Couch and The Rube

The Athletic's Chris Vannini joined us for a conversation on Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech, what's coming down the pike in college football and hope for MSU's football program (13:00). Then the saga with MSU and trustee Rema Vassar (37:00) and can't-miss World Cup bets (47:00). Plus, we answered your questions on MSU football recruiting, NIL, the Tigers, Knicks, and more (51:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on the Brendan Sorsby ruling, allowing the QB to play for Texas Tech after betting on college football, including his team, on MSU football recruiting, on MSU basketball, and why MSU should fight to keep President Kevin Guskiewicz, on the Tigers and what to make of their recent recovery, The Rube's anniversary trip to the Memorial golf tournament, and more.

Chris Castellani joined us for a conversation on the state of the Detroit Tigers, the roster, trade deadline decisions, best prospects in the organization and more (8:30); Plus, we answered your questions on MSU basketball and football, the board of trustees, the Tigers, life and more (37:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — the Tigers' and A.J. Hinch and Scott Harris, on MSU football and the Spartans' recruiting momentum, MSU basketball and the center position, the mess with MSU's president and board of trustees, the most hated prominent MSU figures, the Pistons and Wemby regret, and more.

We dug into our takes and listener takes and answered your questions on the drama and happenings at Michigan State, on President Kevin Guskiewicz's untimely exit at MSU, the Board of Trustees (and what should be done about the Board), what it means for athletic director J Batt, on Jeremy Fears' return to MSU basketball for next season, on MSU football, the Tigers, Pistons, parenting, best bets and more.

We answered your questions — on Michigan State basketball and Jeremy Fears Jr., on MSU football and college football playoff expansion, on the Tigers' lost season, life and more.

Off the top, we dug into the Jeremy Fears Jr. NBA decision, the discourse around it and what MSU might look like without him. Then a conversation with Detroit Free Press Pistons' writer Omari Sankofa on the Pistons' future and the decisions ahead with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson (21:30). Plus, a discussion on the state of sports media(50:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on MSU basketball and Jeremy Fears Jr.'s flirtation with the NBA, on the MSU board of trustees' emergency meeting and doubling the salary of MSU president Kevin Guskiewicz, on the Pistons' dud of a Game 7 and future, including that of Jalen Duren, on whether the Tigers are toast, and more.

We answered your questions — on Michigan State basketball, Jeremy Fears Jr. and the NBA, on MSU football and NIL resources, on the Lions' schedule, the Tigers' woes, the Pistons and Jalen Duren, vacationing with in-laws, parenting and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball and football, NIL and MSU, the Pistons first-round rally against the Magic, Jase Richardson, the Tigers (with news breaking on Tarik Skubal's injury), parenting advice, and more.

We answered your questions — on whether Michigan State basketball is actually a contender next season, who the Spartans' leading scorer might be, early returns on new MSU football coach Pat Fitzgerald's recruiting and expectations for Year 1, the Pistons, Tigers, Golf, parenting and more.

Off the top, we dig into MSU's basketball roster with the NCAA's decision to push forward with five years of eligibility, but not in time for Carson Cooper or Jaxon Kohler. We look at the addition of big man Anton Bonke, and discuss the problems with the expansion of the NCAA tournament. Then The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner joins us for a conversation on the Detroit Lions' NFL draft and roster (26:00). And finally, the Tigers, Pistons and Norm's golf bets (45:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball, the addition of center Anton Bonke, whether that's enough to make the roster a contender, the loss of Divine Ugochukwu, on MSU football's best-case scenario, the scuffling Pistons and Jalen Duren, the Lions' draft, parenting and more.

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball, on the addition of transfer center Anton Bonke, what's next with Divine Ugochukwu leaving, what to make of the roster overall, on MSU football and whether to have hope, the Lions' draft, parenting a newborn and more.

We returned after a week off and the addition of Cora Couch to the Couch and The Rube family, digging into our takes and yours — on MSU basketball and the center position, MSU football after the spring game, the Pistons after Game 1, the Tigers and becoming a dad.

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan basketball's national championship, what it means for Tom Izzo and Michigan State, what's next for MSU's program and roster, and more.

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball's roster and Tom Izzo's willingness and ability to go get the center his program needs in the transfer portal, on MSU's team next season, who's likely to return and the impact of the incoming guys, on feelings as Michigan plays for a national championship, on NIL, MSU football, the Tigers, World Cup tickets, Easter meals, dead rabbits and more.

We opened discussing Tom Izzo's comments about the Phoenix Suns head coaching Job and other upcoming games on MSU's schedule. Then The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner joined us to talk the MSU-Michigan dynamic in basketball right now, MSU and Michigan football and the Detroit Lions' treatment of Frank Ragnow and the draft (19:00). Plus, our best bets for the NCAA tournament and golf (43:00), and takes on the Jaden Ivey situation (52:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball and hockey bowing out of the NCAA tournament, one frustratingly but expectedly, the other in epic and crushing fashion, on where MSU hoops goes from here roster-wise, whether Tom Izzo will do what needs to be done, on Michigan's run in basketball and hockey and women's basketball, and that tough dynamic for MSU fans, and more.

We answered your questions — on Michigan State basketball's matchup with UConn in the Sweet 16, the Big Ten's NCAA tournament, MSU hockey surviving its first NCAA tournament game, Kevin McGonigle's Tigers debut, travel mishaps, memorable spring break stories and more. 

We opened with a conversation with Steven Izzo, former MSU player and son of Tom, on this MSU basketball team, his relationship with the current players, playing for his dad, and a trip to Niagara Falls with Mark Dantonio. Then, what the North Carolina coaching opening could mean for Michigan and other fan bases, the infuriating NCAA hockey tournament, and best bets this weekend.

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball, the Spartans' Sweet 16 matchup against Louisville, Trey Fort's emergence, Coen Carr's performance, the Big Ten in the NCAA tournament, MSU hockey's NCAA tournament draw, MSU women's hoops falling to Oklahoma, some inappropriate takes from The Rube, and more.

We answered your questions about Michigan State's basketball team after the Spartans' NCAA tournament win over North Dakota State — on the game plan against Louisville, X-factors and keys, Denham Wojcik, Trey Fort, Jeremy Fears Jr., Carson Cooper and more, on lessons from Day 1 of NCAA tournament, the Pistons without Cade Cunningham, along with a couple stories worth telling, but no broken chairs.

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State's NCAA tournament draw, the selection committee, the Big Ten tournament, Purdue, Michigan, MSU hockey, hopes, fears, Jeremy Fears, Trey Fort, and more.

We answered your questions — on Michigan State basketball, lineup decisions at point guard and elsewhere, the rematch the Spartans want most at the Big Ten tournament, the definition of "die trying" as Tom Izzo said he would do two years, on Michigan basketball, tampering, the Red Wings, life, staircases and more.

We dug into our takes and yours — on the Michigan State basketball team's performance and loss at Michigan, on the Spartans' two point guards (earmuffs, Denham Wojcik), on Izzo and roster construction, and MSU's NCAA tournament chances, on MSU hockey, the Red Wings, Lions and Pistons, and more.

We answered your questions — on Michigan State basketball's win and escape against Rutgers and Tom Izzo's role in it, the looming matchup against Michigan, Jeremy Fears Jr. vs. Yaxel Lendeborg for Big Ten player of the Year, MSU's NCAA tournament seed and the Spartans' roster next season, on MSU hockey and women's basketball, the Pistons, Lions and Red Wings, what The Rube would say at Couch's funeral and more.

We opened with discussion Michigan State basketball's seniors heading into the Spartans home finale. Then a conversation with The Athletic's bracketologist and former MSU beat writer Joe Rexrode on the Spartans' most likely NCAA tournament seed, their chances of making a run, and whether Jeremy Fears Jr. or Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg deserves to be the Big Ten player of the year (21:00). Finally, we talk Tigers, Pistons and Lions at the end (56:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball after wins at Indiana and Purdue, on Kur Teng, Jaxon Kohler, best lineups and changing NCAA tournament hopes for MSU's team, on Michigan basketball and Big Ten hoops, Jeremy Fears vs. Yaxel Lendeborg for Big Ten player of the year, on the Big Ten tournament, MSU football, the Lions trade of David Montgomery, the Tigers and Kevin McGonigle, and more.

We answer your questions — on Michigan State basketball after the Spartans' win at Purdue, on emerging players and struggling ones, lineup decisions, backup point guard, and what the win does to MSU's NCAA tournament seeding, and on the Michigan basketball, the Tigers, Lions, Pistons and life.

We opened with a discussion on Michigan State basketball and MSU's critical matchup with Purdue. Then Detroit Free Press writer Omari Sankofa joined us for a conversation on the Pistons, their ceiling this season and what this roster still needs (19:30). Plus, a short discussion on happenings with the Detroit Lions and Norm's golf bets (48:00).

We dug into our takes and yours on Michigan State basketball, lineups, concerns, Jordan Scott and Coen Carr, and next season, on Michigan basketball, the loss to Duke and Yaxel Lendeborg, USA Hockey, the MSU women's team's massive win, being roofied on the road, and more.

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball, Tom Izzo's approach to roster building, Spartan Ventures and MSU's NIL approach, MSU football, Michigan basketball and Dusty May, getting rid of the Big Ten tournament, the Tigers season wins over-under, and more.

We opened with a discussion on Michigan State basketball's win over UCLA on Tuesday night and what can be taken from it, including Mick Cronin's asinine postgame behavior. Then a conversation with Ant Wright on this Michigan team, MSU's path to a Final Four and the Big Ten (24:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball, MSU's ceiling this season and frustrations with this team and Tom Izzo, on Michigan basketball as national contenders and Dusty May vs. Izzo as program-builders, and more.

A good conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Detroit Tigers — the recent signings of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, on Tarik Skubal, the lineup, Chris Ilitch and Scott Harris and more (11:30). Then, with a stoned Rube, we answered your questions on MSU basketball, the point guard situation, Aday Mara's flagrant foul for Michigan, the Lions, Pistons, stupid bets and more (35:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball after MSU's win over Illinois, the discourse surrounding Jeremy Fears Jr., the Spartans' ceiling as a team, on the Super Bowl, Kenneth Walker and where the Detroits Lions stand compared to the Seahawks and Patriots, on MSU hockey moving toward another Big Ten title, and more. Plus, some good leftover Twitter questions.

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball, on Jeremy Fears Jr.'s on-court antics, on Divine Ugochukwu's injury and MSU's situation at point guard, on the Spartans' February swoon, on Tom Izzo's roster construction and the frustrating nature of it all, and on MSU football under Pat Fitzgerald to this point, MSU hockey facing Michigan, the Tigers being active, breaking chairs and more.

We opened with sound bytes from a a testy Tom Izzo at his press conference Monday, before digging into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball's loss to Michigan, whether this MSU roster can truly contend, on different players on the Spartans' roster who are the keys to the rest of the season, on the postgame handshake between Izzo and Dusty May, on how Izzo builds his roster, and more.

We spent 30 minutes talking MSU basketball after the Spartans' loss to Michigan on Friday night — why it happened the way it did, the impact of having Jordan Scott in the line, what it said about both programs and how they're constructed and more. Then, Super Bowl best bets and prop bets with Harry Gagnon (33:00).

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball, on the Kur Teng/Tom Izzo's mom viral Izzo clip, on what it'll take for MSU to win the Big Ten this season, on finding a fifth year for Jaxon Kohler or Carson Cooper, and what next year's roster needs, on MSU football in the portal, the Lions' offensive coordinator hire, the Pistons' needs, the Tigers and Skubal, breaking chairs and bunking with Chris Solari. Plus, our best bets this weekends, all presented by FireKeepers Casino and iCasino and Sportsbook app.

We dug into our takes and yours on Michigan State basketball's performance at Washington, on what Jeremy Fears Jr. is becoming, Coen Carr's struggles, Denham Wojcik, what it'll take to win the Big Ten, etc., and on the NFL playoffs, Chicago Bears and the playoff QBs relative to the Lions' Jared Goff, on the Tigers' offseason and what fans can do about it, MSU football after the transfer portal, and more, including another broken chair during the show.

We opened with a good conversation with noted MSU basketball parent Jeff Kohler, father of the Spartans' Jaxon Kohler — on this MSU team, Jaxon's development, his relationship with the fan base and more (beginning at the 9:00 mark). Then we picked this weekend's NFL playoff games and College Football Playoff championship, along with some other best bets (51:30). Plus, for the final 90 minutes, answers to your questions on MSU basketball — on Coen Carr, Jordan Scott, Jeremy Fears, the rotation and starters — and on MSU football recruiting, the Lions, life and more (1:06:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball, the rotation and the week ahead, on Michigan basketball's first loss, on the Lions-less NFL playoffs, Indiana on the cusp of a college football national championship, MSU football in the portal, reporter etiquette at press conferences (and the outrage surround what happened in Jacksonville) and more, including a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your questions — on Michigan State basketball, Coen Carr and the freshmen, Jaxon Kohler's NBA prospects, and Paul Davis' apology, on MSU football's work in the transfer portal, on Michigan basketball, on the Lions getting serious with a potential offensive coordinator hire, and more.

We opened 2026 by digging into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball, from Coen Carr to Denham Wojcik, on the juggernaut that is Michigan basketball, on MSU football in the transfer portal, what is SD4L, on the Lions, the Pistons, and life.

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State basketball's start and concerns that remain, on MSU football's offensive coordinator hire, on the bah humbug Detroit Lions and the offseason ahead, on Michigan football's coaching situation, U-M basketball's fan base, and whether mid-majors belong in the college football playoff. Plus, a few Christmas stories worth telling from listeners and the timeless classic, Santa Rube (at the 1:29:00 mark). Merry Christmas.

We answered your questions on Michigan State basketball, the shooting guard position, rotation changes coming, Big Ten hoops, MSU football and coaching hirings, Michigan football's turmoil and coverage of it, the Lions, Tigers (dang it, Scott Harris) and Pistons, The Rube's jail term,Christmas and more.

We opened with a discussion on Michigan State basketball and what's going to happen at the shooting guard position and how that impacts the backup point guard spot. Then a conversation with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner on the Lions' future and roster decisions, Michigan football's mess, the legacy of the Jim Harbaugh era and the hire ahead, and on MSU's hiring of Pat Fitzgerald and the fit in East Lansing (17:00). Plus, Harry Gagnon joined us to pick this week's College Football Playoff games and loaded NFL slate (50:00).

We dug into our takes and yours — on Michigan State's basketball team and the shooting guard position, on Michigan football's mess and coverage post-Sherrone Moore, on MSU football's staff decisions, on the Lions' and frustration with Brad Holmes (and Scott Harris), on Santa Rube and more.