The weeks keep passing and the stakes keep rising. After a sleepy weekend saw one contender have its playoff hopes crushed, week 7 offers a juicy slate with plenty on the line.

In Eugene, Oregon takes on an Indiana squad dying to prove it can do more than just beat up on overmatched teams. The Ducks' signature win lost some shine a week ago, can they add another to their resume, or will the Hoosiers earn their most notable win of the Curt Cignetti era?

In LA, Michigan and USC are both alive for a Big Ten title but need a win this weekend to keep it that way, and to keep playoff hopes alive. Will the Trojans' defense find a remedy for the potent Michigan rushing attack? Or will the Wolverines continue their march to Thanksgiving weekend unabated?

In Champaign, Illinois hosts Ohio State needing to wash away the odor of their most recent top-10 beatdown. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes look like the best team in the nation. Will the title defense continue without a loss, or will Illinois announce its arrival on the national stage?

Elsewhere, Rutgers (Washington), UCLA (MSU), and Nebraska (Maryland) all engage in long road trips. Penn State looks to put back together the pieces of its season against Northwestern. Notre Dame looks to avoid a trap hosting NC State, Iowa faces what is left of Wisconsin, and Purdue and Minnesota appear primed for a shootout.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

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It's week 7 and we are nearly at the halfway point (gag) of the college football season. With much shifting and jockeying already occurring in the college football landscape, this feels like a great opportunity to dust off and update our preseason power rankings amongst Big Ten teams.

Through six weeks of the season, many questions have been answered, yet some still remain. Yet a clear contender tier has emerged in this conference, while some programs have already signaled that they will not be meeting preseason expectations. Where does your favorite team fall in our updated ranks?

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

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What is it that they say about the quiet ones? A weekend that was lacking for marquee matchups featured chaos and unpredictability throughout the country. And the Midwest was not spared.

After a week of takes on "James Franklin wins what he should but cannot win the big game" ,,, the Penn State head coach decided to pull a "hold my beer." Penn State was shocked by previously winless and hapless UCLA in a 42-37 defeat. Less than two weeks after firing their head coach and DC, and four days after firing their OC, the Bruins moved the ball up and down the field on a lethargic Lions defense, and the Penn State offense took too long to get in the game. At 3-2, and starting down needing to win out to keep it's all-in season alive, is this the beginning of the end for James Franklin in State College?

Our game of the week lived up to the hype for three quarters, but Nebraska was able to clamp down in the fourth and pull away from Michigan State in a 38-27 victory. After an opening drive TD and a blocked punt TD made it 14-0, the Huskers' offense was stuck in first gear until late in the third quarter. But their defense held Michigan State to 242 yards of total offense. Did this game cement their status as a contender in the Big Ten?

A week after getting stifled by Ohio State, Washington was mired in another sloggy road trip, trailing Maryland 20-0 late in the third quarter. But three fourth-quarter TD drives later, the Huskies escaped College Park with a 24-20 win. What is the team capable of now that it has proven it can win on the road? And after a September to remember, can Maryland buck past October/November stumbles and find two more wins to reach bowl eligiblity?

In West Lafayette, Purdue and Illinois traded touchdowns but the Illini pulled ahead late in a 43-27 win. Further north on Lake Michigan, Northwestern exploded on offense and shut down UL-Monroe's potent rush attack in a 42-7 win. At Big Noon, Wisconsin started strong early, sputtered otherwise, and Luke Fickell appeared to wave the white flag late in a 24-10 Michigan victory.

Notre Dame took another step forward on defense, intercepting Maddux Madsen 3 times in a 28-7 win. And Ohio State cruising against Minnesota, 42-3, and further establishes itself as the team to beat nationally.

In the MAC, Ball State stunned defending champ Ohio, while Akron shocked Central Michigan. Miami's defense continued its excellence in a win against NIU, while Western Michigan outlasted UMass, and Buffalo survived an upset-minded Eastern Michigan in OT.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

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A week after a monster slate of games, week 6 features a set of games that -- on the surface -- leave a lot to be desired. Many massive spreads and no ranked Midwest matchups are present to wet the whistle. But what do they say about the quiet ones?

In Lincoln, Nebraska looks to get back on track after a crushing defeat against Michigan, with Michigan State coming to town. Can the Huskers take revenge on the Mitten state, or will Jonathan Smith's Spartans come up with the upset?

At Big Noon in Ann Arbor, can Luke Fickell's Badgers find signs of life or will Michigan grate them into the turn? Purdue hosts Illinois in a game that might not feature many stops. Also in Indiana, Notre Dame hosts 2024 playoff team (and 2025 playoff hopeful) Boise State in a game you should also take the over.

Penn State and Washington look to bounce back with long road trips, to UCLA and Maryland respectively. Northwestern has the lone nonconference game of the weekend with UL-Monroe. And Ohio State fans get the night game against Minnesota.

The guys also debut their "MAC Minute" segment.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

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We are a third of the way into the season, which offers a perfect time to revisit our preseason tiers of the Big Ten, and assess certain teams standings within those tiers.

Unlike our previous rendition of this game, we are not talking solely "contenders" for a national title. Clinton has compiled a list of 10 teams from our varying preseason tiers of the Big Ten -- from national title contender to bowl game contender. The guys discuss whether the given team is a contender within that tier (IE: will make a bowl game), or a pretender.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

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A mammoth week five is in the books and the whole weekend live up to the hype, from the undercards to the headliners. Many things were learned and narratives are beginning to take shape.

In the nightcap, Oregon finished a thrilled 2OT affair with a walk-off interception of Drew Allar. After 13 combined points in the first three quarters, the two squads scored 41 in the 4th and OT, including a rally from a 17-3 deficit by Penn State. However, same as it ever was, the Lions fell short against a top-10 foe. The season's goals are still in front of the Lions, but where does this team go after falling short again in a top matchup? On the other side, has Oregon cemented its status as the team-to-beat in the Big Ten?

In the early slate, Illinois and USC traded barbs, including a pair of lead changes in the final two minutes, in a thrilling 34-32 Illini win. Illinois rebounded well from last week's utter destruction at the hands of Indiana, and kept their title hopes alive. Meanwhile, USC showed that it still has not grown past last season's fourth quarter collapses.

Elsewhere, Ohio State neutralized Washington's powerful offense and firmly looks to be the best team in the country. Indiana survived a scare at Kinnick against Iowa -- which will ensure a top-10 matchup in Eugene against Oregon in two weeks. Notre Dame might have found a defense, Minnesota might have found a cornerstone QB against Rutgers, and UCLA might have blown its best chance to avoid 0-12 against Northwestern.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

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The best weekend of the season, to date, is here. There are a large number of high-quality games across the nation, and Midwest teams will certainly be partaking in the fun, in what could be a massive statement weekend for a number of teams.

In State College, has a golden opportunity to show its offseason investment in talent retention and acquisition was worthwhile, hosting No. 6 Oregon in its annual White Out game. James Franklin's record against Top-10 foes has been much discussed. Can he, and QB Drew Allar, come of age and establish themselves as the team-to-beat in the Big Ten, or will Oregon formally launch its Big Ten title defense with a statement road win?

Out west, Oregon's former Pac-12 rival Washington hosts Ohio State with their own opportunity to make a statement. Will the Huskies extend a home winning streak that is now in its fourth straight season?

In a ranked matchup -- though one that is perhaps lacking the same juice, Illinois needs to scoop itself off the mat a week after betting demoralized by Indiana, with the high-flying USC offense coming to town. Will the Trojans improve to 5-0 for (unbelievably) the third time in four seasons under Lincoln Riley, or can the Illini rebound and remain in Big Ten title contention?

On the other end of the Indiana destruction from a week ago, the Hoosiers look to avoid a letdown at Kinnick Stadium against Iowa. Athan Kaliakmanis looks to exact further revenge on former team Minnesota (a year after piloting Rutgers to an upset of the Gophers), while UCLA and Northwestern face off in a game between perhaps the two worst teams in the Big Ten.

Down south, Notre Dame and Arkansas appear primed to score a million points in a game between two of the best passing offenses in the country, and two of the worst defenses in the country.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

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It's the week we have all been waiting for: week 5 of the college football season features a number of Certified Bangers, headlined by a Big Ten Title rematch, White Out matchup Saturday night at Happy Valley between Penn State and Oregon. To break down the game, Ryan and Clinton welcome Matt Flip (Roar Lions Roar podcast) and Dale Bliss (Autzen Zoo) back to the show.

In the 2025 season neither team has faced a remotely notable test, and how early season performances carry over to a sharp uptick in competition will be the storyline of the night. Which team is inspiring more confidence at this point in the season.

Oregon has mowed through its first four games, and the last time the Ducks faced a worthy challenger they were blown off the field in the Rose Bowl. With new weapons on offense, how with Dante Moore and Co. response against Penn State's stifling defense? Will they continue a by-committee approach to their WR/RB rotations, or will they begin to focus on a player or two as a key target?

On the Penn State sideline, the "Big Game James" moniker will live on in national circles until proven otherwise. Is there more pressure on the Lions to get a W in this game? Much like Oregon, the last time Penn State faced a team capable of punching back they took a loss, with Drew Allar throwing what amounted to a game-cliniching interception in the dying minutes of the Orange Bowl. Can he take is game to the next level and help elevate this Penn State offense

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

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Week four is (nearly) in the books and we had our first truly jaw-dropping result of the Big Ten season in the nightcap.

Indiana -- setting out to prove last year was no fluke -- murdered Illinois and then threw them through the wood chipper, en route to a 63-10 (as of episode recording) advantage. Fernando Mendoza tossed 5 TD passes, and the IU defense had Illinois QB Luke Altmyer running for his life most of the evening. Does this result say more about IU in their pursuit for a repeat playoff berth, or more about Illinois?

Elsewhere in Big Ten play, Michigan scored a passive conference-opening win against Nebraska by rushing for nearly 300 yards while stiffling Nebraska's rushing attack and sacking Dylan Raiola seven times. Is Michigan for real or was this an exposure of Nebraska?

On Friday night, Iowa showed some offensive pop but Athan Kaliakmanis was excellent in a loss. Notre Dame could have scored 90 against Purdue but also still cannot cover receivers. Washington followed a similar "all O no D" plan. Oregon played with its food. And Luke Fickell might be cooked.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

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#BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

It's week four and conference play is now in full force. Ryan and Clinton begin the show discussing the ranked showdown in Bloomington between Indiana and Illinois. What will the keys be to this massive matchup, and which program needs the big win more?

Elsewhere in Big Ten play, Nebraska and Michigan both look to validate conference contender status with a massive matchup in Lincoln. Which young QB will steal the show, and is the winner a legit threat to challenge for a Big Ten title game appearance?

In a sneaky good Friday matchup, Iowa heads east to take on a Rutgers team that is 3-0 and (despite a lower level of competition) has been throwing the ball well so far. Will Athan Kaliakmanis and co. continue their early season heater or will the Phil Parker defense be too much to handle?

In games that are somehow conference matchups, Maryland looks to extend Wisconsin's early-season misery and move to 4-0, while Michigan State heads west to take on USC in a game that will likely still be in the first quarter when it becomes Sunday in East Lansing.

In nonconference play, Oregon (Oregon State), Washington (Washington State) and Purdue (Notre Dame) all take on traditional rivals.

Join us on our Youtube channel live Saturday/Monday/Thursday for shows, with the episode dropping in your podcast feed the following morning. Live time for Monday/Thursday shows will remain 9 pm, while we will go live for instant reactions Saturday night following the games. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show.

LINKS:

Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040

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#BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference