PODCAST · sports
Against the Grain
by KTRU Sports
Started by Rice Students, this podcast covers Rice Athletics and Houston sports in an engaging and informative manner.
Episodes
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Jordyn's Journey & The Return of the NBA
After spending our first five weeks covering the NFL and MLB, the NBA slowly crept into the scene and made a huge splash. NBA connoisseur David makes his long-awaited return, leading the team's NBA season coverage with major news that sent shockwaves across the league: the NBA banning certain…
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Hot Streak, Ice Week, Wavelength Geek
We started off the show in an unusual manner. The NHL has returned, and with that, our experts Seth, Neil, and Cole (new addition!) all came out to showcase their takes on what to expect from the new season. There were a lot of takes in this segment, so don't miss out on what we have to say! We...
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Texans & Astros: Playoff Larp Maxxers?
We kicked off our show with our now-weekly NFL Recap. Inside the coverage, we were debating which of these 2-0 teams we believe are legit and which are certified frauds (there was some good debate over some of these verdicts). We then went over some possible concerns regarding the 0-2 teams, such...
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59 Points, 10 Words, One Rice Legend
After witnessing the highest scoring NFL Week 1 ever, the crew came back and analyzed what really went on in these matchups. How on Earth did the Bears score 59 points? How did the Texans' defense let up 36 points? Will Neil ever have a correct take again? All the questions will be answered in…
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NFL, CFB, MLB: Serving Subs the Maye's Way
With the return of MJ & Jackson, we began the episode with a bit of card collectors' jargon. As we agreed, if they make a profit in the end, we can't judge. Today, we began the episode with an NFL Week 1 review of both the Patriots v. Seahawks and the 49ers v. Rams. The crew had a lot to say…
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Fantasy & Football: The Return of the Team
As we brush off the dust from the summer, we begin a NEW SEASON of KTRU Against the Grain! In this new season, we welcome many familiar faces (Neil, Seth, Jacob) and some newcomers (Andrew & Joshua). Although we will miss our graduated members, we strive to continue their legacy as we grow the...
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World Cup Mega Preview
We are less than 50 days away from the BIGGEST sporting event in the WORLD. The World Cup is coming to the US, Mexico, and Canada starting on June 11th and going until July 19th. Our crew today (Julian, Andrew, Max, and Jacob) gives an in-depth breakdown of the top teams at the tournament, a…
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If You Don't Stop And Look Around Once in a While, You Could Miss It
In our final episode of the semester, we look back on a great year of Against The Grain. From great takes and total misses to unforgettable quotes and memorable moments, we recap the highlights from all of last year! Tune in to hear our end-of-the-year awards segment ("The Grainies")!! After...
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Playoff Palooza
As our motivation for school fades away, our excitement for sports goes on an absolute heater with the beginning of the NBA & NHL playoffs. Nothing beats this part of the year, and the crew has you covered with the best analysis and predictions set for every first-round matchup in the NBA & NHL....
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Beer Bike & Brain Rot
On this week's episode of Against the Grain, we take a deep dive into our beloved Rice University's greatest tradition: Beer Bike! In a bold attempt to explain this borderline inconceivable event to a broader audience, we were joined by friend of the show, Sandra Alb, a captain of the Duncan...
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Basketball Extravaganza
Get ready for an all-basketball week! Your Against the Grain hosts give a full breakdown of each of your Final Four teams. Can Keaton Wagler keep the Illinois offense chugging amidst their defensive resurgence? Is Arizona v Michigan set to be the best Final Four game of all time? Is Dan Hurley...
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Our Corn was Husked & Baseball's Day Was Opened
This episode rocks!! Rachel gives a wild statement about March Madness brackets that must be put in the record books. Our resident baseball knowers, Jacob and Seth, give a full breakdown of the upcoming MLB season (and why the Dodgers are a shoo-in). We run back the youngins (Seth & Neil) and the...
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Throwing a Hayesmaker
We sit down with Rice WBB senior Shelby Hayes to start off this week's episode of Against the Grain, where she gives us an inside look into the Owl squad that has now won a program record 22 straight games, a streak that dates all the way back to Thanksgiving. The crew also discusses if anyone…
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The World is Owl Oyster
Last year we never would've thought that we'd end up talking so much about hockey, but lo and behold! We also preview the upcoming World Baseball Classic and give our Owls their flowers as Swim and Dive wins their second consecutive American Conference championship and the Rice women's basketball...
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Who Doesn't Love a Good Scandal
We sure do! Whether it's ski jumping, curling, the NBA tankathon, or MJ and the alleged dollar hot dog night at Rice baseball, there's plenty to talk about this week on Against the Grain. As the final weekend of the Olympics approaches, we broke down the biggest storylines and results from sports...
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The Downfall of Shams Charania & The Rise of Sam
Do your local Whataburger employees know your name? Here at Against the Grain, they absolutely do! Today, we break down an NBA trade deadline chock-full of moves. Are people sleeping on Jared McCain to the thunder? Should you be sound-asleep on the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade? Is Grand Theft Alvarado…
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(Literally) Drinking the Tari Eason Kool-Aid
Chaos broke out in what we thought was going to be a slower sports week, though this week's episode was anything but slow. The Dodgers are ruining baseball, Arizona MBB cannot be stopped, Rice WBB cannot be stopped, and we talked about...wrestling? On an episode full of curveballs and a slower…
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Bluegrass Jesus and the Muscle Hamsters
After Bo Nix' ankle mysteriously snapped in half, resident Broncos fan Neil was left no choice but to defend Jarrett Stidham and the mile high crew as they battle Drake "Drake Maye" Maye (or in the words of Neil "Drake-Drake Maye-Maye") and the Patriots of New England. Jacob's hometown squad (the...
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New Year, New Against The Grain
2026 is here, and your Against The Grain hosts are prepared to tell you exactly what will happen in sports this year (just don't bet on it)! Rice Women's Basketball is flying through its conference schedule, and we break down the secret to its 9-game win streak. Outside the hedges, we're…
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2025-26 NFL Wild Card Preview - Why is the NFC South still a division?
The 2026 NFL Wild Card Round has a lot of unpredictable matchups to help us ring in the New Year, and even as the experts we are we admit that some of those games are trickier to predict. In spite of this, we press on with a bonus episode to kick off the big '26 and attempt to give you everything...
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The Night Before Christmas
We're about to go on a hiatus for winter break (and many of us already have), but before we left we made sure to give y'all everything you could need watching sports in Houston over the next couple weeks. What should you look for in the upcoming Texans and Rockets schedules? As the Texans fight…
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Chomp the Gators
Why are your hosts so bad at sports betting? Why is Producer Ian not blessing my ears on Around the Hedges? Against the Grain has the answer to these questions and much more, as we dive into a week of nonstop action. Rice Volleyball makes the NCAA tournament once again, but how far can our owls...
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Walking Alone: Assessing Liverpool’s Catastrophic Season Thus Far
The reigning Premier League champions entered this season with high expectations, following a summer spending spree of $565M(!!) on star names including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. A promising start in the standings masked numerous issues on the field that continue to loom over the club…
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General Mills and the Rocketeers
General Mills and his mighty men bring down the husband of Hailee Steinfeld. Does the Against the Grain team believe Money Mills is for real, and how far can the defense carry the Texans? Meanwhile, the Rockets are soaring, fresh off a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. How has Reed Sheppard...
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Hook 'Em, Sic 'Em, HOOT 'EM
Now that the College Football Playoff Committee is releasing weekly rankings, our team weighs in. Who are the frauds? Who is for real? Who's bringing home the hardware come January? We are now both a hockey and poetry podcast, neither of which anyone saw coming. We spent some time arguing about...
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Cam Carroll and Collared Shirts
After a brief schism about Jacob's fashion decisions and the usual trip Around the Hedges, the squad gives you an update on the NFL's midseason status as well as previews the upcoming seasons for Rice Men's and Women's Basketball. Garret talks the talk during the debut of a new trivia game we...
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A Taste of Texas
WE ARE BACK to give you a taste of the Lone Star State to get started with season 2 of our show for the 2025-26 school year. Unfortunately we don't mean BBQ, but we do catch you up to speed on Julian's hometown Houston Texans and all 3 Texas NBA franchises. Also, Jacob wrote a haiku.
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End of the Year Awards!
We kick things off with Around the Hedges, going through postseason updates and AAC honors. Then it's time for Whose Take Is It Anyway?, where Juju, Brandon, David, and Jacob react to some of the semester’s wildest takes. Garret and Max host our first (and soon-to-be annual) Awards show—complete...
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Draft Day Deals, NBA Playoff Surprises, & Hot Takes from the Mailbag
In today’s episode, we go Around the Hedges—shoutout to the Men’s Tennis team for winning the AAC! Then we dive into Round 1 of the NFL Draft, breaking down the biggest surprises and trades, including the Jaguars and Giants trading up to get their guys. Next, we cover early NBA Playoff results,...
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Inside the Rookie Year: Luke McCaffrey on the Draft, Jayden Daniels, and the New-Look Commanders
We are so excited to have NFL wide receiver and Rice alum Luke McCaffrey join the show! Ahead of the NFL Draft, Luke looks back on his own draft experience and what it was like stepping into the league alongside quarterback Jayden Daniels. We talk about his rookie season with the Commanders, the...
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NBA & NHL Playoff Preview + A Love Letter to Luka
With both the NBA and NHL playoffs tipping off, the Around the Hedges crew is all in on postseason talk. We start with a trip Around the Hedges before diving into a full NBA Playoffs preview, breaking down the biggest storylines, matchups to watch, and bold predictions. Then, it's time for a...
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Real Football, Fake Mascots
If you thought we were in the football offseason, think again — as we are in the midst of the Champions League quarter-finals (the real football). We break down all the first-leg action and preview what’s to come in the second legs. Then, it’s time for Is That a Minor League Baseball Mascot? as…
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Beer Bike, Brackets, and Ben Montag
This week’s episode kicks off with everything you need to know about one of Rice’s wildest and most iconic traditions: Beer Bike. With special guest, senior and biker Ben Montag, we break down what to expect from this year’s race. Then, things get competitive with a Beer Bike-themed game of Wheel...
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Rice Baseball Shake-Up, MLB Opening Day & More March Madness
It's March Madness, but we’re not just talking basketball! We kick things off with a deep dive into the firing of Jose Cruz Jr. and the hiring of David Pierce at Rice University, breaking down the Cruz era, the midseason switch, and what’s next for Rice Baseball. Then, we shift gears to MLB’s...
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March Madness Special: Favorites, Frauds, Dark Horses & Cinderellas + Blind Resumes
IT'S MARCH, BABY! That means it's time to talk college basketball. Ahead of Selection Sunday, we break down which favorites we think can make a big run in the tournament, potential frauds, dark horses, and cinderellas. Tune in to see who we have picked to go to the Final Four and win the Men's…
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State of the NBA, Guess the Player Pt. 3 + A Wheel of Hot Takes
In today’s episode, we go Around the Hedges before diving into the State of the NBA, where we discuss trade deadline moves and predict end-of-year awards. Then, Garret and Andrew face off in Guess the Player Pt. 3—who will come out on top? Next, we spin the wheel for Whose Take Is It Anyway?,...
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Rice Baseball Deep Dive, NHL + NBA All-Star Weekend Breakdowns
In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to break down last week’s results. Then, we discuss Rice Baseball's opening weekend results and preview their season. After playing a new game Wheel of Stuff (the title is a work in progress), we dissect the successful NHL All-Star weekend and the...
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Super Bowl Recap – Reactions, Chiefs’ Future, and More
In this special abbreviated episode, we react to Super Bowl LIX, breaking down key moments from the game, evaluating the Chiefs’ offseason needs, and debating next season’s Super Bowl favorites.
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Super Bowl LIX Preview + Reaction to the Doncic Trade
In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to break down last week’s results before diving into the shocking trade of Luka Doncic. Then, we break down Super Bowl LIX: Eagles vs. Chiefs and debate if the Chiefs can capture the elusive three-peat. Finally, we wrap up with predictions and prop bets...
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Jalen Green Questioned, Dallas' Hire, and Our Dog of the Week
This week on Against the Grain, we go Around the Hedges to break down last week’s results before diving into the Houston Rockets and the growing debate—Is Jalen Green actually good? Then, we tackle the coaching carousel and Dallas’ decision to hire Brian Schottenheimer. (Jerry Jones do better)....
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A Wonderful Weekend of Football: Breaking down the CFP Final and NFL Playoffs
WE ARE BACK! In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from over the break. Then, we discuss the CFP final, including the implications of Ohio State's win. After a quick game of Guess My Player, we transition to talking about the Texans' playoff run and reflect…
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Rice's New Direction: Scott Abell's Vision and CFP Playoff Breakdown
In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results. Then, we discuss the hiring of Scott Abell as Rice's new football head coach. After a quick game of Guess My Player, we transition to talking about the CFP Playoff Bracket. Lastly, the crew makes some predictions ahead…
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Why Rice Volleyball Is So Good ft. Lola Foord + UH Basketball Season Outlook
In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from the week. Then, ahead of the AAC Volleyball Tournament, we discuss Rice Women's Volleyball with Lola Foord, a senior outside hitter. Then, we transition to talking about University of Houston basketball and their...
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Ceiling for Young Rockets Team + Interview Will McDermott, Rice Cross Country 8k Runner
In today's episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from the week. Then, ahead of NCAA regionals on November 15th, we discuss Rice Cross Country with Will McDermott, who will be competing in the 8K race. After a starting 5 draft of NBA players under the age of 25, we…
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Inside Look Into Rice Women's Basketball + NFL Midseason Awards
In this episode, we go Around the Hedges to recap Rice Athletics results from the week. Then, we transition into a preview of the Rice Women's Basketball team that concludes with an interview with former Rice WBB player Ashlyn Zhang. After a game of imposters, we switch gears and discuss the NFL…
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The State of Rice Football, Rice Basketball, and the Houston Texans
On today's episode, we investigate the state of Rice Football after Head Coach Mike Bloomgren was fired last Sunday. We also evaluate how the Texans have played this season and whether they can compete for a championship. Lastly, we preview the Rice Men's Basketball team before their season…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Started by Rice Students, this podcast covers Rice Athletics and Houston sports in an engaging and informative manner.
HOSTED BY
KTRU Sports
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Against the Grain have?
Against the Grain currently has 46 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Against the Grain about?
Started by Rice Students, this podcast covers Rice Athletics and Houston sports in an engaging and informative manner.
How often does Against the Grain release new episodes?
Against the Grain has 46 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Against the Grain?
You can listen to Against the Grain on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Against the Grain?
Against the Grain is created and hosted by KTRU Sports.
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