Couch and The Rube

Live from Midtown Brewing Company in downtown Lansing, we answered your big-picture Twitter questions on MSU and Michigan football, the Lions, life and love. And, more significantly, Jason answered your poignant and personal questions about the man behind The Rube.

We opened with a conversation with author Tom Shanahan about MSU football and two of its most trailblazing teams, from 1965 and '66, going into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend as, fittingly, MSU's first HBCU opponent, Prairie View A&M, visits Spartan Stadium. Then a discussion on receivers coach Courtney Hawkins' comments on freshman Nick Marsh (22:00). Followed by our picks for th...

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State football and the changing trajectory for the season after MSU's performance at Maryland, on Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh and more, on Michigan football, which appears headed in the other direction this season, on the Lions' overtime win against the Rams, on the Tigers seriously in the playoff hunt and more.

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – many of them on Michigan State's football team, on Aidan Chiles' performance and future, the receivers and tight ends, the defense, injuries, Jonathan Smith and more, along with questions on Michigan football, the Lions, Tigers, life decisions, movie and music taste and more. Plus, what we're betting this weekend.

Off the top, we talked with Baltimore Sun Maryland football beat writer Ed Lee about what to expect from the Terrapins in their matchup with MSU this Saturday. Then we picked this week's college football and NFL games with Harry Gagnon, including MSU-Maryland, Michigan-Texas and the Lions-Rams (26:00). 

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State football's 16-10 win over FAU, including MSU's laboring offense and the play of QB Aidan Chiles and a defense that looked promising, and on Michigan's uninspiring start against Fresno State, the Tigers playing meaningful baseball and more. 

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – on Michigan State football heading into the Spartans' opener, on Michigan football and Connor Stalions, on the Tigers suddenly being in the wildcard hunt, the Lions being Super Bowl favorites and more, including a story worth telling of the time The Rube broke a kid's finger while stealing his candy on Halloween. 

We opened digging into the flawed Connor Stalions Netflix film that is far from a documentary. Then a conversation with Florida Atlantic beat writer Robbie Lastella on what to expect from the Owls in their game at MSU Friday night (14:30). Before we picked the Week 1 college football games with the great Harry Gagnon (32:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the reasons for increasing optimism for MSU football, why Aidan Chiles is and isn't the key to all of it, on Michigan football having received a notice of allegations from the NCAA, on the Tigers becoming fun, bad Jared Goff takes and more.

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – on Michigan State football, reasons for optimism with the Spartans, which games might be most thrilling, which MSU might win and which could swing the season, and on MSU basketball's playing rotation, the Lions, the Tigers, live, love and piss troughs.

First, a conversation with NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach on Big Ten football and the expanded college football playoff (13:00). Then, mid-show, news that the Lions' Penei Sewell is injured breaks and we react (39:00). Followed by a discussion on what we learned from Michigan State basketball's three games in Spain, including a entertaining and challenging game on Tuesday against a Serbian profession...

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on what we've learned about Michigan State's basketball team through two games in Spain, on real expectations for MSU football, on how U-M fans should feel about the Wolverines' national title, on the Detroit Tigers' big moment Sunday night and whether they're in for a strong finish and more, including a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – on MSU football and the Spartans' most important players, on Michigan football and how much the Wolverines benefited from cheating, on journalism bias, Lions injuries, the Tigers in contention and more, including a couple stories worth telling.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State football and basketball, on how much Michigan football cheating helped build the program to a championship level, USA basketball and the Olympics and more. Plus a couple stories worth telling. 

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – on Michigan State football and MSU basketball, on proper punishment for Michigan football, on Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions, on CMU and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – about what to make of the leaked NCAA notice of allegations against Michigan football and head coach Sherrone Moore, the determination it was Connor Stalions on Central Michigan's sideline at MSU last season, what to do about CMU and more, including MSU football takes, Tigers and Olympic thoughts. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball and MSU football, including Aidan Chiles vs. Sam Leavitt, what to do with a 4.5-win overall for Spartan football, Kur Teng's Moneyball MVP summer, the point guard position, as well as our Olympic wishes, why sports writers suck and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.

We opened reacting to the Tigers' trade deadline moves, before a conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Tigers' return for pitcher Jack Flaherty, the job Scott Harris is doing, what's next with Tarik Skubal and the timeline for Tigers to be contenders (13:00). Then a conversation on MSU football as the Spartans open fall camp (36:00). 

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on how Michigan State and other college athletic departments are facing big decisions after the House case settlement, on MSU football's season and the possibility for joy ahead, betting against Michigan football, on the Tigers' trade possibilities, betting stupidly against the U.S. in the Olympics and more, including the story of how the Rube's father-in-law...

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – on what this season should be for Michigan State basketball, on who MSU's best five players and best lineup might be, on MSU football and the stretch of games that could decide the season, on the Tigers chances of finishing .500, what could stand in the way of a Lions Super Bowl and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling, including Jason's long...

We talked MSU football with MLive's Matt Wenzel at Big Ten Media Days (8:00), then talked with The Athletic's Scott Dochterman (22:00) – on Big Ten expansion, teams like MSU and Iowa competing in the new Big Ten and more. Then our favorite Big Ten season win-total over-unders (35:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this is actually a big season for Michigan State's basketball program, on hopes for Frankie Fidler and optimism for Jeremy Fears Jr., on Jonathan Smith's track record with the transfer portal, on the Tigers and Tarik Skubal, on Michigan football, CFB 25 video game frustrations, squirrel attacks, pillow warranties and more. Plus a couple stories worth te...

We answered your questions – on Michigan State basketball and what happens if the Spartans lose 13 games again, on MSU football and whether the Spartans can ever be among the top few teams in the Big Ten, on Tarik Skubal and what trade packages would be worth dealing him, and more. 

We opened with the latest on Michigan State basketball after Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am, including thoughts on Gehrig Normand, Coen Carr and the center position. Then a good conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Detroit Tigers' recent surge, the state of the organization and what might happen with Tarik Skubal (12:45). Followed by our best British Open bets and two smart c...

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this Michigan State basketball team has the makings of a group that's less frustrating than some others, on the surging Tigers and whether they're suddenly worth our time, on MSU football, the Lions, a fiasco at Copa America, disagreements in America and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.