski just for B-Way just got be ready boy gotcha okay be ready I will offense made a big step

last year from 16 points a game up to 27 last year coming because this year Barnburn I don. I don't know what's better, Trent celebrating 27 points a game on offense or Mark celebrating 24 points a game on defense. I don't know which one is more revolutionary for the sport. Yeah. I mean, to be fair, imagine saying those numbers like three years ago.

Those fan bases would have been over the moon. Over the moon and they might have met the national championship game who knows who knows they would have been a part of different conferences that anyway so sick. I have I have seen the rumor speculation call whatever you like the Penn State could be a potential landing spot for Trevor Pena the Syracuse wide receiver transfer, who according to his head coach Fran Brown

was asking for about $2 million a year, to which Fran Brown said, you're not Jeremiah Smith. Yes, that's essentially what the quote was. You can go and look it up. So, I mean, if I were Penn State, I'd be down, I don't know, about $2 million a year though, since Jim Knowles has got all the money, right? Yeah, they've certainly allocated their resources.

So similar things transpired from what I had heard that Trevor Pena made the same pitch that he tried to make at Syracuse to Penn State. And they said, well, we want you here. You'd start, you'd be a part of a national championship team. You'd also take a hit in your statistics. You're not gonna have 80 catches,

900 yards and nine touchdowns here at Penn State. So there was a mutual parting and he's either going to go to USC, UCLA. We don't have the other Zach here or Miami or Florida. And it seems, I listened to Lockdown Canes. It seems like Alex over there at Lockdown Canes, our ACC counterpart, seems pretty excited about the idea of Trevor Pena.

Yeah, I mean, really talented guy. I wonder if Miami's ponying up $2 million because Jay, there's only one receiver in college football who on the surface is worth $2 million or more, right? I mean, frankly, I'd probably, depending on what my school's, if I had one, NIL budget is, I'd probably put the limit at 3 million for a position player, probably,

but Jeremiah Smith would be up there. Well, let's put it this way, to take Jeremiah Smith's value, I heard Carson Beck may be getting 4.3 million. Do you think Jeremiah Smith is worth that? I'm not going to give an answer. I don't either but just because of just because of his position not because of his talent. We're not talking NFL draft prospects just like positional value in college football. A receiver can't match a quarterback. No, no, no, not

at all. Not at all, but it's it's a weird thing, man. Just having Jeremiah Smith for two more years. I feel sorry for everybody. Zach, I'm sorry, two more years of getting beat by Ohio State and Jeremiah Smith's going to make some big cuts. Your defensive coordinator, man. You're talking a lot in the offseason here when we have your national championship defensive coordinator. Coaches haven't mattered over the past 10 years. We've beat the Penn State every time. Okay, different coaches. I can't wait for that. This was when Matt Patricia

makes his first big mistake and the Buckeyes will want to run him out of town. Oh gosh. That's right. Of all people. Oh, the bad Patricia parties in town. If that happens in that game, we're going to have the squash show the following week and I may have a meltdown because I, there are a couple of things I don't want to. There are a couple of things I don't want to lose to at all. It's Michigan and Penn State. I have respect for Penn State as a program, but Ohio State owned them for so long.

I don't. This is not the it's a respect because you don't feel threatened by Penn State. That's why. You could say I can we can be honest about it. You might hear that. You could say that that's just the general standard. You say you have respect for somebody when you about it. I didn't even say that. You might get a fear assessment. You can say that. That's just the general standard. You say you have respect for somebody when you don't fear them. I'd be worried, that Texas game is probably the one

that you're gonna, right out of the gate, you're gonna be up in arms about Matt Patricia. No, because I already expected Ohio State to lose that game anyway. I've been on the record probably here once and new starting quarterback in that game and all the moving parts and losing eight guys on defense to the NFL.

I don't think Ohio, I think Ohio State is going to be good. We're gonna be wrong. But I've been saying that game is going to be a loss from the get-go. I mean, I don't know how to change that even the week of the game just because I don't I think Texas has a good to win that one come up here to come up to the north and walk away with the win. Yeah, by the way, speaking of talking all offseason, not doing a lot during the season, Jacob Goen's locked on Hoosiers.

You can have the final point today. That was terrible. Well, you know, their conversation went back and forth longer than I wanted to, but once I'd committed to that thought in my head, I knew I was bringing it out just for you, Jacob. You circled all the way back. Yeah, yeah, I did.

I did, you know, circles are a very equitable way to eat dinner. So there's nothing there's nothing wrong with that. Well, it's because there's no head of the table, Mark. Have you ever heard that before? That's why you have a circular table. So there's no head of the table. Yeah, I know it's a very it's weird. I don't know why I popped in my head anyway.

Going portal, anything? Anything Indiana needs in your view? I mean we needed a slot receiver we're still kind of looking for that our Michigan transfer got injured in the spring he's out so now you're looking for a new slot receiver. Indiana needed a little bit of help on the defensive side of the football not a ton because you bring back two All-Americans on that side with Aiden Fisher in the linebacker room. I think you need somebody there to counterpart him. I thought count the why it was going to be that the Maryland transfer here we go talking about the Terrapins again. But sounds like Indiana wants them to play as a defensive end. And so I think we're still looking for a linebacker there. Other than that though, Indiana brings back so much talent from last year's college football playoff team, just wanna make sure we remember that,

that the portal isn't all that necessary. This time next year, will be a completely different conversation, but no, Kurt Signetti and his staff are looking for just some support, looking for some depth, but they're gonna be just fine. They picked up a couple

and I think it'll be relatively quiet. Optimism and reasoned discourse. That's not the best way to end the Big Ten squad this week, but it's how we're going to end up winding it down. Mark Colkin locked up USC. I didn't say that right, but you know what I'm saying. Trent Conant have locked on Hawkeyes. Dear Lord, I just have to get through this.

Zach Zinkoff. This guy's the host. He's locked on the alliance. Battlefetchers! Battlefetchers! Jacob Goh is locked on Hoosiers. Jay Stevens locked on Buckeyes. have to get through this. Jacob Gowans locked on Hoosiers. Jay Stevens locked on Buckeyes. I'm Spencer McLaughlin of Locked On all over the place. This has been the Locked On Big Ten Squad. We'll see you next week and until then,

hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.