Cover 3 College Football: Big Ten Show

Episode Aired: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth breakdown of Week 7’s marquee Big Ten matchups, headlined by Indiana at Oregon, Ohio State at Illinois, and Michigan at USC. The team opens with a sobering diagnostic of Penn State’s struggles before dissecting top matchups, examining key players, and previewing how conference race implications might play out.

Diagnosing Penn State's Problems (01:04 – 11:06)

Theme:
Assessing the fall of Penn State from preseason Big Ten favorite and national hopeful to unranked disappointment.

Key Discussion Points

• Media Overvaluation: The panel acknowledges that both media and fans overrated Penn State, with Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, and Bud Elliott all stressing that returning experience and a veteran QB were overemphasized.
• Player Development & Coaching: Drew Aller has not met expectations, and the defense has been erratic. Coaching and player development were cited as significant letdowns.
• "Perfect Storm" of Issues:
  • Emotional hangover from a heartbreaking loss at Oregon.
  • Shock road loss to UCLA as a huge favorite highlights deeper problems.
  • Transfer portal additions at receiver have underperformed; lack of game-breakers.

Notable Quotes

• Danny Kanell (02:22):
  "It is one of the more inexplicable situations out there in college football... I also think there’s been poor player development. Drew Aller was supposed to take that next step and he hasn’t yet."

• Tom Fornelli (03:58):
  "Jump off the ship. It’s done... They have to go on the road to face Ohio State. Sure, you can pretend you've got a chance but you’ve never shown us anything to prove you can actually win that game.”

• Bud Elliott (06:21):
  “If you look at the receivers they took in the transfer portal, they don’t have a PFF grade on a receiver above a 70, guys. You’re not going to replace Tyler Warren’s production if you don’t have a guy you can consistently throw the football to."

• Danny Kanell (09:02):
  “Ohio State lost to Michigan…we wrote off, ‘oh my gosh, those teams, they can’t be that good,’ and both rebounded...Penn State has to take on a mentality that Ohio State did and Notre Dame did.”

Segment Highlights

• The panel debated whether Penn State’s season is truly over and if James Franklin can salvage a 9-3 finish (08:11).
• Tom Fornelli strongly doubts any comeback is possible, especially comparing the loss to UCLA to other major upsets—arguing Penn State's loss is more damaging than similar losses for bluebloods like Notre Dame or Ohio State (10:11).

Big Game Breakdown: Indiana at Oregon (14:40 – 23:45)

Preview:
Top 10 showdown in Eugene. The conversation focuses on quarterback matchups and what it’ll take for Indiana to validate its fast start.

Key Discussion Points

• Quarterback Duel: Dante Moore (Oregon) vs. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) – both being hyped as future high NFL draft picks.

• Oregon’s O-line vs. Indiana D-line:

  • Oregon has used RB-by-committee, but run blocking has lagged behind pass protection.
  • Indiana’s D-line previously dominated Illinois, but can they rattle Moore on Oregon’s home turf?

• Indiana's Credibility Test:

  • Despite blowing out Illinois, skepticism lingers about Indiana vs. upper-tier programs due to recruiting gaps and perception.
  • Indiana must excel against elite athletes for full validation.

Notable Quotes

• Bud Elliott (14:40):
  "This is the quarterback matchup of the year...These guys see it, and they don’t wait...It looks like you're watching two pros."

• Tom Fornelli (15:35):
  "If Indiana can get pressure on Moore...the Hoosiers have a shot to pull off the upset here."

• Danny Kanell (17:44):
  "Dante [Moore]. Because he’s at home, right?...He looks special."

• Bud Elliott (19:11):
  "Indiana is a damn good football team but they do not recruit at the level that Oregon or Ohio State recruits at...That’s a very valid criticism."

• Tom Fornelli (20:24):
  "If Indiana goes on the road and beats Oregon, you can't say it’s because Oregon stinks. This is a true litmus test."

What it Takes for Indiana to Win

• Tom Fornelli (22:07):
  "Turnovers get them...pressure Dante Moore, get him to make mistakes, and Mendoza lives up to the hype. This is the sort of game that puts you on the NFL radar."

• Bud Elliott (23:07):
  "Really got to exploit Oregon’s linebackers...Indiana could do that because of how quickly Mendoza gets the ball out."

Big Game Breakdown: Ohio State at Illinois (24:39 – 34:53)

Preview:
No. 1 Ohio State’s road challenge vs. an explosive Illinois offense led by QB Luke Altmeyer.

Key Discussion Points

• Ohio State's Continued Dominance:

  • Dominated Minnesota, but Washington game showed possible vulnerabilities on the road (25:20).
  • Young QB Julian Sayin’s progression has been expertly managed—training wheels on early, now letting him loose (29:51).

• Best Ohio State Team Yet?

  • Danny Kanell suggests this year’s iteration may be better than last, even after heavy personnel losses (27:24).
  • Defense and offensive efficiency both highlighted.

• Illinois' Offensive Key:

  • Luke Altmeyer has thrived in his third year in Barry Lunney’s system.
  • Panel predicts OSU will attack Altmeyer with creative blitzes and disguises to disrupt timing and force mistakes (32:25).

Notable Quotes

• Tom Fornelli (25:20):
  "What we learned is that Minnesota is not nearly good enough to compete with Ohio State. I think we learned far more…against Washington."

• Danny Kanell (27:24):
  "Did we learn this Ohio State team might be better than last year's team?...They’re off to a stronger start than they were last year."

• Bud Elliott (31:19):
  "He generally knows where he's going to go with the ball...If I'm Ohio State, I'm not just going to sit back there and let Luke throw against zone..."

Big Game Breakdown: Michigan at USC (35:55 – 43:07)

Preview:
Can freshman QB Bryce Underwood keep progressing for Michigan on the road against a USC team with high-octane offense?

Key Discussion Points

• Quarterback Comparison:

  • Jaden Maiva (USC) called a "Heisman favorite" level talent if not for recent loss.
  • Michigan keeps training wheels on Underwood, but he’s growing and shows poise.

• Injury Watch and Depth:

  • USC’s lack of depth and injury status for key linemen could be decisive.
  • Michigan is seen as more physical and can lean on its run game.

• Game Style Contrast:

  • Michigan wants to grind it out with physical play, USC prefers faster tempo and aerial attack.
  • USC’s ability to start fast and avoid being worn down up front is critical.

Notable Quotes

• Danny Kanell (36:49):
  "They're more quarterback reliant. Their run game is adequate, but…got a little bit exposed somewhat going against a more physical team from the Big Ten."

• Tom Fornelli (38:05):
  "If we see that kind of [Underwood] progression now...we could see something of a coming out party, and if we get it, it's going to be a Michigan victory."

• Bud Elliott (40:48):
  "It's not quite oil and water, but it's definitely two teams that want to play different styles of games, right?"

Players to Watch in the Big Ten (44:36 – 46:55)

Each host picks a must-watch player for the week.

• Danny Kanell: Nico Iamaleava (UCLA QB) – After an upset win, can the young QB keep the Bruins rolling at Michigan State?
• Bud Elliott: Dakorien Moore (Oregon WR) – The Ducks’ true freshman has become a go-to playmaker in tense moments.
• Tom Fornelli: Hank Beatty (Illinois WR) – Named midseason All-American, does it all for Illinois and needs to be huge vs. OSU.
• Chip Patterson: Wayman Jordan (USC RB) – Community college transfer is crucial to USC establishing run balance vs. Michigan.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Tom Fornelli (03:58): "Jump off the ship. It's done."
• Danny Kanell (09:02): "Ohio State and Notre Dame both rebounded...[but] Penn State has to take on a mentality that [they] did."
• Bud Elliott (14:40): "This is the quarterback matchup of the year."
• Chip Patterson (17:41): [On trusting Dante Moore] "Dante Moore."
• Tom Fornelli (25:20): "We learned nothing [about OSU] against Minnesota."
• Danny Kanell (27:24): "Did we learn this Ohio State team might be better than last year's team? ...They’re off to a stronger start than they were last year."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Penn State’s Problems: 01:04 – 11:06
• Indiana – Oregon Breakdown: 14:40 – 23:45
• Ohio State – Illinois Breakdown: 24:39 – 34:53
• Michigan – USC Breakdown: 35:55 – 43:07
• Key Players to Watch: 44:36 – 46:55

Final Thoughts

This episode of Cover 3 provides sharp, candid, and sometimes blunt assessment of Big Ten contenders, tossing aside preseason narratives in favor of current realities. The hosts challenge conventional wisdom with humor and in-depth stats, making this a must-listen for serious college football fans.

(Ad breaks, promos, and intros/outros have been omitted from this summary.)