Inside The Pylon: A Midwest College Football Podcast

Inside The Pylon: A Midwest College Football Podcast

by Ryan Satkowiak

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Indiana Hoosiers ft. Sammy Jacobs

Ryan flies solo while Clinton is on vacation, and continues wading through the Midwest for summer/fall previews, tonight tackling the Indiana Hoosiers. To help break them down, Sammy Jacobs from HoosierHuddle.com joins the show. Year one under Curt Cignetti was a a smashing success with a playoff berth and a third-place Big Ten finish capping an 11-2 season. With several key returnees and another strong portal class, have expectations shifted for this program? Offensively Fernando Mendoza appears poised to carry the mantel from Kurtis Rourke at QB a season ago, and he should have plenty of weapons out wide -- headlined by WR Elijah Sarratt. With a skillset that has seemingly caught NFL draft evaluators' collective attention (and, likely two intact ACLs), what will this offensive look like in 2025 with Mendoza at the helm? Defensively the Hoosiers retained star DC Bryant Haines, and have returning playmakers at all three levels of the defense. However they must replace several key components of what was one of the best rush defenses in America in 2024. Who are names to know of guys expected to step up, and will there be any schematic adjustments to keep opponents guessing in 2025? Similarly on defense, to help turn around a unit that was at the bottom of the Big Ten in most statistical categories in 2024, Locksley went the NFL route for DC with Ted Monachino. What can we expect this scheme to look like and who are some names to know on that side of the ball? LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Maryland Terrapins ft. Jeff Ermann

Ryan flies solo while Clinton is on vacation, and continues wading through the Midwest for summer/fall previews, tonight tackling the Maryland Terrapins. To help break them down, Jeff Ermann from InsideMDSports.com joins the show. The 2024 season proved to be a somewhat unexpected downward trend for the Terps, following three preceding bowl seasons from 2021-2023. What is the tenor of the fanbase heading into 2025? Was last season an anomaly or the start of a downward trend? Head coach Mike Locksley went the NFL route at OC in Pep Hamilton. With the departure of Billy Edwards, and a QB battle between Justyn Martin and Malik Washington, what can we expect from this offense in 2025? Who is expected to step up in place of the departed Tai Felton, Kaden Prather and Roman Hemby? Similarly on defense, to help turn around a unit that was at the bottom of the Big Ten in most statistical categories in 2024, Locksley went the NFL route for DC with Ted Monachino. What can we expect this scheme to look like and who are some names to know on that side of the ball? LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Oregon Ducks ft. Dale Bliss

Ryan and Clinton continue wading through the Midwest for summer/fall previews, tonight tackling the Oregon Ducks. To help break them down, Dale Bliss from Autzen Zoo joins the show. Dante Moore appears poised to be the next in the line of succession of great Oregon QBs, following Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. The former 5-star had a difficult time as a true freshman in a difficulty situation at UCLA, with with a year under Gabriel and in Will Stein's offense, what cane we expected from him? And what can we expect from his weapons following the draft departures from Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden, Terrance Ferguson and Jordan James, plus the likely season-ending injury to Evan Stewart? On defense the Ducks also must replace significant front-seven talent, but return one of the best pass rushers in the sport in Mateo Uiagalelei. They hit the portal hard to help bolster a secondary that was torched in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. What can we expect from the defense in 2025? Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Penn State ft. Matt Flip

Ryan and Clinton continue wading through the Midwest for summer/fall previews, tonight tackling the Penn State Nittany Lions. To help break them down, Matt Flip from the Roar Lions Roar podcast joins the show. By any reasonable measure Penn State had a successful 2024 season. However that has not stopped the James Franklin detractors from perpetuating the "Big Game James" trope in light of the Lions' semifinal loss last season. Where are Lions fans at with their head coach head coach going into a pivotal 2025 season? The story on offense is the return of QB Drew Allar, and RBs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. However, a receiver room that left much to be desired in 2024 turns over, with three key additions in Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy) and Trebor Pena (Syracuse). Can these additions help Allar with the loss of All-American tight end Tyler Warren and talk the Penn State passing attack to the next level? On defense, a plethora of starters return, and the Lions poached national championship winning defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State. Will the defense maintain its elite level of play in 2025? Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Nebraska Cornhuskers ft. Redcast Rob

Ryan and Clinton continue wading through the Midwest for summer/fall previews, tonight tackling the Nebraska Cornhuskers. To help break them down, Redcast Rob rejoins the show. Year 3 of Matt Rhule tenures have found success at both Temple and Baylor. After reaching a bowl game (Nebraska's first since 2016) in year two, what can we expect from this team in year 3? With a manageable schedule, is merely getting to a bowl game enough or are fans expecting an improvement on last year's 7-6 record? Offense figures to improve with a full offseason under OC Dana Holgorsen after his midseason takeover of the offense in 2024, and now-sophomore phenom Dylan Raiola has a full season of experience under his belt. To help bolster the passing attack, the Huskers hit the portal again and reeled in a combined 87 catches, 1,293 yards and 7 TDs from wide receivers Dane Key (Kentucky) and Nyziah Hunter (Cal). They also bolstered the O-line from the P4 ranks with OT Elijah Pritchett (Alabama) and OG Rocco Spindler (Notre Dame). On defense they must replace DC Tony White, who took the same job at Florida State. However plenty of portal reinforcements are on the way, headlined in the front 7 by former 5 star in the class of 2024, Williams Nwaneri from Missouri; edge Dasan McCullough -- who struggled in two years at Oklahoma but had four sacks as a freshman at Indiana in 2022; and 2024 Sun Belt defensive player of the year LB Marques Watson-Trent from Georgia Southern. Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Minnesota Golden Gophers ft. Ryan Burns

ITP's fall previews continue and Ryan and Clinton are joined by Ryan Burns from Gopher Illustrated on the 247 Sports Network to help break down Minnesota. A 7-5 regular season does not aptly summarize how close the Gophers were to being excellent in 2024, with four of the five defeats coming by 7 points or less, including a 1-point loss to national semifinalist Penn State. How can the Gophers close better in 2025? Offensively, QB Max Brosmer got better for PJ Fleck's squad as the season progressed. But with his graduation, Minnesota appears ready to turn the keys over to redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey. Is it his job to lose and what can we expect from an offense under his guide? They will need to reconstruct an offensive line that suffered portal and graduation/draft losses, but they've brought in four P4 transfers to help the cause. Defensively, the Gophers were elite in 2024, but replace coordinator Corey Heatherman -- now at Miami. Defensive pass game coordinator Danny Collins earned promotion, and he has plenty of chess pieces in the secondary to ensure they do not take a step back. Can we expect any schematic changes for the Minnesota defense? Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Michigan Wolverines ft. Clayton Sayfie

ITP's fall previews continue and Ryan and Clinton are joined by Clayton Sayfie of The Wolverine to help break down Michigan. The first season of the Sherrone Moore era had some bumps along the road, but ended about as good as possible with wins against Ohio State to close the regular season, Alabama in the bowl game, and they closed the class of 2025 with a bang with 5-star QB Bryce Underwood. Even with two portal additions, will he open the season under center for Michigan? What can we expect from a pass catching unit that, outside of the since-drafted Colston Loveland, did not exactly set the world on fire in 2024? On defense, Michigan will have to replace a host of studs, particularly on the D-line following the departures of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Josiah Stewart. Who is next-on-up on the d-line you should know? In the secondary, had star safety Rod Moore returned to full health following a spring 2024 ACL tear? Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Illinois Illini ft. Sunny Verma

Ryan and Clinton continue their deep dive on the Big Ten with team fall previews, today touching on one of the trendiest "sleeper (?)" playoff selections of the 2025 offseason/preseason: the Illinois Illini. To help the guys break down Illinois, Sunny Verma from the Locked On Illinois podcast joins the show. Part of the hype surrounding Illinois is the plethora of offensive talent returning. The whole OL is back, as is QB Luke Altmyer -- fresh off a season in which he accounted for nearly 3,000 total yards and 26 TDs. Despite the loss of RB Josh McCray to the portal, they also return 4 of their 5 leading rushers from 2024. However, leading receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin have moved on to the NFL. WVU transfer Hudson Clement had 51 catches last season, but who are other names to know out wide? The Illini defense had some rough patches last year, but likewise return a plethora of talent/experience. How can this unit improve from 2024, and what can we expect from them in 2025? Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

ITP's Fall Six-Pack: Northwestern Wildcats ft. Matt Shelton

It's hotter than hell outside but it's officially a month away from the onset of preseason fall camps, so it's time for us to dig back into team previews. We start with the Northwestern Wildcats, and joining us to help break them down is Matt Shelton from Wildcat Report. QB play was a challenge for the Wildcats last year, so they hit the portal to bring in former SMU starter Preston Stone; is it a foregone conclusion that he will start, and if so what are expectations in year two of Zach Lujan's offense. Whoever ends up being QB will need help out wide. Enter South Dakota State transfer Griffin Wilde, who had nearly 1200 yards receiving a year ago. What can we expect from him. On defense, Northwestern hit the portal hard to help improve a pass defense that was 89th last year. How can that unit improve this season? Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

2025 Midwest Bold Predictions

Ryan and Clinton begin the wrap-up of their summer programming portion of the schedule, discussing their bold predictions for the Midwest college football contingent in 2025. Join us on our Youtube channel live Sunday/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, with Sunday time varying based on Clinton and Ryan's schedules. Follow us on Twitter to get notified when we are going live and to interact with the show. LINKS: Twitter: https://x.com/ITPCFB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ITPCFB/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-pylon-a-midwest-college-football-podcast/id1729819040 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0duY5MWU52VLBGm8sO7eaI #BigTenFootball #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballNationalTitle #NationalChampionship #BigTenConference

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