PREVIEW: SEASON 5 OF SURVIVING BARSTOOL IS BACK!

Before I get going, make sure you tune into the Barstool Breakdown LIVE REACTION SHOW after the epsiode on YouTube on the Barstool Breakdwon YouTube Channel here!

There are certain Barstool events that seem to bring everybody together, and Surviving Barstool has become one of them.

And tonight, we are finally back!

Season 5 premieres tonight at 7:00 CT on YouTube with 18 contestants competing for $250,000.

Rumble Premium is also an option and gives you access to each episode three hours before it hits YouTube.

Surviving has always been one of my favorite things Barstool does. No matter what shows you watch or who you normally root for, it feels like everyone puts their Barstool alliances aside for a few weeks and just enjoys the madness.

You get people lying directly to their friends' faces, secret alliances, immunity necklaces, hidden idols and somebody eventually getting WAY too pissed off about a vote.

What else could you ask for?

This year's cast is Annika, Brandon Walker, Dana Beers, Dani Jackel, Dante the Don, Ella Grif, Feits, Glenny Balls, Hannah Montoya, Katic, Marty Mush, Meek Phill, Nick Turani, Nicky Smokes, Pat, Rone, Tommy Smokes and Tate.

That's a pretty damn good group to lock inside the Chicago office and make compete against each other for $250,000.

For anyone who hasn't watched before, Surviving basically takes Survivor and throws it into the Barstool world. There are challenges, alliances, Tribal Councils, immunity necklaces and idols hidden by production that can save someone when the votes don't go their way.

But the best part is the drama.

We've seen secrets spilled, friendships ruined, blindsides and people completely lose their minds over moves made in the game.

These aren't random strangers meeting for the first time like normal reality TV. A lot of these people work together every day and have friendships, rivalries and history before the game even starts.

That makes everything that much more personal.

Jeff D. Lowe is obviously back as host and I think he does a great job with the show. He knows when to push a little bit at Tribal, and with this cast, I don't think he's going to have to work very hard to get people going.

Last season was a perfect example of why Surviving is so good.

Ria eventually took home the $250,000 after a season filled with drama, with Ria, Megan Makin' Money and Dave Portnoy all making it deep into the game. There were arguments, betrayals and plenty of people leaving the game unhappy.

So who do I like this season?

Let's start with two people I DON'T like to make a deep run.

Marty Mush has a massive target on his back simply because his wife just won the damn thing. If I'm playing, there's no chance I'm letting Ria win Season 4 and then watching Marty hang around until the end of Season 5. It's just too easy of a reason to throw his name out there early.

I'm also not loving Glenny Balls' chances. With Glenny no longer working at Barstool, I'm curious how that impacts his relationships in the game. Maybe being removed from the everyday office politics actually helps him, but I think it eventually catches up with him.

My three guys coming into the season are Katic, Tate and Pat.

(Disclaimer: The only reason I don't have Dana in here is because of when Surviving was shot. It was shortly after the Golf Cart stream on After Dark and I worry that people don't like to see the same person win in a short period of time. The same reason I don't think we will ever see a repeat champion in Surviving. Sorry, Tommy Smokes.)

I like their chances because I could see all three hanging around without immediately becoming the center of attention. I think people just assume Tate will go out early, but I think he'll be good at creating alliances, and we have seen him show the ability to negotiate and split money on other contests like 3v3 basketball to make sure he always has the best chance win.

Sometimes the best strategy on Surviving is to shut up, let everybody else start fighting and make sure your name isn't the one Jeff is reading at Tribal.

Here's Big Twan's thoughts on who can and can't win:

I'm also VERY interested to see what happens with Hannah Montoya.

Remember, this season was pre-taped at the Barstool Chicago HQ back in early May. I'm curious who knew about the early stages of Hannah's relationship with Austin when they were filming and whether anybody tries to use that information against her.

Maybe those people didn't really know or maybe nobody cared to hold it over her head.

Or... MAYBE it turns into an entire episode and that's why they wanted to get out in front of it on shows last week.

That's the beauty of Surviving Barstool.

Production can come up with ridiculous challenges (for better or for worse), hide idols around the office and throw twists into the game, but eventually you have 18 Barstool personalities trying to outsmart each other for $250,000.

Somebody is going to get blindsided. Somebody is going to trust the wrong person.

Somebody will probably find an idol and immediately tell someone they shouldn't or maybe someone will give their boss an immunity necklace out of the kindness of their heart. #RydersForever

And somewhere along the way, there's a pretty good chance a friendship gets ruined.

I can't wait.

Surviving Barstool Season 5 is BACK tonight at 7:00 CT!

Viva.