George Kittle Has Made Sure Michigan Alum Rich WILL Wear His Iowa Helmet On-Air Tomorrow

Rich warned everyone it was going to be a rough one for the host. Not medically, he clarified. "The appendix is gone. It's not coming back. The appendix is not walking through that door."

No, the pain this time is Big Ten pain, and it arrived in a box.

Last week, just before Iowa played Michigan, George Kittle was on the show and the two made a gentleman's wager. If Michigan won, Rich would send Kittle a Michigan t-shirt from the show's shop and a hat. If Iowa won, Kittle would send Rich his game-worn college helmet.

Rich admitted he wondered whether Kittle would really follow through on a stake like that. Then Iowa won with no time left, after trailing the entire game. Within a minute or so, Rich had a text from Kittle.

The package showed up about 10 minutes before the segment. Rich brought it onto the set, and the reaction said everything. "Oh, no way."

It is the real thing. Kittle's No. 46, complete with the ANF sticker, for "America Needs Farmers," that Hayden Fry put on the Iowa helmet back in the day. Rich asked for a close-up so viewers could see the evidence. "You can see there are scratches," he said. Someone on the crew spotted chunks missing. "You can polish it up as much as you want," Rich said, "but this is some Big Ten action on there."

The wager had terms, too. Kittle had said he would have to wear Michigan gear for his Thursday press conference if he lost, and when Rich asked how long that lasts, Kittle told him 8 to 12 minutes. Rich did the math and landed on a full segment of his own.

"I'm going to wear a George Kittle Iowa helmet on tomorrow's program," Rich announced, to plenty of laughter. A Michigan man in Hawkeye headgear, on purpose, on camera. He joked that the whole show would be black and gold, between Kittle's lid and Manganiello.

The crew wanted to know if the helmet stays on set for good. Rich was not so sure, suggesting it might have to go back given how legit it is. "This is the real deal," he said.

The crew made sure Kittle knew the message was received. "All right, Kittle. I see you."

So set your expectations for Wednesday's show. Rich will be wearing Iowa's colors, Kittle's number and a few scratches from somebody else's Saturdays. That is what happens when you bet against a guy who is willing to put his actual helmet on the line.