Bigger Ten

Steve and Aaron kick off the 2026 season with a Big Ten stock watch, digging into which programs (looking at you, Nebraska and Illinois) haven't sniffed a top-10 finish in decades, plus why Ohio State's preseason No. 1 ranking might actually be a bad omen. They also break down the new college football calendar with week zero disappearing, NFL-style injury reports hitting the Big Ten, and play a round of Would You Rather covering rivalry games, betting picks, and Indiana fatigue. Stick around for a truly cursed 1986 Iowa rap video that somehow no one had ever heard of.

Steve and Aaron break down all 18 BTN fall camp reports in one marathon session, crowning Indiana's tape as the most glowing they've ever seen while sounding alarms on Penn State, Minnesota and Nebraska. They also make the case for Washington as the league's sneaky dark horse, dig into Bryce Underwood's improved footwork, and debate whether Rutgers and Wisconsin are being wildly undervalued heading into the season.

Steve and Aaron dig into Athlon's anonymous Big Ten assistant coach quotes on all 18 programs, from Illinois' recruiting discipline to Nebraska's quarterback "denial" to the loaded, everybody's-back rosters at Ohio State and Oregon. They also debate whether Matt Rhule's fortunate timing is masking real problems at Nebraska, break down Penn State's soft schedule versus its roster, and react to listener feedback on Curt Cignetti's quarterback whisperer reputation.

Steve and Aaron break down the biggest storylines from Big Ten Media Days, from Cignetti and Bielema's brutal shots at the SEC's 'hype machine' to debating whether the Cleveland Plain Dealer preseason poll has Illinois too high and UCLA too low. They also dig into CBS Sports' surprising coaching hire rankings, make the case for (and against) Wisconsin and Minnesota as dark horses, and break down whether the newly passed Protect College Sports Act can actually survive legal challenges.

Steve and Aaron kick off preseason coverage by breaking down Phil Steele's trend lines, including Indiana's bear-market luck factor and Penn State's soft-schedule bounce back under Matt Campbell. Steve unveils his full college football playoff and Big Ten bowl projections, capped by a bold call that Oregon finally breaks through for its first national title.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire react to the Big Ten's absolute domination of the 2026 NCAA Tournament! With four teams in the Elite Eight and two (Michigan & Illinois) advancing to the Final Four, the conference has embarrassed the SEC (0-6 combined in NCAA + CFP) and proven its superiority in the NIL era.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire break down an historic first weekend for the Big Ten in the 2026 NCAA Tournament! With six teams in the Sweet 16 (tying an all-time record), dominant wins by 20+ points, and elite guard play shining through, the conference is making a statement.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire dive into the 2026 NCAA Tournament as March Madness kicks off! From Purdue's stunning Big Ten Tournament title run turning them into a #2 overall seed, to five Big Ten teams landing top-4 seeds and the conference's elite guard play, this episode breaks down the biggest storylines, key trends (like hot offenses predicting deep runs), and our no-compromise "sheet of integrity" brackets. Will Nebraska finally break through? Can Michigan cut down the nets? Get our full predictions, upsets, and Final Four calls before tip-off!

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire break down an incredible week in college basketball on Bigger Ten! Michigan delivers one of the greatest regular seasons in Big Ten history: 29-2, 24 double-digit wins, 16 double-digit Big Ten wins, undefeated on the road for the first time since Indiana's 1975-76 teams, and a top-five strength of schedule. We debate if this is the most dominant Big Ten basketball season ever and why the NCAA Tournament will define its legacy. Plus: Purdue's surprising fall, Nebraska's best season ever, Wisconsin's wild shooting team, dirty play concerns, and Steve's full Big Ten Tournament bracket predictions.

Steve and Aaron spend the entire show breaking out the 2026-27 Big Ten football schedule: who benefits, who has it rough, and Penn State.