Btn Take Ten Podcast

College football writer Nicole Auerbach joined to discuss her latest pieces for The Athletic, including her series highlighting the lighter side of college football. She also discussed the latest College Football Playoff rankings and Minnesota’s historic rise. (2:00-26:00) Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to discuss where the Big Ten stacks up in the College Football Playoff rankings, the upcoming weekend’s football matchups and went behind the numbers of Big Ten football and basketball. (28:00-54:30)

The founder of college basketball analytics website kenpom.com joined and shared how he transitioned from a career in meteorology to hoops expert and writer. Plus, he explained the processes behind his ranking algorithms and how they relate to Big Ten teams and projections. (3:00-33:30) BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to discuss a huge weekend ahead in Big Ten football, including Penn State vs. Minnesota and Iowa vs. Wisconsin. Basketball talk followed with the 2019-20 season getting underway this week. (35:00-1:07:00)

Private quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery trains and is close with Deshaun Watson, Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, Sean Clifford and many other QBs across all levels of football. He discussed his unconventional path to the top of a niche industry and shares what makes QBs like Fields and Clifford successful in the Big Ten. (3:00-21:00) BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined to go behind the numbers of Big Ten football and stepped back for a wider view of the conference with a month of the regular season left to play. He also previewed the opening week of Big Ten basketball. (21:30-end)

Former Illinois wide receiver Mikey Dudek joined the show to discuss experiencing the Illini’s historic upset win over Wisconsin as a fan on the sidelines and what it meant to a rebuilding program. He also reflected on his own football career, which was cut short by three season-ending injuries (.2:30-28:40) Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to go behind the numbers of the weekend’s results in Big Ten football and project what awaits in Week 9 and beyond in the conference race. (30:00-58:00)

BTN reporter and host Elise Menaker joined the show to talk about her path from college softball star to local news reporter to Big Ten Network. She also discussed her responsibilities at the network in-depth, including the creation of a popular social media segment called "Big Ten's Got Talent" and her weekly role as a sideline reporter during football season. (2:30-40:30) Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined the show for his weekly Stat Head segment for an in-depth breakdown of Big Ten football, including a catch-up of the past weekend's action and analyzing how teams project heading into Week 8. (41:30-end)

National college football writer Chris Vannini joined the show to discuss his recent pieces for The Athletic and chat about the landscape of Big Ten Football, including how teams stack up in his rankings of all 130 Division I teams. Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to dissect what happened in Week 3 of Big Ten football and project how teams will fare in Week 4.

Former Ohio State linebacker and new BTN football analyst Joshua Perry joined the show to chat about how he landed and is adjusting to his new sports media role. Plus, he evaluated the first two weeks of the Big Ten Football season and how teams project going forward. (2:30-24:00) Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to go in-depth and behind the numbers of the Big Ten's recent games and upcoming matchups. (25:00-end)

National college football writer Matt Fortuna joined to discuss his latest projects at The Athletic, including coverage of Hugh Freeze coaching from a hospital bed, the launch of the ACC Network, Illinois' new facility and more. Fortuna also shared his observations of Big Ten football and the national landscape heading into Week 2 of the season. (3:30-32:30) Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton re-joined for his weekly Stat Head segment to provide in-depth analysis of Week 1 results in the Big Ten and project the conference's matchups in Week 2. (33:30-57:30)

The 2019 BTN Bus Tour interviews wrap up at the final three stops on the annual drive around the Big Ten with chats at Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern. Hawkeyes DL Chauncey Golston (2:10-15:10), Illini DL Oluwole Betiku (15:45-28:30) and Wildcats S J.R. Pace (29:20-43:30) sat down with Alex Roux for the post-practice discussions.

Interviews from the 2019 BTN Bus Tour head West with chats at Purdue (Markus Bailey - 2:00-16:00), Wisconsin (A.J. Taylor - 16:20-30:00), Minnesota (Winston DeLattiboudere and Clay Geary - 30:30-43:45)and Nebraska (Jack Stoll - 44:30-55:30). This is Part 3 of 4 from the Tour, and interviews from the final three stops at Iowa, Illinois and Northwestern will drop in the next episode.

The BTN Bus Tour wraps up the Eastern leg with interviews at Penn State (LB Jan Johnson - 2:00-13:00), Michigan State (S David Dowell - 13:40-26;00) and Michigan (TE Sean McKeon - 26:40-end). The discussions dive into the players' backgrounds, off-field interests and more as they join the show following training camp practice.

The Take Ten Podcast hits the road with the 2019 BTN Bus Tour and interviews a Big Ten Football Player at each stop on the 14-campus trek. The first episode of this year's tour features interviews at the first four stops - Indiana OL Coy Cronk (1:40-14:30), Ohio State DL Jonathon Cooper (14:40-28:00), Maryland LB Ayinde Eley (28:10-41:10) and Rutgers OL Zach Venesky (42:00-53:30).

Reigning women's basketball National Player of the Year Megan Gustafson joined to discuss her time as a superstar at Iowa, her journey with the WNBA's Dallas Wings (including being cut and re-signed after being drafted) and adjusting to life as a professional athlete. (2:30-13:30). Then, BTN researcher Harold Shelton re-joined the show to resume his Stat Head segment with a summer college football update before the season gets underway.

Former Nebraska kicker Adi Kunalic and founder/president of Opendorse - an athlete marketing platform - joined the show to discuss the path that led him to becoming the first Bosnian player in the NFL and a successful entrepreneur following his football career.

Joel Klatt (2:30-23:00) and Bruce Feldman (24:00-41:30) of FOX Sports joined the show from Chicago at B1G Football Media Days to launch us back into football season. Klatt caught us up on his summer and stood his ground on some impassioned takes about the state of college football (plus certain types of food), while Feldman offered a peek behind his other job at The Athletic before discussing his annual "Freaks List" and previewing the B1G season. Then, the show bid farewell to our producer and co-host of the "Coll For the Culture segment, Colleen Degnan. Colleen left BTN to take an opportunity at NBC Sports Chicago, but made sure to deliver one last deep dive into the intersections of sports, pop culture and entertainment before departing the network. (42:30-end)

BTN senior digital producer Brent Yarina filled in for host Alex Roux to interview former Michigan QB Devin Gardner in the BTN studio, and the two touched on a variety of topics. The discussion includes a memorable moment against Ohio State, describing the Big House experience, playing football in Japan and more. (2:50-15:20). Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her weekly #CollForTheCulture segment to chat about the intersection of sports, social media and culture with host Alex Roux. The two talk NBA free agency, viral brand successes and whether certain Fourth of July activities fall under the "yes" or "yikes" category. (16:30-end).

BTN and FOX announcer Lisa Byington joined to discuss her role calling play-by-play for the FIFA Women's World Cup and her career path that led to the prestigious nod. Topics include calling games from a remote studio in Los Angeles, the challenges of prep work and name pronunciations across different countries and what makes the event so special. (2:15-31:30) Then, producer Colleen Degnan joined for her #CollForTheCulture segment to chat about the intersections of sports, pop culture and entertainment. Topics include dos and don'ts of summertime, best MLB ballparks and sports to watch with the NBA and NHL in the rear-view mirror. (32:00-end) (32:00-end)

With BTN senior digital producer Brent Yarina filling in as an interviewer while host Alex Roux was out of town, former Maryland basketball star Bruno Fernando sat down for an in-studio interview. The All-Big Ten Terps big man discussed his preparation for the NBA Draft, how his home country of Angola and the University of Maryland molded him into the person he is today and shared some cultural and linguistic differences between his home cities throughout the years. (3:00-18:15) Then, Roux returned for a catch-up session of #CollForTheCulture with producer Colleen Degnan, where the two got back to discussing the intersections of sports, pop culture, entertainment and social media (including NBA/Stanley Cup Finals, B1G developments over the last two weeks and summertime distractions) throughout the recurring segment. (19:15-end).