J
ames Franklin Week at OTE inspired this week’s Power Poll, and I joked in Slack that with $50 million I’d ditch football for a castle in Italy—only to decide a city flat and a Scandinavian cottage were more my style. That indulgence led to the Zillow Gone Wild (ZGW) theme: the most outrageous homes on the web, from mega‑mansions to quirky conversions. Below are the top picks for each college football program, with their ZGW house, poll stats, and a quick take.
1. **Indiana – European‑Inspired Castle Estate**
*Votes:* 5 FPV, 1 High, 2 Low, 3 LW
A 17,506‑sq‑ft white‑and‑beige fortress in Utah, complete with a “Hammock Room” and a “Camping Room” that feels like a backyard campout. Indiana’s 11‑car garage vibe is reflected in the house’s sheer size.
2. **Ohio State – Potato Shed**
*Votes:* 5 FPV, 1 High, 3 Low, 1 LW
A Connecticut mansion’s storage room filled with tubers became a meme. Ohio State’s deep bench is likened to a needless potato‑storage flex.
3. **Oregon – The Neighborhood Mullet**
*Votes:* 2 High, 9 Low, 2 LW
A front‑end brick façade meets a glass‑and‑steel back, mirroring Oregon’s identity crisis between tradition and modernity.
4. **USC – Historic California Water Tower House**
*Votes:* 3 High, 6 Low, 7 LW
A 1892 water tower turned home with stained‑glass turret and sweeping views. USC’s recent bounce‑back earned it a spot in the top five.
5. **Illinois – Former Ohio Firehouse**
*Votes:* 3 High, 13 Low, 4 LW
A $100,000 firehouse with a spiral staircase, symbolizing Illinois’ potential if the right owner revives it.
6. **Washington – Seattle Spite House**
*Votes:* 4 High, 8 Low, 6 LW
A 860‑sq‑ft oddity built in spite of a low offer, its quirky shape reflecting Washington’s incomplete data on team shape.
7. **Iowa – Barbie‑Themed House**
*Votes:* 4 High, 11 Low, 8 LW
A pink dreamhouse in Wisconsin, echoing Iowa’s pink locker‑room lore and the absurdity of a “Barbie” aesthetic.
8. **Nebraska – (No house listed)**
*Votes:* 6 High, 10 Low, 99 LW
9. **Michigan – San Diego Waterfall House**
*Votes:* 6 High, 15 Low, 5 LW
A house with a pool and river, a childhood fantasy turned adult reality. Michigan’s season feels “wet” after a loss to USC.
10. **Northwestern – Pope’s Childhood Home**
*Votes:* 7 High, 12 Low, 16 LW
A renovated former church with vinyl flooring, reflecting Northwestern’s Midwestern charm and a nod to Pope Francis.
11. **UCLA – Maximalist Retreat in Upstate New York**
*Votes:* 7 High, 13 Low, 14 LW
A chaotic mix of zebra heads, red carpet, tiger‑striped rugs, and a jacuzzi. UCLA’s recent upsets have turned it into a “chaos team.”
12. **Minnesota – Oklahoma City Church**
*Votes:* 5 High, 13 Low, 12 LW
A repurposed church with high ceilings and stained glass, mirroring Minnesota’s steady but unremarkable trajectory.
13. **Maryland – Historic 1675 Home with Salem Witch Trials Link**
*Votes:* 10 High, 14 Low, 10 LW
A spooky 17th‑century house tied to the Salem witch trials, embodying Maryland’s occult‑tinged history.
14. **Rutgers – Wild Astoria, Queens Home**
*Votes:* 12 High, 16 Low, 15 LW
A New York City house with a circular sofa and heavy red accents, echoing Rutgers’ endless circle of mediocrity.
15. **Purdue – Train Lead Singer’s Seattle Home**
*Votes:* 12 High, 16 Low, 17 LW
A stylish Seattle house with a nod to the Train band, though lacking a model‑train room.
16. **Michigan State – Milwaukee Home with Skatepark**
*Votes:* 15 High, 17 Low, 13 LW
A garage‑turned‑skatepark in a house that flaunts an Albanian flag, reflecting MSU’s recent resurgence.
17. **Penn State – Swinger House in Tempe**
*Votes:* 3 FPV, 14 High, 18 Low, 11 LW
A ranch‑style exterior hides a porn‑themed interior, mirroring Penn State’s fall from a title contender to a 3‑3 record.
18. **Wisconsin – Former Missile Silo in Kansas**
*Votes:* 7 LPV, 17 High, 18 Low, 18 LW
A decommissioned missile silo turned home, as bleak as Wisconsin football’s prospects.
