Inside The Pylon: A Midwest College Football Podcast

Ryan and Clinton hit part 2 of ITP's Rivalry Series, talking about The Game. Anthony Broome from The Wolverine at the On3 network and Tony Gerdeman from The Buckeye Huddle join the show to talk about their notable memories from covering the game, what the last three years has been like with Michigan flipping the script, and would a potential rematch of this game a week later in a Big Ten Title game make it more intense, or would it lose some of its luster?

Tonight on the show Ryan and Clinton being the first part of their Big Ten rivalry series, first talking about the longest intersectional rivalry in college football, USC and Notre Dame. What is the history of this rivalry, and what are some of the notable moments over the last 10-15 years? Ryan and some of our loyal listeners share some of their favorite/worst memories from these games. Later in the show, the guys talk about some of the other notable Big Ten rivalries, and Penn State fans weigh in on who their biggest Big Ten rivals are.

Ryan and Clinton return for another rankings list, this time talking top-five coaches the the Big Ten. The also discuss new coaches within the conference and who might be best set up for success, and wrap up talking about rising coordinators who might be looking at getting a HC job following the 2024 season.

With the ITP Spring Overview Series completed, Ryan and Clinton move on to ranking szn. Today they discuss the top positional groups in the Big Ten, and rank their top five programs at QB, RB, WR/TE, OL, DL, LB and secondary. Who falls where, are there any surprises, and does this list give us any indication on who the top teams in the conference will be this season?

Ryan and Clinton wrap up their spring overview series with a broad-based discussion on the MAC. Will the conference be a consistent playoff threat in the 12-team playoff? Or is it a league that is falling further behind in the CFB arm's race? Later the guys talk the new College Football 25 trailer, and wrap up with post-spring top 10 rankings.

Ryan and Clinton resume their spring overview series, wrapping up the power 4 portion discussing Notre Dame and whether or not Marcus Freeman can get the Irish back into the playoff in year three of his tenure. Later in the show the guys rank the strength of schedules for the Big Ten teams + ND from toughest to easiest.

Ty Hildenbrandt, 1/2 of The Solid Verbal, joins Clinto and Ryan to discuss all things Big Ten football. Topics include Penn State and Notre Dame, and what expectations for these programs should be moving into the 12-team playoff era. Is the Big Ten a two horse race this season with Ohio State and Oregon. Will defending national champ Michigan have something to say about that? The guys also talk about teams and players they are taking a keen interest in this coming season.

Ryan and Clinton wrap up the Big Ten portion their spring review series, discussing new-addition UCLA and surprise 2023 Northwestern. With Chip Kelly demoting himself to OC at Ohio State and a host of other staff changes and player defections, how will the Bruins fare in the Big Ten? In Evanston, the Wildcats surprised many with their 7-5 record this past season. Can they carry that momentum forward to this season?

Ryan and Clinton continue their spring review series, today discussing the new-look Michigan State Spartans and the old-guard Iowa Hawkeyes. After a remarkable 10-2 regular season despite finishing at or near the bottom of the country in nearly every offensive statistic, can new OC Tim Lester help Iowa's offense better complement its remarkable defense and special teams to the tune of a surprise playoff run? In East Lansing, new head coach Jonathan Smith brings in a lot of optimism and his prized OC recruit from Oregon State in Aidan Chiles. How much can the Spartans improve off last season's tumultuous 4-8 record?

Ryan and Clinton continue their spring overview series, today discussing teams on potentially different trajectories. Heading into year two of the Matt Rhule era, the Huskers improved to 5-7 last year but suffered four-consecutive close losses to end the season. However, there's plenty of momentum surrounding the program -- mostly centered around 5-star freshman QB Dylan Raiola. Meanwhile, coming off a national championship game last season, Washington lost nearly its entire starting lineup from 2023 either to the draft, graduation or the portal. In addition, head coach Kalen DeBoer is now patrolling the sidelines in Tuscaloosa. Can incoming head coach Jedd Fisch maintain positive momentum in the Pacific Northwest?

ITP continues its spring overview series with a special guest, as Ryan and Clinton sit down with Steven Best, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, who served as Direction of Rehabilitation for Rutgers football during the course of the 2022 season. He offers some insights on the Scarlet Knights and why Greg Schiano's unique fit for the program has them once again on the upswing heading into 2024. Steven sticks around to talk Wisconsin with the guys; what could realistic expectations for the Badgers be heading into the 12-team playoff era? Despite bringing in an entirely new offensive identify with OC Phil Longo, expectations were high for first-year head coach Luke Fickell last season. The Badgers failed to live up to them with a 7-6 record. How much of a leash might Fickell have if the Badgers once again fail to meet expectations?

Ryan and Clinton hit the halfway point of ITP's spring overview series, this episode focusing on Purdue and USC. The Boilermakers are coming off a 4-8 record in new head coach Ryan Walters' debut season, and suffered a couple of notable portal losses in the offseason; can they take a step to bowl eligibility and beyond? Meanwhile, the Trojans are another Big Ten newcomer with high pedigree but are themselves coming off a remarkably disappointing 7-5 season and lose likely No. 1 NFL draft pick Caleb Williams. Will Miller Moss be next in a remarkable run of Lincoln Riley QBs? Will their defense be better than the unit that was obliterated time and time again last season?

ITP continues its spring review series, as Ryan and Clinton sit down to talke Penn State and Maryland. Another year under James Franklin, this time with two new coordinators, will the Nittany Lions be able to get over the hump into the college football playoff? With Maryland, after another eight-win season, will the Terps be able to take a step forward in the new-look Big Ten?

ITP continues its spring overview series as Ryan and Clinton sit down to discuss Minnesota and whether or not the Gophers are going to be able to regain the form they had with back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, or if last year's fall to 6-7 was a sign of things to come. Later in the show they discuss Oregon's incorporation to the Big Ten and whether or not the Ducks are legitimate threats to the top of the conference and the college football world at large.

Cam Teague-Robinson, beat reporter covering Ohio State athletics for The Athletic, joins Ryan and Clinton at the top of the show to discuss the recently complete Ohio State spring game and what the overall vibes have been in Columbus following a third straight loss to Michigan, but an offseason that has been filled with transfer portal recruiting wins and upperclassmen returning for one more run at a title. Later in the show Ryan and Clinton discuss the Indiana Hoosiers, led by imported James Madison coach Curt Cignetti and a plethora of additions via the transfer portal. Could the Hoosiers be looking at bowl eligibility in 2024?

Inside the Pylon begins is spring football overview series, as Ryan and Clinton sit to to briefly recap the 2023 seasons and discuss spring storylines for both the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines, as well as the Illinois Illini. Do the guys see Michigan making the playoff for a fourth straight year? Can Illinois recapture some of the magic they had during an 8-5 2022 season?

Draft Guy Jared joins Ryan and Clinton to talk NFL draft and some of the notable prospects that will be selected from Midwest schools in a few weeks.

Clinton and Ryan reminisce on the end of the 4-team CFP era and discuss some of the top teams, performance and moments from the past decade, including the Big Ten's place in the hierarchy of the sport. Then they discuss the imminent move to 12 teams for the 2024 season and how that might affect expectations at certain Big Ten programs. Finally, the touch on the planned move to 14 teams and wonder if this might be too much of a good thing. They finish by outlining their five most anticipated games of the season and answer listener questions.

Clinton and Ryan kick off football talk discussing Michigan's run to National Champions last season, and whether or not their team building recipe is able to be replicated by another Big Ten conference member. Later in the show, they break down the 18 Big Ten teams plus ND into 4 tiers for the upcoming season, ranging from National Title contender to "Cousin Greg."

Ryan and Clinton sit down to introduce themselves and briefly discuss their ideas and visions for what coverage will like like for ITP. Football content coming 4/1!