Kings of the North

Everything that held the North back on a national level – coaches, the geography of talent, and attitudes about how college football should be treated – seems to have leveled out. When Ohio State faced Notre Dame in Atlanta at the end of the 2024 season, it was a coronation for the North, one paved by the destruction of several of the South's biggest brands. In Episode 5 of The 25 Year Winter, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss what the future holds for the sport, what trends have helped push the North back to the top, and whether balance has, at long last, returned to college football for good. Thanks for joining us. Producer: Michael Henahan.

It's finally here, the episode of The 25 Year Winter where we get into the South's (sometimes alleged, sometimes well-documented) rule-breaking as it took over college football. But it's not just that. In Episode 4 of our five-part series, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are dissecting attitudes: what fueled the South as it so cavalierly pushed the envelope and how the North counted money, touted education, bathed itself in hypocrisy and rarely sought ways to get an edge on the football field. Thanks for joining us. Producer: Michael Henahan

It's a draft of Heisman Trophy contenders on Kings of the North, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are joined by Ari Wasserman and Andy Staples of On3 to pick 12 Heisman contenders. Each of the four drafters picks two favorites, one medium long shot and one big long shot, while discussing the most important players and teams heading into the 2025 college football season. Before that, Doug and Bill dissect veteran quarterbacks vs. young quarterbacks this season, how that might affect this year and how it compares to seasons of the past. Lastly, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. But it's not just Doug and Bill chiming in. They asked a bevy of coaches and players at Big Ten Media Days what they've been watching and eating, and you'll get those answers as well. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

As the SEC took control of college football, demographic shifts helped fuel that dominance by ensuring the region was flush with a large percentage of the country's best high school football prospects. To compound the issue, the North started leaking too much of its best talent. What did it amount to? Sustained success for the South. In Episode 3 of The 25 Year Winter, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis examine how recruiting realities combined with more Northern shortcomings contributed to the South's reign over college football from 1998-2022. The South had the better prospects, and was more aggressive in how it built rosters.This is the players episode. Thanks for joining us. Producer: Michael Henahan.

How deep is the Big Ten this season? Maybe deeper than it has ever been? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into what they think will be an 8-way battle in the middle of the conference behind expected Big Ten leaders Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon. What will separate the next eight teams? Who has the easiest schedule? The toughest? And how does the middle of the Big Ten compare to the middle of the SEC -- and how will it be perceived? Plus breakdowns on Iowa, Purdue and Michigan State and a visit from Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

One of the edges for the South over the North in their dominant era of college football? Coaching. Nick Saban and Urban Meyer drove a new era of SEC excellence -- as natives of the North who spent much of their careers coaching in cold weather before turning around Alabama and Florida. How did the Big Ten let these Northern sons get away? Lacking superstar coaching power, the North also fell short in ingenuity. That happened despite a revolution starting in the middle of Iowa -- before spreading through the rest of the country. And then there was the money that wooed a Wisconsin winner like Bret Bielema -- a true Northerner headed South -- and he was just one example. It's the coaching episode of The 25 Year Winter. Thanks for joining us. Producer: Michael Henahan

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis wrap up Kings of the North's coverage from Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas with a discussion about Michigan. How should we be thinking about the Wolverines in 2025? What impact will Bryce Underwood have? That and more from our final show from Las Vegas. Thanks for watching.

Oregon won the Big Ten last season, went undefeated through the regular season -- and then the Ducks saw their season end in their first College Football Playoff game against Ohio State. Yeah, the Ducks are angry about that. On this Kings of the North from Las Vegas, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talk with three Oregon players and dive into how their views of Oregon may have changed, as the angry Ducks prepare for 2025. Then it's a debate over the more interesting Big Ten dark horse -- Washington or Minnesota. That includes interviews with Demond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman, Drake Lindsey, Koi Perich and P.J. Fleck. Then it's talk about Wisconsin and Northwestern, including a chat with Wildcats coach David Braun and players Preston Stone and Anto Saka. Thanks for joining Kings of the North for this episode from Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas.

Penn State is the preseason favorite in the Big Ten, according to KOTN poll. Will the Nittany Lions live up to the expectations? How are they handling them? Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis check in from Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas to discuss.

Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers kicked off the first day of Big Ten Media Days, and Kings of the North was there in Las Vegas to dive into all of them. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all six teams, while interviewing Ryan Day, Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Luke Altmyer and Athan Kaliakmanis among others. Indiana-Illinois as a huge swing game for the season. Matt Rhule standing up for the Cornhuskers. Curt Cignetti taking on the SEC. The future of big-time nonconference games. And more. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti opened conference media days touting the strength of a league that's had the last two national champions, and why he thinks his College Football Playoff model is the right direction for the sport. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis give their takes on Petitti's comments, and then welcome Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports for more reaction from Day 1 of Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas.

Big Ten Media Days are here, and Kings of the North will be bringing you coverage from Las Vegas all week. To kick things off, here is the KOTN Preseason Big Ten Poll, the largest and most comprehensive Big Ten poll out there. KOTN gathered 54 voters -- at least one beat reporter from every Big Ten team and two from most -- as well as 20 national college football reporters to put together this poll. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break down the results on this episode. That includes Penn State as the pick to win the regular season and the Big Ten Championship Game; a healthy, strong middle of the league; and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs as the Preseason Players of the Year. Thanks for joining KOTN. Catch coverage from Las Vegas all week. And don't miss the new narrative podcast series in your feed -- The 25 Year Winter.

The South and the SEC took over college football starting in 1998 -- and the North and the Big Ten helped let it happen. This five-part podcast series will examine the how and why of that -- from coaches to players to attitudes to geography to cheating to luck. Between 1998 and 2022, the North won just two national titles as Alabama's Nick Saban and a host of other Southern champs put the North in a corner. Episode 1 starts with a moment of Northern superiority -- the 2006 showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan. Then it explains how it all unraveled, including some close calls for the North that might have rendered this podcast moot if they'd gone another way. And yeah, once the South started winning, the South started bragging. The North didn't have much of an answer, on the field or in a war of words. The next four episodes will dive even deeper on coaches, players, attitudes and the shift in the sport that is ending this era of Northern shortcoming. Hosts Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis from the daily college college football Kings of the North appreciate you being here, and they hope you enjoy The 25 Year Winter. Producer: Michael Henahan.

What's going on the world of college football recruiting? KOTN dove in on the 400-plus blue-chip prospects in the 2026 recruiting class to see where there from, where they're going, what the emerging trends are and how the North is doing defending its turf and stealing players from the South. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis also discuss Indiana's weak scheduling and a big recruiting win for West Virginia. Plus, Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for listening to Kings of the North.

With SEC Media Days underway, KOTN would like to remind everyone that the last time college football gathered in Atlanta, it was to watch two Northern teams play for the national championship, as Ohio State beat Notre Dame. Anyway, let's fix the College Football Playoff. The SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 want different things from the playoff, and Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are here to talk out their cases and come up with real solutions that should please everyone. Plus, college football polls are under attack. Are they worth it? A possible plan to save them as well. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

It's Deion Sanders and Colorado vs. Fran Brown and Syracuse in the final KOTN Showdown of the offseason. Who would you rather be in 2025 -- the Buffs or the Orange? But first on this Kings of the North episode, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis check in on some talk from Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark at the conference's media days. He touted the Big 12's returning production at quarterback -- could it be the best QB league in the P4? And could the SEC be the worst? Yormark also claimed the Big 12 will be the deepest league in the nation. Doug and Bill investigate that claim as well. There's a little more Big 12 news, and then the show wraps with Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Could Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Kansas State and Illinois have their greatest college football seasons in program history in 2025? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis, look at their best individual seasons for their 28 Northern teams and see which teams had had them recently -- hello Michigan and Iowa State -- which teams had them a long time ago -- how about Boston College and BYU in 1984? -- and which six teams could have them this year. Then it's another KOTN Showdown, this time between two teams that could make real playoff runs this season: Kansas State and Illinois. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

What were the biggest college football recruiting wins in the North this summer? From Michigan to Pitt, from Notre Dame to Washington, from Ohio State to BYU, from Utah to Penn State, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis explain the biggest recruiting moves and what they mean for Northern football. Then it's the latest KOTN Showdown, as two former Big Ten West foes square off: Minnesota vs. Northwestern. Finally, check in on Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are back with another Kings of the North, exploring the rebuild situations at West Virginia and Purdue and what's worked for successful turnarounds in the past. Then, it's another KOTN Showdown between the Mountaineers and Boilermakers. Who would you rather be in 2025? But first, BYU needs a new quarterback. Thanks for watching and listening to Kings of the North.

College football rivalry week continues on Kings of the North with 10 new rivalries that the sport could give us in the next decade, thanks to the College Football Playoff and the occasional appropriate push from conferences when needed. What could new rivalries like Notre Dame-Clemson, Ohio State-Oregon, BYU-Colorado and West Virginia-Cincinnati mean for college football? Then it's time for Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis to take some questions and comments from the Ask KOTN mailbag. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

What is college football's perfect plan for protecting rivalries, especially those rivalries that are not protected by conference affiliations? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis identify the 18 most important non-conference rivalries, starting with Iowa-Iowa State and Pitt-West Virginia, and then create a plan to keep them alive and thriving. Then it's the next-tier rivalries -- what should be done with them? And which teams are getting it right and wrong with how they go about rivalry planning right now? Then it's time for another KOTN Showdown -- and it's the Hawkeyes and Cyclones that Doug and Bill pit against each other. Who would you rather be in 2025, Iowa or Iowa State? Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Ohio State vs. Oregon, the defending national champion Buckeyes vs. the Ducks, the only undefeated regular season team of 2025. Which college football program would you rather be in 2025? On this KOTN Showdown, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through the Buckeyes vs. the Ducks at quarterback, skill positions, offensive line, defensive front seven, secondary, coaching and intangibles. And then they decide who they would rather be this season. After that, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Is college football's coaching hot seat a real thing? KOTN has always wondered about the talk around coaches in danger of getting fired, and dove in to investigate how coaching pressure really works, and which coaches should be worried or not in 2025. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis will give you three categories of coaches who get fired, and candidates for each label, while reminding you there are always firings you don't see coming. And how many coaches should you expect to be fired this season? They have the number. Plus, another KOTN showdown as two teams with coaches on the hot seat are paired up and go head-to-head: It's Mike Locksley and Maryland and Scott Satterfield and Cincinnati. Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North.

It's time for another round of College Football Playoff picks as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis offer their updated predictions for the first time since the end of spring football. Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Texas -- which SEC teams are they picking? Who's the Big 12 champ? Will Notre Dame be back in the playoff? Which Big Ten teams will be in the postseason? Plus, a look at the odds to make the playoff and the eight teams that are odds-on favorites to be there. Then it's another KOTN Showdown, this time of two Northern ACC teams -- Boston College vs. Pitt. Which team would you rather be in 2025? Finally, join the guys for Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for being part of Kings of the North.

What does the House vs. NCAA settlement that will allow the direct payment of college players mean for fans? Doug Lesmerises looks at the new world of college football from the fans' perspective to open Kings of the North. Then Doug and Bill Landis talk about the hiring process of Northern coaches -- how they got to their jobs, what hires made sense and didn't, how many were head coaches before. That's a prelude to a Jonathan Smith vs. Luke Fickell coaching discussion as Doug and Bill get into their latest KOTN Showdown -- Michigan State vs. Wisconsin. Would you rather be the Spartans on Badgers in 2025? Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

It's Michigan vs. Utah on this KOTN Showdown, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis examine two winning programs with new quarterbacks and new offensive coordinators who are looking to bounce back into College Football Playoff contention after down seasons in 2024. Then the guys dive into the history of major NCAA penalties to provide some context as Michigan prepares for its hearing before the Committee on Infractions this weekend. How many Division I teams have actually had championships vacated? Maybe not as many as you think? How many power conference football teams have been banned from the postseason at least once? Maybe more than you think. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

The Big Ten and SEC are in control of college football - one silent partner and one very loud partner. After the SEC popped off all of last week, and the Big Ten stayed in the shadows as usual, Kings of the North is here to ask -- is the Big Ten losing the PR war to the SEC? On this episode Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss how the Big Ten should handle itself, how this PR battle matters, the continuing disagreements over auto bids for the playoff and why the Big Ten is hanging out with the SEC to begin with. Then Steven Godfrey joins the show to discuss why the SEC acts this way and how far the conference is willing to push things. And then it's a wrap up with some Ask KOTN questions and comments from viewers and listeners. Thanks for joining Kings of the North, and expect some calls to cram it in this one.

Can the Ohio State Buckeyes repeat as national champions in the 2025 college football season? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis go inside the numbers on attempted title repeats since the start of the BCS. That includes how many champs returned starting quarterbacks, lost coordinators and would have made an expanded 12-team playoff. There's a big picture discussion here about the challenges of repeating, and a smaller picture investigation of what the Buckeyes have back and need to navigate to do it. Also, time for another KOTN Showdown. This time it's a Big Ten vs. Big 12 battle as the guys decide if they'd rather be Rutgers or Kansas in 2025. Plus Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Can teams jump up to college football blue blood status, and can programs not considered blue bloods win national titles? That's one of the questions in this Ask KOTN mailbag on Kings of the North. This Monday show is not live because of the holiday, but we are glad you're here as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis take questions and comments, analyze feedback on Ohio State noon games, and entertain suggestions for making the show even better. Thanks for joining Kings of the North, which will be back live on Wednesday at noon eastern on YouTube.

In the expanded College Football Playoff era, will conference depth matter more than it did before? And is the Big Ten ready to compete with the SEC when it comes to not only elite teams at the top, but better teams in Tiers 2 and 3? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at the playoff history of conference depth, and come up with some surprising answers. Then it's 16 showdowns of the Big Ten and SEC, running from the top to the bottom of those conferences, to determine which has more elite teams and better depth. From Ohio State vs. Georgia, to Oregon vs. Alabama, to Michigan vs. LSU, to Illinois vs. Ole Miss, to Indiana vs. Tennessee, how does the Big Ten stack up? Finally, Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking wraps up the show. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Which college football teams won the offseason? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Adam Rittenberg to run through offseason winners from Oregon to Utah, from Penn State to Illinois. Then it's onto another KOTN Showdown, as Doug and Bill Landis debate two teams with sophomore quarterbacks who could be ready to break out. That's Washington and Demond Williams Jr. and Nebraska and Dylan Raiola. Who would you rather be in 2025? But to start the show, Doug looks at the history of FOX broadcasting big games at noon, and what could or should be done about Ohio State fans feeling like the Buckeyes are on at noon too much. Doug has the numbers and a solution. Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North.

It's time for another college football KOTN Showdown as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis pit BYU and Indiana against each other as upstarts from 2024 who are trying to, and could, continue their program momentum with runs at the playoff in 2025. Who would you rather be this season? But first, Doug is joined by Connor O'Gara of Saturday Down South. O'Gara has to admit that Doug is a genius for one of his takes last season, then it's a discussion of whether the South can admit that the North is now on the same level when it comes to college football winning and depth. Then a couple Southern teams to watch are discussed, including Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Finally, Doug and Bill wrap things up with Whatcha, including society's difficulty with Uranus. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

College football is considering a 16-team playoff, and to start this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break down what that would mean for the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC, and how it would affect fans from when it comes to scheduling and getting more great college football games in a season. Then it's the first KOTN Showdown of the offseason, as Doug and Bill compare two similar Northern programs and decide who they would rather be in 2025. To kick it off, it's a rematch of a College Football Playoff semifinal from 2025 and two programs with real national title goals -- Notre Dame and Penn State. Finally, the Bill Belichick mess at North Carolina leads to a discussion about what other teams can learn from it, and the audience chimes in on some Perfect QB and All-Transfer team picks from last week. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Which players from the 2025 transfer portal will be the stars that help shape Northern college football this fall? On this Kings of the North, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises look at the most impactful Northern transfers from 2024 to help get a handle on 2025. And then they run though the 23 Northern portal additions they think will make the biggest differences for their teams this season. That's receivers for Penn State and Iowa State, safeties for Oregon and Notre Dame, defensive linemen for Ohio State and Michigan, offensive linemen for Colorado and Michigan State, and more. Plus Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore will be suspended for two games in the 2025 college football season, ESPN reported Monday. What's it mean for the Wolverines? Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss it to open this Kings of the North. Then it's onto the heart of the show -- has your Northern college football team had a perfect QB in its history? Based on winning, stats, big plays and legendary aura, has the title of the best QB in your program's history been locked down? Or is it there for the taking? For our 28 Northern teams, the show theorizes that 15 of them have in fact had a perfect quarterback, 9 of them maybe have, and 4 of them have not and are wide open for that title to be taken. From Doug Flutie at Boston College to Marcus Mariota at Oregon, from debates at Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan to open opportunities at Illinois and Indiana, join KOTN for the search for the perfect QB.

Four offensive lines in Northern college football are primed for great seasons in 2025. Another three are in pretty good shape. And then a lot of them are under pressure, as Kings of the North dives into the trenches on this episode. You'll learn: • Which teams are working the transfer portal for O-linemen • What kind of transfers have the most success on the offensive line • Which teams handled offensive line injuries last year and which struggled • How important is great offensive line play to winning What teams have major questions at the position group heading into this season Plus an early look at the 2026 NFL Draft and how many Northern players are projected in the first round, plus Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Shedeur Sanders was the biggest story of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Quinn Ewers was the quarterback lesson that should have the greatest lasting effect on college football. On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at the one thing that did NOT happen in this draft for college quarterbacks and what that means for the future of third-year college football quarterbacks like Arch Manning and Sam Leavitt and for second-year quarterbacks like Julian Sayin and C.J. Carr. Is the entire landscape for college football quarterbacks changing even more than we realized? Then Doug and Bill look at the full numbers for the NFL Draft: That includes how the North did overall and some position groups where the North surprisingly won the draft and others where the South had the edge. Finally, it's some other lessons, including one about what happened with draft picks, or lack of picks, for BYU and Utah and what that means for the 2025 season. It's what the draft means for college football, not what college football means for the draft, and it's all here on Kings of the North. Thanks for joining us.

The SEC and the South used to dominate the NFL Draft. But those days are over -- though not many people will tell you the truth about that. On Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis explode Southern draft myths while explaining how the Northern talent wave is already here and will continue. From development to keeping North talent home, they dive into the reasons this is happening. Then from Michigan and Ohio State to Iowa State, Penn State and Notre Dame, they look at the biggest stories in the 2025 NFL Draft in the North -- including a run of very interesting quarterbacks. Bradley Locker of PFF.com also stops by to explain some of his recent research that revealed SEC draft busts. Then the guys run through the most productive Northern draft teams of the last decade, and those that are in a drought. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

The transfer portal window for the spring is wide open in college football, and Kings of the North isn't looking just at what's happening, but at what are the right ways to go about winning in the portal. On this KOTN, from Oregon, Indiana and Colorado relying heavily on transfers last year, to Iowa, Utah and Iowa State barely doing anything in the portal a year ago, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all the numbers and results from Northern teams in the portal in 2024 to find what lessons should be learned. Who's doing the same thing this year, and which teams are changing their portal strategies? Plus Max Olson of ESPN.com visits to share his portal knowledge on how important the spring widow really is, what teams are doing the best job in the portal, which positions have the most value and whether the Nico Iamaleava transfer from Tennessee to UCLA is a one-off or a sign of things to come. As always, thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Michigan true freshman Bryce Underwood seems poised to seize the starting job for the Wolverines in 2025, and if he does, where might he fit in the hierarchy of best college football quarterbacks? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at and take apart the consensus rankings of the best returning quarterbacks in college football. Southern QBs are overrated and too many Northern quarterbacks are left out. But more importantly, young quarterbacks across the North from Michigan to Notre Dame to Ohio State to Oregon to Maryland are poised to potentially make big leaps this year and shake up the quarterback landscape. Underwood tops that list, and the guys then dive into the recent history of true freshmen starting quarterbacks and find eight in the last decade that might serve as the best comparisons for Underwood. Among them -- Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Ohio State has created an receiver pipeline and it's a huge part of the Buckeyes' success. How do they do it, what can other teams learn from it, what other teams have been elevated by great receiver play, and do your NEED great receivers to win at the highest level in college football? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into the stats and strategies of dominating a position group, while looking at teams like Penn State, Notre Dame, BYU, Iowa State, Syracuse, Clemson and others in the process. Then it's a visit with Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, who talks about the Gophers' playoff aspirations, how much Koi Perich might actually play on both sides of the ball, the development of the quarterback room, and their strategy for retaining and developing talent in the NIL and portal world. Finally, it's a discussion of which Northern teams should possibly be interested in adding Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava and whether his move is a huge shift in college football or a one-off. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

What college football teams are already locks for the 2025 College Football Playoff? What teams are the greatest contenders to be the next Indiana, SMU or Arizona State to come from off the radar? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis each drop three locks and three dark horses for this season. Plus, there's news from around college football on a 5-star receiver prospect reaffirming his pledge to Ohio State, a couple teams beefing up in the trenches, BYU wrapping up spring football, and Kirby Smart complaining about something else. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Frauds or Fearsome? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis play that game with college football teams across the South. Gotta keep an eye on those guys. From Georgia to Miami, from Clemson to Texas, from LSU to USC, the Doug and Bill run through 14 Non-Northern teams in rapid fire succession and decide whether anyone in the North needs to worry about them this season. Plus it's the conclusion of the bracket for the Most Important Person in Northern College Football. The Final Four is Penn State coach James Franklin, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Minnesota safety Koi Perich. Who will take home the crown? To start the show, it's a roundup of Northern college football news, including the new contract for Colorado's Deion Sanders. And should we have done an April Fool's Day prank? Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • News around the north (03:00) • Fearsome or fraud of southern teams (32:00) • Most important northern person final four and champion (1:19:10)

From quarterback play at Syracuse to offensive line action at Pitt, from young stars at Oregon to a receiver search at Utah, from Nebraska offensive plans to Indiana pass protection, Kings of the North takes you around Northern spring football on this episode. Then it's the fourth region of our Most Important Person in Northern Football bracket. This time, Bill Landis has 16 seeds for Defensive Players in The North, and he and Doug Lesmerises have to pick a winner. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Penn State coach James Franklin is entering Year 12 leading the Nittany Lions, with his best chance at a national title yet. But there haven't been many modern coaches who won their first national title in Year 12. Is Franklin ready to lead a natty run this season? Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss that. They also open the show with their latest region for their Most Important Person in Northern College Football bracket -- and it's coaches. Franklin is in there, but what other Northern coaches -- head coaches and assistants -- will most define this season? They run through 16 options. Finally, it's a look at several issues around college football from the legal problems of a former Michigan assistant, the continuing arrests of Georgia players, and the departure of the Maryland athletic director. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Most important northern coach region (09:00) • Can James Franklin win a title after being at Penn State for over a decade? (01:06:30) • News around the north (01:40:48)

Where will your college football coach be in five years? Only 11 of our 28 Northern coaches were in their current jobs five years ago, so on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look to 2030 and guess who the head coaches will be then. Will your coach be around? If not, who might be a replacement? Then it's the second region in our bracket of Most Important People in Northern College Football in 2025. Last show we did quarterbacks. This show, it's all the other offensive players, from running backs to offensive linemen to receivers. Who are our 16 seeds? Who will win the region? And to finish, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • News around the north (03:40) • The 5-year coach test - will each coach still be at their northern school in 2030? (12:30) • Non-QB offensive player region for most important northern player (01:02:00) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:35:40)

Which college football quarterbacks will have the greatest impact on the North in the 2025 season? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis unveil their first bracket of the spring, and it's the 16 Northern quarterbacks with the chance to affect this season the most. With the help of the audience, they'll produce a bracket winner. But first, it's a look at which teams are having spring football games and which aren't. Are that many teams really doing away with them? What about an interesting suggestion from Colorado head coach Deion Sanders? How would Bill and Doug save spring football? Finally, it's a look at which Northern football powers are doing it best on the basketball court? And why is the South kicking the North's butt there? Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • What to do with spring games? (09:20) • Should teams play against each other (10:30) • Spring game solutions (35:30) • Most important quarterback for 2025 season bracket (46:10) • Football-basketball power balance (1:33:00)

It's a college football recruiting reset for the Class of 2026, from a Clemson invasion to Oregon's national reach, from Northern victories in the South to Kansas wins in its homestate, from Maryland five-stars to quarterback commits at Penn State, Michigan State, Notre Dame and more. Join Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis for a spin through Northern recruiting on this Kings of the North. Then, all win totals are now set for the 2025 season, which gives Doug and Bill time to fully dive into all Northern squads, including the glut of teams with an over-under of 7.5 wins: BYU, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah and Washington. Plus Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking, where Doug brings a visual aid. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Class of 2026 recruiting trends (03:30) • Maryland looking for two 5-star prospects (14:00) • Clemson invading the north (24:00) • Early QB commits (28:24) • North-south recruiting trends (34:30) • Kansas locking down its home state (37:25) • Oregon recruiting around the country (40:00) • Breaking down every northern team and their win total (50:10) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:24:45)

It's college football trades on Kings of the North, as the rosters of teams like Michigan, Pitt, Kansas State, Iowa, Texas, Ohio State, Clemson, Penn State and Oregon are examined and some tweaks found ... if only college football allowed trades. It's a version of transfer portal movement where teams on both sides get something. But Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis had more trouble with the trades this season than they did a year ago, and they think they know why. Plus, Eddie George was introduced as the new head coach at Bowling Green on Monday morning. The guys examine what the former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winner might do for the Falcons and the MAC. Will a MAC team ever make the College Football Playoff? Will the best coaches in that league move on the way so many did in the past, from Brian Kelly to Dino Babers? What's the state of the MAC and what can George do about it? Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Bowling Green hires Eddie George (01:15) • What can Eddie George do for the MAC? (09:00) • Will the MAC ever make the college football playoff? (39:30) • College football trades (50:00)

The 2025 College Football Playoff is less than 10 month away, so how could Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis not have playoff picks on the board yet? They are fixing that on this episode of Kings of the North, putting their first 12-team brackets on record. How many North teams? How many South? How many locks? Who are the off-the-radar contenders like Indiana and Arizona State turned out to be last year? They also review their five different playoff projections through the course of 2024 to help you figure out how much you should trust them. And there's a discussion of the new College Football Playoff committee members, and Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Six new members of CFP selection committee (03:30) • Look back at Doug and Bill predictions for 2024 CFP before spring football last year (22:00) • Doug and Bill top 4 seeds for 2025 CFP (53:40) • Doug and Bill first CFP bracket for 2025 (1:05:45) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:19:45)

Spring football has started at West Virginia, BYU and Kansas, with other Northern schools starting this week. On Kings of the North, that means a dive into 10 potential breakout players to watch this spring. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis chose players from Oregon, Nebraska, Maryland, Kansas State, Penn State, Ohio State and Syracuse, among other schools. Should you trust their spring breakout picks? A year ago, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith were two of the players they discussed. Plus a look at some Northern players who stood out at the NFL Combine, including a couple of Iowa State Cyclones. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • ACC agreement update (06:45) • First 5 players to watch during spring football (14:00) • NFL Combine notes (36:05) • Recapping our 2024 players to watch during spring football (55:40) • Final 5 players to watch during spring football (01:04:00)