In Episode 17 of Season 5 Mike and the usual college football preview crew (Tim Horvath and Chad Massey) pick back up for their fourth annual college football preview podcast episode, this time focused on the 2024 season with a slight focus on the Michigan Wolverines (reigning national champions of the whole nation).

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Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E17 featuring Tim Horvath and Chad Massey

3:00: Mike talks about the plans for the podcast offseason and Season 6 and then corrects some huge errors from prior episodes, including an inaccurate description of Great Britain and her component nations as well as a misallocated sack in the Rose Bowl (apologies to Josiah Stewart)

5:30: Mike then recaps his trip to CDMX aka Mexico City (and how much he loved it).

6:45: Finally, Mike features a small bit of a new Eddie Vedder cover track that speaks to the current state of the Michigan Wolverine football team.

13:30: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey into the podcast studio and the guys give comprehensive life updates, including Tim’s son spurning Purdue to become a Wolverine.

20:30: The guys touch on their thoughts on college football conference realignment.

24:15: Next up is a discussion of the revamped Michigan coaching staff led by Sherrone Moore, including new Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale.

31:00: The guys then talk about the evolution of Michigan’s approach to name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, including how critical using NIL to retain players has been for the Wolverines.

37:15: The Big 10 has brought in several new head coaches and the guys discuss who they are most intrigued by coming into 2024.

41:15: The guys then go through their reasons for optimism for Michigan football in 2024. The future is bright!

45:40: Next up are reasons for concern for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines.

49:20: The guys then talk about their key players for Michigan’s season.

56:00: Key Michigan football position groups for the season.

58:45: The guys then go game by game through Michigan’s season starting with Fresno St

1:00:15: Texas

1:03:15: Arkansas St

1:04:05: Southern California

1:06:00: The Battle for the Brown Jug (Minnesota)

1:07:40: Washington

1:11:30: Illinois

1:14:30: Michigan State

1:20:00: Oregon

1:23:15: Indiana

1:25:00: Northwestern

1:27:15: Ohio State

1:34:45: The guys predict the Big 10 Champion

1:36:30: The guys then predict the 12 Team playoff and national champions

1:41:45: The episode wraps up with an emotional sign off

In Episode 16 of Season 5 Mike and his best in the nation Michigan fan buddies Irfan Bhabhrawala and Kevin Werner put a bow on a legendary season of college football, friendship and life by discussing the 2024 National Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E16 featuring Irfan Bhabhrawala and Kevin Werner

4:00: Mike corrects zero mistakes from past episodes

5:00: What’s been going with Mike D? Practicing gratitude and how Mike is incredibly grateful for what the 2023 Michigan football team has given to him.

15:15: Mike welcomes on Irfan and Kevin to set the table for a deep dive on the 2024 National Championship game with Irfan and Kevin also telling their respective life stories, which include Irfan becoming a titan of finance and Kevin impressing his wife with his level of internet fame among Michigan fans.

34:30: The guys talk about the last time they saw each other and what they were doing as well as their thoughts coming into the 2023 Michigan football season.

44:00: Next up is a discussion about their thoughts on the National Championship game opponent for Michigan, the Washington Huskies.

53:00: The guys talk about some of the logistical challenges in even getting to Houston as fans (especially Irfan and Kevin), including Irfan’s command of the travel logistics variables. Truly legendary.

1:02:00: It’s game day in Houston! The guys discuss their now iconic hotel lobby tailgate and unique the feeling was that Monday leading up to the game.

1:09:50: The guys then break down Michigan’s National Championship victory over the Washington Huskies.

1:38:00: Michigan are your national champions!!! The guys reflect on what it felt to be there and the immediate aftermath of the glorious victory, which includes the best (or at least most satisfying) burrito Kevin and Irfan have ever eaten.

1:45:00: The guys wrap up with a philosophical reflection on the lasting meaning of Michigan’s 2023 season. It’s one that will never be forgotten.

In Episode 15 of Season 5 Mike and his cool California buddies PJ and Arvind talk the 2024 Rose Bowl, the site of Michigan’s now iconic playoff win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in Overtime, in one of most memorable Michigan football wins in the history of not only the Michigan program but all of college football.

Follow the podcast on Twitter/X: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S5E15 featuring Prashant “PJ” Jolepalem and Arvind Ramakrishnan

2:45: Mike corrects some embarrassing gaffes from past episodes, including misstatements about where in North Carolina he recently visited and his friend Jay Bibby’s citizenship.

4:15: Mike talks (very quickly) about what’s been going on with him, including invoking “res ipsa loquitur” to describe the conversation later in the episode with his buddies PJ and Arvind, and the song that captures the vibe of this legendary game and experience.

10:30: Mike welcomes Prashant and Arvind onto the podcast and they introduce themselves to the listeners and the three trace the origins of their friendship.

17:30: The guys talk about the importance of thinking through “tailgate logistics” ahead of time.

20:30: Next up the guys talk about their thoughts about this Michigan football team coming into the season, looking back on how Michigan got to Pasadena and whether Mike D received a championship ring based on this season.

28:00: The guys talk about what the experience was like leading up to the game itself in Southern California, including meeting up with their good buddy Zach, watching Lions/Cowboys from LA Live and how Mike was fighting a brutal cold (but pushed through!).

33:00: It’s January 1, 2024 aka game day in Pasadena. The guys talk about taking LA public transit up to the game, the Tournament of Roses parade, walking to the Stadium (eschewing the shuttle) and tailgating on the golf course.

40:00: Next the guys head into the stadium itself and begin the tale of what happened in the game itself.

1:19:00: Ecstasy and relief!! Michigan wins and the guys try to describe it.