Top-Five Midwest Games of the CFP Season

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Ryan and Clinton welcome Jack Soble from Blue & Gold Illustrated back to the show, to help them break down the Notre Dame in a pivotal season for Marcus Freeman's program. Less than a year removed from a controversial playoff snub, the Irish are a preseason favorite to not only return to the playoff, but to win the whole thing. This case is bolstered by return QB CJ Carr, a preseason Heisman favorite in his own right. However he will have to pilot an offense that loses from its backfield 2025 Heisman finalist Jeremiyah Love, and first-round pick Jadarian Price to the NFL. After running secondary to an explosive run game in 2025, does Carr and his inexperienced conglomerate of pass catchers have the goods to lead the Irish offense in 2026? The 2025 Chris Ash era started off with a massive thud on defense and arguably kept the Irish out of the playoff, with poor performances against Miami and Texas A&M leading to an 0-2 start to last season. That should not be the case this season, with the Irish defense returning over 16 thousand snaps played by its defense, combined between returning players and transfer portal adds. That's a 40% increase from last season's already experienced defense. The secondary might be the best in the country. However, can the talented but green defensive line step up to make the secondary's job easier? 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: 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]