Inside The Pylon: A Midwest College Football Podcast

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Ohio State.

The Buckeyes OL bolsters 34 returning starts, and plenty of intriguing names come back in that room. How much position shifting will occur and what might the starting five look like in 2026?

Perhaps the biggest change with Ohio State comes with the departure of one-year playcaller but long-time assistant Brian Hartline, who finally spread his wings and flew away from Columbus to a head coaching job with USF. The WR room gets a bit of a makeover, with Carnell Tate off to...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Northwestern.

One of the most intriguing hires of the offseason was OC Chip Kelly, back in the Big Ten after a year in the NFL. He teams up with transfer QB Aidan Chiles, himself an import from Michigan State. With a good amount of skill talent to work with at RB and WR, will the marriage yield Will Howard-esque results for Northwestern in 2026, or will it look more like 2023 then-true freshman Dante Moore?

Northwestern had a strong OL in 2025 particularly in pass protection...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Nebraska.

Rob Aurich joins Matt Rhule's staff as defensive coordinator. He had a largely successful run with San Diego State, where he called what was one of the nation's best defenses in both yards per game and points per game in 2025. How with this translate to Nebraska, which boasted one of the nation's best pass defenses in 2025, but ranked 100th nationally in yards per game against the run?

At QB, favorite son Dylan Railoa left via the portal for Oregon. After a flirtation...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Minnesota.

Drake Lindsey took over under center for Minnesota in 2025 and had a fine season overall. He took care of the ball well with 18 TDs to 6 INTs, but the passing offense lacked explosiveness. The Gophers ranked 127th nationally at 5.9 yards per attempt for the season. Coupled with a rushing offense that struggled to gain momentum, and you have an offense that ranked in the bottom third in FBS in points per game. Lindsey will need to take his game to the next level, but would...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Michigan State.

QB play was not a bright spot for this squad a year ago but neither start had help from his OL. The Spartans allowed 37 sacks a year ago, and struggled to consistently open run lanes. Can several transfer portal adds help shore up this unit?

While they could not protect their own QB, the Spartans defense could also not affect any pressure on opposing QBs with only 22 sacks accrued in 2025. Is there a player on the roster who can step up...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Michigan.

A year ago Michigan won nine games despite a still-lacking passing attack and a head coach who was ... preoccupied. With a serious staff (and a real QB coach) what might be this offense's ceiling with Kyle Whittingham and Jason Beck calling the shots?

Part of that depends on someone stepping up out wide. Andrew Marsh established himself as a No. 1 target in 2025. Will a transfer -- or a player already in toe -- step up beside him to give Michigan another pass-catching...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking Maryland.

Maryland built its 2025 offense around true freshman QB Malik Washington and he delivered well. However he did not have much help from the run game and the Terps' top-three receivers are off to the NFL. What will this offense look like under new OC Clint Trickett?

Maryland struggled defensively as 2025 progressed, particularly against the run where they ranked 15th in the Big Ten, allowing 175.6 yards per game on the ground. To address this, Maryland brought in a handful of interior DL transfers...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, touching on Iowa. Another 9-win season in 2025, with a win against playoff-contending Vanderbilt in the bowl game showed the consistency of Kirk Ferentz's program. However, turnover will be abound with this team in 2026.

That starts at the QB position. After portal shopping the last year years, and having good success with Mark Gronowski in 2025, the Hawkeyes will look to turn to an in-house solution (who also previously transferred in) in 2026 with Jeremy Hecklinski or Hank Brown. How with this alter the offensive identity?

Out...

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, touching on Illinois. After a breakout 2024 led to a strong, but maybe short of expectations 2025, where will the team head in 2026?

They will be led by a new QB with three-year starter Luke Altmyer off for the NFL. In comes ECU transfer Katin Houser, he of 2023 Michigan State lore. A big body with a strong arm and a more physical run style, will Illinois alter its offensive look in 2026 to accommodate the new signal caller?

He will need help from his OL, which was...

Ryan and Clinton return from hiatus to begin a journey through the midwest as spring ball begins to kick off. The guys open with the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers, with three items to observe for in the spring.

On the edge, Mikhail Kamara departs after a successful two year run in Bloomington following a transfer from JMU. To help ease his loss, along with several others, the Hoosiers hit the portal hard. Who are the names to know this spring.

Out wide, Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper are off to the NFL, but 2025 breakout...

In part four of our four part February series, Ryan and Clinton talk coaching carousel. In the Big Ten, four new head coaching jobs start in 2026: Pat Fitzgerald returns to the Big Ten at Michigan State; Matt Campbell takes the next step in his career moving to Penn State; Bob Chesney jumps from James Madison to UCLA; and Kyle Whittingham stepped down at Utah and took Michigan's vacant posting. What are aspects of these hires we like that could indicate coming success? What are some potential trepidations with these hires that give us cause for pause. Additionally, the guys...

In part three of our four part February series, Ryan and Clinton talk transfer portal. In the Big Ten, who are key names to know for each team, and who is a player who might be flying under the radar ready for a big breakout?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified...

In part two of our four-part February series, Ryan and Clinton reminisce and eulogize the Southeastern Football Conference, which has now gone three consecutive seasons without playing in a national championship game. What has led to this shift in the power dynamics of college football, and will the shift in power toward the Midwest continue moving forward?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions...

You have questions, we have answers (mostly). In part one of four of the guy's February pre-recorded series, the guys tackle user questions. From early playoff predictions, to past dream jobs, the guys tackle a wide range of topics.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and...

The Indiana Hoosiers are champions of the college football world for the first time in program history, To commemorate the occasion, friend of the show Sammy Jacobs of Hoosier Huddle re-joins the show to talk about Indiana's unprecedented season. How did this come together? When did he know that this year's team had a chance to be special? How does one react to being a national champion? And what comes next for Curt Cignetti and this program?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed...

The CFB season is at an end and Ryan and Clinton return to recap Indiana's magical run to national champions with a 27-21 win against Miami. Where does this rank in terms of "best CFP stories of all time," and what staying power do the Hoosiers have?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on...

The CFB season is at an end and Ryan and Clinton return for their last preview of the 2025 season for the National Championship game between Miami and Indiana. The Hoosiers are looking to win their first national title in program history, and finalize the first 16-0 season in the history of the sport. To do so they will have to take down the Hurricanes in Miami. The guys break down key matchups and give their last prediction of the season.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in...

Ryan and Clinton reconvene to recap Indiana's 56-22 win in the CFP semifinal against Oregon. How did we get here? What is next for the Ducks? And is an Indiana national title inevitible?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

Ryan and Clinton reconvene to recap Indiana's 56-22 win in the CFP semifinal against Oregon. How did we get here? What is next for the Ducks? And is an Indiana national title inevitible?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

We have reached the college football semifinal, and we are graced with a rematch of one of the premier games of the regular season with Indiana taking on Oregon with a spot in the National Title Game on the line. Will the Ducks avenge their midseason defeat at the hands of the Hoosiers, or will Curt Cignetti's squad continue their undefeated run? Ryan and Clinton break down the matchup and pick the winner.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live...

The CFP quarterfinals have come and gone and with a lone exception the first-round bye was once again unkind to teams, with the purported top-4 seeds falling to a combined 1-7 in the two-year history of the 12-team playoff. However, a midwest school was able to buck that trend, set up an anticipated semifinal rematch, and ensures the Big Ten will be playing for a national title for the third consecutive season.

In the first game, Ohio State was befuddled by a violent Miami front seven. The Hurricanes, with few exceptions, kept Ohio State's offense bottled up...

The quarterfinals are here and a trio of Big Ten teams will took to extend their seasons and keep national title hopes alive.

In the Cotton Bowl -- for just the fifth time in history, and the first time since 2011, Ohio State faces off against Miami. The 'Canes boast strong offensive and defensive line play -- which gave the Buckeyes trouble in the Big Ten title game. However, Miami's offense struggled in the wind against Texas A&M in the first round. Can Ohio State keep its national title defense hopes alive?

In the Orange...

Round one of the playoff is finished and the semifinal field is set. Many things were learned this weekend, mostly not for the better.

In the lone midwest action of the weekend, Oregon predicably thrashed James Madison in a game that was 34-6 at halftime. Dakorien Moore returned for the Ducks but he was unneeded, with Dante Moore hitting explosive pass plays to Trey Benson, Jamari Johnson and Dierre Hill. Did we actually learn anything from this game? And how will the Ducks match up with Texas Tech.

Elsewhere in the playoff Ole Miss crushed...

Ryan and Clinton return for a first-round playoff pick 'em. With a light midwest flavor, the guys briefly talk all four first-round games.

The big question of the weekend: will chalk prevail or will we get chaos? In the later games Friday, we get Tulane (+17.5 vs Ole Miss) and James Madison (+21 vs Oregon) as three-score underdogs in games both appear to be heavily outmatched, but stranger things have occurred. Will either team cover, let alone win outright?

Friday night, we get a rematch of 9-seed Alabama vs 8-seed Oklahoma, but this time in Norman. The...

Dale Bliss from Autzen Zoo returns to the show to help the guys break down Oregon's encore season in the Big Ten and look ahead to its first-round playoff matchup vs James Madison.

After winning the league with a perfect 13-0 season in year one of their Big Ten journey, the Ducks had a masterful follow-up campaign at 11-1. However, that loss to Indiana ended the Ducks' chances at defending their Big Ten title. Did the regular season meet expectations? And how far do the Ducks need to go in the postseason for this season to be...

Just when we thought the couching carousel was done spinning, Wednesday afternoon brought another bombshell with news dropping of Michigan's dismissal of head coach Sherrone Moore (and his subsequent arrest). Ryan divulges on some of the rumblings around Ann Arbor, and the guys talk where Michigan goes from here.

Later in the show, the guys revisit their preseason playoff brackets and laugh at how incorrect their fields were, and Ryan talks through his preseason Big Ten record predictions vs actual results. The guys also reveal their bracket picks.

Join us on our Youtube channel live...

In what would have seemed fictitious two years ago when Indiana hired Curt Cignetti away from James Madison, the Indiana Hoosiers are champions of the Big Ten, 13-0, and the No. 1 team in college football. The guys talked about the Hoosiers stymying previously-unbeaten Ohio State en route to their first outright Big Ten title since World War II.

The playoff field is set. The guys talk about the bracket, the paths for Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State, and the spineless Committee protection of Alabama. that found Notre Dame on the outside looking in.

Join us...

Championship week is here and we have been blessed with a matchup between Nos. 1 and 2 in the country for the Big Ten Title Game. Ohio State and Indiana face off for conference supremacy. The guys discussed the matchup and keys to look out for. Who has the advantage, and do both teams have a first-round bye locked up anyway?

The guys also discuss the penultimate CFP rankings and their implications, and pick the other conference title games.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your...

The guys take a break from breaking down the games to talk some off the field stuff. With the regular season finished, the coaching carousel is spinning and it has already affected the midwest.

The headliner was Michigan State parting ways with Jonathan Smith and quickly tapping former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald as it's next head coach. How will Fitzgerald fit with the Spartans?

Elsewhere, UCLA is looking to tap into past JMU magic by hiring Dukes' head coach Bob Chesney. While not in the midwest for his next job, Oregon OC was hired...

Rivalry week has come and gone, and with it another college football regular season. Conference title matchups are set, the playoff field is taking shape, and we know who gets a bowl and who is in offseason mode.

For the first time since 2019, Ohio State was victorious against Michigan with a suffocating 27-9 victory, reminiscent of how Michigan has won this game in the past. Is it the Buckeyes vs the field for the national title?

Indiana took care of business against Purdue to set up a 12-0 Big Ten Title Game. Oregon dispatched Washington...

Rivalry week is here and the stakes could not be higher. Several games feature implications for either bowl games, or potential playoff berths.

In Ann Arbor, Ohio State looks to end a four-game skid against Michigan that extends to pre-COVID times, and clinic a berth in the Big Ten title game for the first time since 2020. With both teams banged up on offense, what will keys to this game be?

Out west in Seattle, Jedd Fisch and Washington have already surpassed last season's win total, but could throw a wrench in Oregon's postseason hopes. The...

Rivalry week is upon us and we are kicking off the week previewing the Cascade Clash between Washington and Oregon. To help us break down the game, Roman Tomashoff from Locked on Huskies, and Dale Bliss, from Autzen Zoo join the show.

Oregon scored its marquee win of the season a week ago, dispatching USC. The Ducks dominated the lines of scrimmage in that game. But this week they get a much stiffer test against a Washington defense that 18th nationally in yards per game allowed on the ground, and 29th in yards per carry surrendered. How...

In a week 13 that was devoid of marquee matchups, outside of Eugene, chalk took hold with most of the top teams which sets up a massive rivalry week to close the season.

In the game of the weekend, Oregon kept USC at arms length most of the game and gave itself an emphatic resume boost with a 42-27 victory. Lincoln Riley once again failed to lead his team on the road against a ranked team. Meanwhile, Dan Lanning's squad is a win away from returning to the CFP.

Both Michigan and Ohio State won against...

There are two weeks left in the regular season and seemingly everyone has something to play for, to varying degrees. The playoff race is tightening up, with seemingly more 1- and 2-loss teams coming down the pipe than playoff chairs to seat them. That heightens the stakes in our game of the week.

USC (8-2) travels to Eugene to take on Oregon (9-1) and would could effectively serve as a playoff elimination game for the loser. Can the Ducks' top-rated pass defense stifle Jayden Maiava and the USC pass attack? Or will Lincoln Riley (finally) achieve a...

Another wild week in the Big Ten has set forth a clear contender class with now two weeks to go in the regular season. While Indiana and Ohio State both control their own destiny for a Big Ten Title Game (and CFP) berth, three other teams scored victories to ensure they to have a shot to qualify for the CFP as an at-large berth.

The Hoosiers and Buckeyes cruised to wins against Wisconsin and UCLA, respectively. USC stayed alive with a come-from-behind 26-21 win against Iowa after falling behind 14 points early. Likewise, Michigan improved to 8-2 with...

Week 12 of the CFB season is upon us and we have a special Monday preview episode for you, as the guys are hitting the road this weekend to check out Autzen Stadium for the Oregon vs. Minnesota contest. The Ducks -- fresh off a thrilling win against No. 20 Iowa -- return home to take on a 6-3 Gophers squad coming off a bye. Can Dante Moore and Oregon stay on track and set up a likely top-15 showdown in week 13 against USC? Or will Drake Lindsey and the Gophers play spoiler?

Elsewhere, College Gameday heads to Pittsburg...

Week 11 featured games with high stakes, and the matchups sure did not disappoint, highlighted by two top-1o teams getting taken down to the wire.

In Happy Valley, Fernando Mendoza led a last-minute game-winning drive to power No. 2 Indiana past Penn State, 27-24. The win moved the Hoosiers to 10-0 and, barring a massive letdown against either Wisconsin or Purdue, ensures they will be heading to the Big Ten Title game in their home state. However, does this game raise questions about their ceiling.

In Iowa City, Dante Moore led a game-winning drive of his...

Week 11 is upon us and we are firmly into the nitty gritty of the CFB season. The first CFP poll is out and playoff contenders and dark horses are now fully into focus.

This will be played out in Iowa City on Saturday, with No. 20 Iowa playing host to No.9 Oregon. Can the Hawkeyes put a dent in Oregon's playoff resume while bolstering their own?

Elsewhere, contenders Ohio State (-29.5 @ Purdue), Indiana (-14.5 @ Penn State), USC (-14.5 vs Northwestern), Washington (-11.5 @ Wisconsin) and Notre Dame (-25.5 vs Navy) are all multi-score favorites while they look...

The first CFP committee rankings are out and the Midwest reigns, with Ohio State and Indiana the top two in the country. What did the guys think of the first set of rankings.

The guys also debate who the best player in the country is.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to...

Halloween weekend featured some truly terrifying performances, ranging from teams annihilating the competition, to awful clock management, to just truly slept-walking performances.

In Lincoln, USC's offense came alive in the second half, in a 21-17 win and Nebraska sputtered with Dylan Raiola injured in the second half.

In what looked in the preseason to be the marquee matchup of the weekend, Ohio State played around with Penn State for a half before pulling away in a 38-14 win. The Buckeyes passing attack was humming, with both Jeremiah Smith and Carnell take surpassing 100 yards.

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