Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - SHOCKER: Hawkeyes Land UNEXPECTED Recruit - Does a 16 Team PLAYOFF Benefit Iowa Football?

Episode Date: May 28, 2025

Can the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball team turn heads with their latest recruit, Joey Matteoni? As the Hawkeyes gear up for the season, fans are buzzing about Matteoni's potential impact on the court. Meanwhile, the College Football Playoff landscape is shifting, and Scott Dochterman from The Athletic shares insights on how a 16-team expansion could reshape Iowa Hawkeyes football's future. With discussions on the Big Ten, SEC, and the strategic moves of Iowa's rivals, this episode is packed with analysis and predictions. Will the Hawkeyes seize the opportunity for a memorable season? Tune in for expert insights and a deep dive into Iowa's path to success.Follow Trent Condon on X: https://twitter.com/trentcondonLISTEN TO THE PODCAST: APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-hawkeyes-daily-podcast-on-iowa-hawkeyes-football/id1441592240SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GTyz5ygevcGXdTF6QSoEoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnHawkeyesSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Joey Matione, it's Iowa's newest basketball commit. You might be asking yourself, who's that guy? We explain today, Locked On Hawkeye. You are Locked On Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast, your daily podcast talking all things Iowa Hawkeyes. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio here in the state of Iowa, including

currently, you can hear me on the Iowa Sports Radio Network each weekday from noon to two with stations in Iowa City, C Rapids the Quad City Sioux City at our flagship 106.3 KXNO each weekday from noon to two. Talk to the world of sports with Ken Miller. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use the code LOCKDOWNCOLLEDGE at MonarchMoney.com for 50% off your first year. A busy program here today on your daily episode of Locked On Hawkeyes Playoffs. Yeah, we're looking college football playoffs and can Iowa actually make a run? We'll talk with Scott Dockerman from the Athletic, his thoughts on the new Look College football playoff. Are we going to 16 teams and more importantly for us here what does that mean for Iowa football going forward in this new what

looks to be 16 team era after this season in college football. Is it a good thing for the Hawkeyes? We'll talk about that more coming up with Scott Docterman. But we begin today's program with some basketball talk as Iowa has picked up a commitment and one seemingly out of nowhere. The name Joey Mattione comes in from the Kansas City area, Overland Park suburb down there at Blue Valley Northwest, a six foot nine, 215 pound forward. And this was one that was not how many people's

radar. This one definitely came as a surprise. You know, there's been so much talk over the last now month or so inside Iowa basketball is there's some kind of secret commitment. There's a guy that nobody knows. Is this it?? I guess so. Then we go back to Williamson a week ago, the Florida International transfer and the buzz that was there on that one. Let's start right here. Ken Richard last year, Joey Mattiani, at Drake, a very good Drake team,

a Drake team that went 31 and four. Still, he redshirted as a freshman. This has to be looked at as a developmental. A guy that you're bringing in to build, to grow, to be a guy that you're not worrying about for the 2025-2026 season. You're looking down the road at something that you believe you can build Matt Tioni into. That's what this is. If your hope, your belief as a Hawkeye fan is that this guy's going to come in and provide any kind of depth in the front court, I'm sorry, it's just not a reality.

Yes, guys can improve. Guys can make big jumps. And there's a reason that Ben McCollum wanted to bring him in. There is a reason that Matt Tioni is going to be part of the program. But there's also a reason that we had to wait until almost June before they got that commitment. Because I'm sure they struck out at some other guys that they were looking for. That's the reality of the situation. That's not to say that there's no chance for this young man

and that he can't develop into a Big Ten player. So I went back and watched a highlight video. And as we laugh about here, yes, take a drink, highlight video, every day as you know. Highlight videos are just that, they're highlights. You're not gonna see a low light video. If you do, it probably wasn't put out by their camp. Probably wasn't put out by their AU coaches

or their high school coaches or mom, dad, uncle Bill, whoever it is. No, you're not going to have those out there. So you're seeing the best of the best. And this was from a couple of years ago. This is from 2022. So still while he is in high school before he's even a senior in high school.

What you saw, start with the frame, 6'9". I think he's a little bit bigger than he was in the video that I saw. On the shot, three-point shot, it's okay. It's not beautiful. It's not one that you're gonna bounce your grandkids on your knee and talking about. Matt Tionis, three-point shot.

They're a little bit of a hitch goes a little bit low coming out, but it's fine for a guy that's six foot eight, six foot nine. You're in good shape there. Good release. Um, again, a little bit low on it, but gets it off quick. I don't see anything again. Developmental guy that has you hugely concerned on that one. Not an elite level athlete. I wouldn't even say a plus athlete. He's OK. You look at the dunks that happened in the highlight video.

It wasn't an explosive guy by any means. But he did appear to be a really smart basketball player. Handles were good, too. That was maybe the most surprising positive component of the video watching Matt Teote is that the handles were there. For a guy that size and a guy that still had a little bit of that baby deer kind of growing into his body, he was, I thought, pretty smooth with the basketball at that kind of frame. So I think that was some positives there. This is going to be a guy deep down on the bench. We went through the exercise a

week ago after Williamson made his commitment and we went through kind of that minutes breakdown. We talked about the players individually, what we thought they were going to look like, what kind of the rotation and and divvying up those 200 minutes that you get in a college basketball game and we went that route. Oh, this commitment here is not gonna change what we did. It's not going to change in terms of what the expectations, at least that I have right now, are for this basketball team and what the rotation's gonna look like.

He's deep down the bench. He's another body. He's a big body. And again, develop. Ben McCollum has been an elite level guy at just that. Developing guys. And this is another one. In Ben, we trust. It's not fun. It's not exciting. But we've got to give the benefit of the doubt to the guy right away. That he's bringing

in guys for a reason. It's another guy from Drake, another guy that knows his system. And as we've talked about, this is something that is going to be a leg up for Iowa basketball. The ability to be a step ahead of everybody else. The ability for Iowa to be that team that can hit the ground running right away in early November. And it's going to be able to go out there right away and play at a high level. That is an advantage that Iowa has because all these guys have played together. So many of the guys have played together before. They know Ben McCollum's system and for the newbies, they'll be able to figure it out.

But you have so many people that will be able to be teachable. Guys that have gone through it and know exactly what you're looking for. You start obviously with the point guard, Bennett Sturtz, and you go from there. Iowa Hoops in good shape. We continue. Let's get the conversation going on the Hawkeye front over with some football. Scott Dockerman from the Athletic will join us. Scott, a college football writer at the Athletic also dabbles on the Iowa Hawkeye. So we'll talk about the college football playoff, the expansion to 16, but I got a question for Doc about what

this looks like for the Iowa Hawkeyes. We'll talk about that. Scott Dockerman joins us next on the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast. Ever check your bank account and wonder, where did all my money go? Between dining out, online shopping, and entertainment, it's easy to lose track. That's where Monarch Money comes in. It's your personal CFO giving you full visibility and control over your's where Monarch Money comes in. It's your personal CFO, giving you full visibility and control over your finances. Monarch Money isn't just a budgeting app,

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from the athletic Scott Dockerman writes for the athletic got an interesting piece out today on his forecast for the first three weeks is the television partners for these perspective games coming up with these games scheduled games coming up. We'll get to that in just a second. Doc Trenton, Ken, thanks for coming on. Appreciate it. How are you? How was your weekend? It was a busy weekend. Saw a lot of family. My son's heading to Germany in a couple of weeks, so we had a party for him. So now I just need a vacation for my vacation, or at least three

days vacation anyway. Good stuff. Well, I'll get to your piece in a second. I want to start with you, Doc. It seems like these SEC meetings taking place in Florida are positive or negative, depending on what side of the argument you're going to be on, are going to move the needle. These seem like they're impactful meetings. Sankey is kind of, I don't know, throwing down the gauntlet, but he's making it very clear who the power brokers are, not that we need to remind it that it's the SEC and

the Big Ten. But it seems like this might be our summer topic, Scott Dockerman, what lies ahead in college athletics. But it seems like this might be our summer topic Scott Dockerman what lies ahead in college athletics. For sure. And I think once the house settlement goes through and it could be today could be tomorrow sometime this week better. But that it's going to be on to the next stage, which is, you know, what happens with the

college football playoff in 2026 and beyond. And I think it's a foregone conclusion that they're going to go to 16. That was something that we kind of been hearing in the fall when the discussion was to 14. And then there were a couple of ladies saying, well if we're going to go to 14, let's just pull the bandaid off and go to 16. But along with that is been the push mostly from the big 10

about adding, you know, four automatic bids from the Big Ten and SEC and then two from the Big 12 and ACC and then kind of down the line. And that's going to be the biggest topic of discussion. And it's going to be how much can the ACC and Big 12 get because they're really not in a position of strength. And then it's going to be how much can they, the big 12 or big 10 and the sec weather without looking completely overbearing on this. So it's, it's going to be a, yeah, it's going to be a topic for a long time. It felt like Sankey just kind of reached a tipping point.

And I think it was a question, I think it was Ralph Russo that asked the question of the AP and he just he let it fly He talked about the sanctity of the game and the betterment of the game and those kind of things and the SEC says yes They wanted to survive my question for you is is there any recourse? Is there anything that the big 12 and the ACC specifically? Anything at all that they could do or they just got to sit in the corner take their two bids and shut up. Oh Anything at all that they could do or they just got to sit in the corner take their two bids and shut up. Oh I think there's somewhere in the middle there Trent and by the way, we're blessed to have yeah, you got

So, you know once Nicole left so but I'll say this that yeah I think there's some things that they can do to kind of push this thing along. I mean when you look at You know if if they have 16 teams, which is the way it's going, if the Big 10 and Big 12 or Big 10 and SEC can convince them each that we're going to have four automatic qualifiers, if I'm the ACC and the Big 12, you kind of have to start working together on this. And I think one thing that they could do, I mean, they're not going to get eight, but if there could be a combination of can we get five and meaning guaranteed two for each of the leagues and then like say the next highest ACC or big 12 team automatically gets in, then you, then you've got a little bit

of leverage to you. You can actually, you know, that, that may mean you have somebody who's 18, but they still get in versus somebody who's 18 and won't get in if they're behind, you know, straight up at largest. So I think that's probably one thing to do. But the plan to have like a first round and buys with 16 teams, I just, I'm not sure if I kind of get that. I think that's a little bit crazy to add another round of tournament play. I just don I'm not sure if I kind of get that. I think that's a little bit crazy to add another round of tournament play. I just don't know that's rational part of this, but the other thing that I think is probably more radical for the ACC and big 12 is to maybe

incorporate some sort of a working relationship and association, if you will, of bringing a season football that to kind of then be able to get into four or five teams out of one association. But that's probably down the road a few years. Yes, hopefully it's got more teeth. What did we have a few years ago? The Alliance? The Alliance, yes. There's no contract, then you don't have an alliance.

Anyways, so when will, or have the Big Ten already had these meetings? Will we hear from Petiti next? Does he follow the Big Ten meetings follow anytime soon, Doc? They had their meetings a week ago in California, but they are different altogether than the other leagues in that they are very that they keep themselves very quiet. They don't want to discuss anything. Tony operates almost exclusively behind the scenes, and that's his preference. He just doesn't want to have a lot of...

Like Sankey, even when they've had their SEC Big Ten, divide the world summits, Sankey has been the one talking most of the time whereas Petiti is a little more direct and here's a couple of things and and so it kind of speaks to their personalities a little bit more and and uh you know when he talked to the people in the Big Ten they speak very highly of Tony Petiti they like him they like the way he operates and and he is personable he just doesn't you, maybe it's all of his years as being a network executive. He just doesn't want to be out front all the time. And hopefully we can, you know, I put my bid in there to say, Hey, if he wants to talk, I'm here anytime. Actually had that conversation about two hours ago. So we'll see if it nets anything. I hope so, because he does need

to have his voice out there because they are very powerful institution. Doc, you put out your latest article predicting what we're going to see television wise for the first three weeks of the season and I'm sure I'm not alone here in the state of Iowa. First thing I look forward to. Where did I scroll right away? Week two Iowa, Iowa State. You have that one ticketed three o'clock central kickoff on Fox. How good do you feel about that prediction? I Feel really good now the time may change a little bit here, you know but I I am I feel pretty confident that they'll be on Fox because

Would you look at the at the schedule that day the big man? Yeah, big ten is hurting when it comes to home games in that middle week. I wrote a little bit about it when you've got your best James or at the other team, you know, TV contracts, you know, Illinois at Duke and you've got, you know, Iowa and Iowa State and a couple others like that. It's just, it's really hard for them. But, but you know, the big 12 has a deal with Fox. I think that's probably more than likely going to happen. So, you know, now it could be a little later, a little earlier, you know, but I

would within like a half an hour of it, but I'm pretty confident that that's where it's going to end up. But no chance it'll be the big noon kickoff, right? No, it can't be. It can't be big 10. So that has to be at a big 10 venue. So that's why Penn State, I mean, Florida international Penn State. But now I understand why you've got that one there. I did not realize that makes some sense.

You know, when I, the more I look at week number two, um, kind of feels like a number two, right? In a lot of ways, it's not the best week doc. I mean, Michigan, Oklahoma, I'll give you that one. That is the five star game of the week. Kansas, Missouri, maybe it's got a chance. Iowa, Iowa States on any list, as far as'll give you that one. That is the five-star game of the week. Kansas, Missouri, maybe it's got a chance. Iowa, Iowa State's on any list as far as the best games that week. Yeah.

I think, yeah, Kansas, Missouri, obviously Michigan, Oklahoma, but I mean, I, I, I feel reasonably sure that Fox will probably end up with big noon kickoffs and in Ames that day. So I got you. Yep You know, but you know, they just won't have the big noon game to there. They're not gonna go to happy valley No, yeah, but but I think that they'll they'll probably set up shop at Ames for that day and you know, so it'll be what the Would that make it the third time in our last four trips? I think so.

Yeah. Yeah. That there'd be some sort of pregame show. I think that's probably going to happen. I mean, I'm not going to say 100%, but I want to say it's a high 90% of the first possibility. I think that's probably going to happen. Ashton Kusher, was that the weather delayed game that he was the guest picker? Was that the one?

You were in the press box, Doc. Oh, I was there early. Those games, the game day was there until like 11 and then the game didn't kick off till mid-afternoon. So I was one of them. I can't remember. I try to win, but I can't. So there was like 15,000 people there. I think it was the day of the big rainstorm that prolonged the

Cy-Hawk and almost forced Cy-Hawk to go into November a few months later. Doc, earlier today, Iowa State put out a release, a couple of new names that had been a couple of guys that we knew had been committed and we're going to be moving on out of the Trace for portal. And then a couple of new names that had been a couple of guys that we knew had been committed and we're going to be moving on out of the transfer portal. Then a couple of new names that were in there. I went now with the potential flexible roster. Do you anticipate they're going to do anything? And it might be look guys that are down the depth chart. Maybe guys that didn't find homes in the portal that were there that are walk on types.

But with this roster limit potentially 105, but it could be expanded. Anything at all that you anticipate I was gonna be doing here this offseason? Well, they've already picked up a couple of players that I, you know, I don't know that they would have had the ability to do so. I mean, they would have been really tight. I mean, they're over 105 now, I would say.

And so now they have that chance to pick up. I wouldn't be surprised if they grabbed a couple of extra linemen. You kind of need them just for practice purposes. I mean, they only have two walk-on linemen, counting George, what, Mayhas, is that how you pronounce it? Come from Iowa State to Iowa, and Kale Winter,

who's probably good enough to be a scholarship guy at a lot of schools. So they usually thrive on that. They usually need several. And then when you lose a guy like Joey Van Wetzinge, who transfers out even before spring practice ends, they could use a couple of guys just for the scout line-up. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if they're able to go out and do that, take a flyer on somebody while they can.

Iowa is kind of penalized for doing everything the right way when it came to this. Yeah, there's going to be some grandfathering in, but they, you know, they don't have to say how they're going to grandfather them in. They don't have to justify it. They just do it. And so I would anticipate, yeah, I mean, they might pick up a couple more. I don't know if they'll get too heavy, but, you know, now they have they have what three block on defensive linemen and they should probably have a few more. I think ultimately.

Doc is, is college football playoff moving closer towards February or closer back to January 1st as far as the end date? I think it's staying pretty much where it is. It's just a matter of how they want to, what they want to do if they want to add another round, you know, like we were saying that if they had four new playoff spots and then you're going to have what nine play in 16 and 10 play in 15 and then the winners of that play the next round and then there's still another pie. It's very complicated.

I don't see that coming. But I think what may make sense is to move the playoffs to a position up maybe a week from where it was last year and play it right after the championship round so then he could stay away from the NFL. That's been the real hard thing. So yeah, they're talking about moving it to like a first round to Army-Navy weekend. And maybe that's the case because I kind of think it got too late last year. And I think it's gonna be too late this year. I think they need to move that more into the second ish week of January and kind of end

it because this year got a little cliche even though you had two massive blue bloods in there. But still, I think that's probably the route that will go is they won't go any later. The 16 team bracket that I think we all feel we're going to get here very very quickly, is this a good thing for Iowa or is a system where it was 12 or even four, was that better for the Iowa Hawkeye football program? The Hawkeyes alone this new era that we're embarking upon. guys alone this new era that we're embarking upon? Great question, Trent. I would say I look at it this way that the best route for Iowa to win a national title, which you know, it's not going to happen, but had a chance to happen was the BCS with two teams. If they could have gotten in there in 02 or 09, one game winner take all that would have been

their best bet. The deeper it goes in the playoff, the game, winner take all, that would have been their best bet. The deeper it goes in the playoff, the less chance they're going to have because they just don't have the depth and the overall talent to weather that three or four playoff game run. However, when you're looking at it from Iowa or Iowa State's perspective for that matter is get into the tournament and maybe win a game or two and then you have one of the most memorable seasons in school history And and I think the 16 team is probably better for them but guaranteed for playoff spots is better for for Iowa because

I talked to Brett Bielema about this a few months ago and he loves it from the idea of we talked about the old Big Ten West and Forget that they didn't win in Indianapolis, but it, but that, that the vision play allowed teams to feel like they had a chance to for meaningful football in November. And you've got all the way to, you know, you're a game behind with two weeks to go. You're still playing for something. But now when you're an 18 team league and you've got these blue bloods and you're all in the same division, it's hard to think, well, we're two games behind,

we just have no chance. Then what are you playing for? To go to the Outback bowl? So I think this is helpful that if you have something to shoot for, like last year they would have been six, they would have played the play the playing game against Indiana. And so that's something to shoot for. And if they could get to that position in the future, I think that would be, that'd be great for the program. And if you think about it, if they host a game in early December against somebody else in the big 10 with the right to go to the playoffs, that is, that's going to be one of the more memorable games we'll see in, in Iowa football history.

That's Scott Dockerman from the athletic, as we talk a little Iowa football as it pertains to the big picture in college football. Speaking of that, we're talking playoffs. Should we? Last year there was a lot of talk during the summertime about the playoffs. Should that even cross our lips? We'll talk about a Dex Lockdown Hawkeyes. Back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Shout out to you. Every day is with us each and every day. That's right. We got a new podcast for you every single day during the week hit us up on YouTube hit that subscribe button if you're watching there if you're listening on the podcast side five star reviews all helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans so the

playoffs we're talking about the 12 team or this year likely a 16 team playoff that will begin next season in 2026 and and how it fits for Iowa football. So as I mentioned Last year we talked about the playoffs a lot and it was a schedule that was set for Iowa to do it. They did They're out of contention early. The lost Iowa State was absolutely devastating and They couldn't get off the mat to get to that level. And in a way, there were moments of last season that felt like a lost season because of the returning talent defensively, because of what we had in a guy like Caleb Johnson

in the backfield, Luke Lachey at the tight end position, quarterback wasn't good enough, wide receivers still weren't there, year number one of a new offense with Tim Lester, we saw improvements, but still a long ways to go. So is it even a question? Is it even something that should be or should we just continue to know defense is going to look different this year, going to be a lot of new faces specifically at that linebacker spot? On the offensive side of the football it's still in a year number one.

Maybe we're shooting for too much with Mark Gronowski. I don't believe so. That's not that I'm saying that this is a done deal, that anything short of a playoff period should be a disappointment because I'm not going that direction. However, it's not crazy. It's not crazy for a couple of reasons. First of all, the schedule is incredibly daunting. And if I would get through this thing at 10 and 2, not only at 10 and 2 do I believe they

are basically a lock for the college football playoff, at 10 and 2, you likely don't have to worry about playing in the Big Ten championship game. If both of those losses come in the conference, tiebreakers could go that way. Maybe there's a bunch of teams at 7 and 2 for that second slot in the Big Ten Championship game. But that aside, this schedule, as difficult as it is, that's enough. And 9 and 3 probably won't. Look, I was not the name brand of an Alabama

who was left out at 9 and 3. But also remember that everything's not in a vacuum. Things are going to look different. Things are going to change. And what we saw a season ago should not be a template about the way things are going to play out next year. We don't know how it's going to play out. And there's a real possibility. What a win against a Penn State or an Oregon can mean for Iowa's resume. 10 and 2 is the sweet spot. And I don't think they're going to get there. I think we're destined for another year in that 8 and 4

type of range, 7 and 5. It feels like that's where they're trending, but that's an improvement where I thought they were going to be back in January, where I thought it was going to be a real struggle for this program just to get back to six wins. I'm drinking the Kool-Aid, not the playoff Kool-Aid. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes

your first listen every day. For your second listen, make sure you check out the Portal show. You want to be up to date and everything going on inside the Portal, inside recruiting. Brian Smith has you covered. Be the most informed fan on the rapid changes to the college football landscape with the Portal.

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Network. Thanks for being with us today. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.