Oh, you just know that somewhere in Batiuk’s studio is a napkin, from Luigi’s of Akron, on which TB has jotted “idea for strip punchline: academia nuts!”
Tell me if reversing the order of panels doesn’t make it funnier:

Cayla, who’s been disparaging the team since the start of the season, decides she’s gonna lighten things up with her little nut gag. The “joke” goes over like a turd in a punchbowl, and she sheepishly puts away her bag o’ nuts, mumbling to herself while Les and Linda offer pitying glances.