The Big Ten Huddle Podcast

Bret Bielema's Calls Out an SEC Team, EA Sports Team Ratings, and Harbaugh Included in Weiss Lawsuit


Listen Later

In this episode of Big Ten Huddle, hosts JR and Zack break down the latest controversies and developments in Big Ten football. They tackle three major topics shaking up the college football landscape:

Bret Bielema’s Tampering Allegations Against Georgia (3:15 - 15:30)

JR and Zack discuss Illinois coach Bret Bielema’s claims that Georgia tampered with former Illini running back Josh McCray during the spring transfer portal cycle. Bielema hinted at foul play on The Triple Option podcast, noting McCray’s swift move to Georgia just 12 hours after entering the portal. The hosts analyze the implications of tampering in college football and whether Bielema’s public call-out will spark further NCAA scrutiny.

EA Sports College Football 25 Team Rankings (16:00 - 30:45)

The hosts dive into the newly released EA Sports College Football 25 overall, offensive, and defensive team rankings, with a focus on Big Ten teams. They debate how teams like Illinois, Michigan, and others stack up, highlighting Arizona State’s ratings as discussed in the Sun Devils Insider Podcast. JR and Zack also explore how these virtual rankings reflect real-world expectations for the 2025 season.

Jim Harbaugh and Warde Manuel in Hacking Lawsuit (31:10 - 45:20)

The episode wraps up with a deep dive into the hacking lawsuit against former Michigan assistant coach Matt Weiss, now implicating former head coach Jim Harbaugh and athletic director Warde Manuel. The hosts discuss allegations that Harbaugh knew of Weiss’s unauthorized access to private information in 2022 but allowed him to coach in a College Football Playoff game. They explore the potential fallout for Michigan’s program and its leadership.

Additional Notes:

The hosts share their takes on how these stories reflect broader trends in college football, including the evolving landscape of NIL, transfer portal dynamics, and off-field controversies.

Listener questions from X are addressed at 46:00, focusing on fan reactions to Bielema’s outspokenness and Michigan’s legal troubles.

Stay tuned for next week’s episode, where JR and Zack will preview Big Ten media days!

Links and Social Media:

Follow us on X: @TheBigTenHuddle

Check out The Triple Option podcast for more on Bielema’s comments: The Triple Option

Explore EA Sports College Football 25 rankings: EA Sports Official Site

For updates on the Michigan lawsuit, visit: Sports Illustrated

Contact Us: Have feedback or topics you’d like us to cover? Reach out via X or email!

Additional Notes

Stay connected with us on social media:
Twitter: @TheBigTenHuddle
Instagram: @TheBigTenHuddle
Got feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected]!

More from JR:

Personal Twitter: https://x.com/jrs_rankings
Big Ten Twitter: https://x.com/TheBigTenHuddle
Read JR's Ohio State coverage: https://scarletandgame.com/author/jrhoades1
Read JR's Illinois coverage: https://writingillini.com/author/jrhoades1

SPONSORS

Coach's Film Room - Sign up for the Menace Army: Colonel tier at https://menace2sports.com/channels/coachs-film-room
Bleav - https://bleav.com/
Homefield - https://www.homefieldapparel.com/?rfsn=7872586.e3e1d25 | Coupon Code: TBTH

Catch The Big Ten Huddle Football Episodes 3 times a week. Here is when to catch our live or premiere episodes that are about an hour long (eastern time):

  • Sunday at 9 PM w/ Zack
  • Tuesday at 9 PM w/ Zack
  • Thursday at 9 PM w/ Jeff
  • You can also expect videos by JR throughout the week covering news and interesting topics.

    *All times are Eastern time

    AUDIO ONLY PLATFORMS

    The Big Ten Huddle is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon.
    LISTEN: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/TheBigTenHuddle
    LEAVE a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-college-huddle-podcast/id1703305789
    STREAM on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tMaraKvafFzjUrXGq2c4w

    The Big Ten Huddle is a podcast dedicated to providing honest, humorous, and insightful analysis of Big Ten football and basketball. With a focus on challenging the national bias, especially against the SEC, hosts JR and Zack offer unfiltered discussions that engage fans of all Big Ten teams. Though critical at times, they always aim to defend the conference and give credit where it’s due, bringing humor and deep analysis together for a unique listening experience.

    Rooted in values of integrity, passion, and community, The Big Ten Huddle strives to become the go-to voice for Big Ten sports fans.

    There is no show out there like The Big Ten Huddle!

    🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5102755454124032

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Big Ten Huddle PodcastBy JR, Bleav

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    30 ratings


    More shows like The Big Ten Huddle Podcast

    View all
    The Solid Verbal College Football by iHeartPodcasts

    The Solid Verbal College Football

    3,391 Listeners

    The Audible with Stew & Bruce: A show about college football by The Athletic

    The Audible with Stew & Bruce: A show about college football

    1,189 Listeners

    HuskerOnline Podcast by HuskerOnline

    HuskerOnline Podcast

    309 Listeners

    The Pick Six Podcast - Husker sports news and analysis by Omaha World-Herald

    The Pick Six Podcast - Husker sports news and analysis

    175 Listeners

    Early Break w/ Sip and Jake | 93.7 The Ticket | Lincoln's Real Sports Talk | Lincoln, NE by

    Early Break w/ Sip and Jake | 93.7 The Ticket | Lincoln's Real Sports Talk | Lincoln, NE

    198 Listeners

    Husker247: A Nebraska athletics podcast by 247Sports, Nebraska, Nebraska Football, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Nebraska Athletics, College Football

    Husker247: A Nebraska athletics podcast

    262 Listeners

    Cover 3 College Football by CBS Sports, College Football, Football, CFB, College Football Picks

    Cover 3 College Football

    4,030 Listeners

    The Camp: A Wisconsin Badgers Football Podcast by The Zone

    The Camp: A Wisconsin Badgers Football Podcast

    234 Listeners

    Locked On Badgers - Daily Podcast On Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball by Locked On Podcast Network, Justin Julka, Ryan Harings

    Locked On Badgers - Daily Podcast On Wisconsin Badgers Football & Basketball

    200 Listeners

    Nick Bahe Podcast by Hurrdat Sports Network

    Nick Bahe Podcast

    866 Listeners

    Josh Pate's College Football Show by iHeartPodcasts

    Josh Pate's College Football Show

    3,479 Listeners

    Locked On Nebraska - Daily Podcast on the Nebraska Cornhuskers by Locked On Podcast Network, Mitch Sherman, Connor Happer

    Locked On Nebraska - Daily Podcast on the Nebraska Cornhuskers

    42 Listeners

    Always College Football with Greg McElroy by Omaha Productions, ESPN, Greg McElroy

    Always College Football with Greg McElroy

    1,421 Listeners

    Andy & Ari On3 by On3

    Andy & Ari On3

    368 Listeners

    Kings of the North College Football by THE Media LLC, Bleav

    Kings of the North College Football

    265 Listeners