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.

Indiana completes the greatest turnaround in college football history, beating Miami to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, with Curt Cignetti cementing his status as a legend. The two discuss Kyle Whittingham to Michigan, Matt Campbell to Penn State, and Would You Rather.

On Bigger Ten, Steve Deace & Aaron McIntire begin by breaking down Indiana's historic run—the oldest team in college football history?—as the Hoosiers chase the Big Ten's THIRD straight national title. They demolished Oregon & humiliated Alabama. Could they rank with Burrow's LSU if they beat Miami Monday? They also discuss: Demond Williams' portal flip-flop vs. Ty Simpson's loyalty stand Iowa State exodus to Penn State & portal chaos Would You Rather: Nebraska hoops/football, Purdue vs Nebraska, 2023 Michigan vs 2025 Indiana & more

The first episode of Bigger Ten for 2026 covers Indiana's humiliation of Alabama in the Rose Bowl, proving Curt Cignetti's turnaround is historic. We debate whether NIL/player pay has rewritten college football history and if the SEC's dominance was built on a black market. The two also discuss Ohio State's "empty calorie" season, Kyle Whittingham to Michigan, Matt Campbell to Penn State, and Would You Rather.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire close out 2025 with an epic Christmas episode of Bigger Ten ! Indiana shocks the world, beating Ohio State to claim its first outright Big Ten title since 1945 – Curt Cignetti is now an all-time legend. Fernando Mendoza delivers another clutch Heisman moment. We break down the historic game, and reveal our full 12-team CFP brackets.

We preview the historic #1 Ohio State vs #2 Indiana Big Ten Championship – the biggest in league history with Heisman, #1 seed, and natty implications on the line. Plus: Nebraska's existential crisis deepens, Penn State's recruiting dumpster fire reaches new lows, National Signing Day winners & losers, and Pat Fitzgerald lands at Michigan State. We play Would You Rather, announce the 2025 Confidence Picks champion, and read our X poll.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire deliver a jam-packed Thanksgiving episode of Bigger Ten! We break down the massive stakes in The Game and the Apple Cup, debate whether Michigan's youth can shock the world, and explain why Vegas is practically begging you to bet Oregon. Plus: final Confidence Picks of the regular season, Fair or Foul on Tony Petitti & Nebraska's (maybe) extension blunder, and a heartfelt tribute to Iowa sports journalist legend Mike Hlas.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire are back on Bigger Ten with a massive episode! The Big Ten's private equity deal is on ice as Michigan and USC threaten independence, accusing commissioner Tony Petitti of strong-arm tactics. James Franklin lands at Virginia Tech in a move that puts him in direct recruiting war with Penn State. USC proves it can win Big Ten-style football, while the playoff logjam grows with the SEC potentially flooding the field with two-loss teams.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire break down a wild week on Bigger Ten! Indiana's Fernando Mendoza delivers a Heisman moment with a 91-yard TD drive to upset Penn State. Oregon survives a classic Big Ten slugfest in Iowa City. Nebraska's true freshman QB TJ Lateef shines, while Wisconsin shocks Washington with their punter as leading passer.

Steve and Aaron make their picks for week 11 of Big Ten football action.

Steve Deace and Aaron McIntire are back on Bigger Ten to unpack the first CFP rankings! Ohio State claims #1 over Indiana despite the Hoosiers' historic win at Oregon. We dive into tiebreaker chaos, Nebraska's crushing loss to USC and Dylan Raiola's season-ending injury, and Wisconsin's collapse.