Penn State & Indiana Are Gaming the System — But It Might Be Smart

Penn State and Indiana are catching heat for their 2025 non-conference schedules — but are these “cupcake” matchups actually the smartest path to the College Football Playoff? Zach Seyko and Jacob Goins go head-to-head in a passionate crossover episode to debate whether soft scheduling helps or hurts playoff chances, especially in the new Big Ten. Plus: which teams in the conference are legit threats, what makes Illinois and Iowa trap games, and why the committee’s recency bias might actually benefit Indiana. It’s a full breakdown of the playoff politics shaping the new era of college football.

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00:00 – Intro

01:30 – Penn State & Indiana’s Schedules: Smart or Shameful?

03:00 – Cignetti Canceling Virginia Series: Justified or Soft?

06:00 – Franklin’s Scheduling Philosophy

09:10 – Sponsor Read

10:15 – Big Ten vs SEC: The 8 vs 9 Conference Game Debate

13:30 – Indiana vs Illinois = Trap Game of the Year?

17:00 – Oregon, Iowa, Ohio State: PSU’s Late-Season Gauntlet

20:30 – Could Recency Bias Help Indiana if They Get Hot?

24:15 – Worst-Case Scenario: What if Indiana Starts 3–3?

27:30 – Final Thoughts: Penn State's Playoff Floor is 10–2