Jeff Buch, aka Jeffrey the Greek from the Eyes on B1G Podcast, tells McElroy & Cubeilc why he's high on Michigan, where Iowa willsurprise folks, and how deep the Big Ten conference is
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Cole Kubrick, Greg McIlroy in studio at Mac and Cube. You can tweet in. Text in 205-834-9450. Apparently I have upset the Believe in Kentucky sports network. Oh, dare you. For saying that Kentucky dominated the Florida, or had been dominated by Florida in that series. Dare you. Should we check the Winsopedia page on that one? And what Stoops has done has been great in recent memory, but the point was that all time that has been lopsided in favor of Florida.

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We talked a little bit earlier with Ben Hartsock about Big Ten media days, which begin today. Let's continue that conversation. Jeffrey the Greek, Jeff Book, former Iowa football player, joining us now on the Bioshock Hotline. Jeff, I'm interested first, is this league top to bottom compared to the last few years?

How much stronger, maybe a little less stronger at the top and the middle? How do you view this Big Ten going into this season, even though it's different because we had teams? Maybe just the overall strength compared to the last couple Big Tens we've seen. First off, Cole, Greg, thanks for having me on. Yeah, I think it's quite a bit similar to what it's looked like the last four or five years. But now we have Oregon mixed in at the top, so obviously that makes sense.

a huge difference. I don't know how much the other teams added in are, are going to make that big of a difference. Uh,

If anybody knows what's going on with USC, I'll call them a liar because I think they're a complete mystery team to me. But instead of having three teams at the top that are excellent, we now have four. And then I think there's a pretty healthy middle class starting at five with Iowa and the next, you know, four or five teams. So it looks pretty similar, but just a tick up with Oregon.

Just quickly before we kind of get into the rosters and everything, what is kind of the anticipation for the new look Big Ten? Being at SEC Media Days last week, I mean, the energy was palpable with Texas and OU joining the league and the excitement. The amount of credentialed media members was significantly more than it usually has been. So there's a lot of energy and momentum, it feels like, within the SEC. Where is it for the Big Ten?

I feel like there's a lot of energy. I think the big difference is, you know, Texas and Oklahoma coming into the SEC, it's still sort of a regional fit. With four teams coming in from the West Coast into the Midwest, that's culturally, you know, completely different. I listen to...

It was the Oregon podcast. Maybe it was the USC podcast. And they were talking about, oh, man, why do we have to go to the Midwest to go to Big Ten media days? They're already asking for it to go out on the West Coast. So, like, to me, that is something to look out for. I would say in general, the old guard Big Ten fans, I think apprehensive is a word that can be used.

I think there's some proudness of maybe not wanting Oregon to come in and just run the conference this year. I think that's a common theme among

among a lot of Big Ten fans. So that's going to be interesting to see. But until we really get in the season, that's when we'll start finding out. All right, Jeffrey Book, Jeffrey the Greek, at Jeffrey the Greek on Twitter, co-host of the Eyes on Big Ten podcast, joining us on the Biosphere Hotline. You mentioned USC, a bit of a misnomer. I'm kind of with you there. Greg has a little more confidence than I do.

So another team that I feel like I have just a ton of questions about is Michigan. I love the front. I think it's going to be dominant. I love some of the pieces on offense, but a lot of turnover and some of the pieces that I felt like made them great the last two, three years, not going to be there. What are your realistic expectations for this Michigan team heading into this season?

My realistic expectations are high for Michigan. So I'm not on the same page with you on that. And certainly you're not alone. I've heard a ton of people talk about Michigan with a lot of the same situations, but Michigan,

For me, people act like this was a big, huge coaching transition. It's not. You know, there's continuity with Sherone Moore staying on. So I think that helps the offense, even though there's a ton of turnover on the offense. But you still got Colson Loveland at tight end. I know the offensive line is almost going to be completely new.

But there's some experience there, and you have Sharon Moore coaching them. A lot of people that are close to the program will tell you that was an offensive line-led team the last couple years. I don't see that changing. I don't see it at least dropping off a cliff. Then you mix that with this defense. I think the defense maybe takes a mini step back, but at the elite level that it was at last year, this is still an excellent defense.

in the running for the best defense in the Big Ten. And if that's the case, it's one of the best defenses in the country. So I am high on Michigan. They are right in the mix to me to get back to Indianapolis this year. When you look at the middle of the Big Ten, it's pretty obvious who the top teams are. However many you decide to include in the top team conversation is, I think, up to the beholder. But looking at the...

Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Michigan, what have you. Take those four out. The next contingent, Iowa's in that mix. Wisconsin might be in that mix. SC might be in that mix. How many people should we include in the next tier, if you will, when evaluated the Big Ten? I think you can put – it's on tiers, but I think two tiers and then with two teams being on that first tier –

and four in the next. So those six teams right there are the middle class or upper middle class, if you will. I would have Iowa kind of a strong standing by their self number five. And then after that,

You can kind of pull one of these teams out of a bag. USC, Nebraska, Rutgers, Maryland, and Wisconsin. So each one of those teams I don't think is at all a threat to win in Indianapolis for sure. I think it will be tough for a lot of those teams just to get to Indianapolis. But all of those teams can get you at home if they're having a good day, which is kind of what you expect out of the middle class at a conference like that. And then...

I'd also like to throw in, I know this is going to blow people's brains, but watch out for Indiana and their schedule. I'm not saying, again, they're going to be any kind of a contender, but they're a team that could wind up getting an eighth or ninth win in a bowl. So just another team that people aren't talking about that I think can get up there. What's the buzz there, though? Because that recruiting has completely flipped. Yeah.

And some of the prospects that are just being brought to campus and some of the commitments that Indiana are getting is on a totally different level. Is that sustainable?

I mean, I love Kirk Cimetti. We jokingly call him the Smokers' Kaitlin DeBoer on the Eyes on Big podcast. Coming over from smaller college, the guy does not lose. 13 seasons in, hasn't had a losing season, and all of them have been rebuilt. So I just – I like what he does. I love Curtis' work. Coming over Mac player of the year, and then even more the schedule. So I just think it's the brashness of Cimetti.

and it's playing well with recruits, but they better win some games this year to capture those recruits, and I think they got a chance to do it.

What about the teams that have traditionally kind of played the spoiler? I'm not sure anybody anticipates Indiana this year winning the Big Ten like you alluded to, but can they be dangerous enough? Michigan State, new coach, can they be dangerous enough? Maryland lose a lot, including their quarterback in Talia Tungvaluwa, but they've won seven games three years in a row. Rutgers, I think Rutgers actually has a real chance to make a big stride, partly because of their schedule, but partly because they finally have a quarterback that,

will complete better than 47% of their passes. So of the teams that are kind of down the list a bit, who do you think is the most dangerous? Well, if I could put Iowa in there. They're not allowed to put Iowa in there. They've won nine games, like, two of the last three years. Like, you can't put Iowa in there. Come on now. Appreciate that. If Iowa's in the same tier as Rutgers, we're evaluating this the entirely different way. Like, I think we're definitely seeing it differently for sure. But go ahead.

I like the positivity towards the Hawks. Yeah, I would say, I mean, you had a pretty good pick there with Rutgers. I'd put Nebraska in there as well if Dylan Rayola develops.

We already know they've got a strong defense under Tony white. They had pieces on offense last year. So really comes on to the health and performance of rail. They would be one of the best teams that I could see, you know, rising up. They get Ohio state. I'll be at it's it's on the road. So that's going to make it very tough, but they can come into that game hot. It's,

I'm going to talk out of two sides of my mouth because I do feel strong. I do feel that the middle of the conference is stronger than people believe. Maybe the more southern-based listeners would tend to believe. But it's just that I have so much respect for the teams at the top, specifically Ohio

Ohio State, Oregon, but again, I'd put Michigan and Penn State right there. It's just hard for me to see any of these teams getting over top of one of those teams unless it's perfect spot on the road. All right. Jeffrey Book joining us on the Biosphere Hotline at Jeffrey the Greek on Twitter, co-host of the Eyes on Big Ten podcast. We sort of brought him up, but I want to dive in a little bit more. Iowa, how different can it be this year, specifically the offense? Can this thing kind of turn a corner in 2024? Yeah.

So I've been on a campaign on a podcast for just wanting the 88th ranked offense in the country for Iowa. I have definitely fallen short of that the last three, four years. I think we got shot this year. Tim Lester coming over to be the new offensive coordinator. That was a hire that I liked right at the beginning. I think a lot of Iowa fans have warmed up to it since then. I know the typical thought process is right, but Kirk Ferentz is still the head coach. He's going to put the shackles on it and whatnot.

I'm not saying that this is going to be a radical departure of what KF wants to do. It will still be a team led by the rushing attack, not turning the ball over, and defensive special teams. But I think the efficiency of the offense is going to improve quite a bit. The quarterback room has drastically improved. As you guys probably know, Cade McElroy went down last year – McNamara, excuse me –

Went down early last year, and that just put everything into a tailspin.

He seems so McNamara seems to be as healthy as he's been since he's been at Iowa. And I like Brett and Sullivan coming over from Northwestern as a backup. People have been with Brandon Raven. I think they're going to get some RPOs going. I think putting a little bit of pressure on the back seven will help out the old line in the rushing attack. So I don't want to oversell this thing. I want to be a realistic person towards this, but I expect it to be quite a bit better.

Jeffrey, we appreciate the time today, man. Great stuff. Enjoy Big Ten Media Days. Interested to see what comes out of it. And we'll have you back once actual football gets started. Cole, I've always loved you since you talked very highly on hand placement from Iowa tight ends. I just want to say I appreciate that. So I'll come back on any time. Well, listen, if we could just have Linderbaum in there every year and give me that film to watch, we'd be good to go. So McElroy might not like it, but I love it. So we'll do it again. Absolutely. All right.

Appreciate the time. There you go. Jeffrey Cook, he played at Iowa. Co-host of the Eyes on Big Ten podcast at Jeffrey the Greek. You can follow him on Twitter. Good stuff there just around. I like kind of your thought, Greg, on where does, I don't know if I want to say the marketing, but like the messaging, like where does the imaging go for the Big Ten moving forward? Because you already heard Jeffrey say, like, SC's already like, man, we've got to go to Indianapolis. Yeah. Why? Why?

Where it's been. Do you not want to go there again in December, by the way? I mean, is that what they're going to say in December? Like, we have to go there to play in the Big Ten title game? It's just not a cultural fit, man. It's just so weird. I'm not saying they don't have good brands. It's culturally, the fit just doesn't work. At all. It's like, oh, we have to play night games? Ugh, I really wanted to go to Santa Monica after the game. Like, it's like, dude, it's just football matters. Football matters a lot where we're from, and it matters a lot

in the places that previously really occupied the Big Ten. Now, SC is a front-runner school, not in a bad way. It's just when they get hot, there's no better ticket in town. Back in the Pete Carroll days, everyone and their brother was on the sideline for those SC games. Man, that's just not what it's been for quite some time. So I hope that it fits, and I hope to...

I hope the quality of play doesn't diminish because the travel will be that challenging. I think it will be. I think it's going to be that difficult. And I do think it will be somewhat exhausting for some of these teams that are having to travel multiple time zones, some teams that are playing 10 o'clock at night and then following it up the following week with a 9 a.m. local kickoff and things like that. So that's going to be interesting. I'll be curious to see how it all works out. It's going to be a fascinating year to follow it.

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