Couch and The Rube

We answered your questions — on Michigan State football and when it's fair to have expectation, on athletic director Dan Bartholomae's letter to fans and funding football, on MSU basketball and potential lineups, on the Lions, Detroit pro sports GMs and more.

We opened with a conversation on MSU football and what's at stake Saturday against Illinois, as well as what the passage of the Protect College Sports Act would mean for MSU and college football. Then a conversation with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner on why the Lions' defense is where it is and whether it can be fixed in time to save this season, on the state of MSU football's roster and program under Pat Fitzgerald, and what's gone so wrong at Michigan under Kyle Whittingham (25:00). Plus, our college football and NFL picks for this week (51:00).

We dug into the weekend that was — MSU football's demoralizing loss at Wisconsin, the Lions' soul-crushingly inept defense, and , on a more positive note, what we learned from MSU basketball's exhibition win on Friday.

Wisconsin State Journal columnist Jim Polzin joined us for a conversation on the Badgers' matchup with MSU and the state of Wisconsin's program under Luke Fickell (13:00). Then we answered your questions on MSU football, the path under Pat Fitzgerald, MSU basketball and Coen Carr and the center spot, on the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and more (33:00). Finally, our picks for this week's college football and NFL games (2:03:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State football after the Spartans' loss to Nebraska and the teams injuries and struggles on the field, on the job Pat Fitzgerald has in front of him, and whether MSU football will win another game; on Michigan's loss to Iowa, the Lions' win over the Jets, Justin Verlander's send-off, the Rube's trip to the Presidents Cup, and more.

We open discussing Tom Izzo's high hopes for this MSU basketball team. Then a conversation when Nebraska columnist Steven Sipple on the Huskers' football team and what to expect against MSU this Saturday (12:00). Plus, we answered your questions on MSU football and basketball, the Lions, Tigers and more (36:00). Lastly, we made our picks for this week's college football and NFL games (1:08:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours — on MSU football's performance at Notre Dame and how it sets up the rest of the season, on MSU basketball and Tom Izzo's recruiting after landing guard Antonio Pemberton, on the awful Wyoming bet, on the Lions and Brad Holmes, and more.

We opened with a conversation on the Lions after their loss to Josh Allen and the Bills, joined by former LSJ sportswriter and Wyoming's own Cody Tucker. Then we answered your questions on MSU football heading into the Spartans' game against Notre Dame and where the program is headed, on the Lions' shortcomings, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, and more (35:00).

The Athletic's Notre Dame football beat writer Pete Sampson joined us for a conversation on the Irish — just how good this Notre Dame team is, the rivalry with Michigan State, and how this matchup between Notre Dame and MSU might go on Saturday night (16:00). Then a discussion on The Athletic's story on how much each school is spending on its roster, including MSU and Michigan (33:00), and a new poll that shows a declining interest in football among young people (43:00). Plus, are the Tigers worth following here at the end of the season? (52:00) And our college football and NFL picks for this week (57:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State football after its Week 2 performance against Eastern Michigan and heading into Saturday's game at Notre Dame, on the Detroit Lions' performance in an overtime win against the Saints, on Michigan football and Bryce Underwood, and more.