Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

With college football on the doorstep of its first ever championship game from a 12-team playoff, we of course zag where others zig, and examine how our Buckeyes — ney, all of college football — may still be impacted by the Italian Bowl played at the Glass Bowl in 2023.

Nevertheless, it is coincidentally timely as the Italian American Football League announced the return to Toledo in 2025.

Past that, Dave tells us all about Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl matchup against Texas. He will be there with his most prized holiday treasure, a gift both practical and professional to shield him from the worst part of his job: commercial airline travel.

Phil continues to claim accurate prognostications surrounding all our teams. However, he also advises that he did not gain any weight over the holiday, but that his height and age did fluctuate wildly. So what’s to believe?

We revisit the motion sickness of Toledo’s bowl game trophy crew racing onto the field three times in the Rockets’ six-overtime thriller. And what shall be known as the The Great Michigan Monsoon delivers a victory for the Wolverines.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, and Bowling Green and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week Briggs takes all through Ohio State’s thrilling dismissal of Tennessee from The Shoe in frigid night game that initially looked to be overflowing with Volunteers.

Both hosts were attendance in Columbus, and Phil recounts the vibe from in the stands. Color theory makes a rare appearance, as does the naming conventions of hair dye.

Be sure to make Toledo’s a history a great present with The Blade Vault. Use code BV20 for for 20% off your first order.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week Briggs reveals whose Heisman vote went to BGSU’s Harold Fannin, Jr., and who prevented him from becoming the first Falcon in history to make consensus All America.

Phil can’t outwit the privatized parcel service, and we go back in time with The Blade Vault. (Use code BV20 for for 20% off your first order.)

Briggs takes us to 1919 with his column and tells us about how Toledo’s high school football was so big the Rose Bowl demanded it share the spotlight.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week's news cycle overfloweth our collective cups.

Briggs responds to some proposed flag planting legislation with his own line of punitive felonious charges for losing rivalry games.

Phil looks out for Kirk Herbstreit's lawn care service in Columbus, and there's a Big Chuck and Little John reference left in the driveway.

All that and more will from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, the examination begins in earnest. The famous Ohio State marching band song, “I wanna go back to OhioState,” has always claimed in lyric, “We'll win the game or know the reason why!”

Well we’ve got reasons, kids.

Lou Holtz, Jim Harbaugh, Jason Candle, and John Cooper all seem to have the upper hand on Ryan Day, at least this week, according to Briggs.

Phil accepts Toledo’s re-assignment to Michigan... again, but at least no one was pepper sprayed.

All that and more will from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, Krusty the Clown, Benjamin Stickney’s twin sons’ role in the Toledo War, Tim Biakabutuka, and Fiesta Brutus all make appearances in the most rivalry-test edition of the Heart of the Rivalry.

That’s right, our purpose is upon us as Michigan travels to Ohio State for The Game.

Dave questions the health in the rivalry more than the health of the rivalry. Phil has an unhealthy fondness for his old Ohio State hat. But everyone’s spirits are in good health for this early Thanksgiving platter of college football’s greatest rivalry.

Stay tuned for a bonus YouTube Live show on Friday at 3 p.m. from the Rally of the Rivals downtown at Fleetwood’s.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, our own singing columnist finally gets his note as the cream and crimson of Indiana visit Columbus to face the Buckeyes. Tommy Tuberville makes an appearance with both of his faces. So does Curt Cignetti with his one Terminator glare. Phil picks one of them as coach of the year — and one of them is in the senate.

We try to make predictions/horrible miscalculations about the Rockets playing the Bobcats on Wednesday night. Toledo got smoked 24-7, and only Phil’s dire warning about Ohio’s quarterback serves as an accurate portent.

Bowling Green locks in on a MAC title shot against Ball St., whose new coach won’t be Mike Neu, fired after nine seasons.

And the Wolverines can get bowl eligible with a win over Northwestern.

Stay tuned next week for an early show to drop before Thanksgiving, but then a bonus YouTube Live show on Friday at 3 p.m. from the Rally of the Rivals downtown at Fleetwood’s.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo.

Heart of the Rivalry is a Blade-produced YouTube series and podcast that is available on all major platforms.

The weekly college football show is led by The Blade’s sports columnist, David Briggs, and co-host/producer Phil Kaplan.

This week, finally, with everything else in the world resolved, the real problem is addressed: We are moving the Ohio State versus Michigan game to Toledo... Point Place to be exact.

Briggs simplifies the logistics for us, Jack Dempsey makes an appearance in defense of temporary wonders, and Phil puts statehood on the line for winning The Game.

Our hosts continue to take sides over neutral sites as Ohio State plays Northwestern at Wrigley Field in a double alma mater for Phil.

Directional Michigan MACtion was attended by both hosts, and they compare notes in nice wins for BGSU and UT over Central and Western Michigan, respectively.

All that and more will come from your new favorite college football show — the only one to cover exclusively the rivalry programs of Ohio State and Michigan, Bowling Green and Toledo.

Follow the podcast for new episodes every week of the season:

■ Spotify

■ Apple

■ YouTube