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Off Tackle Empire

@offtackleempire.bsky.social

Covering Big Ten sports without fear, favor, or journalism degrees since 1864. www.offtackleempire.com

466 Followers  |  186 Following  |  281 Posts  |  Joined: 19.08.2023
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Posts by Off Tackle Empire (@offtackleempire.bsky.social)

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Big Ten Bubble Teams That Should Make the NCAA Tournament Over Miami-Ohio Looking at NET rankings, Kenpom, Torvik, and strength of schedule, it’s not even close when you put the Miami Redhawks up against Indiana, Ohio State, and USC.

Much like Bruce Pearl, we finally had to speak our truth: here are all the #B1G teams who should make #MarchMadness over the Miami-Ohio RedHawks.
www.offtackleempire.com/basketball/4...

02.03.2026 22:29 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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After Indiana, is there another sleeping giant in the Big Ten? A look at the Big Ten’s also-rans, their finances, and who cracks through next.

Some weekend conversation fodder: who's the next #B1G school to make an Indiana-style jump? www.offtackleempire.com/big-ten-foot...

20.02.2026 20:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It is not fair of me to comment on Big Ten basketball when I have spent all season calling Hannes Steinbach β€žWilhelm Breidenbach” Your best source for Big Ten news, analysis and opinion from the fan perspective.

www.offtackleempire.com/sb-nation-nb...

12.02.2026 13:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Montana State-Illinois State Preview, Open Thread A preview of Illinois State-Montana State that includes a fever, computer failure, and me on the phone with a QuantumFiber representative while shirtless, for some reason.

Would you like 3,000 words on the FCS Championship between Montana State and Illinois State, SOME of which are about the Redbirds' unlikely run and SOME of which involve the author shirtless, talking to a Quantum Fiber service representative?

SURE YOU WOULD! www.offtackleempire.com/college-foot...

05.01.2026 22:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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If history’s any indication, Iowa is going to ball Diego Pavia up and stuff him in a locker …because that’s what Iowa does with fun offenses. A ReliaQuest Bowl preview of Iowa-Vanderbilt

It pains us to say this: we won't be surprised if the Iowa #Hawkeyes do bad things to Vanderbilt.

A history lesson, a ReliaQuest Bowl preview, an excuse to think about how we weren't super-sad about the B1G losing because Bloomin' Onion >>> Coconut Shrimp.
www.offtackleempire.com/iowa/49317/i...

31.12.2025 15:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
THE SPIRIT OF TROY WELCOME

TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE BIG TEN
spiritoftroy.org

31.12.2025 05:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2025 Music City Bowl Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Tennessee There’s no reason this game shouldn’t be a banger

In just @thumpasaurus.bsky.social's FOURTH chance to write about an #Illini football bowl game against the #Vols...

...does Illinois have a shot? Does Luke Altmeyer have one more miracle in him? How will Bert troll Tennessee?

What the numbers say, and more:
www.offtackleempire.com/football/492...

30.12.2025 18:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Northwestern football hires Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator Discussion, analysis of the Chip Kelly hired as offensive coordinator at Northwestern: is it a good fit for the Wildcats?

#Northwestern football did something...

...

...

...fun?!?

Remembering some Wildcats--Northwestern AND New Hampshire--and looking at the potential for the Chip Kelly hire in Evanston:
www.offtackleempire.com/northwestern...

30.12.2025 18:34 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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GameAbove Pizza City Motor Sports Bowl Preview Northwestern! Central Michigan! In Detroit! Shut up and enjoy it, that’s why!

Began as a GameAbove Sports Bowl preview (Northwestern! Central Michigan! Technically football!) and a look at the Chips' fun offense, turned into a game:

Can YOU name the offensive stat in which Northwestern finished ONLY better (or worse?) than Maryland?
www.offtackleempire.com/northwestern...

26.12.2025 15:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Will AI replace us? A LIVE!* Q&A with a faculty member giving an exam Your best source for Big Ten news, analysis and opinion from the fan perspective.

Did YOU want to ask questions of an OTE writer and faculty member giving a Final Exam?

Come, feel the burning resentment of 80 students while asking your #B1G and #CFB questions:
www.offtackleempire.com/cybta/49181/...

18.12.2025 18:14 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

One season with no MS Paint Infographics and they’re ready to declare that humans are running out of ideas

We’re sorry boss. @thumpasaurus.bsky.social is on a Performance Improvement Plan

16.12.2025 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Why Do College Basketball Tournaments Suck Now? Corporate cash and network caution have killed the joy of the college basketball non-conference tournament. That, and remembering the Great Alaska Shootout.

In a world of The Players Era Festival (soon brought to you by Bonesaws R Us!), why can't college basketball be more like the Great Alaska Shootout?
www.offtackleempire.com/basketball/4...

01.12.2025 17:32 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

when will he pop out of a coffin on local tv

19.10.2025 18:47 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

No RPO in Rick Scott's Florida, Fitz is IN

19.10.2025 18:41 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Need a place to talk your post-Saturday #CFB shit with a similarly-miserable crowd of #B1G aligned folks?

Come on in, laugh at Penn State and USC and stare with bewilderment at UCLA, Northwestern, and Iowa (they can't keep getting away with it!):
www.offtackleempire.com/smcd/48235/s...

19.10.2025 14:29 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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You, a college football sicko: ha ha ha, yes, look at wisconsin, shut out twice in a row at home, wonder when that happened

Off Tackle Empire dot blogspot dot com, molded by 15 years of talking about this shit, predicting the game on Friday: we got you, boo

www.offtackleempire.com/big-ten-foot...

19.10.2025 13:59 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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INTRODUCING: THE EVANSTON HANDSHAKE Don’t Watch This; Watch That: Your Week 6 Guide to College Football

YOUR weekly #CFB viewing guide is out...

...and this week it comes with a special drink for #Northwestern. Or, perhaps, #B1G fans everywhere.

Plus, marveling at just how bad Sam Houston-New Mexico State and Colorado State-San Diego State could be!
www.offtackleempire.com/dwtwt/47924/...

02.10.2025 22:20 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Here’s the amazing thing: it had all the cancer-like symptoms of private equity destroying something, but nobody made a profit on it. It’s like Vox heard about PE killing things for profit but didn’t bother with the details of how to get to the profit stage.

07.08.2025 17:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

we are in fact quite mystified

07.08.2025 17:55 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I hope we’ll have the usual football survivor picks and games like that! But a bit unclear on both?

03.07.2025 16:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Potluck, Animal-Style: The Great Burger Debate Opulent weddings, increased TV payouts, and the value of a good Los Angeles school. (And also USC.)

It's California Week at Off Tackle Empire and we're answering the most important questions about USC and UCLA football!

Nah, just kidding. We're debating In-N-Out vs Culvers and talking exorbitant weddings.

www.offtackleempire.com/2025/6/25/24...

25.06.2025 15:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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If we had a nickel for every time our articles got posted on fan forums and shit on for arbitrary reasons, we wouldn’t need the damn banner ads.

23.06.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

It’s honestly more carefully curated than most starter packs.

23.06.2025 20:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This would actually make for a pretty great NHL starter pack. There should be a way to flip block lists to follow lists.

23.06.2025 20:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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B1G 2025: Our Predictions for Rutgers and Maryland Football Which will have a stronger bounce back?

It seems that the insular Bluesky navel gazing discourse of the day is "Should sports be on this place?"

HELL YES THEY SHOULD

We've got predictions for the Rutgers and Maryland football seasons here.

www.offtackleempire.com/2025/6/23/24...

23.06.2025 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A Jersey House Divided: Pork Roll or Taylor Ham? It’s Seaboard Week, which means we’re diving into the strange East coast cultures that the Bee One Gee incorporate over a decade ago. You’ve got your gabagools and your Old Bay’s, your blue-shell...

It's Seaboard Week! We're previewing Rutgers and Maryland football, yelling about basketball, and diving into the most important of Jersey questions with our turnpike correspondents:

TAYLOR HAM OR PORK ROLL?

www.offtackleempire.com/2025/6/18/24...

18.06.2025 15:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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The Fighting Illini Need a Mascot, Northwestern Needs a New Nickname Both the Fighting Illini and Wildcats nicknames come from losses to Big Ten foes

As we close out Hat Week, we are reminded that Illinois remains mascotless and Northwestern continues to use the least imaginative nickname in collegiate sports.

Figure it out, Land of Lincolners!

www.offtackleempire.com/2025/6/13/24...

13.06.2025 17:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Forty years ago, Illinois and Northwestern played the worst football game of all time The Pointless Game turns 40

Hat Week continues! Today, we're digging deep into the archives for @thumpasaurus.bsky.social's epic on the worst college football game of all time.

It was meaningless.

It was pointless.

NW, 0. ILL, 0.

www.offtackleempire.com/2025/6/10/24...

10.06.2025 17:15 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

@champaignshowers.com @revdjesq.bsky.social @byctom.bsky.social

09.06.2025 17:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0