Rivalries don’t just crown winners; they expose identities. We kick off with Ohio State’s statement over Michigan, tracing the arc from an early gut-punch to a slow, ruthless squeeze built on line-of-scrimmage control. An 18-play, 11-minute drive becomes the thesis: fewer snaps, higher efficiency, and a defense that turns games into long exhales. We walk through Julius Sayin’s composure after a pick, Bo Jackson running angry with purpose, and receivers winning on leverage when it mattered most. Then we zoom out—why common-opponent comparisons mislead, how tempo inflates perceptions, and when a team should speed up vs. double down on its identity.

The spectacle didn’t end at the whistle. Brutus crossing out the block M turned into instant lore, reminding us that rivalry week is part chess, part theater. We separate playful mascot mischief from true disrespect, and we call balls and strikes on media noise—from Dave Portnoy’s performative meltdown to Pat McAfee’s showman’s pick that actually respected the football. It’s sports as culture clash, the joy of a fan base exhaling after years, and a nod to the details that make November feel larger than life.

To celebrate our 200th, we turn the amps up. We highlight a local standout in Heartstomper, then relive a night with Spiritbox and Periphery—tight sets, heavy grooves, and the kind of live energy that sticks to your ribs. We talk the realities of ticket prices, festival fatigue, and smarter ways to enjoy shows without roasting in a field. Finally, we dive into female-fronted metal—Nervosa, Arch Enemy lineage notes, Crypta’s menace—and why these bands deserve more space in your rotation. If you’re here for football or for riffs, you’ll leave with both.

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'Beavis and Butt-head' Cover art created by Joe Crawford