Spotlight Productions

We opened with a conversation about the Mel Tucker saga, how fans are feeling about Tucker's removal as head coach and this week's MSU game against Washington. Then Matt Charboneau joined us to discuss his exit from the Detroit News and memories from his time on the MSU beat (17:00). Followed by our college football and NFL picks with Harry Gagnon (36:00). Plus, more than an hour of your Twitter questions on MSU football, the future of the program and more (59:00).

We dug into the situation surrounding Mel Tucker – the investigation, his behavior, MSU's decision to suspend him, what it means for MSU's program, the players and our initial thoughts on Harlon Barnett as the Spartans' acting head coach and more. Plus, your "thoughtful takes" on the Mel Tucker saga at MSU.

We answered your Twitter questions – on the Lions' massive win at Kansas City, what it means and how we should feel, on Michigan State's football game against Richmond and what we can learn about the Spartans from it and what might show MSU is ready to compete with Washington, best bets this weekend, and more.

We opened with our hopes and concerns for the Detroit Lions and why Keon Coleman's performance at Florida State isn't an indictment on MSU. Then, the Richmond Times-Dispatch's John O'Connor joined us for a blunt assessment of the Spiders' chances against the Spartans on Saturday (11:00). Then the great Harry Gagnon joined us to pick the Week 2 college football slate and Week 1 NFL games (32:30).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State football's opening performance, the fourth-and-1 calls, on Noah Kim and Katin Houser, Maliq Carr and Dillon Tatum, Alante Brown's return to the field after what appeared to be a concussion, on MSU's likely number of wins considering what we learned about future opponents, on how TV breaks are ruining college football watching at home and in the stadium, and more.

We opened digging into criticism of Mel Tucker, including in a recent column. Then we previewed Michigan State football's opener against Central Michigan with a good conversation with the voice of the Chippewas, Adam Jaksa, on this CMU team and what problems CMU could cause MSU (13:45). Then Harry Gagnon joined us to picked this week's college football games against the spread (29:45). Plus, we answered your Twitter questions (64:00) on MSU football and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU football and what'll it take to compete at the highest level, what the program should aspire to, the importance of this MSU season, on new college football rules that stink, on the Tigers, meteorologists, how to make this show better and more.

We answered your Twitter questions – on MSU football projections, what would make Mel Tucker's tenure successful, the "Blue Wall" of course, smart bets, tattoo bets, wedding tips and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours — on Michigan State football's season-determining games, on MSU's quarterback battle and whether Payton Thorne winning the starting job at Auburn says anything about how Mel Tucker handled the QB situation, on a Detroit Free Press column that tackled that dynamic and stirred up deep-seated feelings about the "Blue Wall," on another reason Dantonio might have left when he did, and on the the Lions' Jameson Williams, the Tigers' future and more.

We answered your Twitter questions – on fears about Michigan State football recruiting, Mel Tucker's two coordinators, MSU's place in the new Big Ten, the Spartans' strengths this season, who we'd like to kick out of the Big Ten, what would be a successful season for the Lions, celebrity crushes and, to begin, what we're betting this weekend.

We opened talking about the improved depth and size on MSU's defensive front and how that gives the Spartans' defense a chance to be solid for the first time in the Mel Tucker era. Then good conversations with The Athletic's Scott Dochterman (18:00) on the future of the Big Ten and the Seattle Times' Mike Vorel (40:00) on Washington heading to the Big Ten and the Huskies football team this season.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on what Big Ten expansion means for schools like MSU, on how the league might eventually split into divisions, on MSU's quarterbacks and team, on AJ Hoggard's pro prospects, on the USWNT exiting the World Cup, on the Lions, Tigers and more.

We opened digging into the latest news on Big Ten expansion with the likely additions of Washington and Oregon, what it means for the league, for college sports and for schools like Michigan State. Then we answered your Twitter questions — on MSU football, U-M fans, the "Blue Wall", the Big Ten, the Tigers' flubbed trade deadline, the Lions and more.

We dug into the latest news on the Big Ten considering expanding again, adding Washington, Oregon and perhaps Stanford and Cal (13:00). Then we dove into the Detroit Tigers' failure to move pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez at the trade deadline (26:00), including a good conversation with Detroit Free Press Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold (37:00). Plus, the great Harry Gagnon joined us as we shared some of our favorite college football, NFL and soccer bets (54:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on to what degree this is a big year for Mel Tucker, MSU football season projections and new uniforms, on U-M and MSU fans coexisting at the same stadium, on the Tigers at the trade deadline, the Lions, and more. Plus, some weird stories.

We answered your Twitter questions – on most improved MSU basketball players, Moneyball MVPs, best- and worst-case scenarios for MSU football, some MSU sports hypotheticals, and life advice from the Rube.

We returned from vacation and dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU basketball at Moneyball, including changed hopes and expectations for Jaxon Kohler, on Wimbledon, both the men's final and being there last week, on the Pistons' core and the Tigers' chances, on MSU football and Mel Tucker and more.

We answered your Twitter questions – on impressions of MSU's basketball team and freshmen at the Moneyball Pro-Am, how the minutes may be dispersed this season, fair expectations for MSU quarterbacks Noah Kim and Katin Houser, the Pistons' moves (or lack thereof), improving downtown Lansing, and some fun hypothetical questions about life.

We begin with a minutes projection for each player on Michigan State's basketball team, before seeing the Spartans new freshmen at the Moneyball Pro-Am this week. Then we take a spin through MSU's football schedule predicting the outcome of each game and the odds of an MSU win. Followed by our early best bets for the football season — college and NFL season win totals, Big Ten championship odds, etc. Finally, we dig into some of the great what-ifs in MSU and Detroit sports history.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU football recruiting and this weekend's pledges, on why these latest recruits are more likely to actually sign with the Spartans, on MSU basketball and whether this roster has a weakness, on the ever-frustrating Tigers, the Pistons' draft and roster makeup, on downtown Lansing, Michigan vs. other states, pizza, fireworks and more.