Podcasts about Conference USA

Get to hear from the Gamecocks Closer Chase Horst, as they wrap up their 2026 sweep of the Conference USA winning the Regular Season and Conf Tournament. The Gamecocks are headed to Hattiesburg this weekend!

Join me as I talk with another legend in UAB sports, Robert Vaden! Robert shared his story about his journey from recruitment in high school to Indiana, then to UAB, and finally his professional career in the NBA G League and playing overseas. He also gave a great glimpse into the mind of a player preparing for games, playing in some of the biggest environments in basketball, and how it translates to his training of young players today. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I think you will too!Be sure to follow my social media pages (@DragonsDenEFEL) on Facebook, X, and Instagram for new episode announcements to see who is joining me next! Go Blazers!

One week ago, the state of Louisiana’s Legislative Auditor’s office released its annual fiscal review of Grambling State University’s athletics program for the year ending June 30, 2025. The school was cited for a few audit irregularities and quickly announced that changes were being made.  That wasn’t the biggest news, though. Grambling’s athletics department lost $5.1 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.  Revenues were reported at $9.2 million versus annual expenses of $14.3 million. In percentage terms, Grambling’s revenue was only 64% of the amount needed to sustain the athletics programs at the current level. Grambling wasn’t the only north Louisiana public university whose athletics spending exceeded revenue last year The same Louisiana Legislative Auditor also filed reports earlier in 2026 for Louisiana Tech University, Northwestern State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Each of these four football-playing state universities located north of Alexandria reported losses in their athletics programs for the year ending June 30, 2025.  Grambling’s massive deficit grabbed the recent news headlines, but there is a troubling commonality among Louisiana public schools not named LSU. Louisiana Tech recently cut an expensive deal (rumored to be in the vicinity of $8 million) in order to exit Conference USA and join the more geographically-suitable Sun Belt Conference. That move may turn out to be prudent for the Bulldogs over the long-term.  Louisiana Tech’s annual travel expenses as part of Conference USA totaled nearly $3.5 million.  Nearby Sun Belt rival UL-Monroe’s travel costs for the same year were $2.3 million.  Louisiana Tech is expected save $1 million or more annually on its travel expenses beginning this fall by moving to the Sun Belt Conference. Let’s look under the hood at each of these four universities’ athletics spending.  We’ll finish with a few common sense (cheap) ideas on how to achieve break-even in the future. Grambling State University – 5,200 students (2024/2025 school year) Grambling is nationally known for its athletics and its exceptional marching band.  It was bit surprising to learn that Grambling’s football program had lost $2.5 million in the most recent year.  That amounted to about 50% of the athletic department’s annual deficit of $5.1 million. The football team’s travel costs of $1.1 million last fall were higher than all three of the other north Louisiana pubic schools. The expense summary also showed nearly $160,000 was spent to cover the costs of the school’s spirit groups (for one or more road trip performances). Grambling’s men’s and women’s basketball teams each posted losses in excess of $900,000 for the most recent year. Grambling (like Northwestern State) participates NCAA’s FCS small college football division.  The G-men play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Louisiana Tech University – 12,145 students (Fall, 2025) The Bulldogs are based in Ruston.  Louisiana Tech’s campus is less than six miles east of Grambling via Interstate 20.  The Bulldogs have been competing in Conference USA and a part of the NCAA FBS major college football division.  As mentioned earlier, Louisiana Tech moves into the Sun Belt Conference this fall. Audit results for Louisiana Tech’s athletics department last year showed a loss of $11.875 million. Football lost “only” about $1.6 million for the year.  Louisiana Tech’s men’s and women’s basketball teams each ran a deficit of about $700,000 apiece.  Other competitive sports at Louisiana Tech lost another $2.6 million.  The school’s income statement showed “non-program specific” athletic costs with a $6 million shortfall. As noted earlier in this report, Louisiana Tech’s overall travel costs playing in far-flung Conference USA were easily the highest in the group.  The Dogs’ annual total of $3.5 million for travel exceeded Grambling ($2.6 mm), UL-Monroe ($2.3 mm) and Northwestern State (less than $1 million). Northwestern State University – 8,402 students (Fall, 2025) The Demons from Natchitoches, Louisiana came the closest to break-even within its athletics programs among these four state schools.  Northwestern State participates in the NCAA’s FCS small college football division in the regionally-aligned Southland Conference. Northwestern State posted a relatively benign loss of $167,245 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.  The Demons’ men’s basketball program ran the largest deficit at more than $300,000.  The football team came up short by $280,000. Noteworthy, Northwestern State collected nearly $1.5 million in annual student fees to help support athletics.  That was about 10% of the school’s athletics spending.  It was the highest total among these four north Louisiana state schools. University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) – 8,678 students (Fall, 2025) Sun Belt Conference member ULM (like Louisiana Tech) competes in the NCAA’s FBS major college football division.  ULM is expecting to benefit from Louisiana Tech’s arrival in the Sun Belt Conference this fall with increased attendance and revenues expected at home games in all major sports. The Warhawks’ athletics budget is the smallest among the NCAA’s 136 FBS major colleges.  ULM’s overall school budget has been prone to massive shortfalls in recent years, too.  That means that ULM’s $1.5 million athletics department loss in fiscal year 2025 is much harder to cover. Audit results showed the UL-Monroe football program lost a whopping $3.8 million in the most recent report.  The Warhawks’ men’s and women’s basketball teams lost a combined $2.5 million.  Ouch! The school’s institutional support has kept the ULM athletics department afloat for years.  Significantly higher fan support for the Warhawks football and basketball programs is needed immediately.  Otherwise, the school may have no other choice but to consider returning to the NCAA FCS small college athletics division. A few suggestions from SwampSwami to achieve fiscal break-even These four north Louisiana state universities are located within 100 miles of each other.  Each school is a very large and important employer in its home city. These state schools must immediately address their athletics spending and move quickly toward achieving fiscal balance.  At the same time, they must also work harder and more creatively to raise sports revenues over the long-term to grow the athletics programs. First things first – Take immediate cost cutting measures – The simplest and fairest way is to voluntarily reduce athletics spending by cutting a certain percentage across the board.  That could come in the form of job reductions or, perhaps, an across-the-board pay cut for staff making more than $30,000 per year.  For example, a 5% mandatory spending reduction in Year 1 may spur some voluntary budget trimming beyond that level.  Yes, this likely means one less assistant coach, one fewer support staffer, one less charter flight, etc.  The athletics departments must take a hard look at streamlining operations.  Learn to do more with less. Refuse to play long-distance road games unless the school earns a significant profit by participating – UL-Monroe’s football team hits the road for at least two “Clobbering Time” payday games every season. They are often paid more than $1 million to play at large universities such as LSU, Texas A&M, and Alabama with huge stadiums.  ULM receives more money from some of these massive “visitor” paychecks than playing a home game in front of a sold-out stadium.  There are also downsides from being on the receiving end of a couple of massive road losses every season, too.  The football team and local fans can become a bit demoralized about the team’s chances for the remainder of the season. Now, let’s try to grow the revenue side with a few cheap ideas Stimulate increased student, alumni, and hometown support – Student and local support for the athletics programs within each of these four communities (Grambling, Ruston, Natchitoches, and Monroe) must improve.  Local fans want to see their sports teams having a chance to win more than they lose.  Identify sports which are cost-effective and give the school the best chance to hang a new (and long overdue) championship banner. Success in any of the major sports at these four schools can go a long way in rejuvenating and expanding the school’s athletic support base. Improve local marketing and promotion – It may sound corny but handing out free tickets to youth at local elementary, junior high school and high schools gets parents and guardians to purchase tickets, too.  A positive game day experience for that youth can plant a valuable seed about attending that college some day.  Each of these four north Louisiana public universities have thousands of empty seats available at football and basketball games.  A purposeful campaign to encourage and engage more youth at nearby college sporting events will pay future dividends. Inject more game day excitement – Utilize the pregame, quarter breaks, halftime, and post-game times to get fans more engaged.  Experiment with creative new (and inexpensive) ideas to keep the game experience fresh for all ages of fans. They will be more likely to return if they are having more fun at the games. Relentlessly promote ahead – There are only a few home football games played each fall.  Make each game special with its own promotion.  There are, perhaps, twenty home basketball, baseball or softball home games, too.  Give thought as to how to make each home game unique for fans. Target every recent (last few years) ticket purchaser by sending a weekly email.  Remind them of the school’s upcoming weekly sports schedule, special promotions, and discounts.  Utilize all types of social media to reach a wider audience to spread the word about upcoming college athletic events and team opponents. Depend on your own athletics staff to get the word out – Sadly, we live in a world with fewer and fewer exceptional local newspapers.  It is incumbent on each school’s athletics department to take an aggressive role in publicizing and promoting all ticket-based sporting events.  Fans want to know about the school’s upcoming games and events, so take the initiative! The post North Louisiana’s College Sports Programs are Underwater appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

The Diamond 'Dogs are off to Kennesaw, GA this week with intentions of winning a championship & earning the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Drew Parsley, aka 'The Middle King,' joins Kyle Schassburger in previewing the event, Tech's last in Conference USA.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On episode 457 of Airey Bros Radio, we sit down with Coach Jeremy Provence, Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach at Jacksonville State University. Coach Provence shares his journey from growing up on a rural Arkansas farm to becoming a Division I head coach, building programs at the University of the Ozarks, North Alabama, and now Jacksonville State.We talk recruiting diamonds in the rough, developing gritty student-athletes, creating a family culture with athletes from 14 countries, the jump from Division III to Division I, Conference USA competition, double threshold training, ultra running, trail racing, and why Jack State is a program on the rise.☕ Support the show (Value for Value):

With just one week left in the regular season for most teams, J.J. Cooper and Jacob Rudner are taking a look at who has the most to gain or the most to lose this week, but we also had to cover UCLA's nerve-racking comeback, the double/home run seen by no one in a fog and many other topics from this week in college baseball.(00:00) UCLA stays on top(05:45) Can Georgia Tech or Georgia bash their way to a title?(14:10) Why this weekend is so big for Arizona State(19:15) Until someone is actually punished, mid-week cancellations will continue(25:00) Looking at how Conference USA shakes out(28:00) The Sun Belt picture and Texas State(32:15) Boston College's big weekend(34:45) Arkansas vs. Kentucky could be a big deal for the Wildcats(42:15) Vanderbilt's series loss to Missouri could be crushing(52:00) Why Coastal Carolina and Kansas' losses sent them sliding(60:00) The haters guide to which teams to root against to help your favorite teamHELLO FRESH:Go to https://HelloFresh.com/FT10FM now to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free breakfast for Life! One per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. That's HelloFresh dot com slash ft10fm to Get 10 Free Meals + free breakfast for Life.Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/ba2022Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week we welcome Dusty May, Head Coach of the 2026 NCAA Champion Michigan Wolverines Men's Basketball team. He was hired in 2024 by Michigan and immediately turned the program around winning 18 more games than 2023 and leading the Wolverines back to the top of the Big 10 and to the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2026 they went 37-3 and defeated UConn in the NCAA final to take their second ever national title. In this incredible conversation, May shares what his non negotiables are, how he creates a player centered environment centered around decision making and a willingness to make the right kind of mistakes. He also speakes to why he has such a calm sideline demeanor, the role of love in coaching, and so much more.  Prior to Michigan, may led Florida Atlantic for six straight winning seasons in Boca Raton, Fla. (2018-24), May captured Florida Atlantic's first regular-season and tournament championships while playing in Conference USA in 2023. He compiled a program record of 126 wins and helped the Owls make a run to the 2023 NCAA Final Four. Before earning his first head coaching job at Florida Atlantic, May was an assistant under Mike White for seven years with stints at Florida (2015-18) and Louisiana Tech (2011-15). Before working under White, May was an assistant under Kerry Rupp at Louisiana Tech for two seasons (2009-11).  May started his coaching career at Eastern Michigan (2005-06) with Charlies Ramsey, before heading to Murray State (2006-07) to work under Billy Kennedy. Before joining Louisiana Tech, May spent two seasons with Mike Davis at UAB (2007-09). BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW BOOK Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, due out in May 2026. Please fill out this quick Google form and you will be notified when discounted book pre-orders are available. We are constantly asked "where have all the leaders gone?" Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call John@ChangingTheGameProject.com PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, "Did that practice really hit the mark?" you will love what they have created. Zone 14's next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then become a premium member of Changing the Game Project today. For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com for pricing.  Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

This week we welcome Dusty May, Head Coach of the 2026 NCAA Champion Michigan Wolverines Men's Basketball team. He was hired in 2024 by Michigan and immediately turned the program around winning 18 more games than 2023 and leading the Wolverines back to the top of the Big 10 and to the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2026 they went 37-3 and defeated UConn in the NCAA final to take their second ever national title. In this incredible conversation, May shares what his non negotiables are, how he creates a player centered environment centered around decision making and a willingness to make the right kind of mistakes. He also speakes to why he has such a calm sideline demeanor, the role of love in coaching, and so much more.  Prior to Michigan, may led Florida Atlantic for six straight winning seasons in Boca Raton, Fla. (2018-24), May captured Florida Atlantic's first regular-season and tournament championships while playing in Conference USA in 2023. He compiled a program record of 126 wins and helped the Owls make a run to the 2023 NCAA Final Four. Before earning his first head coaching job at Florida Atlantic, May was an assistant under Mike White for seven years with stints at Florida (2015-18) and Louisiana Tech (2011-15). Before working under White, May was an assistant under Kerry Rupp at Louisiana Tech for two seasons (2009-11).  May started his coaching career at Eastern Michigan (2005-06) with Charlies Ramsey, before heading to Murray State (2006-07) to work under Billy Kennedy. Before joining Louisiana Tech, May spent two seasons with Mike Davis at UAB (2007-09). BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW BOOK Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, due out in May 2026. Please fill out this quick Google form and you will be notified when discounted book pre-orders are available. We are constantly asked "where have all the leaders gone?" Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call John@ChangingTheGameProject.com PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, "Did that practice really hit the mark?" you will love what they have created. Zone 14's next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then become a premium member of Changing the Game Project today. For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com for pricing.  Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

In this weeks episode of the Coach Me Up podcast. Host Jimmy Dykes and Chris Burke are joined by Kaemyn Bekemeier, the President of the FCA group on the campus of Missouri State University. She was the MVP of the Conference USA women's basketball tournament and led her Lady Bears team into the 2026 NCAA tournament. Kaemyn coaches us up on what parents can do when one of their kids is going through a hard time, how the simple word consistency is so important as a follower of Jesus, and loving others when our own life is difficult. Another challenging conversation on the Coach Me Up podcast.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••As always we thank our title sponsor OneCountry.com for making this podcast possible, and to Konexial.com for their continued support of our podcast.COACH ME UP TEAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OneCountry.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Konexial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CoachJimmyDykes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ChrisBurke02⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Hosted by Jimmy Dykes and Chris BurkeProduced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jared Mark Fincher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All audio is subject to copyright 2026 Jimmy Dykes Inc.Contact us at coachmeuppodcast@gmail.com

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner is joined by prospect writer Geoff Pontes to take a detailed look at the teams vying for host positions through 10 weeks. Rudner is also joined by Georgia junior third baseman Tre Phelps to discuss Phelps' decision to return to school instead of turning pro in 2025, what led to his breakout success and more.(3:34) Can the Big Ten Produce Three Hosts?(11:21) Host candidates from the ACC(21:38) SEC dominating the host line(32:10) Will the Big 12 produce a host?(33:31) Sun Belt and Conference USA(38:50) Georgia third baseman Tre Phelps joinsMINT MOBILEIf you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Plans start at $15/month at https://MintMobile.com/Territory Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

So much for playing a (potential) 20-game football season this year for Louisiana Tech University! Bulldogs fans can breathe a rather expensive $8 million sigh of relief after the school and Conference USA have apparently come to terms on a long-awaited exit agreement. This will allow Louisiana Tech to officially begin play in the Sunbelt Conference beginning with this fall’s college football season. The national news media enjoyed a not-that-funny field day making jokes about how Louisiana Tech might play a 20-game schedule this fall.  Conference USA and the Sunbelt Conference each released their football schedules in March which featured the Bulldogs participating in games in both conferences this fall. It started when Conference USA posted a 2026 fall football schedule on March 12 which included Louisiana Tech.  The Bulldogs have been a part of Conference USA since 2013.  However, the school gave notice to C-USA last summer that the Bulldogs intended to leave and join the geographically-closer group of schools in the Sunbelt Conference. Not to be outdone, the Sunbelt Conference released its own 2026 fall football schedule – including Louisiana Tech – the following day on March 13. A quick review of those two football schedules meant that the Bulldogs might have to play a 20-game football schedule this fall! A very creative sportswriter in Shreveport recently came up with a plan where Louisiana Tech could possibly play all 20 games this fall by utilizing a split-squad on a couple of occasions.  With 20 possible football games, the Bulldogs might be able to post the school’s first 10-win season and secure a top bowl invitation! The deal is not official – yet A few news outlets reported Tuesday that Louisiana Tech will open its wallet to pay Conference USA over $8 million to exit the league in order to join the Sunbelt Conference this fall. If you would like some history as to how this began, check out my previous posts here and here.  In recent weeks, Louisiana Tech and Conference USA have been at the negotiation table trying to settle this matter via arbitration. Neither Louisiana Tech nor Conference USA have officially announced this settlement agreement or its terms.  Many negotiated settlements include certain provisions which the two parties are required to keep confidential. We may never know the actual amount or how long Louisiana Tech has to pay it. Given the size of the reported settlement, the smiles seem more likely to be coming from Conference USA and its attorneys as many expected the final amount to be in the range of $4-5 million. What is $8 million worth to Louisiana Tech?  Plenty! The Knight Foundation college athletics database showed Louisiana Tech’s total athletics spending in 2024 was $33 million.  Football amounted to $9 million or 27% of the total. By contrast, Louisiana’s football giant LSU showed athletics spending of $221 million in 2024.  Football expenditures were $60 million of the total. To my surprise, football at LSU consumed the same 27% of the total athletics budget as Louisiana Tech’s. Unlike Louisiana Tech, though, LSU’s expensive athletics program has been turning a profit for decades.  The Ruston-based Bulldogs have gone into the red in several recent years. That’s why Louisiana Tech’s willingness to pay a $8 million price tag to exit Conference USA is a bit surprising. Why did Louisiana Tech agree to pay up? The school’s national reputation was on the line if a deal wasn’t consummated this spring. Conference USA’s agreement with Louisiana Tech had specific requirements which the school had to meet in order to exit the contract before its scheduled termination.  One stipulation involved Louisiana Tech giving a minimum notice (rumored to be 14 months) prior to exiting C-USA.  Another required Louisiana Tech to forfeit two years of its share of C-USA media revenues (estimated to be at least $2 million or more per year). For its part, Louisiana Tech watched as former Conference USA members Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss locked hands and broke away together to join the Sunbelt Conference in 2022. Not only did the exiting trio appear to give less prior notice than Louisiana Tech provided, the word leaked that each party had paid Conference USA about $3 million apiece in order to walk away. It’s quite possible that the leadership at Louisiana Tech expected similar treatment. One thing which most media sources have failed to consider is Conference USA’s current television/media deal with ESPN and CBS Sports Network. The new arrangement began in 2023 – one year after Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss had already walked away. The current media contract may have included a provision to reduce the annual media revenues to C-USA should any of the league’s then-current members (such as Louisiana Tech) leave the conference prior to the end of the latest media contract. Perhaps Conference USA demanded Louisiana Tech to compensate the remaining group of primary Conference USA members for several years of lost media revenues. Even at $8 million, should this be considered a good deal for Louisiana Tech? In the short term, it appears that the proverbial cart got before the horse. The $8 million price tag was a very steep price to pay for a school leaving a declining mid-major athletics conference to join a rising mid-major conference like the Sunbelt. Anyone looking to point fingers should start with Louisiana Tech’s decision makers.  Many openly expressed their desire to join the Sunbelt Conference months ahead of the official announcement last July.  Nearly everyone wanted to see the Bulldogs renew their old rivalries, save significantly on travel expenses, and retain top athlete-students. This fall’s move to the Sunbelt Conference will be a very positive moment for Louisiana Tech athletics.  The $8 million price tag must be amortized over a period of more than just a few years in order to feel better about the short-term financial pain. I have been a long-time critic of Conference USA’s rinky-dink October mid-week college football games.  Bulldogs fans cringed as their Saturday home games were moved to Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights during October purely for television. This was done to quench the media’s insatiable desire to show competitive football on television (and reap the advertising benefits) seven nights per week during fall’s pre-Christmas advertising blitz. Sports fans of the ULM Warhawks and Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns will be thrilled to have Louisiana Tech join their athletics conference.  Those two Sunbelt schools will see higher attendance and lower travel costs for all sporting events involving Louisiana Tech beginning this fall. The unfortunate downside of this expensive buyout is whether Louisiana Tech failed to fully understand its existing contract agreement with Conference USA. Someone at the school had to have established a value representing the worst-case scenario of the potential exit costs prior to making a deal to join the Sunbelt Conference.  A good attorney should have flagged the potential worst-case possibilities as well. It appeared that the school expected to make a reasonable exit deal ($3 million) similar to what Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss accomplished in 2022. Last July’s announcement decision by Louisiana Tech to join the Sunbelt Conference “no later than 2027” almost immediately started the clock running on legal fees. Conference USA sued Louisiana Tech in state court months later in November.  Tech countered with their own suit against C-USA in early 2026.  Recent weeks of arbitration and settlement discussions have been ringing up even more legal bills. In the end, Conference USA “won” its $8 million, but that’s about it Nothing against other long-time Conference USA members such as Western Kentucky, Florida International, and Middle Tennessee State, but Louisiana Tech carried the most recognizable national sports footprint in C-USA in recent years. Conference USA will no longer be able to claim the school whose athletics history includes Hall-of-Famers such as football’s Terry Bradshaw and Willie Roaf. The same goes for basketball Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and women’s point guard-turned-four-time national championship coach Kim Mulkey. Conference USA’s far-flung geography was a big factor in Louisiana Tech’s decision to move to the Sunbelt.  Liberty University in Virginia and the University of Delaware are both more than 1,000 miles northeast of Ruston, Louisiana.  To the west, New Mexico State in Las Cruces is 936 miles away. By contrast, Louisiana Tech will become a member of the Sunbelt Conference Western Division. That means playing intrastate rivals UL-Monroe (35 miles east of Ruston) and UL-Lafayette (185 miles to the south).  Other Sunbelt West partners include Southern Miss in Hattiesburg (240 miles), Arkansas State in Jonesboro (300 miles), South Alabama in Mobile (340 miles) and Troy (440 miles away in southern Alabama). Louisiana Tech Bulldogs sports teams spent $5 million during 2024 on game expenses and travel as a member of Conference USA.  The school could save $1 million or more annually on reduced travel expenses as a member of the Sunbelt Conference Western Division. Louisiana Tech sports fans will now get to enjoy a Saturday, October 10 home college football visit from in-state rival UL-Lafayette. The following week will have the Bulldogs taking a short trip down I-20 to Monroe.  This much-anticipated football game against the ULM Warhawks will fill Monroe’s Malone Stadium on Saturday, October 17. Had the Bulldogs remained in Conference USA, their October football schedule would have included a Thursday night game followed by three consecutive Wednesday night contests.  The league’s annual “made-for-midweek-TV” October schedule would make any serious football program want to leave C-USA at the first opportunity. In all fairness, the move to the Sunbelt wasn’t likely worth $8 million, either. At least this year’s new Sunbelt football schedule (especially during the month of October) will be a nice down payment to build years of renewed fan interest in Louisiana Tech athletics. Go, Dogs, Go! The post Go, Dogs, Go! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Coach Jerry Mack led the Kennesaw State Owls from a 2-10 season in 2024 to a Conference USA championship in his first year in 2025, flipping the roster and the entire offensive scheme in the process. In this episode, he talks about what drew him to Kennesaw State, how he approaches roster construction in the transfer portal era, what he brought back from his time coaching in the NFL, what it takes to maintain stability through college football's most unstable era ever, and much more.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner is joined by lead prospect writer Geoff Pontes to discuss LSU's potential resurgence in the national picture after a three-week skid. Plus, Rudner and Pontes take an in-depth look at the Week 9 NCAA Tournament picture ahead of their next Field of 64 projection.(4:19) Florida's big poll movement continues(6:38) Is LSU back?(15:19) The Georgia ranking controversy(25:50) Big 12 Breakdown(33:13) Look out for Conference USA(38:28) The AAC picture(43:48) Teams we have a close eye on in Week 9Sign up for Baseball Card America! https://baseball-card-america.beehiiv.com/SEAT GEEKUse our code TERRITORY10 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountOur Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Liberty vs. Nevada College Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Liberty vs Nevada Profiles Liberty at Nevada 9PM ET—Liberty has a record of 26-7 and 17-3 in the Conference USA. They were 9-1 on the road in conference. They had a road win in the non-conference at Dayton and dropped a game at NC State. Liberty defeated George Mason in their NIT opener on the road 77-71. Nevada is 23-12 and 12-8 in the Mountain West going 9-1 at home. They lost at home in the non-conference against UC Davis. The Wolf Pack come off the 89-75 victory against Murray ST in the NIT opener at home.

Kennesaw St vs. Gonzaga College Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Kennesaw St vs. Gonzaga Profiles Kennesaw St vs. Gonzaga 10PM ET— Kennesaw St has a record of 21-13 and 10-10 in Conference USA. The Owls went 2-8 on the road in conference. They faced no power conference teams in the non-conference. They drooped a 19-point home decision against USF and loss by nine on a neutral court to a down Oral Roberts team. They come off the 71-60 victory against Louisiana Tech on Saturday in the CUSA championship game winning three games in three days.

Yes, I’m old enough to remember when the term “spring break” was primarily for college students. Apparently, spring break now extends to giving the entire week off to high school, middle school and even the elementary school kids, too. My long-suffering sports wife works a schedule based on our local school calendar.  Last week, we visited one of our sons (and two of our grandsons) prior to heading to Gulf Shores, Alabama for a few more days of vacationing. We had loads of fun but not enough time to keep up with sports. Never fear!  We will catch-up right now. March Madness – Men The University of Miami (Ohio) Redhawks were the lone unbeaten men’s team in the nation coming into last week’s Mid-American Conference tournament.  The 20th ranked Redhawks took their perfect 31-0 record into last week’s opening round game against the University of Massachusetts (17-16).  Miami was only the fifth men’s college hoops team in the past 25 years to post a perfect regular season record. Until Thursday. U Mass took the lead with 30 seconds left to hand the Redhawks an 87-83 loss. Would you believe that some of TV’s talking heads actually felt that 31-1 Miami should be left out of the 68-team NCAA Men’s tournament field? Some of those same people suggested that a 17-16 Auburn Tigers team (just 7-11 in SEC play) should have received Miami’s spot in the tournament field. Perhaps this is why we call it madness For those who favor March Madness invitations going to sub-500 big conference schools like Auburn, please name the last time any team with less than 20 regular season wins made it into the Final Four.  I’ll wait while you ask your favorite search engine. Answer:  Zero. I understand that Auburn played a really tough slate of non-conference games.  The Tigers lost to top-ten teams such as Houston, Michigan, and Purdue in the opening months.  However, Auburn also lost eight of ten SEC games played during the final weeks of the regular season. If Auburn cannot beat teams in the SEC, why should they deserve to play for the national championship? However, what have the Miami Redhawks done to deserve a bid? Good question!  Miami (Ohio) plays in the Mid-American Conference.  That conference has never produced a men’s basketball team which has reached the Final Four. Miami posted a solid 25-9 record last year.  Prior to 2025, the Redhawks had not won 20 games in a season since March, 1999.  The school is not (yet) a basketball juggernaut. This year’s team raced to a 31-0 start featuring six games which Miami won by three points or less.  Yes, they have been lucky at times, but they were also very good. The Runnin’ Redhawks have scored 100 or more points in eight games this season. The NCAA “rewarded” 31-1 Miami of Ohio with a play-in game on Wednesday night against 20-13 SMU.  Tipoff will be at 8:15 PM CDT on TruTV.  The winner advances to play #6 seed Tennessee (22-11) on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Auburn is playing in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) beginning tonight at 9PM CDT vs. South Alabama (20-11). McNeese State’s home court advantage led to a rout over #1 seed SFA Four years ago, the city of Lake Charles became the home city for the Southland Conference men’s basketball tournament.  The games are played on the campus of McNeese State University. The host city’s Cowboys were already coming off back-to-back NCAA March Madness seasons. Unlike previous years, though, the 2026 top seed in the Southland Conference tournament was Stephen F. Austin.  The Lumberjacks posted a nifty 20-2 conference record to edge McNeese by one game for the men’s #1 seed in the tournament. These two teams (both 28-5 for the season) met in last week’s conference finale.  The hometown McNeese fans packed the gymnasium to standing-room only capacity and cheered their team to a resounding 76-59 win over #1 seed SFA.  The Lumberjacks fell behind by 20 points early in the second half and never recovered. McNeese will enter its third straight NCAA men’s March Madness tournament as a #12 seed against #5 Vanderbilt of the SEC.  That game will tip-off Thursday at 2:15 PM on TruTV. Stephen F. Austin accepted a bid into the NIT tournament and travels to face Tulsa in the opening round tonight (Tuesday) at 8 PM. March Madness – Women Historically, there has been a wide gap in women’s college basketball between the “haves” and the “not yet’s”. This year has been no different. The #1 overall seed U-Conn Huskies are the only remaining unbeaten women’s team entering this year’s March Madness women’s tourney. Connecticut (now 34-0) is a whopping 54-point favorite over #16 regional seed UT-San Antonio (18-15) in Round 1. Out west, #2 overall seed UCLA (31-1) is a 52-point favorite in their opening round game against #16 seed California Baptist (23-10). The other two top seeded women’s teams are a pair of 31-3 SEC teams – South Carolina and Texas.  Both will be prohibitive favorites in their first round games, too. This wide gap between the top 16 teams and the rest of the women’s field is why the NCAA has continued to play the opening two rounds of their tournament in the home market of the top 16 teams. What just happened to Louisiana Tech’s Lady Techsters? Louisiana Tech’s women’s basketball program was one of the early giants of the sport.  They won national titles in 1981, 1982, and 1988.  The Lady Techsters remained a regular NCAA March Madness participant through the year 2006. Since then, Louisiana Tech’s women’s team has been in decline.  The team had not made the NCAA tournament field in 20 years. This season’s Louisiana Tech women’s team was steamrolling opponents during their 19-game winning streak.  The team was 26-5 and #1 seed in Conference USA entering Saturday afternoon’s title game in Huntsville, Alabama. Their opponent (21-12 and #6 seed Missouri State) has been playing in its very first Conference USA season. The winner would receive an automatic bid into the NCAA March Madness women’s field. The tournament finale was unable to produce one player on either team who shot better than 50% from the field.  Tech clanked 15 of 66 shots into the basket (23%).  Missouri State wasn’t much better with 17-52 from the field (33%). Final score – Missouri State 43, Louisiana Tech 38 This game stunk for the entire 40 minutes.  (I know, because I watched all of it!) The Lady Bears of Missouri State (a deserving winner of this game) advanced into this week’s NCAA tournament as a #16 seed.  Louisiana Tech accepted a bid into the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).  They will travel to Houston and play 28-5 Rice on Thursday. LSU women’s Coach Kim Mulkey told her assistant coach to hit the road Last week, LSU women’s assistant basketball coach Gary Redus was hired by Rutgers University of the Big Ten Conference. He offered to stick around Baton Rouge to help his boss, Kim Mulkey, prepare the #2 seed LSU Tigers in this week’s NCAA March Madness opening game(s) in Louisiana’s capitol city. Instead, Mulkey told him, “Get out of here!” Politely, that is.  She added, “You can’t be married to two wives!” The LSU women’s coach advised her ex-assistant coach that Redus needed to spend the next few weeks getting to know his players at Rutgers in New Jersey. There is a good chance that another LSU basketball assistant (Daphne Mitchell) may also be joining Gary Redus’ new staff at Rutgers. What is happening to the defending champion LSU baseball team? LSU’s defending national college baseball champions have been playing like a group of neighborhood kids in a pick-up game at times.  The team is struggling to find an identity. LSU lost two of three SEC games to Vanderbilt over the weekend in Nashville to drop to 14-7 on the season.  That’s nearly half of the number of losses which LSU’s 2025 championship team posted in a 56-15 season. The pitching for this 2026 Tigers team ranks as worst in the 16-team SEC.  They allow 5.24 earned runs per game.  LSU pitchers have served-up a league-high 18 home runs through 21 games. The Bayou Bengals are dead last in the SEC in fielding, too.  LSU has committed 25 errors in 21 games and have turned a league-low of five double plays. Yikes! Coach Jay Johnson is trying to remain positive and patient as his team contains a number of transfer players. LSU needs to complete its 2026 baseball chemistry experiments quickly.  The Tigers play intrastate rival Grambling State University on Tuesday night in Baton Rouge prior to hosting an important SEC weekend series against #7 University of Oklahoma. LSU’s baseball season will only get tougher after tonight’s game with the G-Men. *Come back tomorrow, and I’ll pick the Men’s and Women’s March Madness winners! The post SwampSwami Returns from Spring Break appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Chuck believes the number of struggling basketball coaches being retained right now emphasizes how important football is. Chuck and Heath discuss Louisiana Tech's current status of having two schedules released for playing in two different conferences. Jed May of UGA Sports previews Georgia spring football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 7, Episode 26 of Sports Fellowship with Fox and Frank is a special Liberty University “Ignite Edition”, recorded live in Virginia with a full table of guests and plenty of spirited sports debate. Dan Fox is joined by Josh “The Golf Report” Hooks, Liberty golfer Rusty Hooks, Victor Geikema, Sheridan, Jerry Hooks, Tyler, and a surprise phone-in appearance from Frank himself—creating one of the liveliest roundtable conversations of the season.The episode opens with Liberty University basketball, as the crew breaks down the Flames' strong regular season and disappointing exit from the Conference USA tournament. Liberty finished atop the conference standings but fell to Missouri State in the tournament, raising a classic college basketball debate: Should a three-day conference tournament outweigh an entire three-month regular season? Rusty argues the tournament proves who performs under pressure, while others question whether a single bad night should erase months of dominance. With Liberty now headed to the NIT, the panel debates whether the Flames can make a deep postseason run despite missing the NCAA Tournament.The conversation quickly expands to the broader March Madness landscape as Selection Sunday approaches. The group discusses potential championship contenders—including Michigan, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, and Duke—and examines how injuries, roster depth, and coaching experience could shape the tournament. Rick Pitino's St. John's squad, Kansas' unpredictable star Darren Peterson, and the always-dangerous bracket “dark horse” teams all get their share of analysis as the crew previews the most exciting weekend in college sports.The episode also features a spirited golf segment, led by Liberty's own Rusty Hooks, who breaks down rising PGA Tour star Ludvig Åberg and his chances at the Players Championship. The panel looks ahead to The Masters, with predictions featuring names like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, and Viktor Hovland. The conversation includes a special shout-out to Lynchburg native Zach Bauchou, who made the cut at The Players Championship, highlighting local pride in the golf world.From there, the discussion shifts into the NFL offseason, where quarterback movement and draft strategy take center stage. The crew debates whether young quarterbacks—like projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza—should start immediately or sit behind a veteran mentor. Historical examples from Brett Favre to Patrick Mahomes fuel a lively debate about development, coaching, and the importance of organizational stability. The group also examines offseason outlooks for teams like the Raiders, Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, and Lions as they prepare for the upcoming draft.Along the way, listeners are treated to plenty of the usual Sports Fellowship flavor: friendly trash talk, predictions, a Phillipsburg vs. Easton tennis bet involving yard work, and classic storytelling from Jerry Hooks about Liberty basketball history.As always, the episode closes with encouragement for listeners to join the Sports Fellowship Bracket Challenge, updates on the show's Facebook page, and an invitation to connect with the community at First Baptist Church of Phillipsburg.Special Thanks to:Fox Brothers Alarms - https://foxbrothersalarms.comFirst Baptist church of Phillipsburg NJ http://www.fbcpburg.org/

The 2026 Marshall football schedule has been released, and it includes a rare Tuesday night game. How are Marshall fans reacting to the midweek matchup? Plus, Louisiana Tech appears on the 2026 schedules for both Conference USA and the Sun Belt. How did that happen, and what does it mean for the college football schedule?

During the 5pm hour of today's show Chuck & Chernoff talked Kennesaw State Basketball, Falcons off-season, NFL Free Agency, Ian Cunningham and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Syracuse search update, Louisiana Tech v Conference USA, Miami (OH) AD David Sayler talks hoops success & scheduling challenges and more.We would love to know what you think of the show and you can let us know on social media @D1ticker.If you are not subscribed to D1.ticker, you can and should subscribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.d1ticker.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The traditional March 1 release of the Sunbelt Conference fall football schedule has been delayed. According to one source, the league is waiting for incoming new member Louisiana Tech University to resolve its legal issues with its current affiliate, Conference USA. The Sunbelt Conference lost Texas State University to the Mountain West Conference beginning this fall.  That leaves a vacancy in the Sunbelt’s Western Division. That’s where Louisiana Tech was expected to step-in this fall. Except… The Bulldogs from Ruston, Louisiana remain in a legal “dog house” with their long-time partner, Conference USA. Until that issue is solved in the courthouse or out in the hallways with a big sack of cash, Louisiana Tech’s predicament has other members of the Sunbelt Conference twiddling their thumbs waiting for a final resolution. The Sunbelt Conference currently has 14 members.  Seven schools are in the Eastern Conference and seven are currently in the West.  However, Texas State is bolting for the Mountain West after baseball season ends. That leaves just six teams in the West if Louisiana Tech is unable to work out a suitable exit deal with Conference USA soon. The Sunbelt Conference wants to avoid having an “unbalanced” schedule in 2026 with seven East teams and only six in the West if Louisiana Tech doesn’t come aboard this fall. What a mess!  How did we get here? On July 15, 2025, a big celebration in Ruston was held announcing that Louisiana Tech was moving from Conference USA to the Sunbelt Conference no later than the fall of 2027.  The expectation was (and still is) that a deal could be reached with Conference USA which would allow Louisiana Tech to begin Sunbelt play this fall in 2026. As of today, neither Conference USA nor the Sunbelt Conference have released their 2026 football schedules.  That’s because no one knows where Louisiana Tech will be playing football and other sports beginning this fall. The Bulldogs joined Conference USA in 2013.  This rather far-flung conference was considered (at the time) to be a good fit. Prominent C-USA members in 2013 included UAB, Florida Atlantic, Marshall University, UNC-Charlotte, North Texas, Rice University, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, and UT-San Antonio. Every one of those nine schools has vacated C-USA in the past four years to join either the American Athletic Conference or the Sunbelt Conference. The University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) will become yet another major defection from C-USA beginning this fall.  The Miners (members of Conference USA since 2005) are joining the Mountain West Conference (like Texas State of the Sunbelt Conference). Why did all of those teams leave C-USA? The television and media revenue offered by other conferences was substantially more than Conference USA’s most recent media contract to pay to its member schools. A majority of Louisiana Tech’s athletic supporters are ready to skedaddle from Conference USA’s geographically expansive league as quickly as possible. C-USA has added schools in recent years such as Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia – 1,000 miles from Ruston, LA) and the University of Delaware (1,321 miles each way from Ruston). Joining the Sunbelt Conference will allow Louisiana Tech to renew regional rivalries with UL-Monroe (35 miles via I-20), UL-Lafayette (185 miles south of Ruston), and even Southern Miss (240 miles to the southeast in Hattiesburg).  The travel savings for Louisiana Tech (along with the other Sunbelt schools) will be substantial across all sports. But… Athletic conferences and member schools sign long-term affiliation contracts which require a minimum notice period along with a hefty exit fee to allow the school to leave before the primary term ends. A payment of several million dollars for early termination is likely required for Louisiana Tech to leave Conference USA. With so many other universities bolting from Conference USA in recent years, the conference has pocketed millions in early exit fees.  They should be able to afford the finest attorneys to protect their best interests in court, if necessary. The other teams’ departures have left Louisiana Tech as one of C-USA’s top remaining draws. Conference USA appears to have no financial incentive to budge when it comes to allowing Louisiana Tech out of its contract. The Bulldogs’ departure could significantly diminish the current media value of Conference USA’s contract with its TV partners. C-USA signed a five-year media deal with CBS Sports Network and ESPN beginning in the fall of 2023.  That new media deal was signed around the same time that three former C-USA members (Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss) negotiated their own early exit deal to join the Sunbelt Conference in 2023. What if Conference USA’s current media deal calls for a payment reduction if one of its primary institutions (such as Louisiana Tech) left during the term of that contract? Keep that in mind as this game plays out. Then there is the issue of prior notice required to leave Conference USA According to previous reports, Conference USA’s agreement with Louisiana Tech required 14 months prior written notice.  Since Tech gave C-USA notice on or about July 15, 2025, that 14 month period will not be satisfied until September 15, 2026 (a few weeks into the 2026 football season). Most major college football conferences allow their teams to open with a series of non-conference opponents. Last fall, both the Sunbelt Conference and Conference USA member schools did not play their first conference game until Week #4 (Saturday, September 20, 2025). Based on this year’s calendar, Louisiana Tech could, conceivably, begin as a Sunbelt member in time for Week #4 on Saturday, September 26, 2026. But then… Conference USA surprised Louisiana Tech by filing a lawsuit in the state of Louisiana in November, 2025. The lawsuit asserted that Louisiana Tech misled Conference USA by intentionally delaying its exit announcement (mid-July, 2025) until after the school had already cashed its annual media revenue check from C-USA paid in late June. In addition to providing 14 months prior notice to leave, Louisiana Tech’s contract with Conference USA apparently called for the school to forfeit its share of media revenue (estimated at $3 to $4 million annually) for two years. Conference USA claims that Louisiana Tech (theoretically knowing that it was planning to leave C-USA) erred by accepting and cashing the late June media check. Are you confused enough yet? There has been very little news since Conference USA filed that lawsuit in November, 2025.  One local news outlet reported in mid-January that “conversations remain ongoing between C-USA and Louisiana Tech on a negotiated exit fee settlement”. That sounds nice, but we’re now into the month of March. The Sunbelt Conference football schedule remains on hold.  Conference USA’s football schedule has not been published yet, either.  However, Louisiana Tech’s logo remains firmly atop the C-USA athletics page banner even today. Conference USA is in no hurry to resolve this issue.  The conference “wins” if Louisiana Tech is forced to remain a part of the league (and part of its media agreement) through the 2026-2027 athletics year. Some good news and bad news Conference USA allowed the trio of Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss to exit prior to the start of the 2023 football season after they provided less than 12 months’ prior notice.  The three schools were able to negotiate a financial settlement with C-USA and left for greener pastures. That would seem encouraging to supporters of Louisiana Tech’s exit – even at this late hour. However, the departure of Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss came around the same time that C-USA’s was signing its new media deal with CBS Sports Network and ESPN. Louisiana Tech has been playing football in the major college division since 1987. It is now a nationally known sports brand. Conference USA likely touted Louisiana Tech as one of its (pardon my pun again) “big dogs” in the league’s new media package starting in 2023. There is a chance that implications with C-USA’s media contract may (or may not) become another snag in the negotiations between the conference and Louisiana Tech. Conference USA can afford to wait this game out.  They have no reason to budge anytime soon. Louisiana Tech has a tough and expensive business decision to make It can opt to pony-up and pay a ransom to exit Conference USA to join the Sunbelt this fall. This might involve the school’s major athletics donors, bankers, and (perhaps) even a Sunbelt Conference “angel” to help finance a loan to be paid-back through future Sunbelt media revenues. Or Louisiana Tech can say that the early exit price being asked by C-USA was simply too high.  Fans and alumni (like me) would be disappointed in having to wait until 2027 to begin Sunbelt Conference play in football.  Future Sunbelt intrastate foes like UL-Monroe and UL-Lafayette will also lose by such a delay. It’s time to make a deal – or not – quickly. We can handle the truth! The post Louisiana Tech – Who’ll Let the Dogs Out? appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Step up to the plate! In this episode of Saturdays with Sandra, Jacob Dye, Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Experience at KSU, takes us behind the scenes of the brand-new Mickey Dunn Stadium. From state-of-the-art amenities to upgraded concessions, discover how this reimagined ballpark is transforming the fan experience. Plus, get the scoop on upcoming games, parking tips, and the 2026 Conference USA Baseball Championship Saturdays with Sandra Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or download our app to stay connected! Saturdays with Sandra www.1011thepulse.com ios App Android App Advertise with Us KSU Athletics Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:05 Jacob Dye on Mickey Dunn Stadium01:30 Stadium Features and Fan Amenities02:21 Parking and Game Day Tips03:45 Upcoming Events: 2026 Conference USA Championship04:50 Closing Thoughts and Ticket InformationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona feeling after the Hilltoppers' four-game winning streak and a victory over the Conference USA-leading Liberty Flames?On today's episode, Plona and Randy Lee share some takeaways from WKU's successful 2-0 road trip to the east coast and what's gone right for the Hilltoppers as of late.Find out on this edition of the Tops Live Podcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liberty vs. New Mexico St College Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Liberty vs. New Mexico St Profiles Liberty at New Mexico St 9PM ET—Liberty has a record of 20-3 on the year and 12-0 in Conference USA with wins on the road against FIU, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston ST, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee St and Delaware. New Mexico St is 11-12 along with 4-9 in CUSA with home wins against Sam Houston ST and Western Kentucky. Home defeats in conference came against Middle Tennessee St, Missouri St, FIU and Delaware.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comBefore the season, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex made a bunch of predictions and buried them in a time capsule. Time to dig it up! What did everyone learn over the course of the season? How were our prior opinions challenged? Where we got things wildly wrong, was that bad luck (Penn State) or the sign of missing something much deeper (arguably Clemson)? Let's review in detail: * How each FBS conference met or didn't meet our expectations * Conference USA and the MAC will just never make sense * The shocking collapses of Penn State and Clemson and the still-pretty-surprising three-loss season that Texas had * Godfrey's almost legendary spotting of a North Texas QB * What will we think about in a different way heading into 2026?Producer: Anthony Vito. This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a free preview You can become a paid subscriber here. Interested in hearing more about how our podcast is doing? We've got a “state of the union for youThe short answer: Things are good. The longer answer: Read this letter from us to the audience.

Missouri State football is entering a new era, and junior standouts Caden Wiest and Ramone Green Jr. are at the heart of it. The former Reeds Spring and Nixa stars join Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to talk with host Scott Puryear about the Bears’ historic 2025 season, their first at the FBS level and in Conference USA, highlighted by a trip to the Xbox Bowl. They also share insight on the transition from Coach Ryan Beard to new head coach Casey Woods and what the future looks like for Bears football.​​​​​​​ Thanks to our sponsor, Colton's Steak House, Deadeye Gun & Pawn, and Thompson Sales! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liberty vs. Western Kentucky Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Liberty vs. Western Kentucky Profiles Liberty at Western Kentucky 7:30PM ET—Liberty is 15-3 overall and 7-0 in Conference USA with road wins at FIU, Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston St. They have a win at Dayton in the non-conference. Western Kentucky sits at 11-7 overall and 4-3 in CUSA with a home loss to Kennesaw St and wins against Sam Houston St, Louisiana St and Missouri St.

We all know that Santa Claus is a football fan.   How else can he stay so jolly while gearing-up for a one-night trip around the world in both freezing and blazing hot temperatures next week? This man definitely has the Dad bod of a jolly old soul who watches a lot of football games during the fall.  Too many cookies and hot chocolate can do that. “Ho, ho…oh, drat!  That scale must be wrong again.  Time to start my diet all over again come January, right?” This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Santa’s Workshop will hand us a glorious assortment of pre-Christmas football games to watch as the elves keep one eye on their flat screen TV’s while they work. The football games help alleviate the stress which Santa and his crew are feeling ahead of next Wednesday night’s big deliveries. “Roll Tide or Boomer, Sooner? They play Friday night! Will Ole Miss miss Kiffin as Tulane puts up a fight? Sunday’s Jaguars at Broncos – the best game of the day? Or Steelers visit Motown – which team comes to play?” It’s a holiday weekend football celebration!  College football on Friday night and all day on Saturday.  NFL games are plentiful, too, on both Saturday and Sunday. If your Christmas shopping isn’t done, you’ve still got Monday and Tuesday, right? Let’s preview this wonderful slate of football games coming this weekend (all times CST) Friday 12/19 10 AM – ESPN – It’s the early bird special! Myrtle Beach Bowl – Conference USA champ Kennesaw State (10-3) vs. Mid-American champion Western Michigan (9-4) Put your bowl of Cheerios down and get started watching some college football!  This bowl game is played on the campus of nearby Coastal Carolina.  A partly cloudy day with 64 warm degrees will greet fans watching these two mid-major conference champions. 1:30PM – ESPN – Gasparilla Bowl – Memphis (8-4) vs. N. Carolina State (7-5) This fairly even match-up makes for a great spot to take your Friday afternoon siesta.  The NC State Wolfpack knocked-off top ACC teams like Virginia and Wake Forest this year.  Memphis (which saw head coach Ryan Silverfield leave for Arkansas three weeks ago) will try to break a three game losing streak in Tampa on a warm 78-degree afternoon. 7PM – ABC and ESPN – College Football Playoff Game 1 – Alabama (10-3) at Oklahoma (10-2) What a terrific Friday nightcap! The Sooners beat Bama 23-21 in Tuscaloosa on November 15. This is the “Something to prove” game.  Alabama’s quarterback Ty Simpson faded off the Heisman radar late in the year with several inconsistent efforts.  The agent for Bama head coach Kalen DeBoer has been fielding and deflecting calls from the University of Michigan about their head coaching job vacancy. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s offense ranks #77 in scoring and must produce more points on Friday to take some pressure off the Sooners’ vaunted sixth-ranked scoring defense. Gusty winds of up to 30 miles per hour will come sweeping down the plains in Norman, Oklahoma this Friday night.  Kickoff temperatures will be in the upper 40’s to greet these two SEC competitors. Saturday – 12/20 – The greatest day of football of the year! There will be three College Football Playoff first round games, two FBS semifinal games, and two NFL games played on Saturday. Are you ready for some football? 11AM – ABC and ESPN – College Football Playoff Game 2 – Miami (FL) (10-2) at Texas A&M (11-1) This is the first ever playoff game for the Texas Aggies. Yell practice on Friday night in College Station, Texas might be be heard as far away as downtown Houston!  Miami comes in as a 4-point underdog.  The Hurricanes’ experienced quarterback Carson Beck has been involved in playoff games in three seasons at Georgia prior to coming to Miami this year. The Aggies are at home. They are quite hungry to win their first playoff game, too. The mighty 12th man (the A&M fans) will unleash a wall of sound at Miami for the entire game.  Sunshine and 75 degrees await these two teams in College Station Saturday. 2:30PM – TNT – College Football Playoff Game 3 – Tulane (11-2) at Ole Miss (11-1) Keep your remote control nearby – just in case this game gets ugly early.  The Rebels trounced Tulane 45-10 earlier this year, so oddsmakers established Ole Miss as a 17-point home favorite in this game.  Ole Miss is without offensive guru head coach Lane Kiffin (who left for LSU). Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was tapped as the team’s new top man in Oxford. Tulane’s best hope is to get off to a good start and maintain pressure on the home favorite down the stretch.  Sunshine and 60 degree weather will prevail Saturday afternoon in northern Mississippi. 3PM – ABC – FCS Semifinal Game 1 – Montana (13-1) at Montana State (12-2) This is a rematch from a very exciting regular season finale won by Montana State 31-28 on the University of Montana’s home field.  The still angry Grizzlies will lumber to Bozeman on Saturday seeking to even the score and advance into the national championship game in Nashville on January 5. The Montana Grizzlies’ high powered offense has generated more than 40 points in their 13 victories this season. Montana State, though, specializes in defense.   The Bobcats are #6 nationally and allow a little more than 17 points per game.  Ticket prices for this semifinal playoff game are through the roof with resellers grabbing $650 apiece this week.  Sunshine and Montana-like temperatures of 30 degrees at kickoff await these two longtime foes Saturday afternoon. 6:30PM – ESPN2 – FCS Semifinal Game 2 – Illinois State (11-4) at Villanova (12-2) These two overachievers are now just one game away from playing for a national championship.  Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse has been on fire over the past month for Illinois State.  The Redbirds went on the road to knock-off #1 overall seed North Dakota State two weeks ago and downed #8 seed UC-Davis in California last weekend.  They are loose and playing like a team of destiny. The Wildcats from Villanova are the #12 FCS seed.  They fell behind 14-0 in last week’s game at #4 seed Tarleton State.  Villanova’s defense stiffened, and the offense roared back to score a 26-21 victory to advance into the semifinal round game at home against Illinois State.  A clear, cold night is ahead for these two teams in Philadelphia with temperatures falling into the mid-30’s. 6:30PM – TNT – College Football Playoffs Game 4 – James Madison (12-1) at Oregon (11-1) It’s the Dukes against the Ducks! The upstart James Madison Dukes from the Sunbelt Conference will travel 2,800 miles west to take on the Oregon Ducks. JMU’s defense is ranked #10 nationally and allows a miserly 16 points per game. Oregon’s high flying offense is #9 in the FBS group and generates more than 38 points per game.  Quarterback Dante Moore produced 24 touchdown passes this season versus six interceptions. It is expected to be perfect weather – for ducks – on Saturday night with rain expected and chilly temperatures in low 40’s. NFL – The chase for the playoffs continues Saturday and Sunday Saturday – 4PM on FOX – Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10) The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles can clinch a playoff spot Saturday with a win.  Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will not play after re-injuring his non-throwing elbow last week. Saturday – 7:20PM on FOX – Green Bay Packers (9-5) at Chicago Bears (10-4) The Pack needs to win to have any chance to capture the NFC North title.  No one (except some die-hard Bears fans) expected Chicago to be 10-4 and leading this division.  A win by Chicago at home Saturday night (and a Detroit loss on Sunday) would lock-up a playoff spot for da’ Bears. Sunday – 12 Noon – FOX – Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) If Philadelphia should lose at Washington Saturday, Dallas retains a 1% chance of making the playoffs.  They will have to defeat a Chargers team which is on the brink of clinching a return to the AFC playoffs for the second straight year. Sunday – 3:05PM – FOX – Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Denver Broncos (12-2) Both of these teams have surprised the so-called experts this fall.  Jacksonville leads Houston by one game and Indianapolis by two.  A win would solidify the Jaguars’ chances to make the playoffs.  Denver is trying to lock-up the AFC’s #1 seed along with home field advantage through the playoffs as the Broncos ride an 11-game winning streak. Sunday – 3:30PM – CBS – Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) at Detroit (8-6) Can the Steelers offense score enough points to compete against the pinball machine offense of the Detroit Lions?  A loss by the Lions on Sunday would put them at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in three years. Sunday – 7:20PM – NBC – New England Patriots (11-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-7) The Ravens are fighting to stay alive in the AFC North as they battle the Pittsburgh Steelers for the division title.  New England is a surprising 6-0 on the road this year.  The no-name Patriots are fighting to stay one-game ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East. The post Santa Delivers Pre-Christmas Football Presents this Weekend appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Hey, Notre Dame!  Listen-up, Vandy fans.  You, too, BYU! How about getting behind today’s idea which would have placed your favorite large division (FBS) college football team into a new 24-team College Football Playoff system? The latest and greatest 12-team College Football Playoff format began last year in the 2024 football season.  The howling has continued about which teams make the 12-team field and which teams don’t. Last year, it was Alabama’s fans crying about being left out.  A few weeks ago, it was Notre Dame’s fans and administrators yelling the loudest about being left out of the 12-team field. Why don’t we hear similar complaints coming schools in the smaller division FCS? The FCS (comprised of 129 teams) has a smoothly-working playoff system which includes its top 24 teams. That’s right!  They begin with twice as many playoff teams as the major college FBS group (which had 136 teams this season). This year’s FCS playoffs began with eight first-round games played on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. After the first three rounds of elimination games, the two FCS semifinal games will be played this coming Saturday.  Surprising Illinois State visits Villanova and Montana State will host intrastate rival Montana. The FCS title game will be played on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 6:30PM CST in Nashville, Tennessee on ESPN. Contrast that with the FBS and its cantankerous 12-team College Football Playoff system The larger schools haven’t even played one first round playoff game yet. Friday night will have Alabama traveling to play Oklahoma (a rematch from November 15 in Tuscaloosa won by OU 23-21).  Three more opening round games will be played this Saturday. One of Saturday’s games features yet another rematch as Tulane visits Ole Miss for the second time this year. The larger schools’ College Football Playoffs will not crown a champion until Monday, January 19, 2026! Think about this. If #1 seed Indiana should reach the championship game, the Hoosiers’ spring semester would have been underway for a full week prior to the championship game involving last fall semester’s athlete/students. That is absurd! It is a consequence when major college football conferences and universities become hooked on television money.  The networks now dictate how, where, and when their games are played. How many total games are played in the FCS playoffs vs. the major College Football Playoffs? From start to finish, the small college FCS playoffs include 24 teams. The top eight seeds receive a first round bye.  The remaining 16 teams play eight first round games to trim the field to 16.  Another eight games are played in the second round, four in the quarterfinals, two in the semifinals, and finally the national championship. That makes a total of 23 playoff opportunities for television.  The FCS winner and runner-up may end-up playing five post-season games by January 5. Meanwhile, the 12-team major College Football Playoffs have 12 teams playing “4+4+2+1” for a total of 11 games.  The winner and runner-up will play no less than three but as many as four post-season games ending on January 19. Would anyone really care if we lost the major conference championship games? To emulate the small college playoff system, the major college (FBS) current 12-game regular season would not provide for an extra week to play those made-for-TV conference championship games. Eliminating conference championship games would end the complaining from the losers of those title games. For example, look at the SEC. Why should 11-1 Ole Miss and 11-1 Texas A&M receive a week to heal-up at home after “losing” the SEC’s four-team tiebreaker for first place?  Were 11-1 Georgia and 10-2 Alabama privileged – or penalized – by participating in the SEC Conference Championship earlier this month? This season, there were nine different conference championship games being played on the weekend of Saturday, December 6. The television partners carrying those conference title games (primarily Disney’s ESPN/ABC group) can fight over who will carry our new format’s eight first-round match-ups. Raise your hand if you would really miss losing six bowl games under this new 24-team plan! Adding the 12 additional playoff teams would eliminate six annual bowl games.  Before grabbing your box of Kleenex, please remember that 26 bowl games still remain for the 52 remaining teams which finish with at least a 6-6 record. ESPN’s massive bowl-a-rama of post-season games would receive an overdue trim.  The television ratings for any first round playoff game will easily eclipse Tuesday night’s “Salute to the Military” Bowl (won 17-13 by Jacksonville State over Troy). Who would be playing in a 24-team major College Football Playoff scenario? Let’s utilize the current FCS (small college) selection and its playoff format.  I will also use the major College Football Playoff rankings to determine this year’s 24-team playoff field. Part 1 – Select the nine conference champions and 15 at-large teams based on the CFP rankings Nine conference champions – The following nine teams receive an automatic bid: American – CFP #20 Tulane (11-2) Atlantic Coast (ACC) – unranked Duke (8-5) Big 12 – Texas Tech CFP #4 (12-1) Big Ten – Indiana CFP #1 (13-0) Conference USA – unranked Kennesaw State (10-3) Mid-American – unranked Western Michigan (9-4) Mountain West – unranked Boise State (9-4) Southeastern (SEC) – Georgia CFP #3 (12-1) Sunbelt – CFP #24 James Madison (12-1) 15 At-large teams – These participants are selected from the CFP’s highest ranked remaining teams. They would have been: #2 Ohio State (12-1) – Big Ten #5 Oregon (11-1) – Big Ten #6 Ole Miss (11-1) – SEC #7 Texas A&M (11-1) – SEC #8 Oklahoma (10-2) – SEC #9 Alabama (9-3) – SEC #10 Miami (FL) (10-2) – ACC #11 Notre Dame (10-2) – Independent #12 BYU (11-2) – Big 12 #13 Texas (9-3) – SEC #14 Vanderbilt (10-2) – SEC #15 Utah (10-2) – Big 12 #16 USC (9-3) – Big Ten #17 Arizona (9-3) – Big 12 #18 Michigan (9-3) – Big Ten Part 2 – Determine the top eight overall seeds by utilizing the CFP Final rankings These teams would receive a “bye” in Round 1 and host a playoff game on their campus during Round 2 the following weekend. #1 – Indiana (13-0) #2 – Ohio State (12-1) #3 – Georgia (12-1) #4 – Texas Tech (12-1) #5 – Oregon (11-1) #6 – Ole Miss (11-1) #7 – Texas A&M (11-1) #8 – Oklahoma (12-1) Part 3 – The next eight seeds (#9-16) will host a first round playoff game on their campus This year’s first round home games would go to: #9 Alabama (9-3) #10 Miami (FL) (10-2) #11 Notre Dame (10-2) #12 BYU (11-2) #13 Texas (9-3) #14 Vanderbilt (10-2) #15 Utah (10-2) #16 USC (9-3) Part 4 – The final eight teams in the playoff field do not receive a seeding Those final eight teams (according to the College Football Playoff rankings) would be: Arizona, Michigan, Tulane, James Madison, Duke, Kennesaw State, Western Michigan, and Boise State. Like the FCS small college playoffs, first round match-ups would be based on geographic proximity and the avoidance of conference rematches from the regular season. Let’s do a little first round matchmaking.  Grab your ancient Rand McNally maps and let’s go! #9 Alabama vs. Kennesaw State (202 miles) #10 Miami (FL) vs. James Madison (1,026 miles) #11 Notre Dame vs. Western Michigan (85 miles) #12 BYU vs. Boise State (390 miles) #13 Texas vs. Tulane (534 miles) #14 Vanderbilt vs. Duke (527 miles) #15 Utah vs. Michigan (1,621 miles) #16 USC vs. Arizona (491 miles) Part 5 – The eight first round winners hit the road in Round 2 to play at Seeds #1 – 8 in the second round. Since this is the first game for the top seeded teams, match-ups would consider geographic proximity and the avoidance of replaying a conference opponent. Part 6 – The highest seeded teams would continue to host games during the quarterfinals. At this point, the top seeds will simply host any unseeded teams or any remaining team with the highest seed number (for example, #1 vs. an unranked team or #16 or #15, etc.). Rematches between two regular season opponents are permitted at this point. Part 7 – The semifinal round will be played on New Year’s Day The “Final Four” would play a semifinal game at two of the former “big” New Year’s Day bowl game sites (Cotton, Rose, Sugar, and Orange). Part 8 – The national championship game would be played one week later and rotated at one of the former “big” New Year’s Day bowl sites (not being utilized in the semifinal round) Let’s summarize these changes if major college football should adopt the small college FCS 24-team playoff concept: No more conference championship games As a result, no more squabbling about the losing teams in conference title games 12 additional playoff teams More home playoff games Generating more television interest Six fewer lower-tier bowl games What are we waiting for? The post The FBS should utilize the FCS 24-team playoff model! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

We're in the final few episodes of 2025, but that doesn't stop our tour around the sport. On today's episode, we take a look at Conference USA and the two teams that squared off for the crown last year. First, you'll hear from Liberty head coach Dot Richardson on finally breaking through to the Super Regionals last season. She also shares her thoughts on the conference and another rugged non-conference schedule.Afterwards, we visit with Jacksonville State head coach Julie Boland. She talks about being one win away from the title and how that will motivate her team in 2026. She also shares what she learned while coaching under Hall of Famer Jana McGinnis and more.The guys then share their thoughts on who will be inducted into the 2026 NFCA Hall of Fame in Atlantic City.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2025 college football season was one of transition in the First State.The University of Delaware made its debut in the major college Football Bowl Subdivision – going 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA. More importantly, it managed – with a little help - to earn bowl eligibility and will play in an upcoming bowl game.Meanwhile, Delaware State made a remarkable turnaround in its first season under its new head coach, former Philadelphia Eagle great DeSean Jackson. Jackson took the Hornets from 1-11 last year to 8-4 this year and DSU fell just one win shy of its first MEAC title since 2007 and its first ever bid to the Celebration Bowl.News Journal/Delaware Online sportswriter Kevin Tresolini stops by this week to discuss the how the Blue Hens and Hornets made waves this season and what the future might hold for each.

Thanksgiving week brings high drama as Cobb County football powers battle for survival in the state quarterfinals. From Walton’s stunning resurgence to Whitfield Academy’s historic run and Kell’s home-field challenge against undefeated Cartersville, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Hosts Brian Giffin and John Bednarowski break down the heartbreaks, triumphs, and long road trips that define playoff season, while also spotlighting Kennesaw State’s rise in Conference USA. It’s grit, glory, and Georgia football at its finest. Cobb Football Friday Chapters 00:00 Cobb Football Friday Kickoff 00:46 North Cobb vs Douglas County Recap 02:23 Hillgrove Falls to West Forsyth 03:15 Harrison’s Tough Night at Carrollton 04:43 Walton’s Resurgence at East Coweta 06:00 Kell Advances Past Southwest DeKalb 06:45 Whitfield Academy’s Historic Quarterfinal Berth 08:46 Cartersville vs Kell Quarterfinal Preview 11:07 Walton Heads South to Valdosta 12:45 Whitfield Academy vs Calvary Day Preview 15:40 Kennesaw State Owls Season Overview 18:07 Building a Fan Base at KSU 20:25 Closing Thoughts and Thanksgiving Sendoff See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textWe are staying in the GREAT state of Tennessee on the latest Full Court Press :  A College Basketball Coaches Show to talk Middle Tennessee State Hoops with Head Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt. We discuss the name Blue Raiders, the tough CUSA Conference, talking a job the day after the birth of a child and coach shares his opinion on Liberty Liberty Liberty. Really lively discussions with Coach and a must listen. Fun times at MTSU!SUBSCRIBE to the Full Court Press YOU TUBE channel:https://www.youtube.com/@FullCourtNetworkJOIN AND SUBSCRIBE THE FULL COURT NETWORK SUBSTACK PAGE:https://fullcourtnetwork.substack.com/

Missouri State is in its first season in FBS football, in Conference USA, and beat Liberty this past weekend to get to 6-3 on the year The NCAA for years has ruled that teams in transition are prohibited from the postseason for 2 years…but why? They moved up!  Show Sponsored by MIDWEST BANKOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out Hims: https://hims.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Infinite Epigenetics: https://infiniteepigenetics.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jacari and Jamari blitz through a loaded college football slate. They open with rapid reactions to four headline games: Bama's defense flipping the script vs. Tennessee, Georgia's fourth-quarter surge to outlast Ole Miss, Notre Dame grinding past USC behind Jeremiyah Love's monster night, and Vanderbilt's statement W over LSU in a season that suddenly feels historic in Nashville.Segment two turns spicy: should Mike Norvell be back at FSU given the record and that massive buyout? Who's next on the hot seat? The guys also salute the midweek #MACtion-style chaos (Conference USA & friends), weigh UCLA's interim-era bounce under Tim Skipper, and sort contenders vs. pretenders (hello, Vandy & BYU; not so fast, Georgia Tech).They close with picks and quick game plans for the week: UCLA–Indiana, Ole Miss–Oklahoma, Texas A&M–LSU, and Missouri–Vanderbilt—with differing calls, upset alerts, and a whole lot of logic. High tempo, sharper takes, zero huddles.

On this episode of The Group of Five Guys Podcast, The GOFG recap the Tuesday night Conference USA matchups between La Tech and Western Kentucky and Kennesaw St. and FIU. The guys also preview the rest of the Mid Week slate of games. Do not miss out on another jam packed episode of The Group of Five Guys Podcast! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@GroupofFiveGuys   WEBSITE: http://www.groupoffiveguys.com/   MERCH: https://groupof5guys.onechaptr.com/group_of_5_guys_2-24/shop/products/all?page=1   Subscribe and follow the Group of Five Guys! @groupoffiveguys @Sprouse_68 @Tyler_J_Tipton @JMurphyLee   SPONSOR THE SHOW OR BUSINESS INQUIRES: Email: groupoffiveguys@gmail.com Direct Message on Twitter: ​https://twitter.com/GroupOfFiveGuys   #G5 #groupoffiveguys #G5Live Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bailey, a native of Fort Smith, Ark., spent four seasons with the Sam Houston State Bearkats. He was an assistant coach from 2021-24 before earning a promotion to Associate Head Coach for the 2024-25 season. During the 2024-25 campaign, Bailey helped mentor National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Gulf District guard Lamar Wilkerson during his breakout season. Wilkerson, a two-time All-CUSA first team selection, averaged 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He was one of three players in Division I men's basketball to make at least 100 3-pointers and shoot over 44.0% from behind the arc. Wilkerson reached double figures in the scoring column in all 32 games, topped 20 points on 17 occasions, including each of his final five games, and netted multiple 3-pointers in 28 contests. In 2023-24, Bailey helped lead the Bearkats to an outright regular season Conference USA championship in its first year in the league. The Bearkats went 13-3 in conference play, including a perfect 8-0 record at home. Overall, the Bearkats accumulated 21 total wins for the season. With Bailey overseeing the defensive responsibilities, the Bearkats were ranked in the top five in CUSA in the defensive stats, second in opponent 2-point field goal percentage (47.9), third in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (32.8) and third in adjusted defensive efficiency (99.3) according to KenPom in 2023-24.To View This Episode- https://youtu.be/8yzCbLmxhos #philfriedrich #whoknewinthemoment #indianabasketball #coaching

Hosts Randy Lee and Terry Obee talk with Head Coach Tyson Helton, Athletic Director Todd Stewart, Tight End Noah Meyers and Offensive Line Coach Joe Bernardi heading into the Hilltoppers' first Conference USA road test at Missouri State.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the podcast, Jake and Kevin take a look at FIU Men's & Women's Soccer, Football, and Conference USA predictions!

In the second hour of Sports Open Line, Matt Pauley continues talking Cardinals baseball, and asks some "what ifs" about the 2025 season. Matt then talks with Patrick Ransdell, Director of Athletics for Missouri State University, to discuss their first season in Conference USA. Kevin Ryans, anchor/reporter for FOX2, joins the show as well to discuss everything St. Louis sports! We wrap up the show by bringing in Jen Siess before she hosts City Spotlight!

In the first hour of Sports Open Line with Matt Pauley, we are joined by Levi Weaver, who writes "The Windup", MLB Newsletter for The Athletic. Then, Lou Korac, who covers the Blues for NHL.com, joins the show to discuss Blues hockey as the NHL preseason approaches! In the second hour of Sports Open Line, Matt Pauley continues talking Cardinals baseball, and asks some "what ifs" about the 2025 season. Matt then talks with Patrick Ransdell, Director of Athletics for Missouri State University, to discuss their first season in Conference USA. Kevin Ryans, anchor/reporter for FOX2, joins the show as well to discuss everything St. Louis sports! We wrap up the show by bringing in Jen Siess before she hosts City Spotlight!

#227: Steve Lutz is the head coach of the Oklahoma State men's basketball program. A San Antonio native, he made stops as an assistant coach at Incarnate Word, Garden City CC, Stephen F. Austin, SMU, Creighton, and Purdue. During his career, Lutz has worked under some of the most respected names in college basketball, gaining invaluable experience along the way. He spent seven seasons at Creighton under Greg McDermott, helping the Bluejays to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, and later served four years at Purdue on Matt Painter's staff, where the Boilermakers consistently ranked among the nation's best. Those experiences, along with earlier roles at Stephen F. Austin and SMU, shaped Lutz into a tremendous head coach winning at the highest levels. His first head coaching opportunity came at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, where he engineered a remarkable turnaround, leading the Islanders from a five-win season before his arrival to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and the school's first-ever tournament victory.Lutz went on to guide Western Kentucky to a Conference USA championship and an NCAA berth in his lone season with the Hilltoppers. He has established himself as one of the most respected coaches in college basketball as he leads the Oklahoma State Cowboys. For more on Coach Lutz check out social as well as www.okstate.com Enjoy the show!

On this latest edition of Tunnel Vision USCFootball.com's Ryan Abraham, Connor Morrissette (aka "Triple Double") and intern India Otto are back in studio for the very first game preview show of a year, taking a look at the Missouri State Bears. The Trojans have been chomping at the bit to get back out on the field this off-season and they will finally have their chance Saturday at 4:30pm PT against MSU, with the game being shown on the Big Ten Network. Coached by Ryan Beard, Missouri State is transitioning from FCS to FBS, leaving the Missouri Valley Conference for Conference USA, and the Trojans will be the Bears very first opponent as an FBS program. USC is the only FBS program to have never played an FCS foe, but this game will be as close to playing one as it gets. This is the podcast version of our Tunnel Vision video show. CLICK HERE for 75% OFF an annual VIP membership to USCFootball.com!⁠  Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠! Make sure you check out ⁠USCFootball.com⁠ for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this edition of the Peristyle Podcast hosts Ryan Abraham and Connor Morrissette (aka "Triple Double") are back to discuss the 2025 season opener against Missouri State with new revelations along the offensive line with Tobias Raymond taking over the left guard spot, former walk-on Kilian O'Connor winning the competition to be USC's center and Justin Tauanuu settling in as the right tackle starter. Unlike last season, the Trojans get to start the season with a lower profile game, giving this offense an opportunity to figure things out on the offensive line before the meat of the Big Ten schedule. Missouri State moved up from the FCS level, leaving the Missouri Valley Conference for Conference USA and will play its first game as an FBS program against the Trojans. The guys talk about some of the challenges the Bears can pose on Saturday and what they are looking to see from this Trojan football team. USC does have a couple of injuries heading into the opener including freshman defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart and kicker Caden Chittenden. ⁠⁠CLICK HERE for 50% OFF an annual VIP membership to USCFootball.com!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠! Make sure you check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠USCFootball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's officially Week 1! Shotgun Spratling and Chris Trevino are back behind the microphones for another edition of the Helium Boys Podcast to break down USC's Week 1 opponent: Missouri State, which will be making its debut at the FBS level.  The show kicks off with the patented 'Two-Minute Drill' with Trevino commenting on Lincoln Riley's comments on Trojans Live about the starting lineup along the offensive line. Shotgun talks about his excitement for the start of the season, and his hurried travel plans this past weekend in Georgia.  The Helium Boys then take their first official preview of the 2025 season with Missouri State. Missouri State wasn't a world beater at the FCS level with just four playoff appearances since 1989 and a 30-26 record since 2020. The Bears are projected to be among the bottom of Conference USA with a win projection between 5.4-6.7 per ESPN's Football Power Index.  It's been an emotional offseason for the Bears program after the death of senior safety ⁠Todric McGee⁠ in spring from an accidental gunshot wound. McGee was projected to be a starter in the secondary, leaving a huge loss in the defense and program.  TIMESTAMPS 01:55 - Helium Boys Podcast: Welcome & Introductions 06:29 - Two-Minute Drill: OL Confirmation & Shotgun's Airport Dash 18:11 - Analyzing Missouri State's FBS Jump & Top Players 28:24 - USC vs Missouri State: Key Storylines, Matchups, Players 36:05 - How USC Wins... How USC Loses... 39:06 - What Reporters Watch for on Game Day 47:00 - Listener Q&A: International Games, OL Depth, Score Requirements 1:00:06 - Tailgating Tips for Chris 1:09:19 - Take It or Leave It & Overtime 1:20:04 - Chris' USC Stock Tips To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Peristyle Podcasts hosts Ryan Abraham and Coach Harvey Hyde are back together talking USC football game week finally arriving, with the Missouri State Bears coming to the Coliseum to kick things off on Saturday afternoon. Last season head coach Ryan Beard led MSU to an 8-4 record, 6-2 in the Missouri Valley, good for 4th place in the conference. This season the Bears move up to Conference USA and will try to shock the world with an upset of USC on the road. The guys talk about what the challenges are of facing a lower level opponent out of the gate as opposed to a high profile opener like the Trojans had last season against LSU. They also share what they know about this Missouri State football program including how Beard took over for then head coach Bobby Petrino following the 2022 college football season. Petrino has since moved on to become the offensive coordinator at UNLV in 2023, Texas A&M in 2024 and now Arkansas in 2025. Coach Hyde talks about how he feels that high school football in Southern California is as good as anywhere in the country. Coach Hyde is a former high school coach and to see these top teams travel across the country and win was really impressive. He also talks about using private quarterback coaches and how he feels the SEC going to nine conference games will help USC keep its series with Notre Dame going into the future. Coach Harvey Hyde has been part of the Peristyle Podcast since 2008 and in the USC football world he is an expert on X's and O's, personnel, coaching philosophies and recruiting. Please follow Coach Hyde on X, Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠@CoachHarveyHyde⁠⁠ or go to his website ⁠⁠HarveyHyde.com⁠⁠ for all his his content, including Vegas & Southern California radio shows. ⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE for 50% OFF an annual VIP membership to USCFootball.com!⁠⁠⁠⁠  Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠! Make sure you check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠USCFootball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this hour of VSiN Weekend Morning Line, host Tim Murray continues to talk about the upcoming NFL and College Football seasons. Plus, Tim is joined by Brad Powers to break down early season college football games, and Adam Burke joins the show to break down the Conference USA and American Conference for college football.

Richard and Alex preview Conference USA, as the league adds Delaware and Missouri State. In this episode:* Liberty remains the favorite, even with a downgrade at QB* Sam Houston is primed for regression after 10 wins and a coaching change* WKU goes back to a strategy that has worked time and again: portaling an entire offense from a lower-level program* UTEP might have a bit of juice under Scotty Walden* Jacksonville State slams the reset button after winning the league and seeing Rich Rodriguez return to West Virginia* FIU has … reason for optimism?* Missouri State is making an ambitious play by jumping to FBS, and we aren't sure it will work out well—at least not in the win column* Delaware looks poised for a smoother transition* Kennesaw State will be much more interesting, but still not good* Middle Tennessee is hunting for reasons for optimism* Louisiana Tech's coach looks to forestall what might be inevitable* New Mexico State makes changes after a turbulent offseasonProducer: Anthony Vito This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Our 2025 college football conference previews roll on, this time with the Mountain West and Conference USA, with a quick glance at the Pac-2. Armed with our trusty “Lorenzo Lamas Flaw Finder”, we unpack the top teams, key players, and storylines for the remainder of the Group of Five conferences as the season looms. Is Boise State the odds-on favorite to win the Mountain West and make the College Football Playoff again? Or can San Jose State, led by Ken Niumatalolo, or UNLV, with new coach Dan Mullen, challenge their throne? Did you know that Oregon State and Washington State are playing each other twice this season? Will Liberty's schedule eliminate the Flames from any CFP conversations? Can the 2021 playbook work for Western Kentucky in 2025? What should we expect from FBS newcomers Delaware and Missouri State? Join us as we close out our Group of Five previews and forge ahead into the Power 4. Timestamps: 2:09 - Mountain West Preview32:29 - Pac-2 Preview37:28 - Conference USA Preview Support the show and get perks like ad-free episodes, early releases, bonus content, Discord access and much more: https://www.verballers.com _____ A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes: Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe. College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.