The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

Letters, letters, and MORE LETTERS! Mike Carpenter reacts to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren's belated response, along with the letter drafted by parents of Illinois football players. 

As students arrive back to campuses across the country, the #WeWantToPlay movement gains momentum with support from athletes, parents, and fans. With one messy decision after another, Mike Carpenter ponders if anyone is actually in charge.

After the Big Ten officially cancels the fall football season, what now?  Mike Carpenter looks at possible alternatives, including Jeff Brohm's proposal for spring football.  Later, Harry Black hops on the show to talk about the craziest college football week in a long time.

With the cancellation of Big Ten football and other conferences soon to follow, Mike Carpenter looks at the myriad of frustrations - for students, athletes, fans, and others - and how we got to this point.

Lovie Smith's Illini will kick off the college football season with a Thursday night home game against Ohio State. Mike Carpenter breaks down the 10-game conference schedule, along with best-and-worst-case scenarios.  Later, Alex Roux (The Take Ten Podcast, BTN) joins the podcast to talk Illini basketball, football, and Lou Henson memories.

Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn announce their return to Brad Underwood's program for one last hurrah.  Mike Carpenter reacts to the surprising news, along with the passing of Illini legend Lou Henson and Meyers Leonard's stance on the national anthem.

Mike Carpenter discusses how the Clay Travises of the media world are dumbing down the conversation of sports returning during COVID-19, and how being a "coronabro" isn't so bad after all.

Mike Carpenter looks at what an Illinois football gameday will look like in the fall, following an announcement from Josh Whitman about seating capacity, tailgating, and more.  Casey Boguslaw (writer/analyst, @FutureSox) takes a deep dive into the upcoming MLB season, including division races, sleeper teams, and the many follies of Rob Manfred.