August 12, 2025

Iowa QB Struggles, Finebaum's Exit Promise, and First-Team All-Big Ten Picks

46 minutes

Join JR and Zack on The Big Ten Huddle as they dive into the latest Big Ten football buzz with honest, entertaining analysis. This episode kicks off with a hilarious takedown of SEC pundit Paul Finebaum, who accused Big Ten fans of thinking they invented college football (spoiler: Rutgers literally did) and vowed to flee the U.S. if a non-SEC team claims the national title. The hosts introduce a fun "Paul Finebaum Tracker" graphic to monitor Big Ten teams' progress toward potentially forcing his exit, complete with banter about his potential destinations like France or England. They speculate on meltdown scenarios if underdogs like Illinois or Indiana knock off SEC giants, and address viewer comments on expanding the tracker beyond the Big Ten.

Next, the conversation shifts to Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski's underwhelming scrimmage stats (9/21 passing, 121 yards, and a pick-six), tempering hype around his Tim Tebow comparisons. JR and Zack debate if it's cause for concern or just a blip, emphasizing Iowa's defense-first identity under Kirk Ferentz and the need for steady, ball-protecting play rather than stardom.

The bulk of the episode features the hosts unveiling their First Team All-Big Ten selections, position by position, with live chat input for tough calls. Highlights include Drew Allar (QB, Penn State), Nicholas Singleton and Jonah Coleman (RBs), Jeremiah Smith, Makai Lemon, and Elijah Surratt (WRs), Max Klare (TE, Purdue), and a stacked offensive line led by Caleb Tiernan (Oregon). On defense, standouts like Mikail Kamara (Edge, Oregon), Aaron Graves and Zane Durant (DTs), Mateo Uiagalelei (LB, Oregon), D'Angelo Ponds and Xavier Scott (CBs), and Caleb Downs and Koi Perich (Safeties) make the cut. Special teams nods go to Dominic Zevada (K, Michigan), Ryan Eckley (P, Michigan State), Koi Perich (Returner, Minnesota), and Luke Basso (Long Snapper, Oregon). They discuss snubs, projections, and why the Big Ten's safety depth is unmatched nationally.

Throughout, the hosts interact with the live chat, apologize for audio glitches, and plug upcoming episodes. No real football analysis in the Finebaum segment—it's all laughs—but the All-Big Ten picks offer deep insights into the conference's talent.

Useful Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro and show overview

00:01:05 - Paul Finebaum's "Big Ten invented football" rant and Rutgers history

00:02:02 - Finebaum's national championship exile promise and tracker reveal

00:04:46 - Banter on Finebaum's potential destinations and SEC bias

00:09:59 - Iowa QB Mark Gronowski's scrimmage struggles analysis

00:13:12 - Expectations for Gronowski and Iowa's offense under Tim Lester

00:18:55 - First Team All-Big Ten: Offense picks (QB through OL)

00:25:30 - First Team All-Big Ten: Defense picks (Edge through Safety)

00:32:30 - First Team All-Big Ten: Special teams and final list recap

00:42:55 - Closing thoughts, plugs, and pizza banter

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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):

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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.

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By JR, Bleav

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