The NCAA is Dead and All-Big Ten Predictions

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: UCLA Bruins

Ryan and Clinton welcome Mike Regalado, from Bruin 247 and the What's Bruin Show, back to the show, to help them break down the UCLA Bruins in year one of a new regime. Bob Chesney takes over as head coach for the Bruins, following a 16-game run for previous head coach DeShaun Foster which ended after four games in 2025 and a 5-11 overall record. Chesney, meanwhile, is fresh off a playoff appearance with James Madison, and a 21-6 record in two seasons with the Dukes. He succeeded Curt Cignetti and JMU, and his ascent through the ranks has drawn comparisons to the now-national-title-winning coach, though some key differences exist between the two coaches' ascent. Cignetti comps, however, are likely to continue. Are these fair? And how has Chesney acclimated to his new program and life in Southern California? He has a key weapon at QB, with Nico Iamaleava returning for a second season following a late-spring transfer to the Bruins in 2025. His statistical profile didn't live up to his five-star billing, though he didn't exactly have much help last season. How has be been meshing with Chesney and new OC Dean Kennedy, who follows Chesney from JMU and had great success with mobile QB Alonza Barnett last season? Defensively, the Bruins struggled to create havoc in 2025, with only 10 sacks and 40 TFLs for the season. Colin Hitschler likewise follows from JMU and he brings several of his defensive stalwarts from the Dukes' Sun Belt-winnings squad with him. What are we expecting the scheme to look like, and do the Bruins have enough mass on the defensive line to hold up against Big Ten rushing attacks? Join us on our Youtube channel live for shows. We are back into fall preview season. Episodes will be live on Youtube throughout the week as schedule permits, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on our fall preview episode schedule, to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to get notified as soon as a new episode drops so you never miss a show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB [https://x.com/ITPCFB] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ [https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/] Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI [https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI]

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Washington Huskies

Ryan and Clinton welcome Roman Tomashoff back to the show, to help them break down the Washington Huskies. It was an offseason of brief tumult for Jedd Fisch's program. QB Demond Williams attempt to flirt with the transfer portal was thwarted by contracts. Reported updates make the offseason drama seem like water under the bridge ... is this accurate? And how has the QB won back the trust of his teammates? He leads a team that will be missing several top weapon from last year's team, with Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman off to the NFL; and Adam Mohammad and Raiden Vines-Bright both leaving through the portal. The RB position seems most perilous, with several members of the room missing portions of spring with injury. Who should be be looking out for in this room? And who can we expect to see step up, outside of Decker de Graaf and Dezmun Roebuck, at pass catcher? The Huskies defense was very good last season under new DC Ryan Walters, finishing 11th nationally in rush D and 15th in scoring D. Where can this defense hold steady, and improve the most, to take another leap in 2026? Join us on our Youtube channel live for shows. We are back into fall preview season. Episodes will be live on Youtube throughout the week as schedule permits, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on our fall preview episode schedule, to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to get notified as soon as a new episode drops so you never miss a show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB [https://x.com/ITPCFB] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ [https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/] Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI [https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI]

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Penn State Nittany Lions

Ryan and Clinton welcome Matt Flip from the Roar Lions Roar Blog back to the show, to help them break down the Penn State Nittany Lions heading into a new era. After a season that failed to live up to any of the preseason expectations, out is James Franklin and in comes Matt Campbell, and with him a host of former Iowa State Cyclones. What can we expect from this squad, which will feature a manageable schedule, as well as Campbell working with a new defensive coordinator for the first time since his Toledo tenure. Join us on our Youtube channel live for shows. We are back into fall preview season. Episodes will be live on Youtube throughout the week as schedule permits, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on our fall preview episode schedule, to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to get notified as soon as a new episode drops so you never miss a show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB [https://x.com/ITPCFB] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ [https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/] Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI [https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI]

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Ryan and Clinton continue rolling through fall previews, tonight taking on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. To help the guys, Ryan Burns from Gophers Illustrated on the 247 network joins the show. In a conference of prominent freshmen QBs in 2025, Minnesota's Drake Lindsey flew under the radar nationally -- with nearly 2400 passing yards, 18 TDs and only 6 INTs. However, his 5.9 yards per attempt was 125th nationally, and Minnesota's yards per play overall was 120th nationally. Part of the reason for that was a dearth of injuries to the Gophers backfield. Star RB Darius Taylor was in and out of the lineup, while his backup AJ Turner missed nearly the entire season. Can the Gophers' offense improve simply by staying healthy (and is Taylor capable of staying healthy?), or will other adjustments be needed as well? Defensively, Minnesota boasts what should be one of the most fearsome pass rushes in the nation. Anthony Smith's 12.5 sacks led the Big Ten a year ago, and he is within spitting distance of the program's all-time sack mark. Now-sophomore Carter Menz had 6.5 sacks in only nine games played. Cal portal import TJ Bush had 5.5 himself in 2025. Maverick Baranowski is an all-conference caliber linebacker. CB John Nestor led the Big Ten in interceptions a season ago. Safety Kerry Brown is one of the best returning players at his position in the conference. How far can this defense carry the Gophers against a schedule that has its challenges, but misses both Ohio State and Oregon? Join us on our Youtube channel live for shows. We are back into fall preview season. Episodes will be live on Youtube throughout the week as schedule permits, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on our fall preview episode schedule, to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to get notified as soon as a new episode drops so you never miss a show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB [https://x.com/ITPCFB] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ [https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/] Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI [https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI]

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Maryland Terrapins

Ryan and Clinton continue their tour through the midwest, tonight breaking down the Maryland Terrapins. To do so, Jeff Erman from Inside MD Sports joins the show to help the guys dig into Mike Locksley's squad. The Terps head coach found himself on a fair share of hot seat lists entering last season. A 4-8 campaign that ended with eight consecutive losses certainly did not quell the noise nationally. However, a talented group of now-sophomores certainly gives this fanbase a lot to be excited about in 2026, led by QB Malik Washington. Washington was asked to carry the bulk of the load offensive last season and he held up well. His 473 pass attempts tied for seventh nationally. A big reason for the over-reliance on Washington was another paltry season from the run game. In comes offensive coordinator Clint Trickett from Jacksonville State, who led the 5th-best run offense in the nation a year ago. How will Maryland be able to marry last year's pass-heavy attack, with Trickett's run-heavy philosophy. On defense last season the Terps allowed at least 34 points five times in an eight-game losing streak to close the season. However, they have one of the better young edge rushing duos in the country with sophomores Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis. They add five-star freshman Zion Elee to that mix. How good can this pass rush be, and where does Maryland need to improve most to become a more well-rounded unit in 2026? Join us on our Youtube channel live for shows. We are back into fall preview season. Episodes will be live on Youtube throughout the week as schedule permits, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on our fall preview episode schedule, to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. Subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to get notified as soon as a new episode drops so you never miss a show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB [https://x.com/ITPCFB] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ [https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/] Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI [https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI]