The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

It’s the final episode of HOTR season 2, all our teams lost. So Dave and Phil are out on the street hustling again until two-a-days. 

Dave tells about his trip to Dallas to see Ohio State undressed by an ill-intentioned Miami team. He sees nothing but good things surrounding Michigan’s head coach hire in Kyle Whittingham.

Phil remains obsessed with Toledo’s trip to the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Baked Beans, believing it to be the only contest where the game’s MVP was ejected. 

HOTR then looks ahead to next year, wildly throwing the dice of speculation against any wall. 

Cameos include John Cooper (again), Bo Schembechler, Suge Knight, the hopes and dreams of another Cleveland Browns offseason in tumult, the nightmare that is the transfer portal, Elon the college, Curt Cignetti, Urban Meyer, Lane Kiffin, Ferris State, and as much college football lore as we can muster for this season. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, it’s the last episode of the 2025 calendar year for our hosts, and it has turned out to be a doozy. 

Dave gives us the full detail of Michigan’s firing of Sherrone Moore and the disgraceful fallout that has taken all of the college football headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

Phil was first to meet Toledo’s newest hiring, coach Mike Jacobs, who arrived at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport last week. The Maumee native has climbed from the most unheralded of college football corners, and this appears to be a feel-good story for all the right reasons.

Cameos include Wolverine athletic director Warde Manuel, Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka, Big Ten wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Makai Lemon on the weight of Fred Belitnikoff, Biff Poggi, Jim Harbaugh, People’s Court reporter Doug Llewelyn, and all the salacious scandal you can handle. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, Dave takes us through all the nooks and crannies of Jason Candle’s exit from the Rockets to the UConn Huskies after 17 years with the program, 10 as head coach. 

Phil has a limited impression of an SEC hot-take artist, and teaches Dave how to correctly pronounce Louisville. 

We learn about a winter bowl game the used to happen in Toledo, and we find out if the Buckeyes simply must lose a game 13-10 in order to be successful in the playoffs. 

Cameos include “fun-tivities,” Curt Cignetti as the ‘ciggernaut,’ Angela Lansbury, Shedeur Sanders, all the UT coordinators Dave can name, Tampa high school lore, kicker panic, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown, and Fort Collins, Colorado.

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, Dave recounts his reports Ohio vs. Michigan through Phil’s vacation-style recap game called High-Low-Ha, in which we find out the highest moment of the game, the lowest, and the funniest.

Toledo’s regular season ends on a high note for a sad song. Bowling Green is onto off-season schemes. The Big Ten championship game looms ahead of Ohio State, and a bowl outside of the playoff for Michigan can still be a launch pad for next season. 

But all eyes remain mostly on The Game. Michigan’s stadium became a living snow globe. Brutus got more run in the end zone than the Wolverines. And the bands played on. 

Cameos include OSU standout lineman from Toledo Luke Montgomery, UT basketball coach Tod Kowalczy and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel’s connection to the official head-butt of the year by Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham, 1960s Brutus, Tom Brady’s glasses, Derek Jeter, Eddie George, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, and more!

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, The Game is here. Ohio State will play Michigan in Ann Arbor for the 122nd edition of college football’s rivalry-iest rivalry. 

Dave sets the stakes with some historic quotes from both sides of the border.

Phil’s hat says more than he does, though armed with more stats than usual — they are perhaps kept inside the giant hat.

Toledo look to take care of business against Central Michigan, and hope for the weirdest series of dominoes to fall to end up in the MAC title game. As always with the Rockets, hat or no hat, confounding stats surround them. Find out what other great stat where Toledo is top-10 nationally.  

Bowling Green will wrap up its 2025 campaign Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. as a 3-score favorite against UMAss, the only winless team left in FBS college football. 

Cameos include the flag-planting incident of 2024, weather in the form of “precip,” Earl Bruce (again), John Cooper (again), the suddenly questionable Carnell Tate, Michigan’s psychological lock on the Buckeyes, and the extra dramatic, unique nature of this year’s edition of The Game. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode... and then there was one. 

Next week is Thanksgiving and, of course, The Game. But before Ohio State can visit Michigan in an attempt to right wrongs past like so many Scott Bakula scripts, they must first battle the inevitable squads of Rutgers, in Columbus, and Maryland, in College Park. 

Dave is back from Pittsburgh and thinks the MAC may have completely buckled. Phil extrapolates the machinations of money onto the Bowling Green versus winless UMass tilt going up on a Tuesday at 4:30 in the afternoon on ESPN. 

Toledo wins again, and again, remains a statistical anomaly with the nation’s second-ranked defense. 

Cameos include the People’s Hurdle, Dequan Finn — who might be here in reference, but wasn’t at Miami against Toledo — junior high football primetime, the Primanti Brothers (sandwich), the Antivillains (contemporary Toledo music), Ragtime Rick (old Toledo music), and Pat Narduzzi (Nuz). 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, big winds blow in the coiffeurs of the Big Ten and it’s Scrooge McDuck vault of media rights riches being tinkered with by Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti. Take the money and run... your program. 

Briggs gives his expert understanding of the situation. Phil gives his heartfelt opinion of the dollar’s value in sport and “Sports.”

Toledo controls its own destiny, which unfortunately looks like every other year they finish 8-4... or 7-5. Michigan is on upset alert and BGSU is on cruise control for the 2026 season. 

Cameos include Gino Torretta, Sam Bradford, the Saudi Royal Family, a temporary stadium for the battle of I-75, and the worst field in college football. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, bubbles are poppin like the pads in the Autumn wind. 

MACtion returns to the Glass Bowl for a transcendent preter-football Toledo experience, Dave is there. Phil returns to Ohio State to witness bubble-on-bystander assault against Penn State, Dave is there. Eddie George shakes up his Falcons coaching staff, Dave is there. Michigan wheezes past Purdue but still looks to face Ohio State with only two losses, Dave is not there for it. Can Northwestern get a second coach fired?

Cameos include a freak Division V high school soccer goal, Ronnie Lott, regional statehood history, Troy Smith’s training regimen, and a self proclaimed “one-man-whiteout.”

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, no one’s favorite segment is back: Hot Seat!

Though our respective program leaders are all in good graces, the wild, wild life of any college football coach in today’s business can be a road to nowhere. 

So we revisit program histories when the hot seat took coaches to the river mid-season. 

Briggs finds fine Italian in Idaho. Phil has a unique marching band experience with David Byrne. And there are cameos from Lewis & Clark, Toledo Tom Amstutz, Earl Bruce, and of course many, many talking heads. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

In this episode, Dave and Phil give live reports from the weekend’s games, as respectively they each attended UT’s bare-bleacher win and BGSU’s standing room-spectacle loss.  

Briggs correctly predicted Ohio State pulling punches, but doesn’t pull any when talking about the Michigan vs. Michigan St. rivalry missing its punch this year. 

Phil wasn’t punched, but puts the over/under for times he was reprimanded by field security at 2.5, and for mentions of Pudge the Cat at even odds with comparable Eddie George mentions. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

Phil attended his couch, but as the Falcons slowly clawed their way out of a 21-0 hole — a deficit in which they had been 0-75 — they made it to the big TV of the house. 

Ohio State continued its grotesque, plodding deforestation of opponents. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood takes a bad loss, but is still a superstar in the making, we just can’t figure out which one. 

Joe Germaine, Pudge the Cat, Jason Candle’s esprit de corps, Phil’s new sneakers, and the Acme Co. all make cameos. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week is rivalry week number one. 

The Rockets will travel south to Doyt Perry Stadium for a noon tilt with Eddie George’s Falcons and one cat. 

Briggs has the insights and inside info as each team comes off a bye-week to prepare for their rival.

Will Pudge the Cat be fan-manned in at the last second? No. But does he have a busy schedule on gameday?

Busier than Phil’s — who looks to over-emphasize UT’s de-emphasizing of the idea of a big game being just any game, without understanding why over-investing emotion can lead to meandering performance and sideways results. 

Ohio State and Michigan get notes of efficiency, but all eyes remain on the rocket pointed at BG’s campus in this episode. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, we give out mid-term grades.

Dave is dismissive of Wolverine and Buckeye future foes, accepting of BG’s woes, and TBD on whether Toledo has its ducks in a row. 

Phil is a forgiving instructor, but there’s an increasing amount of evidence of grade inflation for favorites. 

Cameo conversations run the gamut of Guardians vs. Tigers, the Lions and the team they played that claims to be professionals out of Cleveland, and a surprising like-to-like comparison of Phil’s accomplishments compared to Eddie George’s. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, Dave regales us with the gale forces behind the Rockets trip to Kalamazoo. The road loss by 2-point-conversion was so fraught with doom, a biblical storm was going to end the game whether UT won it or lost it. But with a 99.9 per cent win likelihood according to ESPN models when W. Michigan had a 4th-and-10 near the 50 yard line and barely 2 minutes to go, lighting struck. 

It was so bad, Phil wanted to talk baseball or the Browns, where a couple more 99.9 per cent phantoms haunt outcomes. 

And through those diversions, we once again observed the unique prism of fan-hood that makes Toledo such a compelling and confusing sports town, with its split fan bases and split personal allegiances taking up residency in any household. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, Briggs takes us down to Doyt Perry Stadium, where Pudge the Cat and Eddie George’s “special forces” have people peeking at the peregrines from bleachers to blankets. 

Phil takes us to the scholastic level with the completion of Under The Helmet. The Blade’s third edition of its yearly high school football training camp documentary series covered the Whitmer Panthers. 

We get a who’s who of Kalamazoo in anticipation of the Rockets visit to Western Michigan University, and at least half of the show has the Wolverines on upset alert in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

Bowling Green’s unlikely anti-Falcon hero Pudge the Cat takes precedent over the likes of Blair Underwood’s first road test for the Wolverines, Chip Traynum’s breakout performance for the Rockets, and the most band per capita at any college football game this year when Grambling St. visited Ohio State on alumni band day. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

The first guest of the year of Toledo Rockets beat writer Kyle Rowland. He and Briggs were in Kentucky for Toledo’s disappointing fall to the Wildcats.

After the running the inside track on horse racing history and referee standards, we revisit Arch Manning’s first trip to the Horseshoe in Columbus, Bryce Underwood’s first start on the Big House in Ann Arbor, and lightning striking twice for the first or third time, depending on you cut it, for Eddie George and his BGSU Falcons. 

All that and more from Heart of the Rivalry, the only show to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Bowling Green and Toledo, as well as Michigan and Ohio State.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, with co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

Expectations soar for Ohio State and Toledo, while excitement reverberates through Bowling Green and their Heisman Trophy winning coach Eddie George. 

Michigan starts the season in infamy making more headlines in the news than in sports. But the Wolverines have beaten Ohio State four straight seasons, and are just one removed from their own title, so Ann Arbor isn’t necessarily gnashing.

That said, no on-field action looms larger than Arch Manning and his Texas Longhorn-aires visiting Columbus to play the beyond loaded Buckeyes to start the season. 

And that is where Heart of the Rivalry plants its flag with this first full episode. 

All that and more will come from your favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, as well as Bowling Green and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

The season, for all its great gravy's worth, has ended in a championship for THE Ohio State Buckeyes.

Briggs was there and takes us through the bends of the roller coaster championship game, and how it all folds up into a neat little package we call a season.

Phil was not there, but is on his own roller coaster after one of the funnest college football seasons, in general, wrapped up and along with it the first season of Heart of the Rivalry.

We go through some show highlights and of course make wildly speculative predictions for next season.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, as well as Bowling Green and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

It’s championship week at HOTR. 

Dave regales us with the benefits of his position, as he was able to talk with college football legends Lou Holtz and JohnCooper, former Notre Dame and Ohio State head coaches, respectively.

Phil continues to use his hobby time to look for Lou Holtz and his toughness, despite Dave having already found him.

We take credit for spurning Ohio State onto the championship, and relive some of the great plays in Ohio State history to compare them with the Sawyer Score. Archie Griffin’s brother Ray makes an appearance. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, and Bowling Green and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

With college football on the doorstep of its first ever championship game from a 12-team playoff, we of course zag where others zig, and examine how our Buckeyes — ney, all of college football — may still be impacted by the Italian Bowl played at the Glass Bowl in 2023.

Nevertheless, it is coincidentally timely as the Italian American Football League announced the return to Toledo in 2025.

Past that, Dave tells us all about Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl matchup against Texas. He will be there with his most prized holiday treasure, a gift both practical and professional to shield him from the worst part of his job: commercial airline travel.

Phil continues to claim accurate prognostications surrounding all our teams. However, he also advises that he did not gain any weight over the holiday, but that his height and age did fluctuate wildly. So what’s to believe?

We revisit the motion sickness of Toledo’s bowl game trophy crew racing onto the field three times in the Rockets’ six-overtime thriller. And what shall be known as the The Great Michigan Monsoon delivers a victory for the Wolverines.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, and Bowling Green and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week Briggs takes all through Ohio State’s thrilling dismissal of Tennessee from The Shoe in frigid night game that initially looked to be overflowing with Volunteers.

Both hosts were attendance in Columbus, and Phil recounts the vibe from in the stands. Color theory makes a rare appearance, as does the naming conventions of hair dye. 

Be sure to make Toledo’s a history a great present with The Blade Vault. Use code BV20 for for 20% off your first order. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week Briggs reveals whose Heisman vote went to BGSU’s Harold Fannin, Jr., and who prevented him from becoming the first Falcon in history to make consensus All America. 

Phil can’t outwit the privatized parcel service, and we go back in time with The Blade Vault. (Use code BV20 for for 20% off your first order.) 

Briggs takes us to 1919 with his column and tells us about how Toledo’s high school football was so big the Rose Bowl demanded it share the spotlight. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week's news cycle overfloweth our collective cups. 

Briggs responds to some proposed flag planting legislation with his own line of punitive felonious charges for losing rivalry games. 

Phil looks out for Kirk Herbstreit's lawn care service in Columbus, and there's a Big Chuck and Little John reference left in the driveway.

All that and more will from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, the examination begins in earnest. The famous Ohio State marching band song, “I wanna go back to OhioState,” has always claimed in lyric, “We'll win the game or know the reason why!”

Well we’ve got reasons, kids. 

Lou Holtz, Jim Harbaugh, Jason Candle, and John Cooper all seem to have the upper hand on Ryan Day, at least this week, according to Briggs. 

Phil accepts Toledo’s re-assignment to Michigan... again, but at least no one was pepper sprayed. 

All that and more will from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, Krusty the Clown, Benjamin Stickney’s twin sons’ role in the Toledo War, Tim Biakabutuka, and Fiesta Brutus all make appearances in the most rivalry-test edition of the Heart of the Rivalry.

That’s right, our purpose is upon us as Michigan travels to Ohio State for The Game.

Dave questions the health in the rivalry more than the health of the rivalry. Phil has an unhealthy fondness for his old Ohio State hat. But everyone’s spirits are in good health for this early Thanksgiving platter of college football’s greatest rivalry.

Stay tuned for a bonus YouTube Live show on Friday at 3 p.m. from the Rally of the Rivals downtown at Fleetwood’s.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, our own singing columnist finally gets his note as the cream and crimson of Indiana visit Columbus to face the Buckeyes. Tommy Tuberville makes an appearance with both of his faces. So does Curt Cignetti with his one Terminator glare. Phil picks one of them as coach of the year — and one of them is in the senate. 

We try to make predictions/horrible miscalculations about the Rockets playing the Bobcats on Wednesday night. Toledo got smoked 24-7, and only Phil’s dire warning about Ohio’s quarterback serves as an accurate portent. 

Bowling Green locks in on a MAC title shot against Ball St., whose new coach won’t be Mike Neu, fired after nine seasons. 

And the Wolverines can get bowl eligible with a win over Northwestern.

Stay tuned next week for an early show to drop before Thanksgiving, but then a bonus YouTube Live show on Friday at 3 p.m. from the Rally of the Rivals downtown at Fleetwood’s.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, finally, with everything else in the world resolved, the real problem is addressed: We are moving the Ohio State versus Michigan game to Toledo... Point Place to be exact.

Briggs simplifies the logistics for us, Jack Dempsey makes an appearance in defense of temporary wonders, and Phil puts statehood on the line for winning The Game. 

Our hosts continue to take sides over neutral sites as Ohio State plays Northwestern at Wrigley Field in a double alma mater for Phil.

Directional Michigan MACtion was attended by both hosts, and they compare notes in nice wins for BGSU and UT over Central and Western Michigan, respectively. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo.

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The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, our hosts take the temperature of a nation simmering from the most important Tuesday in memory. By that of course we mean a full debriefing of BGSU’s return to Tuesday night MACtion against Central Michigan.

After Ohio State’s big win at Penn State, Briggs wonders how many whiskey bottles must fly before James Franklin enters the Hot Seat. And Phil seeks clarity on whether the dog or the pony are more beloved in any dog-and-pony show. 

The Rockets won after giving up a Hail Mary, so our hosts determine what qualifies as a Hail Mary pass, and if this is the most backward win in program history. 

All that and more on your favorite college football show, The Heart of the Rivalry.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, our hosts talk about the differences between a morass and molasses in Ohio State’s lethargic win over Nebraska and the quantity and quality of bottles thrown in the Horseshoe.

Briggs takes us back through all that was on and off the field in Bowling Green’s thrilling thumping of Toledo 41 - 26, an atypical college football score Phil claims he predicted. 

That leads to our first edition of Hot Seat, where Briggs give us the tale the stovetop tells about coaches, who are all at a 1 to start. 

We marvel at the Wolverines rejection of quarterbacking norms. But their better-mousetrap worked well enough to get a win against in-state rivalry Michigan State, who again felt they should throw fists over the whole affair. 

But now Michigan welcomes the juggernaut, number one-ranked Oregon Ducks. Briggs tells us about the eight things that need to go right for the Wolverines to win. Then we look ahead to OSU traveling to Happy Valley for a much needed win over Penn St., while UT and BGSU travel to respective directional Michigan schools. 

All that and more on your favorite college football show, The Heart of the Rivalry. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

Yes, it’s a full phalanx of Falcon-Rocket information carried in a yeoman’s effort at chopping, catalyzing, crystalizing, and critiquing this year’s matchup between the school’s a mere 25 miles apart — making this the first edition of Heart of the Rivalry to be within RIVALRY WEEK!

Briggs tells us about orbital fiascos of television broadcast choices, which is somehow again Buffalo’s fault. There’s further band drama, and Phil encourages the BGSU band to busk outside the Glass Bowl.

All that and more on your favorite college football show, the Heart of the Rivalry.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week our hosts welcome special guest, UT beat writer Kyle Rowland to discuss one of the most sacred of sports controversies: a band controversy brews between UT and BGSU. 

David Briggs tells us about losses abound among Ohio State, Toledo, and Bowling Green. Phil wonder about the studio’s smoking rules, and we look forward to a weekend of W’s. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week our hosts discuss the logistical challenges and practical applications of moving goalposts, and why they must end up in water if disturbed. 

The Falcons attempt to stop being the mid of the Mid American Conference. But we find out that doesn’t stop Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid from watching.  

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week’s show starts in a one-handed homage to Ohio State wunderkind Jeremiah Smith. 

We talk about Toledo’s pro allegiances and the Cleveland Browns’ deep connection to Bowling Green. 

Briggs unveils a top-5 list of MAC stadiums. Yes, he’s been to all of them. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, Briggs tells us about his trip to Bowling Green... Kentucky, where he saw Toledo’s runaway victory rained out by the Hilltoppers. We talk about the shocking news that sweet, little ol’ Las Vegas is at the center of a monetary controversy. We bid adieu to the Bier Stube in Columbus, and look forward to the Big Ten season starting for the Buckeyes in Lansing. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, and Bowling Green and Toledo. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, Briggs tells us about his trip Starkville, Miss., where he saw Toledo “liquidate” the Bulldogs. Though he did not bring back a cowbell, he did bring back a UT vs. SEC stat that will make any Buckeye blush.

Briggs then reverses roles, and interviews Phil about his recent documentary profile piece on Perrysburg Yellow Jackets football training camp, Under The Helmet.

In the Big Ten, Michigan looks to make the forward pass illegal against USC, and Marshall’s coach deploys a unique tactic to combat Ohio State’s talen. 

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, and Bowling Green and Toledo. 

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade's sports columnist David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, we look at Maction Pride with NIU’s upset of Notre Dame and BGSU’s squeaker loss to Penn St. 

Phil is happy to not talk about the Browns, and instead convinces Briggs give us two dominant lists: best MAC upsets all time and best stadiums he’s seen in person.

In the Big Ten, Ohio State showed the polish while Michigan showed the tarnish. Briggs tells us which is more significant and then looks ahead to his trip to Starkville, Miss., for Toledo’s tilt against Mississippi St.  

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show, and the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, and Bowling Green and Toledo. 

Toledo really is the heart of it all and the battles run deep here.

Buckeyes vs. Wolverines are always trying to dominate The Game.

Rockets vs. Falcons clash to secure victory in the Battle of I-75.

Join The Blade's sports columnist David Briggs, co-host/producer Phil Kaplan, and others on our new weekly podcast as they break down the history, the cheer, and the strategy of area teams.