@underwoodforheisman

4mo

The Michigan Mascot

In 1927, Michigan debuted two live Wolverine mascots, Biff and Bennie. They were paraded around games in cages so that they wouldn’t be dangerous. However, the wolverines started growing and acting more vicious, biting people and escaping their cages. After one season, they had to be brought back to the Detroit Zoo.

Wolverines

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Leading the Purple to Pasadena.

The Big 10 is one of the greatest conferences in College Football history. But every conference has their punching bag. The SEC has Arkansas, the Pac12 had Oregon State, the ACC has Boston College, the Big 12 had Kansas State. The Big 10? They had Northwestern. Since they joined in 1953, they had only had 11 seasons over .500. Until 1995. In 1992, they went 3-8. In 1993, they went 2-9. In 1994, they went 2-8-1* Through that entire time they kept Gary Barnett. They wouldn't regret it. Northwestern would start the season against #9 Notre Dame as 28 point underdogs. The Wildcats were up 17-9 in the 4th quarter. Somehow. Notre Dame running back Randy Kinder would run it in from 2 yards away. They need to go for the conversion here. And they don't get it. And we started the most unexpected Cinderella run maybe ever. They catapulted up to #25 immediately. They would host Miami (OH) the next week. They were up 28-7. One quarter left. They won. Right... right? No. Miami (OH) put up 23 points in one quarter to upset #25 Northwestern. Kicker Chad Seitz would kick a 20 yard field goal as time expired to win the game for Miami (OH). Just the same old Northwestern. Notre Dame was just some random, unexpected upset that wouldn't mark anything else for the rest of the season. They would never lose again. The entire season. They would beat Air Force 30-6 and Indiana 31-7. 3-1. They're #25. Solely because of that Week 1 win. #25 Northwestern at #7 Michigan. At the Big House. 104 thousand cheering against. Remy Hamilton kicked 2 field goals and gave Michigan a 6-0 lead. Sam Valenzisi did the same. Tied at 6. Is Northwestern actually legit? Probably not, right? Brian Griese runs it in from 3 yards away. For Michigan. Sam Valenzisi then makes it a 13-9 game. It's the 4th quarter. Michigan thinks they have this sealed up. Steve Schnur throws it into the end zone from 2 yards away to Matt Harti to put Northwestern up 16-13 with 12:42 left in the 4th quarter. Michigan never responded. They won 19-13. Northwestern is legit. They beat Minnesota 27-17. But we should focus on Wisconsin. #11 Northwestern hosts #24 Wisconsin. They'll win but by how much, really? Homecoming day at Northwestern. The first sellout game at Dyche Stadium since 1984. Wisconsin turned the ball over 7 times. They turned it over 6 times in the first 5 games. Northwestern won 35-0. They had officially proved themselves. But they want to prove themselves more. They moved to #8. They played Illinois. They were down 14-10. Darnell Autry then ran it in from one yard away to get the Wildcats a 17-14 win. Yes. That Darnell Autry. The now #6 Wildcats played the #12 Penn State Nittany Lions. They won 21-10. They continued. Northwestern was #5. For the first time. Ever. They played Iowa in their penultimate game of the year. On College Gameday. Northwestern was featured on College Gameday for the first time ever. They were down 20-17 at halftime. And won 31-20. At 26 degrees. One game separates the Wildcats from the Rose Bowl. Purdue. They won 23-8. And made the Rose Bowl. It was an amazing moment in Northwestern history. They won the Big 10. They made the Rose Bowl. They went from 28 point underdogs against #9 Notre Dame at the start of the season to #3 in the national polls. They didn't play in the national championship. At the time the Big 10 was the reigning conference in college football. But both Nebraska and Florida were picked over them. Was it because they were Northwestern? Was it because of their mishap versus Miami (OH)? We will never know. But they still played in the Rose Bowl vs #17 USC. New Years Day 1996. 4pm Central Time. In front of 100,102. They lost 41-32. They're credited as many things. The best team to never win a bowl game. The best team to not be ranked at the start of the season. The best team to miss the national championship. There were many questions asked. What if they never lost to Miami (OH)? What if they played Nebraska? Or Florida? What if they never upset #9 Notre Dame at the start of the season? What if? What if it didn't happen. But it did. They would be written in the history books at 10-2. The next season they would go 9-3 as they lost in the Citrus Bowl. A special team written in history forever. When Gary Barnett was hired in 1992, he said he would lead the Purple to Pasadena by the next 4 years. And he did.

@FlameRaptorRaven

What does this Final Four appearance mean to UConn?

Off of one of the most insane finishes ever, UConn has scrapped its way back to the Final 4. Despite how they made it here, the Huskies are not an underdog in any way. This is UConn’s 3rd Final 4 appearance in the last 4 years. Since the 2011 tournament, UConn has won every single game they have played in the Sweet 16 or later. With their win against Duke, that winning streak is now 18 games. UConn is the Real Madrid of the NCAA tournament. They are the crushers of dreams. The centre of this recent dominance is Dan Hurley, a coach so good that he could confidently deny the Lakers’ job. His passion is well known, but his success in such a short time is historically ridiculous. The fact that he is 1 of just 17 coaches with multiple National Titles, despite his relatively short tenure and few NCAA tournament appearances, is remarkable. If he finds a way to win this one, not only would he increase UConn’s streak to 20, but he would also become just the 7th coach ever to win 3 National Championships. That list includes Jim Calhoun. Keep in mind, Calhoun coached at UConn for 26 years. Hurley is in his 8th season. Absolutely insane. Hurley isn’t the only person looking to make history. Alex Karaban is the only player on UConn’s current team who was there for the 2023 and 2024 championships. He is looking for his 3rd National Championship. If he does it, he will become the first player to accomplish the feat in 53 years. The last players to do it were the Larry duo of Farmer and Holyfield, who did it in 1973. UConn is not an underdog story. They are looking for a coronation.

@Landon

No Place Like Home

In the beautiful city of Raleigh, North Carolina is the home of the NC State Wolfpack and their football stadium Carter Finley. Carter Finley was built in 1966 and has been, and always will be the Packs stomping ground. The Wolfpack have an amazing record of 411-225 with numerous upsets. Some of the biggest were the upset of number 2 Florida State in 1998, and in 2021 against Clemson. The Packs most recent upset was on November first against Georgia Tech. They went 6-1 in the past season taking down their rivals UNC 42-19. The Wolfpack are looking to increase their win total going into the 2026-2027 season with their third year quarterback CJ Bailey and win the battle for the “Ole North State”once again.