Best The Final Four Is Not On The Schedule Podcasts (2025)

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Carlos Medlock Jr. Commits for '26 Class 33:38

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3h ago33:38

33:38

July 25, 2025: Michigan State landed its first high school recruit for the 2026-27 season with 6’0” point guard Carlos Medlock, Jr. Medlock played his first three years at Wayne Memorial High School where he started all of them. He will be playing his senior year in Missouri at Link Academy. Although Medlock was not heavily recruited last year he h…

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Jay Bilas on MSU, the Big Ten, and College Athletics 49:51

18h ago49:51

49:51

July 22, 2025: We are joined tonight with our friend Jay Bilas to once again talk about the Spartans and the state of college basketball. Jay weighed in on what he thought about MSU’s season and whether he was surprised. Then we talked a little Big Ten and coaching before hitting the meat of the discussion. Bilas was probably one of the earliest an…

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The 2025 Big 12 Preview 1:00:29

3d ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Steven and Braden begin our 2025 conference previews with the Big 12. The most balanced and unpredictable league in college football will provide incredible drama as any number of teams could make it to the conference title game. TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor could be sneaky good. Utah and Kansas could bounce back. Arizona State and Iowa State could d…

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How MSU Players Looked at Moneyball 2025 1:03:15

7d ago1:03:15

1:03:15

July 17, 2025: It’s summer which means Moneyball is happening in Lansing. In case you aren’t aware, Moneyball is a free pro-am tournament that runs for two months every summer featuring current MSU players. Moneyball Sportswear sponsors the event at Holt High School which is free to attend. There are only some things to take away from Moneyball. Yo…

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Group of 5 Preview: Playoff Contenders, QBs, Rising Coaches 59:24

10d ago59:24

59:24

Steven and Braden talk Group of 5 football in 2025. The preseason rankings tell a story about each league. The American is the deepest and likely the best. The Mountain West has the best team. The Sun Belt is the most balanced and wide open. The MAC is top heavy and Conference USA is a two-horse race. Sickos unite!…

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Top Players During the Izzo Era 1:43:22

15d ago1:43:22

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July 10, 2025: There have been a lot of great players who have played under Tom Izzo. In his 30 years as head coach, he has had top recruits who have gone on to play pro and others who were barely recruited who became great. It’s easy to forget the trajectory of some of these greats but ultimately Rod goes over why he thinks they are the best of th…

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Quarterbacks: All-Conference, All-American picks 1:06:16

16d ago1:06:16

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Steven and Braden talk college football. We give our picks for All-Conference and All-American QBs for 2025. Each power league has a theme under center: The SEC is the best, the Big 12 is the most balanced, the Big Ten has the most intriguing upside and the ACC might have the No. 1 player.

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Saddi Washington Talks Recruiting, Working at UM, and This Year's Team 55:12

22d ago55:12

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July 2, 2025: Tonight we were joined by MSU assistant coach, Saddi Washington who joined the team last year after a long stint in Ann Arbor. Washington is the son of former MSU great, Stan Washington, one of the all time greats in MSU basketball history. Coach Washington talked to us about his career and what he has learned under some great head co…

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The Original Dream Road Trip 2025 55:53

23d ago55:53

55:53

Steven and Braden embark on their annual Dream Road trip through college football. You get to go a game each weekend but can't see a team more than once. Where are you going? Locations, rivalries, weather, storylines, stadiums and championship drama all matters. Come along for the ride, 2025 style.

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What Does the Glenn Injury Mean? High School Recruitment Offers, NBA Draft, and Cleaves, Jr. 57:29

27d ago57:29

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June 28, 2025: It might be the off season but there’s still a lot going on at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Incoming sophomore transfer, Kaleb Glenn, tore his patellar tendon and is out for the year. We discuss the implications of the injury, our expectation for its impact, and more. Then we move on to talk about the new offers for high schoo…

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The Pac-12's trajectory and imbalanced conference schedules 1:00:53

1M ago1:00:53

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Steven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. The Pac-12's new media deal points to an interesting future for the conference. The Big Ten and SEC are at an impasse that could actually benefit college football. Then we dive into the scheduling imbalances across college football, focusing on the teams catching breaks in 2025. Plus, Braden says…

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MSU Asst. Coach Jon Borovich Talks About Why He's Excited for Next Season 1:12:26

1M ago1:12:26

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June 18, 2025: We are joined this week with MSU assistant coach, Jon Borovich. Borovich joined the staff 3 years ago from Northwestern although he has had a long history with Tom Izzo. Not only did he serve as a grad assistant perviously under Izzo but he worked under former Izzo assistant coaches Mark Montgomery and Brian Gregory. Borovich goes ov…

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Debating the Coaching Ranks of 2025: Accomplishment vs. Modernization 1:16:41

1M ago1:16:41

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Steven and Braden talk college football. The latest around conference expansion is tied to Texas State, the Pac-12 and the Sun Belt. Plus, how will strength of schedule get added to the selection process? We debate the best coaches in America from each power league, the G5 and nationally. We weigh career accomplishments with upside and modernizatio…

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2026 Recruiting Update: Jaxon Richardson, Mateen Cleaves Jr. and Others 1:18:57

1M ago1:18:57

1:18:57

June 12, 2025: It’s easy to forget with the constant buzz about the transfer portal but high major D1 schools still do recruit high school athletes. Of course, MSU is no stranger to going after big fish and the 2026 class is no different. Some very interesting recruitments include legacy kids like Jaxon Richardson, Mateen Cleaves Jr., and KJ Torber…

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The CSC, House settlement and most interesting coordinators 1:03:59

2M ago1:03:59

1:03:59

Steven and Braden talk college football after the House Settlement around revenue sharing was finally approved. A new era has begun and a new organization called the College Sports Commission has hired a director tasked with enforcement. Plus, we conduct a coordinator draft and break down the most impactful and critical coordinator hires in 2025.…

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MSU Hires New Athletic Director, J Batt 52:55

2M ago52:55

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June 5, 2025: Michigan State let go its athletic director, Allan Haller, a few months ago for a variety of reasons. By all accounts, Haller was doing a good job in managing the athletic hiring and firing and administration of the programs at MSU. However, he struggled coordinating and successfully fund raising both for the department and for the ‘o…

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Playoff Conjecture and Annoymous Scouting Reports '25 1:03:53

2M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

Steven Lassan and Braden Gall discuss the latest in playoff format debate - who is going to win? The Big Ten trying to buy playoff spots or the rest of college football that wants to earn it? Plus, some Hall of Fame rule changes we love. Then we talk gossip. What are coaches saying about each other in our annoymous coaches scouting report for 2025.…

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MSU Adds 6'3" PG Divine Ugochukwu from University of Miami 1:19:31

2M ago1:19:31

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May 29, 2025: Michigan State continued to round out its roster as it added 6’ 3” Sophomore Divine Ugochukwu from the University of Miami (Florida). The point guard who started over half of Miami’s games last year had a good freshman year averaging 5.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.3:1.6. He shot 63% at the rim which would have…

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Common Sense Changes + Unranked Teams in 2025 1:01:04

2M ago1:01:04

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Steven and Braden talk college football as the playoff structure is changing again as straight seednig will be implamented in 2025. What other changes are coming to our sport and playoff? What are our favorite and most interesting teams in the rankings in outside of the top 25 teams?

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2024-25 Big Ten Recap #6 through 2 (Purdue - Maryland) 55:26

2M ago55:26

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May 22, 2025: Today’s the finale of our Big Ten Recap where we talk about the top of the standings of the Big Ten. We review Purdue, Wisconsin, UCLA, Michigan, and Maryland. As we all know, MSU lapped the field in the Big Ten this year but the top was in doubt as teams like back to back champ Purdue showed signs of competing at the top and Wisconsi…

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2025 Top 25 and Playoff Picks Revealed 1:03:10

2M ago1:03:10

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2024-25 Big Ten Recap #12-7 (Minnesota - Illinois) 48:00

2M ago48:00

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May 15, 2025: Part two of our Big Ten Recap is here where we talk about the middle of the pack of the Big Ten. We review Minnesota, Rutgers, Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, and Illinois. There was turmoil in this group with two coaching changes: Ben Johnson getting fired at Minnesota and Mike Woodson being encouraged to retire at Indiana. Rutgers had …

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Top 25 Preview: Biggest Debates and Toughest Decisions 1:07:22

2M ago1:07:22

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2024-25 Big Ten Recap #18-13 (Washington - Northwestern) 56:55

3M ago56:55

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May 8, 2025: Today marks the first of our three part series recapping the season for the Big Ten’s teams. We begin our tour with Washington and then continue through Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa, USC, and finish with Northwestern. The group of teams included some interesting storylines with first year coaches Danny Sprinkle from Washington and Eric M…

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Belichick, Michigan and the Group of 5 Dream Road Trip 54:27

3M ago54:27

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Steven and Braden talk college football. Bill Belichick is making more headlines for all of the wrong reasons - is there a tipping point for UNC where it's not worth it? Plus, is Michigan trolling the NCAA? Then we go across the country on our Group of 5 Dream Road Trip 2025.

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What happened with Darius Adams, will Jase Richardson return, and Big Ten Schedule 1:01:33

3M ago1:01:33

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May 1, 2025: Today’s show is on the current roster status of MSU and its upcoming 2025-26 Big Ten Schedule. Last week we discussed the possibility of 5 star recruit Darius Adams joining the Spartans after decommitting from UConn. Those who follow Michigan State recruiting know that Adams was a target of MSU’s in this class. He ended up at Maryland …

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The Shedeur Slide + SEC Dream Road Trip '25 1:05:49

3M ago1:05:49

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Steven and Braden breakdown how TV played a huge role in the Shedeur Sanders story. Then we embark on our SEC dream road trip for 2025. Who is on the top tier and which QBs are the most exciting? Which games in 2025 are we going to this fall?

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MSU Season Recap & Darius Adams Recruitment Update 2:21:39

3M ago2:21:39

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April 23, 2025: This episode focuses on two things, MSU’s season in review and the potential recruitment of Darius Adams. At one time, MSU was one of the final teams angling to bring 5 star McDonad’s All-American, Darius Adams, but lost out to UConn. Well, UConn, brought in a lot of portal guards and they allowed Adams out of his commitment. This l…

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NFL Draft QBs + ACC Dream Road Trip '25 57:51

3M ago57:51

57:51

Steven and Braden talk QBs going into the NFL Draft and if we are learning anything about the position in college? Nico is going to UCLA and the playoff start times have been announced. Then we embark on our dream road trip through the ACC (and Notre Dame). The middle of the ACC is wildly unpredictable as many teams could jump to challenge the top …

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MSU Sets Portal Sights on Trey Fort & Tre Holloman's Decision to Leave 1:39:25

3M ago1:39:25

1:39:25

April 16, 2025: Michigan State continues to expand its roster and just as we expected, they looked to add another guard. Well, in comes Trey Fort, a 6’4” SG from Samford who averaged 41% from 3 this year and has one year left in eligibility. Although he isn’t a primary ball handler, he should help in MSU’s backcourt. The probable addition of Fort b…

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Nico: How did we get here and what does it mean? 52:20

3M ago52:20

52:20

Steven and Braden break down the latest NIL saga between Nico Iamaleava and Tennessee. What does it tell us about the future of the sport? Will schools and coaches actually gain leverage? Who made the right decisions and did anyone actually get better?

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MSU Lands Kaleb Glenn from FAU in the Portal 1:49:56

4M ago1:49:56

1:49:56

April 11, 2025: With the departure of MSU’s seniors, graduate students, and Jase Richardson to the NBA, there was an obvious need for bodies to complete next year’s roster. So Tom Izzo and the Spartans went into the portal and signed 6’7” 220# Kaleb Glenn from FAU. Glenn was a former teammate of Jeremy Fears in AAU and for a year at LaLumiere in In…

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Big 12 Dream Road Trip '25 53:36

4M ago53:36

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Portal, Portal, on the Wall 2:01:32

4M ago2:01:32

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April 5, 2025: We have officially entered portal season for most of the country and it is more active than ever. For Michigan State, fans got their first taste of a player whom they love entering the portal - Tre Holloman. A player who seems to embody Tom Izzo and the program, Holloman entered the portal April 1st but (as of this programming) not y…

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Big Ten Dream Road Trip '25 1:03:37

4M ago1:03:37

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MSU Falls to Auburn 70-64 in Elite 8 1:20:18

4M ago1:20:18

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March 30, 2025: Michigan State’s season came to an end today as they fall 70-64 to the Auburn Tigers in the Elite 8. The game’s story was probably national player of the year candidate, Johni Broome, who had 25 points and 14 rebounds in an extremely efficient performance only missing 3 shots from the field. In contrast, MSU shot less than 40% from …

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MSU to Face Auburn with a Final Four Berth on the Line 1:34:38

4M ago1:34:38

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March 29, 2025: Michigan State advanced to the Elite 8 with a win over Ole Miss and now gets the honor of playing the overall number one seed, Auburn. The Tigers advanced to the Elite 8 with a win over Michigan. Auburn had to do that after trailing Michigan by nearly double digits late in the second half - similar to MSU’s second half with Ole Miss…

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MSU Advances to Elite 8 Beating Ole Miss 73-70 1:30:46

4M ago1:30:46

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March 28, 2025: Michigan State advances to the Elite 8 with a hard fought win over 6 seed Ole Miss, 73-70. The script was switched this game where Ole Miss was pounding the Spartans on the offensive glass with a 12-5 edge. However, MSU was about the same with regard to turnovers where they only turned it over 10 times which was less than we suspect…

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MSU Readies for Sweet 16 Matchup Against Ole Miss 1:28:49

4M ago1:28:49

1:28:49

March 26, 2025: Michigan State looks to keep their NCAA Tournament run going as they face 6 seed Ole Miss in the Sweet 16 for a chance to play for the Final Four. However, the Rebels will be a challenge for MSU as they dismantled their first two opponents, North Carolina and Iowa State. They accomplished that on the back of nearly an uncharacterist…

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Stanford Soap Opera + Rankings Philosophy 1:08:14

4M ago1:08:14

1:08:14

Steven and Braden break down the bizarre career of Troy Taylor at Stanford. Should general managers be making decisions on coaches? How have rankings teams in the preseason changed over the last 15 years? Why 2025 might be the most difficult and entertaining preseason top 25 ever.

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MSU Advances to Sweet 16 with Win Over New Mexico, 71-63 1:27:00

4M ago1:27:00

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March 24, 2025: Michigan State took on 10 seed New Mexico in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and got just about all they could handle before dispatching the Lobos 71-63 late Sunday night. The Lobos had a lead as big as 10 points in the first half but only managed to score one field goal over the final 9 minutes of the half leading to just a…

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MSU Faces New Mexico in Second Round Matchup for Sweet 16 Spot on the Line 1:02:23

4M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

March 22, 2025: Michigan State moved on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over Bryant and now face the 10 seed New Mexico Lobos in the South region. New Mexico is from the Mountain West and coached by former Big Ten Minnesota coach Richard Pitino. Similar to the 2019 tournament, MSU will face Richard Pitino in the second round. …

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MSU Blows Out Bryant 87-62 in NCAA First Round 1:09:43

4M ago1:09:43

1:09:43

March 22, 2025: Michigan State took on the Bryant Bulldogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and won 87-62. Bryant proved to be a formidable opponent pushing the Spartans throughout the entire first half and beginning of the second. The Bulldogs led by as much as 5 in the first half but a late flurry from the Spartans gave them a 5 point le…

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MSU's First Round Opponent Bryant Bulldogs Pregame 1:21:30

4M ago1:21:30

1:21:30

March 18, 2025: As expected, Michigan State got their number 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and will face the 15 seed Bryant Bulldogs from the America East Conference. Bryant has only been a Division I program for 17 years and this is their second appearance in the Big Dance. New head coach, Phil Martelli, Jr., is in his second year and was an assis…

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What is the value of a new stadium? 1:06:56

4M ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Steven and Braden talk college football. News from Bowling Green, Deion Sanders and the NCAA 26 video game as well as news with NIL and recruiting. Plus, how much is a new stadium worth to a college football program? Can a Group of 5 program become a power program with a new building? South Florida, UCF, Houston, Tulane, SMU and more are showing us…

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MSU Bracket Reveal & the North Carolina Conspiracy 1:51:29

4M ago1:51:29

1:51:29

March 17, 2025: Michigan State got their expected at-large bid to the NCAA tournament last night and will be the 2 seed in the South. Their first round opponent is Bryant who we will go into in greater depth over the next few days. But 7 other Big Ten teams made the field and we discussed their draw in some depth. Also, Bracket Dom joined us once a…

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MSU Falls to Wisconsin 77-74 in BTT Semis 1:02:07

4M ago1:02:07

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March 15, 2025: Michigan State had their 8 game winning streak against Big Ten opponents broken today as the Spartans fell to the Wisconsin Badgers, 77-74. Wisconsin had a huge showing from their star player, John Tonje, who finished the game with 32 points. Most bracteology sites have MSU slated for a 2 seed whether they won the game or not. So MS…

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MSU Beats Oregon in 1st Round 74-64, Wisconsin Next in the Semis 51:32

4M ago51:32

51:32

March 14, 2025: Michigan State took care of business in their first game in the Big Ten Tournament beating Oregon in convincing manner, 74-64 in the quarterfinals. The Spartans came out with good energy and despite letting Oregon keep it close throughout the first half, they closed the half strong heading into the locker room up 10. From there, it …

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BTT Quarterfinal Matchup Against Oregon 46:39

4M ago46:39

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March 13, 2025: Michigan State begins its quest for a second banner tomorrow as it opens Big Ten Tournament play as the one seed against 8 seed Oregon. As you may recall, Oregon had a sizable half time lead over the Spartans at the Breslin Center in their only matchup this season. But then MSU put the clamps down and Jase Richardson went wild leadi…

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The QBs of 2025 1:02:36

5M ago1:02:36

1:02:36

Steven and Braden talk college football's quarterbacks in 2025. What are the trends around G5 signal callers and what does it tell us about the game? Which league has the best QB? Which league is the most underrated? Which league is loaded with potential? Is anyone better than Arch Manning?