Spotlight Productions

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 professional team (43:00). Plus, in honor of The Rube's favorite soccer team playing in the Champions League, we play Young Boys trivia (57:00).

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 understandably tried to set Therese up with another man the first time he met Jason.

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 lost possible love child.

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 telling.

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 college football season wins bets to make now, including on MSU (34:30). And then a fun segment on our and your most loathed and frustrating athletes of all-time (42:00).

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.

We answered your questions on MSU basketball and what we can rightfully take away from performances and comments at the Moneyball Pro-Am, on Frankie Fidler, Xavier Booker, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr and top statistical performers next season, on MSU football and whether to trust Jonathan Smith's recruiting and fair expectations for Aidan Chiles, on worst movies and best sports documentaries we've seen and more. Plus a couple stories actually worth telling.

We opened talking Michigan State basketball and substantive takeaways from Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am games, including the play of Frankie Fidler and how he impacts the rest of the roster. Then a good conversation with Detroit Free Press columnist Shawn Windsor on the Pistons' big bet with Cade Cunningham, where the Lions are headed this season, the move the Tigers should make to engage fans and the hope for MSU basketball this season (29:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Michigan State football arguments that make sense for why MSU might have a better season than expected, on Tarik Skubal and whether the Tigers should keep him, sign him to a big contract now or trade him, on the Euro and Copa America soccer championships, the state of the USMNT, bad storytelling on dates and more.

In our last show before a two-week summer vacation hiatus, we answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – Michigan State football and Jonathan Smith's recruiting philosophy, on MSU basketball and a Frankie Fidler comparison, our dream Pistons offseason, weird things couples do, pet peeves, life advice and more.

We talked what's next for the Detroit Pistons with The Athletic's James Edwards on the day Monty Williams was fired (17:00) and then dug into the uneasy direction of the Detroit Tigers with Chris Castellani (37:00).