Second String Opinions

March Mode is back as Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust react to the Badgers’ NCAA Tournament draw and break down Wisconsin’s path in the bracket.

The Badgers are a 5 seed in the West Region and will face 12 seed High Point in the first round in Portland. Is the early tip actually a problem? Is High Point being overhyped as a 12-over-5 upset pick? And how should Wisconsin fans feel about a potential second-round showdown with Arkansas?

Plus:

• Wisconsin vs High Point matchup reaction

• Why Ben likes the “underdog” energy around Wisconsin

• Big Ten Tournament and Big Ten Sweet 16 predictions

• Michigan State, Illinois, UCLA, Duke and Houston thoughts

• Ben Brust’s Final Four picks

• Alex Strouf’s Final Four picks

Drop your bracket thoughts in the comments and let us know: how far are the Badgers going?

⏱ Chapters

0:00 March Mode begins

0:22 Wisconsin vs High Point game time reaction

0:43 Is the early Portland tip actually a problem?

4:10 Accepting the draw and moving forward

4:58 Why High Point became America’s 12-over-5 pick

7:32 Why Ben likes Wisconsin in the underdog role

10:32 Potential Round of 32 showdown with Arkansas

13:37 Favorite NCAA Tournament tip time as a fan

14:51 Big Ten teams in the bracket

17:09 Why Ben does not believe in Michigan State

19:29 UCLA sleeper thoughts

20:21 Penn vs Illinois and Houston discussion

22:07 How many Big Ten teams reach the Sweet 16?

24:17 Ben Brust’s Final Four

25:17 Alex Strouf’s Final Four

27:04 High Point preview tease

The bracket is out.

Alex Strouf hosts March Mode LIVE with Wisconsin Final Four legend Ben Brust and producer Riley Jauch reacting to the Wisconsin Badgers being named a #5 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin will face #12 High Point in the first round as the Badgers look to reach the second weekend for the first time since 2017.

We break down:

• Wisconsin vs High Point matchup

• The Badgers’ path in the West Region

• Potential second round opponents

• Biggest threats in the region

• National title contenders

• Full bracket reaction

Mr. Irrelevant with Alex Strouf & Will Sommers:

• Packers Add Javon Hargrave: The Green Bay Packers signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to help bolster their defensive line as Brian Gutekunst continues to try to right his offseason wrongs by adding a DT, a CB, and a KR this offseason while moving on from Rashan Gary and Nate Hobbs.

• NFC North QB News: Kyler Murray is now the new quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings — we discuss whether this should be a real concern for NFC North teams or if it will be another miss for Minnesota.

• Badgers & College Hoops: With the NCAA Tournament approaching and Selection Sunday just two days away, we preview the Badgers gearing up for the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals and all the other college basketball action going on.

• ESPN Wisconsin Bracket Challenge: We introduce the ESPN Wisconsin Bracket Challenge presented by Cousins Subs! — how to join, why it’s fun, and what to watch for this March Madness.

• Friday Nonsense with Will: Will has a list of Friday nonsense for him and Strouf to dive into and react to together.

• What We Missed: We close with our signature segment highlighting under-the-radar storylines and moments you might’ve overlooked this week.

The new league year is here, and the Packers are making moves that feel a little… different.

Jason Wilde and Alex Strouf break down Green Bay’s splash signing of Javon Hargrave, the trade for Zaire Franklin, and what these additions say about Brian Gutekunst’s evolving roster-building philosophy. Is this a true shift in approach, or simply a necessary response to roster holes?

They also dive into lingering questions at edge rusher, the reshaped cornerback room, and the projected 2026 offensive line — including what’s at stake for Jordan Morgan and whether this group is good enough as currently constructed.

Plus, why this offseason may define the Packers’ Super Bowl window more than any in recent memory.

Mr. Irrelevant with Alex Strouf, Josh DiMaggio & Will Sommers:

• Packers Free Agency Moves: NFL free agency continues as the Green Bay Packers add cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and wide receiver/returner Skyy Moore over the last two days, bolstering the roster early in the legal tampering period.

• Roster Maneuvering: Green Bay has continued to create additional cap space by trading defensive end Rashan Gary and releasing offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and cornerback Nate Hobbs — raising the question of whether the Packers are preparing for a big splash as the new NFL league year officially begins today.

• Maxx Crosby Trade Fallout: Maxx Crosby’s blockbuster trade from the Raiders to the Ravens blew up on Tuesday night after the Ravens backed out due to a failed physical, leaving his future and potential landing spots (including the NFC North) in flux.

• Team USA World Baseball Classic Loss: Team USA suffered an upset loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, including a documented miscalculation by manager Mark DeRosa that has drawn heavy criticism after the game put U.S. advancement in jeopardy.

• One Word Wednesday: We hit today’s top sports topics with just one powerful word.

• What We Missed: Wrapping up with the under-the-radar sports stories and moments you might’ve overlooked this week.

Alec Pierce just reset the wide receiver market.

So what does that mean for Christian Watson?

In this segment of Jen, Gabe & Chewy, Jason Wilde dives into the uncomfortable contract math facing the Packers — and whether Green Bay should feel confident paying Watson near $29 million per year.

031026 Jason on JGC

🏈 The Christian Watson Question

Watson has:

Field-tilting speed

Locker room leadership

Proven big-play ability

But he also has:

An ACL tear

Multiple injury scares

A history of “hold your breath” landings

Jason makes it clear:

Watson deserves to be paid based on talent and market comps.

But if you’re the Packers front office, you’d be lying if you said there wasn’t anxiety about durability.

It’s not personal.

It’s math.

💰 The 1.5 Player Philosophy

Brian Gutekunst has openly said the Packers aim to extend roughly 1.5 players per draft class.

From the current group:

Tucker Kraft feels like a priority.

Jaden Reed could be next.

Watson complicates the equation.

You can’t pay everyone.

And if Watson bets on himself and hits the open market, Drew Rosenhaus isn’t likely to give a hometown discount.

🧱 Sean Ryan’s $13M Deal

Jason also reacts to Sean Ryan’s contract.

It’s cheaper than Tyler Linderbaum money — but still meaningful.

The question becomes:

Is the Packers’ offensive line truly stable?

Jordan Morgan at LT (unproven)

Aaron Banks now well-paid

Zach Tom coming off patellar tendon surgery

Elton Jenkins gone

Ryan gives them cost control — but not certainty.

⚖️ The Bigger Concern

The Packers want to be Super Bowl contenders.

But when you look at the offensive line and the receiver contract math, confidence becomes conditional.

Jason’s tone is balanced:

They’re not in trouble.

But they’re not without risk.

🎯 The Bottom Line

Christian Watson might be worth $29M.

But worth and comfortable aren’t the same thing.

And how the Packers handle this contract will tell you a lot about how aggressive — or cautious — they plan to be.

🎧 A smart, honest breakdown of Packers contract math and O-line stability — with Jason Wilde on Jen, Gabe & Chewy.

March Mode is back. ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Badger legend Ben Brust break down Wisconsin’s 97-point road statement at Purdue, what the win means for seeding, and how defined roles are shaping this team heading into Big Ten tournament week and Selection Sunday.

Toplines

• Badgers finish the regular season with a huge road win at Purdue

• Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for a monster night

• Austin Rapp’s role growth and Aleksas Bieliauskas’ defensive presence

• Wisconsin locks into the 5-seed for the Big Ten tournament — what to expect in Chicago

• Selection Sunday countdown and bracket implications

Drop questions in the comments and we’ll answer them on Monday’s episode.

⏱ Chapters

0:00 March Mode Ep. 3 — intro

0:15 Big win at Purdue — overview

0:40 Boyd & Blackwell breakout (48 combined)

1:05 Efficient shooting & first-half explosion (12 threes)

3:00 Austin Rapp’s emergence & defined roles

6:29 Braden Carrington & bench impact

10:16 Aleksas Bieliauskas’ presence down low

13:27 Badgers = 5-seed for Big Ten tourney

15:00 Who they might see in Chicago / matchup notes

19:41 Why one win/loss in the BTT won’t shake confidence

23:30 Closing + Selection Sunday preview

Mr. Irrelevant with Alex Strouf, Josh DiMaggio & Will Sommers:

• Free Agency Tampering Begins: The official NFL free agency legal tampering period is open and the Packers were active.

• Rashan Gary Traded: The Packers traded defensive end Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Green Bay moves on after seven seasons with Gary, sending him to Dallas for draft capital.

• Zaire Franklin Added: Green Bay acquired linebacker Zaire Franklin from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for defensive tackle Colby Wooden — adding veteran experience to the linebacker corps ahead of free agency.

• Sean Rhyan Extension: The Packers re-signed offensive lineman Sean Rhyan to a three-year, $33 million contract extension after he finished 2025 as the team’s center, giving clarity at a key position.

• Gutekunst’s Vision: Brian Gutekunst is showing he understands the moment and what it’s going to take to elevate the Packers toward true championship level on paper with these moves.

• What We Missed: Wrapping up with our signature look at the other under-the-radar sports news and developments you might’ve missed this week.

On Friday’s Mr. Irrelevant, Alex Strouf, Josh DiMaggio, and Will Sommers opened the show previewing the final stretch toward Selection Sunday, with the crew admitting they’re not all fully in “March mode” yet.

From there, the tone shifted as they reacted to the passing of former Packers President/CEO Bob Harlan, discussing his role in modernizing the franchise, helping secure Lambeau renovations, and laying the groundwork for the Packers’ long-term stability and success.

Then the show took a sharp turn into live-breaking Packers drama: Rashan Gary posted what looked like a farewell message on Instagram, sparking reports that he was done in Green Bay. Minutes later, the post was deleted, and conflicting updates followed, including claims the Packers were still exploring trade options and a report suggesting the account was “hacked.” The guys tracked the full timeline in real time, debated whether it was a strategy play or a mistake, and discussed what it all meant for Green Bay’s cap situation and upcoming free agency plans.

To close, they hit “What We Missed,” bouncing through viral sports stories, oddball quotes, and end-of-week leftovers before wrapping up the Friday edition.

March Mode is back.

ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust react to the Badgers’ 78–45 win over Maryland on Senior Day, but the real story is Nolan Winter’s injury and what it means for Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament outlook.

How does Winter’s absence affect the rotation?

Can the Badgers improve their seed with a win at Purdue?

Is a 6-seed actually the sweet spot?

Plus:

Austin Rapp finding his role

Braden Carrington’s surge

Big Ten Tournament preview

Ben’s Final Four LOCK

A sleeper team that could crash the bracket

Drop your questions in the comments for Monday’s episode.