Against the Grain

With the return of MJ & Jackson, we began the episode with a bit of card collectors' jargon. As we agreed, if they make a profit in the end, we can't judge.

Today, we began the episode with an NFL Week 1 review of both the Patriots v. Seahawks and the 49ers v. Rams. The crew had a lot to say about each of the losing teams, so tune in to hear their critiques! Joshua, Andrew, and Neil all shared their Super Bowl teams and award favorites. We then transitioned into a full recap of Week 1 of College Football...

As we brush off the dust from the summer, we begin a NEW SEASON of KTRU Against the Grain! In this new season, we welcome many familiar faces (Neil, Seth, Jacob) and some newcomers (Andrew & Joshua). Although we will miss our graduated members, we strive to continue their legacy as we grow the podcast!

Today, we previewed the NFL season (which is less than a week away) with our insight on Division Leaders, Sleeper teams, and Frauds (as always, Neil puts these poor teams on blast)! We immediately tested the ball knowledge of Joshua, one of the...

We are less than 50 days away from the BIGGEST sporting event in the WORLD. The World Cup is coming to the US, Mexico, and Canada starting on June 11th and going until July 19th. Our crew today (Julian, Andrew, Max, and Jacob) gives an in-depth breakdown of the top teams at the tournament, a group stage preview, and a solemn brief on the state of the US Men's National Team. There are many questions answered in this behemoth of an episode, with several goodies for you to enjoy. No matter where you are, tune in for this episode and...

In our final episode of the semester, we look back on a great year of Against The Grain. From great takes and total misses to unforgettable quotes and memorable moments, we recap the highlights from all of last year! Tune in to hear our end-of-the-year awards segment ("The Grainies")!!

After looking inward, we turn our attention to what was an unbelievable 1st round draft night. Who were the biggest steals of the evening? Which teams reached too far? Why are Jacob's Rams getting absolutely flamed? Listen in to hear the rant of the year from Neil and...

As our motivation for school fades away, our excitement for sports goes on an absolute heater with the beginning of the NBA & NHL playoffs. Nothing beats this part of the year, and the crew has you covered with the best analysis and predictions set for every first-round matchup in the NBA & NHL. Who will come out of the West? Are the Lakers really nothing without Luka & Reaves? Will MJ's Knicks really make it to the NBA finals? How bad is the Pacific Division really? Will we see Seth's Wild make a cheeky run deep into the playoffs? Do the...

On this week's episode of Against the Grain, we take a deep dive into our beloved Rice University's greatest tradition: Beer Bike! In a bold attempt to explain this borderline inconceivable event to a broader audience, we were joined by friend of the show, Sandra Alb, a captain of the Duncan College women's bike and chug teams, as well as a college beer bike coordinator. She gave us insight into race day strategy, the surprisingly intense training that goes into this slightly bizarre event, and the rarely discussed world of the week-long beer bike events and sponsorships powering each...

Get ready for an all-basketball week! Your Against the Grain hosts give a full breakdown of each of your Final Four teams. Can Keaton Wagler keep the Illinois offense chugging amidst their defensive resurgence? Is Arizona v Michigan set to be the best Final Four game of all time? Is Dan Hurley going to chest bump a ref again? We have all these answers and more.

The gang follows up our college basketball analysis with a deep dive into the NBA. Why is Luka getting robbed of MVP this year? Can anyone overcome the Thunder of Oklahoma...

This episode rocks!! Rachel gives a wild statement about March Madness brackets that must be put in the record books. Our resident baseball knowers, Jacob and Seth, give a full breakdown of the upcoming MLB season (and why the Dodgers are a shoo-in). We run back the youngins (Seth & Neil) and the oldheads (Garret & Fox) in a game to be remembered (for dubious reasons).

Garret and Ian lament a brutal Nebraska loss but show love to the best fanbase in the country. Wrapping us up, Neil explains why Waddle could push the Broncos over the top, and...

We sit down with Rice WBB senior Shelby Hayes to start off this week's episode of Against the Grain, where she gives us an inside look into the Owl squad that has now won a program record 22 straight games, a streak that dates all the way back to Thanksgiving. The crew also discusses if anyone can stop Arsenal in the Champions League, and if anyone can stop the big 3 powerhouses in college basketball: Michigan, Duke, and Arizona. Spoiler: the hometown Houston Cougars have as good a shot as anyone. Due to Rice University spring break we'll be gone for...

Last year we never would've thought that we'd end up talking so much about hockey, but lo and behold! We also preview the upcoming World Baseball Classic and give our Owls their flowers as Swim and Dive wins their second consecutive American Conference championship and the Rice women's basketball team wins their 20th game in a row headed into the final stretch of the season. Tune in next Saturday at 9 AM to KTRU 96.1 FM for another episode of Against the Grain!

We sure do! Whether it's ski jumping, curling, the NBA tankathon, or MJ and the alleged dollar hot dog night at Rice baseball, there's plenty to talk about this week on Against the Grain. As the final weekend of the Olympics approaches, we broke down the biggest storylines and results from sports you may not have even known existed. Rice Women's Basketball goes on the road looking for their 19th straight win, and resident hoops experts David, Garret, and Fox generate their best plan to save the NBA. Stay tuned every Saturday at 9 AM on KTRU 96.1 FM for more...

Do your local Whataburger employees know your name? Here at Against the Grain, they absolutely do! Today, we break down an NBA trade deadline chock-full of moves. Are people sleeping on Jared McCain to the thunder? Should you be sound-asleep on the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade? Is Grand Theft Alvarado 6 going to drop this year? We answer all these questions and take guesses at who the absolute worst front office in the league is.

If you weren't aware, there is a football game happening this Sunday. We deep dive the Gatorade color that will be dumped on...

Chaos broke out in what we thought was going to be a slower sports week, though this week's episode was anything but slow. The Dodgers are ruining baseball, Arizona MBB cannot be stopped, Rice WBB cannot be stopped, and we talked about...wrestling? On an episode full of curveballs and a slower week inside the hedges we talk baseball, basketball, wrestling and Olympic hockey before rapid firing predictions because we ran out of time playing "Whose Take is it Anyway," a game we'll definitely have to bring back in the future. You don't wanna miss this week's episode at 7...

After Bo Nix' ankle mysteriously snapped in half, resident Broncos fan Neil was left no choice but to defend Jarrett Stidham and the mile high crew as they battle Drake "Drake Maye" Maye (or in the words of Neil "Drake-Drake Maye-Maye") and the Patriots of New England. Jacob's hometown squad (the LA Rams) head to Lumen Field to take on the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC title led by arguable MVP Matthew Stafford and the muscle hamsters in the backfield (we're as confused as you are, I promise). KD is doing his best to put the Rockets on his...

2026 is here, and your Against The Grain hosts are prepared to tell you exactly what will happen in sports this year (just don't bet on it)! Rice Women's Basketball is flying through its conference schedule, and we break down the secret to its 9-game win streak. Outside the hedges, we're preparing for a classic CFP final (or another Indiana route). We discuss the biggest storylines from this year's electric CFP and reveal who we see raising the trophy! Lastly, we talk about the hottest thing in Houston right now. No, it's not Ian Kleppinger. Instead, we break down what...

The 2026 NFL Wild Card Round has a lot of unpredictable matchups to help us ring in the New Year, and even as the experts we are we admit that some of those games are trickier to predict. In spite of this, we press on with a bonus episode to kick off the big '26 and attempt to give you everything you need to know about the 6 unique games on the gridiron this upcoming weekend. We recorded this one virtually so forgive the slight decline in audio quality, and stay tuned for our regular show on KTRU 96.1 FM coming back...

We're about to go on a hiatus for winter break (and many of us already have), but before we left we made sure to give y'all everything you could need watching sports in Houston over the next couple weeks. What should you look for in the upcoming Texans and Rockets schedules? As the Texans fight for a playoff spot and the Rockets go on the road trip to end all road trips there's never a dull moment as a loyal fan in H-Town. In other news, Tulane and James Madison are in the CFP and a lot of big...

Why are your hosts so bad at sports betting? Why is Producer Ian not blessing my ears on Around the Hedges? Against the Grain has the answer to these questions and much more, as we dive into a week of nonstop action. Rice Volleyball makes the NCAA tournament once again, but how far can our owls fly? In international sports, resident soccer experts Julian Puerto and Andrew Fox give a full breakdown of the 2026 World Cup groups, showing some optimism for the boys in red, white, and blue. College football conference championships are this weekend, and the playoff implications...

The reigning Premier League champions entered this season with high expectations, following a summer spending spree of $565M(!!) on star names including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. A promising start in the standings masked numerous issues on the field that continue to loom over the club: new summer signings have massively underwhelmed and previously reliable club stars have become liabilities, both of which have been intensified by the lack of a clear tactical plan. The Reds have now won only 4 of their last 14 games (at the time of recording), and Head Coach Arne Slot seems to be hanging on...

General Mills and his mighty men bring down the husband of Hailee Steinfeld. Does the Against the Grain team believe Money Mills is for real, and how far can the defense carry the Texans? Meanwhile, the Rockets are soaring, fresh off a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. How has Reed Sheppard transformed his game, and who in the West can stand up to this Rockets squad? Jacob forgets to count syllables, but Seth can't get over 9. As the cherry on top, Julian gives everyone a geography lesson. Finally, tune in to the predictions to see what Garret believes Alperen...

Now that the College Football Playoff Committee is releasing weekly rankings, our team weighs in. Who are the frauds? Who is for real? Who's bringing home the hardware come January? We are now both a hockey and poetry podcast, neither of which anyone saw coming. We spent some time arguing about athletes named Jalen (though not Jalen Green, which is a nice change of pace), and paid homage to both Max and Pat McAfee with the final game on the predictions segment. Enjoy the fact that ESPN is back on YouTubeTV and make sure not to miss us next...

After a brief schism about Jacob's fashion decisions and the usual trip Around the Hedges, the squad gives you an update on the NFL's midseason status as well as previews the upcoming seasons for Rice Men's and Women's Basketball. Garret talks the talk during the debut of a new trivia game we invented, but can he walk the walk? Jacob continues his case to be the show's Poet Laureate with yet another haiku, Julian walks the city of Houston through the five stages of grief, and we talk about both baseball and hockey in the same episode, so you...

WE ARE BACK to give you a taste of the Lone Star State to get started with season 2 of our show for the 2025-26 school year. Unfortunately we don't mean BBQ, but we do catch you up to speed on Julian's hometown Houston Texans and all 3 Texas NBA franchises. Also, Jacob wrote a haiku.

We kick things off with Around the Hedges, going through postseason updates and AAC honors. Then it's time for Whose Take Is It Anyway?, where Juju, Brandon, David, and Jacob react to some of the semester’s wildest takes.

Garret and Max host our first (and soon-to-be annual) Awards show—complete with speeches, music, and a buzzer to play people off. We wrap up with a predictions recap and a special farewell interview.

In today’s episode, we go Around the Hedges—shoutout to the Men’s Tennis team for winning the AAC! Then we dive into Round 1 of the NFL Draft, breaking down the biggest surprises and trades, including the Jaguars and Giants trading up to get their guys.

Next, we cover early NBA Playoff results, surprises, and storylines. Then, we open up the mail and discuss if we are buying or selling the takes sent in to the show. We wrap up with quick hits and predictions for the UCL Semis and Nuggets-Clippers Game 4.

We are so excited to have NFL wide receiver and Rice alum Luke McCaffrey join the show! Ahead of the NFL Draft, Luke looks back on his own draft experience and what it was like stepping into the league alongside quarterback Jayden Daniels.

We talk about his rookie season with the Commanders, the biggest takeaways heading into Year 2, and what he's focusing on this offseason. Luke also reflects on his time at Rice and shares how the team in Washington is building a new culture.

With both the NBA and NHL playoffs tipping off, the Around the Hedges crew is all in on postseason talk.

We start with a trip Around the Hedges before diving into a full NBA Playoffs preview, breaking down the biggest storylines, matchups to watch, and bold predictions. Then, it's time for a Non-All-Star Playoff Draft, where we see if a squad of overlooked players could actually compete with real postseason teams.

Next, we shift gears with a quick NHL Playoffs preview, followed by some quick hits from across the sports world. Finally, we wrap things...

If you thought we were in the football offseason, think again — as we are in the midst of the Champions League quarter-finals (the real football). We break down all the first-leg action and preview what’s to come in the second legs. Then, it’s time for Is That a Minor League Baseball Mascot? as the crew tries to guess which names are legit and which ones Ian and Brandon made up. After that, we dive into the college basketball transfer portal and debate whether soccer-style transfer fees could help mid-majors hold on to their talent. We wrap up with p...

This week’s episode kicks off with everything you need to know about one of Rice’s wildest and most iconic traditions: Beer Bike. With special guest, senior and biker Ben Montag, we break down what to expect from this year’s race. Then, things get competitive with a Beer Bike-themed game of Wheel of Drunk, where some tipsy anchors go head to head trying to name the most things from a specified category. In the second half, we preview the Final Four. Before wrapping up and making predictions.

It's March Madness, but we’re not just talking basketball! We kick things off with a deep dive into the firing of Jose Cruz Jr. and the hiring of David Pierce at Rice University, breaking down the Cruz era, the midseason switch, and what’s next for Rice Baseball. Then, we shift gears to MLB’s opening weekend, analyzing the winners and losers of the offseason and predicting division winners and dark horses.

As March Madness heats up, we discuss our favorite moments so far and preview the Elite 8 matchups. Then, we wrap up with some predictions!

IT'S MARCH, BABY! That means it's time to talk college basketball. Ahead of Selection Sunday, we break down which favorites we think can make a big run in the tournament, potential frauds, dark horses, and cinderellas.

Tune in to see who we have picked to go to the Final Four and win the Men's and Women's tournaments.

In today’s episode, we go Around the Hedges before diving into the State of the NBA, where we discuss trade deadline moves and predict end-of-year awards. Then, Garret and Andrew face off in Guess the Player Pt. 3—who will come out on top?

Next, we spin the wheel for Whose Take Is It Anyway?, forcing Brandon, Jacob, Garret, and Julian to defend some bold opinions. Finally, we wrap up with some quick hits from across sports before making predictions ahead of this weekend's games.

In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to break down last week’s results. Then, we discuss Rice Baseball's opening weekend results and preview their season. After playing a new game Wheel of Stuff (the title is a work in progress), we dissect the successful NHL All-Star weekend and the considerably less successful NBA All-Star game. Finally, we wrap up with predictions ahead of this weekend's game.

In this special abbreviated episode, we react to Super Bowl LIX, breaking down key moments from the game, evaluating the Chiefs’ offseason needs, and debating next season’s Super Bowl favorites.

In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to break down last week’s results before diving into the shocking trade of Luka Doncic. Then, we break down Super Bowl LIX: Eagles vs. Chiefs and debate if the Chiefs can capture the elusive three-peat. Finally, we wrap up with predictions and prop bets for the Super Bowl.

This week on Against the Grain, we go Around the Hedges to break down last week’s results before diving into the Houston Rockets and the growing debate—Is Jalen Green actually good? Then, we tackle the coaching carousel and Dallas’ decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer. (Jerry Jones do better). Finally, we wrap up with predictions and crown our Dog of the Week for the upcoming games.

WE ARE BACK! In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from over the break. Then, we discuss the CFP final, including the implications of Ohio State's win. After a quick game of Guess My Player, we transition to talking about the Texans' playoff run and reflect on the season as a whole. Lastly, the crew makes predictions for the NFL Conference Championship games and selects our "dog of the week" ahead of this weekend.

In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results. Then, we discuss the hiring of Scott Abell as Rice's new football head coach. After a quick game of Guess My Player, we transition to talking about the CFP Playoff Bracket. Lastly, the crew makes some predictions ahead of this weekend's games.

In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from the week. Then, ahead of the AAC Volleyball Tournament, we discuss Rice Women's Volleyball with Lola Foord, a senior outside hitter. Then, we transition to talking about University of Houston basketball and their chance to win the Big 12 conference. Lastly, the crew makes some predictions ahead of this weekend's games.

In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from the week. Then, ahead of NCAA regionals on November 15th, we discuss Rice Cross Country with Will McDermott, who will be competing in the 8K race. After a starting 5 draft of NBA players under the age of 25, we switch gears and discuss the young Rockets core. Lastly, the crew makes some predictions ahead of this weekend's games.