Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Big 10 SQUAD - What Analysts Say About Iowa in Season Preview

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

Big Ten football predictions ignite fierce debate. Will Ohio State reclaim conference glory or can Penn State follow the championship blueprint?Expert panelists clash over potential coaching changes, with Mike Locksley and Luke Fickell under scrutiny. The discussion heats up as Jay Stevens argues for Ohio State's talent advantage, while Zach Seiko champions Penn State's experienced roster. Craig Sheeman offers bold insights on Maryland's financial constraints and the Big Ten's playoff dominance.From quarterback battles to defensive strategies, the panel breaks down keys for each team's success. Can Nico Iamaleava become UCLA's superstar? Will Ohio State's new QB1 rise to the challenge? Tune in for insider analysis on the Big Ten's path to national supremacy.

Who's winning the Big Ten? Who's finishing last in the Big Ten? Hot seat and everything to get you ready for the upcoming season this week 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. No her feelings and thin skin allowed. Squad up, you're part of the Big Ten Squad. Happy Thursday, everybody. Welcome to this week's Locked on Big Ten Squad. No, I don't know how Washington got in the intro of this thing, but them's the breaks.

Jay Stevens of Locked on Buckeyes is here with, oh, Roman, I didn't see you there of Locked on Huskies. I didn't thought you were gone this week. Zach Seiko locked on Nittney Lions, Nick Arvin, locked on boilermakers in the house with Ryan Herring's, locked on Badgers, Mark Colkin, locked on USC, Zach Anderson, Yachshimer, locked on UCLA. Jacob Gohans, Lockdown Hoogers, and Trent Condon of Lockheyes. Is this an actual squad that we have this week? I'm, of course, Spencer McLaughlin Neutral Arbiter of all things, college football. Jay...

That's smart there. What? Yeah, no, we're off to a real bad. I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I was just, you know, in my point earlier, I'm just saying, you know, Washington's one of the new teams of the league. I just, it's odd, it's odd, noticed it, but anyway. Roman, your, Zach, nice haircut. But, Roman, your second. Jay, you are first. Give me your Big Ten winner this year. Give me your Big Ten loser. Who's finishing DFL in the Big Ten this year?

Well, you're starting with me first. So it would be kind of obvious for me to pick Ohio State. They have the most talent in the conference. And I actually, honestly, believe that, too. It's not just me being first and me covering Ohio State. I believe Ohio State is going to find a way to win the conference for the first time since 2020. They picked the right guy in Julian Sand to be QB1. I believe on. defense with Patricia. While there are going to be eight new starters, I believe they're going to be figuring things out very, very quickly. And they're going to be doing some things that people may say they can't because of the lack of talent, what they lost from a year ago. But I believe Ryan Day has done a great job with some hires, done a great job with talent acquisition from the portal, and the Buckeyes will win the conference this year. I'm going with the team that Jacob hates in Purdue to finish last. I know it's very olden's first year. But I don't

think Purdue has the talent to get out of the 18th spot. Roman, your winner and loser in the big 10. Don't worry, Nick, you will have your chance, your moment in the sun. Well, loser is you for just not paying to the attention to the enjoy for over a year. So, like, you know, if you're going to shoot at Washington, you might as well pay attention what we've got going on there. No, for winner, I've got Penn State.

I feel like this just, it has to be the year, right? I want to see if James Franklin can get over the hump. They have the most returning experience with Drew Allen coming back that. running back duo. I just feel like this has to be the year. This is such a proven year. And I feel like we've said that about him for a while. But this, this really just does have to be the one. And Nick, I'm sorry, losers. It does have to be Purdue, excuse me. I just, I don't believe in the talent either right now. They do have to come out to Washington as well. And that's not going to be a fun time for you guys. But I just, I look at the talent there. And with what Ryan Walters,

unfortunately, did obviously now he's at Washington. I just, I don't believe in what that team has right now. Oh, look, Craig Sheiman of Locked on Big Ten has hopped into the party, but that doesn't mean you get to cut your turn in line, but we welcome you anyway. Saco, you liked a lot of what Roman was saying right there. I have three guesses as to who you're going to pick to win the Big Ten this year, but who's finishing last? Sorry, Nick, Purdue. It's Purdue or Rutgers. No, Maryland. Maryland's another team, but I think Purdue is the easy answer. Maryland would be a close second, especially if they go with the freshman quarterback in Malik, Washington for Penn State. Roman summed it up very well.

It sounds like he'd be fit to host Locked-on Nittany Lions. But all of the things that he said, plus the fact that Penn State is following the formula, people have pointed this out. I pointed this out that, okay, Michigan is obviously dealing with what it's dealing with. But that formula of you have your coaching staff, you add to, Penn State added to its coaching staff that was already really good, getting Jim Nulls away from Ohio State. Then you have your nucleus. You bring back your veteran quarterback. They bring back not one but two superstar running backs, the offensive line. And then they add to position groups that were questionable or potentially weaknesses and go get an all-conference player in Trevor Pena to go with a wide receiver core.

and they go get Amari Campbell, who was all conference at linebacker and started at North Carolina, even though that was an abysmal defense. But Penn State has everything it could ask for. It's following the championship, the national title blueprint that has now been followed and successfully followed by Michigan, Ohio State. There aren't really any other teams here in the country other than Clemson. So everybody else is going through those systematic changes. Penn State has everything, every box that you can.

could ask for checked for this season. So what I'm hearing is Jim Nulls shall here to forth be referred to as Connor Stallions East in the Big Ten. That's that's that's great to hear. All right, Nick, all these shots at your boiler makers. And I just want it out there at Goins. No, no, no, no, not yet, not yet. We have to get to you later.

Brandon told me I had to let you join in today's show, but that'll come later in the segment. Nick, go out there and defend your boiler makers. Look at the slander. that they've been taking over the first few minutes of this show. I mean, Spencer, I've been saying it on the show. You can doubt all you want, and it's fair to doubt, a team that went one in 11 last year,

a team that Ryan Walters left in about the worst spot you can possibly leave a football program in. But you hire Barry Odom for a reason. He tries to build up that culture. And yes, you have a brutal schedule down the stretch, whether that be Washington, Michigan, Ohio, say, in Indiana to end out the last month of the year. But there are winnable games on that schedule.

There are games that are winnable that if you play the game the right way. If you focus on the running game, put the ball in Devin Mockabby's hands, there are winnable games. So I don't think that Purdue's going to end up last. I actually want to shift that to Northwestern. They got a guy in Preston Stone who didn't even win the job at SMU last year. So when you put him on a Big Ten schedule, there are some uncertainties there. And if you don't have a certain quarterback that can make it happen, it's tough to win games in the Big Ten. And then for who I have winning, I'm going to go over to Zach Seiko. He has it on a shirt. I think that team's experienced.

I think James Franklin is coaching to prove that he's a national championship winning coach. He's proven that he can win in the regular season, but much like a guy that I love, Matt Painter, he needs to prove that he's a national championship winning head coach, and I think that this is the year. Harings, are we going to elect this year's Wisconsin team to the Hall of Mid or are they going to shock us all? I mean, they can shock us all. I don't think they fall into either the questions we're answering here, though, best or worst. I think the best. It's Ohio State. I've been pretty consistent on that.

I don't really know what's changed so much from last year where we're suddenly so into, like Penn State's really good. Penn State had out of last year. They had those running backs last year. They had James Franklin last year. Ohio State's the better team. They have better talent on both sides. And they've proven it.

Ryan Day's proven it. And guess what? Penn State has to go to Columbus this year. They have to go play at Ohio State. I don't think we're winning that game, which means they're going to have to make up two games in the conference. I think it's Ohio State and maybe Oregon or even. Even if you want a Dark Horse, Illinois, who plays nobody,

can sneak into the big thing title game. I don't think it's Penn State. I think it's Ohio State. Sometimes the easy answer, the simple answer is the right answer. For worst team, it's Minnesota because I hate that place. Sound logic. I would say, I would say, I think Maryland is a really good callout. Nick, I think that was a really good call out,

or whether it was Zach or Nick. I think Maryland is a team that struggled by an identity. I think Voxley's probably not. It was Nick. We would never let Zach speak that early in the show. I think that was a really good one. I think Maryland could find itself there, Northwestern. I think Purdue are all in that mix. But I'm going to go Minnesota because I root for their failure and I like to root for things when football's on. Mark, who do you think wins the Big Ten this year? And please say USC for entertainment value.

So the only reason I'm going to pick Penn State is because they don't do it this year, it's never going to happen. I mean, the same general tenor is the same song that everybody's singing. Is James Franklin a championship coach? We know he can win during the regular season, but when it gets to those big games, bowl games, he finds a way to lose those games against teams that are his equal. So I'll save Penn State only because if it's not this year, it's never, ever, ever going to happen with James Franklin.

Now, as far as who is the worst, it's going to be a battle between Northwestern Purdue. Just flip a coin. It really doesn't matter. Both teams are going to struggle a lot. Listen to that, Zach. There was like an inkling of respect for the Bruins in that response from Mark. So who's finishing worst and first in the Big Ted?

I'm thinking worst. I'm going to go with Maryland. UCLA does have both Maryland and Northwestern on the schedule. So we'll see by the time the season ends whether the UCLA Bruins struggle going to northwestern or hosting Maryland. I'm going to go Maryland right now in terms of the best. I think Ohio State, there's not a lot of pressure. You win the national championship. You think maybe the next year there won't be as much pressure this year.

And I think that might lead to a very successful 2025. Goans, we know who you're picking last. Who are you picking first? Nick has taken enough of a beating in this opening segment. Yeah, I'll let the who's your faithful pick who's going to finish last in the Big Ten. It will be Purdue. I'm going to pick Penn State to win the Big Ten. It's the obvious choice.

But they're not going to win the national title just to kind of get on that. trail to. They'll win the Big Ten, but they won't win the title. And that may not even be good enough to keep James Franklin's job in Happy Valley. I will remind people that I think Indiana and Washington are dark horses in the Big Ten. Those are the two teams to watch out for. If it's not the big dogs, it could be one of those that sneaks up and gets it done. Trent, that Padres hat, did you know that San Diego is a long way from Iowa City? But go ahead. Yeah, I'm looking for a city vacation coming up this winter as I was going to be traveling. to USC and maybe a little road trip down to San Diego before it.

Top of the list, I can't go with Penn State. You know, James Franklin's a whiner. He complains about everything. Their media complains about everything. And he's got a great team. He'll screw it up because that's what James Franklin does. Give me Ohio State. It's the most talented team.

I'll take Jay Steven Squad and the Buckeyes. Bottom of the list, though, here it goes. Herrings, it's your badgers. Whoa. That eight game losing spree is going to be enough for the base. It's going to be like Don North is back with the Badgers. Badgers, one and eight, the Big Ten last. Can I retort really quickly?

Yeah, you may. I just haven't been won less than five games in 35 years or something. I mean, it's actually like 24, but they're not winning one game. I'm finishing last in the Big Ten. That's absurdity. That last eight is difficult and it's going to get ugly. There's a coach fired. There's another one for you.

Oh, this is insanity. Well, that's going to be, that's going to be a. second segment, but I do want to give Craig a chance to opine is the man who covers the entire conference here for us all. Craig, you've got maybe the best 30,000 foot view. Worst and first in the Big Ten. First, I'm going to go with Penn State because I'm in the camp of if not now, when. This is a loaded roster. They got the most experienced quarterback in the country. And if they don't, we'll rip on them for coming up short. And by the way, can we tap the breaks on Ohio State just a little bit? We've got a brand new quarterback.

that we've really never seen play except for a few snaps. They spent a million dollars on an offensive lineman, a tackle from Rice. That isn't going to crack their two deeps. And they've got eight new players on defense. I still think they're a playoff team, but I don't know if they're going to win the whole conference. As far as the worst team, Nick, I'm an Indiana grad. You're at last dude. Welcome to Lockdown.

Oh, baby. Nick, just know, I'm in the Maryland camp. Yes. I'm in team. I'm in team Maryland last which would probably result in a job opening others could come available this year that is coming up next first this episode brought to you by Ruggia guys you've probably heard of Viagra or Cialis maybe you've even tried them but if you're looking for something beyond the usual pill it's time to

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or Luke Fickle and Wisconsin. Because I feel like every other coach has safety, has security. I mean, I don't know. Maybe over at Iowa, right? They're, I'm blanking on. I'm so not Kirk Ferris. I'm so glad you brought that up.

Got that up. That was my dark course. Zach, are you, retire is the question. We're not talking about retirement. We're talking about firing. Kirk Farronson is going to be. Whoa, I didn't say the word fire. I said head coaching job that will come open. Yes. Yes.

So that's, if he retires, that would be one to watch out for. The only thing that the only saving grace for Maryland is if Malik Washington shows some progress. So there's going to be, there's going to be word, get the freshman in, play him. And if there's actual tangible progress, then Mike Loxley might have another year. It's kind of the same thing with Luke Fickle. If you perform better than internal expectations, even if it's slightly, just some sort of promise, both of those coaches could be safe. So I think if we're talking head coach openings, any of those Kirk Farrants, can't believe I blanked on his name if I was going to refer to Iowa there. But I'd say Maryland's the most likely with that outside shot that it's the Hawkeyes.

That's how much respect the Nanny Lions apparently have for Iowa, Trent. Can you believe that? Oof, my goodness. Nick, last year, Purdue was the Big Ten job that came available. Which one do you think for any reason comes open this year first? Yeah, so Spencer, as easy as it would be to say, Maryland, that team is projected to be bad. But I'm going to go in a different direction with this. I'm going to say Luke Fickle at Wisconsin.

And not because Luke Fickle's a bad coach. We saw what he did at Cincinnati. He had a lot of success. But when you think about the expectations that Wisconsin that Badger's team has, year after year, that's a program that expects 10 wins. That's kind of been the standard at Wisconsin throughout the span of my life, at least. So when you think about what Luke Fickle has done, five and seven last year, seven and six the year before, and then you look at the schedule. You face Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State, brutal schedule this year for Wisconsin.

If Luke Fickle's not able to win some games, there may be some questions behind his job security in Wisconsin. Yeah, Wisconsin's been good for all of Nick's life, all 12 years of them. Trent, what would you do if Kirk Ferrence after this year? Let's say that goes six and six. They're just kind of out there. What if he just hangs it up? I don't see that scenario playing out. I think the way that he'd walk away is if they do have a special season, you know, backdoor their way into a playoff, something like that, have that kind of year. I don't see him walking off after a disappointing six and six, something like that. If it does happen, though, there are a lot of candidates. And this is a job, again, my lifetime, a lot longer than Knicks in 45 years.

I only know two coaches. It is Kurt Ferrence and it's Hayden Fry. I know two coaches in my whole life as a guy that's getting pretty old up there. I mean, that's something that nobody else in the country deals with. It is going to be a job that is well coveted because of not just what you have solid footing there, but also what you're able to do at that program. We're talking about these mid-tier programs. I was at the top of the list of what they spend the way that they invest inside the football program.

I would be shocked, though. I would be shocked if it was after a six and six. But if Iowa has a successful year, Kirk Farr's 70 years old. At this point, we couldn't be surprised if it does play out in that fashion. Don't worry, Trent. And the competition to be the oldest person in this squad, you get the bronze medal. So you're all right. Zach, which job do you think comes open first? First, well, I was going to be spicy single with Lincoln Riley, not first. Lincoln Riley will not become, that job won't become open first. But I think at some point, potentially, it might heat. up as the season comes to an end, the walnut comes open first would certainly probably be the Maryland job. Mark? Yeah, well, okay, anyways. Welcome to the show, Mark. We've been recording

this whole time. Yeah, well, you know, I'm old. I fall asleep when you guys born. That's true. We have to give him some grace. So to Transpoint, and I'm not sure who raised it, I think Kirk Ference is willing to walk away this year after the season, regardless of what kind of year he has, as long as he passes Woody Hayes on that all-time wins list. I think that's why he's sicken around. Now, Mike Loxley is the obvious choice just because of what's going on down there. I'm going to throw a dark horse in there,

someone who should be on the hot seat, and if on Michigan's administration, I'm looking for a reason to get rid of Sharon Moore. I see Jay nodding his head up and down. You cannot have your head coach, the guy leading the charge to cheat, lie, obiscape, and everything possible to bend and break the rules. I mean, if that's the way we're going to go, man,

I'm demanding everything that USC gets everything back that was taken away from them. Oh, dear. Well, just because the NCAA took it away doesn't mean that, you know, we actually care what they did in large part. So we're giving a full-throated endorsement to lying, cheating, covering up,

doing everything possible to cheat and have a lack of instinct. Well, I am intrigued. by that particular remark coming from the USC guy, but I do. You want to ask the question, Spencer. No, I was, I was going to answer the question. I was just, all day long. Okay. They literally did everything possible.

So are we speaking broadly about, you know, cheating and breaking the rules? Are we speaking specifically about Michigan? I'm saying, and I've got that person in charge of my program where you're supposed to be the leader of fine man, being a Michigan man, whatever the hell that means. This is what you want,

representing college football now? Are you okay with that? I'm not a Michigan administrator nor somebody that is adhering to that particular brand. Jay, you know the brand pretty well. Should Sharon Moore just get the boot so that Ryan Day doesn't have to coach against him anymore? I think he should get the boot if he starts losing a lot. If I have a season like they did last year, I can see him getting fired. Even aside from the whole science-selling stuff and his own involvement in it and trying to cover it up. He can't have another year like he had a year ago and expect to keep his job or in year three,

beginning of that year, whenever that other suspension is going to come down, he may be fired after that week. I do think Mike Loxley is gone. I didn't think he would be here at this point in his career. I thought he'd be going back to being an offensive coordinator, which I think is probably the best fit for him. I think he'll be the first coach gone in the season.

We got shuffled around because for some reason, we brought Goans back in. I don't know who made that particular decision, but Herrings, I want to go to you since a lot of folks are talking about your guy, Luke Fickle. Is he the first coach that is no longer in the position he will have when the season kicks off next week? Next year, no, he's not going to be the first job that opens up. It's just, having had conversations with people that are kind of close to it, it's not,

nationally I can see the context. They're not going to fire him three years in after the financial investment they made into them. It would have to be a literal, like Trent said, apocalypse season where they win one game. And they're not going to win one game. There's a huge buyout. His recruiting has been pretty well. They're not going to change out coaches. They're just not in three years. I actually think there's an interesting one here. Think about coaches that maybe could move up the ladder. Like, who's a Big Ten coach at a program that has a cap ceiling that has done really well that has a track rest record of maybe leaving for other schools? Brett Bilema. And Brett Bilema has a good year again this year. year coming off what he did last year. This is Luke Altmire's last season. He's already shown he will lead for a better school with more money. I could see if he strings another 10, 11 win season together. There's going to be schools that wonder about Brett Bielman and see if they can kind of pry in the way. I think that might be an interesting one to track. I think that I think that is. I had not considered that really, but I think that that's a good point. I want to take off my throw jabs

at Roman because it's fun sort of hat and seriously raise the jed fish point that if Washington has the season that some people, including myself, expect them to this year, if Billy Napier is removed from his coaching duties at Florida, Jed Fish's name is going to be, where, Roman, top two on that list? Probably top five, I would say. By the way, I just want to just throw it out there for the record. You've changed your Washington prediction three times so far in the last last six weeks. But who's keeping, who's keeping track, right, Roman? Just me. Just me. Whoa, whoa, whoa. What is this changing I'm being accused of? You need the Nico jersey and the Jedfish visor.

That's what you did. You took the under a few weeks ago on this year's show, and then, you know, you bring me on to lock. That was back in the summer. Uh-huh. Yeah, okay. That was a long time ago. I would probably say top three is where Jedfish falls on that. I'm very curious, though, to see if he's ready to pick up and move again for what, you know, obviously the SEC would at this point be considered a lateral move in the Power 2 conferences.

Yes, he's a Florida alum and everything like that. But with how he's structured everything at Washington, I don't think he's going to want to pick up and move everything again. As long as DeMod Williams is around, I think that he wants to build something stable and just, I think he can reach the college football playoff with DeMond Williams at the helm. And I think with three years of eligibility to do that, we're going to see that here at Washington.

We've definitely never seen a coach leave Washington after two years for the SEC. And there's definitely no way he could bring DeMond Williams with him. There isn't like a portal where players, go in and just like follow a coach to a new destination that I know that all yeah yeah that all that all can't happen we're going to continue the the hot seat discussion because some have not yet weighed in we'll make sure that happens which job is coming open and thoughts to get you ready for this season all coming up next on the locked on Big Ten squad first this episode brought to you by open phone if you're running a business every miss call is an opportunity to make some money

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start with you. You look at this conference a lot. Which Big 10 coaching job comes open first? It's probably going to be Mike Loxley at Maryland. But keep a mind. And they didn't, the reason they lost their basketball coach after the Sweet 16 and Kevin Willis, because they don't have enough money. So, you know, firing coaches is more expensive these days, which I'll go lead to the last conversation about Sharon Moore. Shero Moore's not going anywhere. First of all, they got a $20 to $30 million fine from the NCAA. They've just had to carve out $20 million for revenue share. They're not going to pay out another $20 million to get rid of his contract.

And besides, Michigan's out of Michigan men. When Harbaal, that's it. There's nobody else that played for both. So they got to stick with him for a little while. As long as Price Underwood and Savian Hyder are there. I mean, his recruiting classes of 25 and 26 are phenomenal. I don't think he's going anywhere. I want to visit the Wisconsin Luke Fickle situation because, look, they could actually be improved this year,

but their schedules the hardest in the country, and they might not show improvement in their record. And I think the administration saw this, and I think the administration really likes Luke Fickle. They quietly gave him a contract extension this winter. So because this situation was going to come up, he was probably going to have a lesser year record-wise this year because the schedule is so tough. And they didn't want to be put in a position where they got a fire. I'm like, well, we just gave a contract extension. Let's give him another year. I think Barry Alvarez is saying nice things about him now, even though he kind of ripped a program back in February.

So I don't think fickle's going anywhere as well. But I do think Kirk Ferrence will retire after he gets Woody's mark at the end of the year. And I still do think despite the fact that Maryland has no money, locksler will probably be the first to go. Brandon's trying to make me play a modern version of guess who on which people I've asked the latest question to. Goans, you still need, yeah, okay, there we go. I got that one right. Yeah, I do. I still need to go. Yeah, Loxley is the easy answer in terms of who could be let go first. But as much as I hate to say it, Ryan, look, I love you, brother. But I'm sticking with my prediction that Luke Fickle will not be the head coach of Wisconsin when the badgers play

Indiana. I just think it'll be a five game losing streak, six of the last seven. The only win will come against that Maryland team. And I just don't think they can stick around with that when you're losing that much and that often. I'm sticking with my prediction. Luke Fickle does not make the trip to Bloomington. He will be let go before that game. That's wild. I mean, Wisconsin didn't suddenly become Kennesaw State. People are taking one bad year a little too far here. He's not going to be successful. I think Nick said it. Look, Luke Figgle's a good coach. And I thought it was a great hire when they made it. I just, I don't know, man. In today's era, you just don't get that long. And unfortunately, I just don't think the leash is all that long

for him. Yeah, I don't, it won't be in season. I'll say that. And barring off field stuff, they definitely won't be in season. But I hear your point. I do hear your point on the bigger picture. Let's, uh, let's wrap today's squad with this. Everyone go around 30 seconds or less. give the biggest keys to your team overachieving in 2025. Zach, we begin with UCLA. Well, Nico, it had to be a superstar. You have the wonder brain that is Tino Sanceri as the offensive coordinator. Those two clicking could lead to UCLA being an offensive showcase.

And then the defense doing anything could lead to them in an overachieving year, getting to eight to nine wins. And I think that would be a successful year if that's the best case. Herrings. Really quickly, I think we talked about this before. Our schedule is incredibly tough. But this schedule is pretty similar to what they do. did last year. They played Bama, Ohio State, Penn State. They played a lot of these schools last year,

and they won five games with Braden Locke, Chuck in the Rock. Billy Edwards is better than Braden Lock. So better quarterback play, a little more consistent passing game. I think that is going to lead to a couple more wins by itself, and that is the key to this Badger's team, maybe exceeding expectations a little bit. It's just getting a little bit more from that quarterback in that passing game. Trent was smiling when you said better quarterback play. He was like, yeah, we're going to have that this year. That's going to be us. Better quarterback play. We're going to do it. We're going to, we're going to do it. Jay, go ahead. Getting saying up to speed very, very quickly because there's no way that Ohio State can do what they

did last year and even improve their record and have less losses. If saying it's struggling and slow to get up to speed is QB1, you got to get Hartline up to speed too. He's a new officer to play calling you. You don't have an opportunity to allow him to just go through the motions and just be like today's goal. He has to get up there too, but it's all the trenches. You have to get the D-line and O line correct. You got the guy from Rice who's not going to start. You're going to believe in a guy from Minnesota seems like to be the right tackle. You've got to get the O line and the trenches correct. And Buckeyes will be just fine. Roman, I imagine that T word is going to be a part of your answer here. How'd you guess? Yeah, no, it all does come down to the trenches.

Washington. I do my homework, contrary to what you were accusing me of earlier. You know, there are some evidence that states otherwise. But when I look at the defensive side of the ball. If Washington can continue to stop the run with the five down front that Ryan Walter is going to implement with a much deeper rotation on the defensive line, that will create some extra possessions. And if this offensive line can hold up and not be last in the Big Ten and sacks allowed like they were last season and protect DeBond Williams, I think this offense is going to flourish. You got a duo of preseason All-Americans in Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston. There's a lot of talent on this team. And if the trenches can take a step forward

from bad to average to maybe slightly below average, I think this team can I'm really surprised at people. Trent, here is your Mark Grinowski moment of the day. Yeah, I mean, that's the easy one. One quick thing, though, I've got to push back on Craig and Mark. If you think Kirk Ferrence is sticking around another year for a record, you don't know Kirk Ferrence. That's not the way that he's wired, and that's not what he chases.

He might stick around. He might retire after this year, but it has nothing to do with the record. That aside, yeah, it's simply Mark Grinowski. Last year, and we've seen Iowa. It's pitiful. They've been in the passing game. The number of wins that they've been able to stack up over the last game. if Mark Grinowski is above competent what this team could be overall.

Above competent and below average are what the last two answers were striving for. Speaking of below competent, Nick, go for it, man. Terrible, Spencer, Spencer, we got to run the ball. You all said that Purdue is going to be the worst team in the league. And I don't see that being the case if you keep the ball in the hands of Devin Mock. Four year running back just under 1,200 yards away from breaking Purdue's all. time. Leading rushing record, he's the guy. Keep it on the ground with Maccabee and you'll find success. By the way, Mark, just so you know, Nick thinks that Purdue is upsetting USC in their

Big Ten opener. Yeah, we've talked about that. Mark has clearly not forgotten. Clearly. That runs him the wrong way. I just wanted to make sure he was aware, but he was clearly aware. Jacob, go for it. The answer is simple. I'll stick with the quarterback situation. It's Fernando Mendoza. Curtis Rourke was the answer last year. Fernando Mendoza's got to be the answer this year. The defense will be just fine. You have three All-Americans on that side of the ball. Could have more. If Fernando Mendoza pans out, the Hoosiers are back in the playoffs. Mark, how does USC pop and beat Purdue? So, Craig, you'll understand this analogy. Kids say the darndest thing sometimes.

Well, it comes down to this for USC. Jayden Mayaba has to come out correct. He cannot go, you know, he can't be throwing six interceptions for every 11 touchdown passes. Get him going right, get that offense back to a typical Lincoln Riley offense, and stop giving a fourth quarter leads. You'll see he'll be just fine. I mean, they addressed that situation in the off season. They got more depth through the interior of the defensive line. They brought in a new strength and conditioning coordinator.

They made all the right moves. Now it's just a matter of can Lincoln Riley push all the way? the right ones. Craig, in the same shirt that you've done every single show in, I will ask it to you this way. How does the Big Ten win a national championship for a third straight year? First of all, I have four different shirts, one's black, one's gray, one. You fool me. I alternate them all the time, but I am logo brand conscious at all times for Lockdown Big Ten. How do they win it? Just flood your four best teams into the playoffs. And I will take great pleasure in watching the Big Ten. win another national championship for three years in a row and watching the Paul Fine Bombs of the world with their way, just like their weak SEC. Boom. How about, by the way, oh, he's gone.

That was a mic drop right there. I was going to, yeah, that was kind of a mic drop. Okay, I see what we were going for there. But I just wanted to quickly ask, which of the fourth, who's the fourth team that you're putting in the playoff in your head there? Let's see. We're going Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon. And whoever wins the Indiana, Illinois game, which will probably be Indiana.

They play week four. Nope, that's Illinois. All right. You heard it there from Craig Schaman. I've locked that big 10, Illinois to the playoff. Illinois might not leave Durham, North Carolina with a win. They do have a sneaky tough game at Duke week two. It's a very, very fun game.

Very, very fun indeed. That's a good call out, Mark. I mean, they're going to, I think they're going to win. But it's a great game. Craig Scheman locked on Big Ten, Zach Anderson, Yoxheimer, locked on UCLA. Harings, locked on badgers, J. Stevens, locked on Buckeyes, Trank Condon, Locked on Hawkeyes, Jacob Gollins, locked on Hoosiers.

Mark, please stop doing that. For the love of God, man. Mark Colkin from Locked on USC, giving the YouTube crowd nightmares, Roman Thomas Shop, locked on Huskies, I'm Spencer McLaughlin, Locked on all over the place. See you next.