00:31:19 - Main Topic Conference realignment talk

​ @InsideMarylandSports⁩ : https://www.youtube.com/live/21sSt5FfBn4?si=aRefPKKyXjqCWr02&t=2438

JR and Zack open with Week 0 reactions: Farmageddon's fumbles, Iowa State's comeback vs Kansas State, Dan Mullen's Florida defense flop vs Miami, and Georgia Tech's upset over Florida State. They highlight Bryce Underwood named Michigan's starting QB per Pete Nakos, with Underwood predicting a Heisman win. The duo previews Iowa State at Iowa (predicting low-scoring Iowa win) and UNLV at UCLA (UNLV edge due to UCLA's QB issues). The episode's highlight is Maryland AD Jim Smith's confirmation of Big Ten expanding to 20 teams by 2030, sparking realignment talk: potential adds like Clemson, FSU, UNC, Duke, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech for academics/football boost; travel concerns with California schools; and playoff implications needing 24+ teams. They critique SEC's shift to 9 conference games, crediting Indiana's Curt Cignetti for bullying them. Chat interactions cover SEC insecurity, top-25 doubts for ISU/KSU, and Notre Dame's future. Hosts discuss competitive balance, NFL-like structure, and reject special treatment for independents. Episode ends with fantasy league invite and Week 1 preview tease.

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Catch The Big Ten Huddle Football Episodes 3 times a week. Here is when to catch our live or premiere episodes that are about an hour long (eastern time):

• Sunday at 9 PM w/ Zack


• Tuesday at 9 PM w/ Zack


• Thursday at 9 PM w/ Jeff

You can also expect videos by JR throughout the week covering news and interesting topics.

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The Big Ten Huddle is a podcast dedicated to providing honest, humorous, and insightful analysis of Big Ten football and basketball. With a focus on challenging the national bias, especially against the SEC, hosts JR and Zack offer unfiltered discussions that engage fans of all Big Ten teams. Though critical at times, they always aim to defend the conference and give credit where it’s due, bringing humor and deep analysis together for a unique listening experience.

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