Episode 105 – IU Wins The Natty!

The 411 From 406
Recorded: February 5th, 2026

Chewie:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 411 From 406. My name is Chewie, and I’m joined once again by my brother from another mother, Mr. Pip. How are you, sir?

Pip:
I’m back and I’m happy to be podcasting.

Chewie:
It’s been way too long. That’s our standard intro, right? But we’ve both canceled on each other a couple times trying to get together and talk about some of the crazy, amazing current events happening in our world right now. I’m just glad we were finally able to pin down one of our famous Thursday night recording sessions to talk through this stuff.

How have you been? Even off the podcast, I feel like we haven’t been in touch as much as we usually are. What’s been going on in your world?

Christmas Recap & Mexico Trip

Chewie:
Looking at the site, the last time we recorded was before December 15th. So we went through Christmas and New Year.

I was sick through Christmas. I missed most of it. I had a cyst removed from my back — totally benign, no big deal. I ended up with 11 or 12 stitches. It was fine for two weeks, then I went to get the stitches out and it was totally infected. The most painful thing ever.

Long story short, I think my immune system went completely fubar fighting that infection. I got every sickness under the sun — cold, cough, probably bronchitis, probably pneumonia, probably COVID. I was sicker than I’ve been in a long time. The worst of it was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Amanda had to do all the last-minute wrapping. I didn’t go to church Christmas Eve. I went to my in-laws for about 10 minutes just to say hi — didn’t eat dinner. Same thing at Mark’s house on Christmas Day. Fifteen minutes and I left.

Then for New Year’s, we were in Mexico. My in-laws took us on an amazing trip. It was awesome — but I was still at like 70%. We went out on this incredible 40-foot yacht one afternoon, and I was literally below deck sleeping half the time. But there are worse places to recover.

Then I rolled right into a big business trip in late January. That consumed weeks of prep and recovery. So I’m just now getting back to normal. We’re sitting here February 5th.

Obviously we’ve had some pop culture things happen too, which we’ll get into.

How about you?

Great Wolf Lodge & Life Update

Pip:
I didn’t have as eventful a month as you.

I worked most of the end of the year. I knew it wouldn’t be busy, but someone has to be on shift 24/7 at my job. So I just worked through it.

Christmas was good. New Year’s was uneventful.

My oldest had a birthday, so we took her to Great Wolf Lodge.

It’s Disney for poor people in the Midwest.

And I felt even poorer after going.

We split a Sunday night room with another family. $400. For a Sunday. Not a holiday. Just a Sunday. And that was just for a tiny room with four adults and four kids crammed into it.

Then you add water park access, arcade games, food, candy — it was more expensive than some of our actual weekend trips.

It was fun. CeCe had a great birthday. But I’m not rushing back. And it honestly makes me hesitant about Disney.

2026 Indiana National Championship Run

Pip:
We’ve got a lot to catch up on. And number one on both our lists:

The 2026 College Football National Champion Indiana Hoosiers.

The thing I never thought we’d say out loud.

Chewie:
Praise be to George Carlin.

When we last podcasted, we had just won the Big Ten Championship and were ranked number one. But I don’t think either of us believed IU would go undefeated and win the national championship.

They beat Alabama. They beat Oregon. Then they beat Miami for the title.

It was surreal.

We beat three of my most hated teams — Ohio State, Alabama, Miami. That alone was incredible.

Beating Alabama was the moment I thought, “Oh my God, this is real.” They embarrassed Alabama.

Then they beat Oregon again.

It wasn’t until we got to Miami for the national championship that I allowed myself to think: what if IU football wins it all?

That last drive against Miami? Brutal. I was watching between my fingers. I convinced myself they were going to lose 28–27 because 28–27 “felt” like a football score.

Then that final interception happened.

It was magic.

And my favorite stat:

This season, IU beat six top-10 teams.

In the entire history of IU football before this season, they had six top-10 wins total.

They matched their all-time total in one year.

Once-in-a-lifetime stuff.

Mendoza & The Title Game

Chewie:
Mendoza winning the Heisman.

That fourth-down run in the national championship — when Signetti pulled the field goal unit and went for it — that’s a forever highlight. I thought it was a terrible call. Then he scores.

It felt like the universe was rigging the game in our favor.

Royal Rumble Breakdown

We’re in WrestleMania season.

Roman Reigns winning the Rumble? I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. It makes sense.

Gunther is on an absolute rocket ship.

He retires John Cena. He retires AJ Styles. He might be the “career killer” for a while.

I think he has to be in a major title match at WrestleMania.

John Cena’s Final Match

I was fine with Cena tapping out.

The smile before the tap? That felt like it was for him.

He knew it was over.

We will not see him wrestle again.

Hall of Fame? Yes.

Manager cameo? Maybe.

But the jorts era is over.

AJ Styles “Retirement”

AJ Styles losing to Gunther in Saudi Arabia was weird.

He deserved a bigger sendoff.

But when he picked his gloves back up instead of leaving them in the ring, that told me we’ll see him again — probably in TNA.

Women’s Rumble

Liv Morgan winning? I’m good with it.

Charlotte not winning? Also good.

Lash Legend stood out big time.

The Bellas returning did nothing for me.

I think we’re heading toward Rhea vs. Io at WrestleMania.

Scream 7 Concerns

I’m excited.

I’m nervous.

If they retcon dead characters back to life, I’ll have a problem.

If they CGI de-age everyone poorly, I’ll have a problem.

If they WWE-work us and Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega show up anyway? I would love that.

This is make-or-break for the franchise for me.

Van Halen 5150 Reissue

5150 turns 40 this year.

They’re reissuing the Sammy-era catalog.

Live Without a Net is getting remastered and released on Blu-ray.

That’s one of the greatest concert videos ever.

I already pre-ordered the deluxe vinyl set.

Closing Thoughts

National champions.

WrestleMania season.

Scream 7 in 20 days.

Van Halen turning 40.

Not a bad time to be alive.

Chewie:
That’s Mr. Pip. I’m Chewie. And this has been the 411 From 406.

Aloha, motherfuckers.