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On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:-Recapping the semifinal games as Montana State defeats Montana in an epic atmosphere, and Illinois State's incredible run continues with a win at Villanova.-They then give a 500-foot view of the FCS championship matchup and the atmosphere it'll be in Nashville.The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
Richard and Alex dive into the results from first round of the College Football Playoff, in the following order: Miami over Texas A&M, Alabama over Oklahoma, Ole Miss over Tulane, and James Madison vs. the idea that Group of 5 teams should have less access to the tournament. Then, a tour through FCS, Division II, Division III, and the NAIA national championship. Producer: Anthony Vito. Want much more? Become a paid subscriberSubscribers get weekly bonus episodes, usually more than one during the season and postseason, as well as the chance to ask questions and engage more deeply with the hosts. We'd love to have you. Thanks to our partners and subscribers* 20% off Dad Water: https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZD* https://www.nokiantyres.com/szd* Shop Homefield at https://www.homefieldapparel.com/* Modelo: Drink responsibly. Beer imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL 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
Joe DeLeone & Sean Anderson react to the FCS semifinals playoff games between Illinois State - Villanova & Montana State - Montana. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
They just can't believe it. To some — especially college football fans outside of South Dakota and the FCS — it just doesn't make any sense. Why would 6'4, 230 lb., bodybuilder-framed, rocket-armed, runaway freight train fast Chase Mason stay at South Dakota State for his final season of college eligibility when he has already been offered over $1 million to play at least one Power Four school (according to his SDSU head coach)? Beyond the life-changing money, Mason could potentially raise his NFL stock — and there is plenty, according to NFL scouts Mason and Dan Jackson converse — by playing against the highest level of CFB competition in front of 70,000-plus seat stadiums and millions of weekly national TV viewers. NFL stock aside, just the P4 QB1 experience alone appears intoxicating and once-in-a-lifetime, as one of Mason's former teammates Mark Gronowski made it appear at times at Iowa after leaving SDSU for a reported $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. Mason made it clear in his 68-minute chat with Happy Hour on Monday — "never in a million years" did he consider transferring, and no prospects of seven figure NIL dough will change his mind and convince him to enter the CFB portal, which will be open Jan. 2-16. The former Viborg-Hurley state champion quarterback, FBS-offered, and University of Nebraska baseball player said NFL scouts have told Jackson that he does not need to play at a higher level in 2026 to raise his stock. But more than anything, Mason cited over and over again during the Monday chat that, to him, nothing compares to the culture and "brotherhood" he experiences at SDSU and he doesn't want to discover the downsides to exploring if the grass is greener beyond the Benjamins at a big-league school. Again, some wonder — there has to be a catch, right? Perhaps he isn't worth mondo money and knows it and he actually doesn't have any higher-level interest. Perhaps anyone who claims he is a legitimate NFL QB prospect is either overblowing that notion or flat-out lying. Listening to Mason's entire Happy Hour chat could clear some confusion, but for good measure, Tuesday's show features the Sioux Falls Live sports reporter who has covered Mason closer than anyone the last seven years back to his high school days. Matt Zimmer helps the Twitter keyboard warriors and fans of other fan bases make sense of all the Mason-is-staying hype from the last 24 hours. In particular, Zim revisits Mason's past and why he transferred from Nebraska to SDSU and changed sports in the first place four years ago. NFL? There's a Jackrabbit track record of the last decade that's beyond decent. There's a comparison between Gronowski and Mason regarding their NFL stock that Zim finds worth noting. And now that Mason is coming back, should we project SDSU to take a leap back to the status of the FCS elite after a 9-5 season that ended in the second round? What kind of talent can we assume is coming back to surround Mason to make a national championship run in 2026? (After all, the portal window isn't open until Jan. 2-16, so nobody really knows which 2025 Jacks besides Mason are going to stay). Zim lays out his current outlook and explains why Jackson is looking more to the Div. II and NAIA ranks than the FBS for transfers to fill positions of need. Speaking of South Dakotans announcing they are staying in their powerhouse programs, Zim dives into Kalen DeBoer's remaining the coach at Alabama despite being a floated name in the media as a candidate at Michigan and Penn State. Why is Alabama — as hot as the seat appears to be sometimes — a better gig for DeBoer than the jobs in Ann Arbor and Happy Valley? Then, some words about the 7-6 start for SDSU men's hoops, which included Monday's 87-72 loss to Wyoming. Does this feel like a "down" year without a clear Summit League star like Oscar Cluff, Zeke Mayo, Baylor Scheierman, David Jenkins, or Mike Daum?
NFLThursday Night FootballNotable Week 16 gamesWNBACBA updateNBAThoughts on the Knicks winning the NBA cupCollege BasketballWeekend schedule from the Top 25College FootballBowl pick from last showBowl, CFP and FCS semifinal game picksNews/NotesDubs/LsShow music by DJ Cam One: Twitter/Instagram/SpotifyDJ Cam One's label: Mysteryismusic.comCover art by Xclusive Packaging & Design: InstagramEmail: x.pac.design@gmail.com Your host Uncle Dub: Bluesky/Twitter/InstagramPodcast InstagramUntappd (Beer Check-in app): ItsUncle_DubEmail: sportswagonpodcast@gmail.comCheck out the Bald Head Logic podcast co-hosted with DJ Cam OnePlease consider supporting the podcast: Buy Me a CoffeeSend a voicemail, subscribe, rate and tell a friend about the show!Thank you for listening!
The College Football playoff is here, and Sean Sullivan joins the podcast to preview all the first round action. The guys discuss whether Alabama can avenge their loss against Oklahoma, examine whether James Madison or Tulane have any chance against Oregon & Ole Miss respectively, and debate whether Miami can knock off Texas A&M in College Station. They also discuss the Seattle Seahawks thrilling win over the Los Angeles Rams, and preview an FCS semifinal matchup for the ages as Montana battles Montana State in "The Brawl of The Wild 2."
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.
Is is still a Dad joke, if only dad's understand it?
-THEY LET US GET TO FRIDAY-Andy finally returns-Voice of the Montana St. Bobcats Keaton Gillogly -Bets of the Week-New NDSU WR Commit Brandon Walton-CFP Playoff and FCS semifinal picls
On this episode of the podcast we are joined by special guest Drake Kulick and dive into the upcoming College Football Playoff first-round weekend. They discuss the four pivotal games happening, including Alabama vs. Oklahoma, Miami vs. Texas A&M, Memphis vs. North Carolina State, and the FCS semifinals. The conversation also touches on the chaos of the transfer portal, with notable names like Dylan Raiola making headlines. Plus, a fun recap of an NFL stadium visit and hilarious banter on everything from competitive games to how NIL deals are shaping college football. Don't miss the in-depth analysis, betting picks, and humorous takes on the state of college football! If you love the show and want to show support, tell your friends! And, check out our exclusive content at Patreon.com/washedupwalkons where you can find extra podcast episodes, exclusive merchandise, Merch discounts with every tier, private Walkon discord channel access, and more! Find us on social media @washedupwalkons Visit TheWashedUpWalkons.com for all of our episodes, merchandise, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Clint Killough, Head Coach at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW). This conversation was recorded prior to the start of the season. Coach Killough reflects on his journey through football, how the game shaped his relationships, and the experiences that guided his coaching career. He also discusses what it means to be in charge of an FCS program, the responsibility that comes with leading young men, and the importance of culture, trust, and personal growth within a team. Topics include: How football influenced Coach Killough's life and relationships Lessons learned throughout his coaching journey Growth through different coaching roles Leadership and responsibility as a head coach Becoming the head coach at UIW
On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell and Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central preview both semifinal games of the 2025 FCS Playoffs. The duo discusses: A historic rematch between Montana State and Montana The battle of underdogs between Villanova and Illinois State Potential X-factors for each semifinal matchup Keys to the game for every semifinal team Official predictions on who will advance to Nashville for the FCS national championship All this and more right here on The Bluebloods! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Villanova University football teams is two wins away from a national championship. The 12-2 Wildcats have advanced to the national semifinals of the FCS playoffs where they will host Illinois State on Saturday night at 7:30pm at Villanova Stadium. The Wildcats have defeated Harvard (52-7), Lehigh (14-7) and Tarleton State (26-21) to this point, winning the last two games on the road. Villanova brings an 11-game overall winning streak and a 23-game home winning streak into Saturday night. Illinois State is 11-4 and the Redbirds have won all three of their playoff games on the road. The winner of this game will play the winner of Montana/Montana State for the national title on January 5th in Nashville, Tennessee. Matt Leon caught up with Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante to talk about his team's run. They look back at the win over Tarleton State, which saw the Wildcats rally from down 14-0, and look ahead to what to expect against Illinois State. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.
This week, the boys dive into the shocking downfall of Michigan's Sherrone Moore and the HR missteps that followed, as well as Brian Smith's firing at Ohio University. The two also break down the Heisman Trophy, and relish in the fact Diego Pavia had a bad weekend. Finally, they tackle broader issues like college football media's lack of coverage for FCS teams, Joel Klatt's anti-Cinderella takes, and the ACC's convoluted scheduling. 0:00:10 – Opening & Sherrone Moore Scandal 0:06:04 – Ohio University Coach Firing & Misconduct 0:10:00 – Heisman & Awards Season Recap 0:13:02 – Diego Pavia Meltdown & Finalists' Reputations 0:17:20 – Fun with Heisman Personalities 0:20:08 – CFB Award Rundown & Big Ten Punting Controversy 0:23:20 – College Gameday, FCS Coverage & Media Bias Rant 0:32:47 – Joel Klatt “No Cinderellas” Debate & Playoff Expansion 0:38:47 – ACC Schedule Shenanigans & Notre Dame's Independence 0:44:04 – CFP First Round Picks & Matchup Preview 0:48:28 – Betting Recap, Weather Report & Hawaii Trivia 0:55:53 – Closing Thoughts & Sign-Off
Join Jordan, Commish, Pitt Girl, Big Sky Brigit, Beth, and our VP of Podcast Production, Arthur. We talk about the new ACC tiebreakers, the WAR EAGLE Phone, the ultimate Buddy Comedy of Brent Key and Kalani Sitake, we preview the FCS Semifinals with Montana State Grad Big Sky Brigit talking about Cat/Griz setting the entire state of Montana on fire this weekend, Illinois State and Villanova, can a mustache defeat the Pope, Jordan going to the D2 Championship, D3 Semis, NAIA Championship, we update the Coaching Carousel for FBS and FCS, then the Sickos Committee Bowl Game Game Show Game Previews bowls and the CFP for this weekend, Alabama vs Oklahoma, Miami & Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Tulane, James Madison and Oregon, then Potato Bowl, Gator, Texas, Birmingham Bowl Deeper than Hate for all that cake, Independence, Music City and Alamo Bowl with dice rolls and so many 18s and much, much more!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Joe DeLeone & Sean Anderson preview the FCS semifinals matchups between Montana - Montana State & Villanova - Illinois State Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ready for your weekly rundown of the hottest topics in sports? On this episode of the High Low Sports Podcast, DJ and Kelsey are back to break down everything you need to know in the worlds of football and basketball! The guys kick things off with an in-depth look at the rash of NFL injuries, discussing why soft tissue injuries may be on the rise and what solutions—if any—the league can come up with. Then, we take you courtside to the NBA as DJ and Kelcey drop their Top 5 NBA teams in the post-NBA Cup landscape. Which teams are trending up, which ones look vulnerable, and who's on track to break records this year? And that's not all—we close things out by making our College Football Playoff picks (with a few bold upsets!), analyzing the FCS playoff surprises, and shouting out the legendary JMU Sports News satire that's taking over social media. As always, it's fast-paced, honest, and a whole lot of fun. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @HighLowSports and join the conversation using #HighLowSports. Subscribe, leave a review, and never miss an episode!
On the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by FCS expert and HERO Sports contributor Sam Herder to break down a massive weekend in the FCS playoffs.The two dive into the chaos on one side of the bracket, where unranked Illinois State and No. 12 seed Villanova shocked the college football world, running the table to reach the semifinals with a chance to play for a national championship.On the other side, history is set to be made as Montana and Montana State meet in the postseason for the first time in this storied rivalry. Dubbed the “Super Brawl,” it's one of the most anticipated games in the history of Montana sports, with a spot in the FCS National Championship on the line. (3:38)Later in the hour, Colter welcomes Montana State color commentator Keaton Gillogly to continue the conversation, diving deeper into the stakes, storylines, and matchup details surrounding the Super Brawl. (30:36)To wrap up the first hour, Colter shares his own analysis on the other semifinal matchup between Illinois State and Villanova, breaking down what to watch as both teams fight for a spot in the national championship game. (47:39)
One week to go until Christmas, but CFP starts in less than 48 hours so let's round up the rest of the CSN gang and get some analysis. Wayne Cook joins the show from So Cal, Felder checks in from his home office, and Hartzell & Tripp are riding along for the good vibes. Phil Steele makes his weekly appearance to break down the four playoff games (plus a little FCS playoff action as well), and as usual Phil might be the only one on the show seeing things clearly. Felder is triggered by some comments Pete Golding had on Wednesday at the podium about some of his players living in the same country club that he lives in. Hartzell heard the same audio but translated it very differently, and you already know how Wayne feels about the modern student-athlete. Once the show gets back on track there is actual football talk. Felder picks a massive upset - which is something he's been doing with aplomb all season on this show. Can he stay hot in the CFP? Tripp gives his highest rated play of the weekend. And Hartzell doubles down on his Dukes. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and let's get ready to enjoy these games!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The FCS CheckDown Podcast is the go-to show for fans of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) college football. Hosted by veteran sports broadcasters Nathan McCreary and Brandon Joseph, along with former Western Kentucky player and football aficionado Coach Ron Jackson, the podcast dives deep into everything happening across the FCS landscape.Each episode features in-depth discussions, game analysis, and exclusive interviews with standout players and coaches from around the nation. The hosts bring a mix of professional insight, on-field experience, and authentic passion for the game that connects with both hardcore fans and newcomers alike.From live broadcasts and weekly previews to interactive fan segments, FCS CheckDown keeps listeners plugged into the heart of college football's most competitive division. Whether it's breaking down the latest upsets or highlighting under-the-radar programs, the FCS CheckDown Podcast celebrates the teams, players, and traditions that make FCS football special.Nathan McCreary @mccrearyradioBrandon Joseph @BJosephRadioRon Jackson @GOS_Coach_Ron#FCS #fcsfootball #NCAAFCS #collegefootball
In this week's Akem's Analysis, I preview Montana vs Montana State in their second mathcup in the same season. This is a first for these programs in the playoffs, and it has all the makings of a classic. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!! SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en
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.
-Winter Wonderland edition of The Insiders-Bison Women's Basketball wins again-Voice of the Montana Grizz Riley Corcoran-Freddy Coleman joins to talk Bison Hoops-Buy or Sell-CFP, Group of 5 thoughts
The College Football Playoff arrives. Alex and Richard preview the four first-round games, zeroing in on some interesting dynamics to watch and then making picks. (There's even a Group of Five upset call in here.) Then, a tour through this week's other bowl games and some major playoff games in FCS and Divisions II and III. Producer: Anthony Vito. This episode is free, but lots of our shows are just for paid subscribers.You can get a lot more of our shows by becoming a paid subscriber. Subscribers get about twice as many SZD podcasts. Thanks to everyone who's decided to become a subscriber over the past few weeks. Also, thanks to our partners:Shop at HomefieldThanks Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off, or just click https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZDThanks to Nokian Tyres for a great weekend in NYC: www.nokiantyres.com/szdModelo: Drink responsibly. Beer imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL 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
It's happening! For the first time ever the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats will face off in the post season! To mark the occasion YOL's resident Bobcat, Derek and Griz, Sammy G break down the implications of this historic game and give some insight on what we might expect in Saturdays match. Send us a text!Support the show
Steve Cohen and the Mets get the approval to begin construction of a Queens casino; the Illinois State Redbirds are in the FCS semifinals; the James Madison Dukes have snuck in to the college football playoffs; the Winter Meetings have cooled off; the Dominican Republic releases its line-up for the World Baseball Classic.
-Bison WBB wins 7th straight-NDSU Wrestling HC Obe Blanc joins-Illinois State pxp man John Fitzgerald joins-Blake Engebretson joins-NDSU Football news
On this episode, Sam and Zach discuss:-3 Game Balls and a Flag from the quarterfinals-Previewing the semifinal round-How hyped is the Montana-Montana State game? How unexpected is the Illinois State-Villanova game? What are the keys to victory? And is new blood in one semifinal matchup good for the FCS?The podcast is presented by HERO Sports and BetMGM. Visit HERO Sports for FCS coverage and BetMGM for online betting odds.
-Bison Men's Basketball rolls-NDSU WBB preview-Bison MBB Head Coach Dave Richman-Sam Herder on to talk the FCS Semifinals
Arguably the biggest sporting event in Montana will occur this Saturday when the Grizzlies and Bobcats meet in the FCS semifinals. This week's GFP we give some time to recap the USD win and then move into the upcoming game against the bobcats. Legacies and bragging rights will forever be on the line this weekend, [&hellip The post Griz Fan Podcast – Semifinal Brawl appeared first on Montana Mint - The greatest website north of Wyoming..
Arguably the biggest sporting event in Montana will occur this Saturday when the Grizzlies and Bobcats meet in the FCS semifinals. This week's GFP we give some time to recap the USD win and then move into the upcoming game against the bobcats. Legacies and bragging rights will forever be on the line this weekend, [&hellip The post Griz Fan Podcast – Semifinal Brawl appeared first on Montana Mint - The greatest website north of Wyoming..
Montana head coach Bobby Hauck along with seniors offensive lineman Dillon Botner and safety Tanner Huff addressed the media ahead of Saturday's FCS semifinal playoff game in Bozeman against No. 2 Montana State. MSU won 31-28 in Missoula on November 22.
The show visits Illinois Presbyterian Home Communities as Sam chats with resident Gene Walker, who discusses his inclusion in a recent book about veterans, and former Sacred Heart-Griffin High School football coach Ken Leonard talks about two former Cyclones who are part of the Illinois State football team that has reached the FCS semifinals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
-Bison Hoops stays en fuego-Dexter Werner joins-Bison Legend Randy Hedberg-FCS Playoffs weekend recap-Weekend Gameballs
South Dakota senior quarterback Aidan Bouman & senior defensive tackle Mo Newsom along with head coach Travis Johansen addressed the media following Montana's 52-22 win over USD in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. South Dakota's season ends with a 10-5 record.
In this hour of Live Bet Saturday, hosts Ben Stevens and Dustin Swedelson start to give live updates for college football and basketball games underway across the nation on Saturday. Also, VSiN's Kelley Bydlon joins the show to talk about the NBA Cup and other NBA awards. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this hour of Live Bet Saturday, hosts Ben Stevens and Dustin Swedelson start to give live updates for college football and basketball games underway across the nation on Saturday. Plus, Matt McCall joins the show to talk about college football, and Price Atkinson joins the show to talk about the Army/Navy game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this hour of Live Bet Saturday, hosts Ben Stevens and Dustin Swedelson continue to give live updates for college football and basketball games underway across the nation on Saturday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this hour of VSiN's College Football Tailgate Show, host Tim Murray previews the Army/Navy rivalry, and he begins to breakdown the College Football Playoffs. Plus, Josh Nunn joins the show to breakdown the FCS playoffs and some of the college football playoff games. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this crossover episode of Lunchpail Guys and Bring The Juice, the boys are back firing off takes on the college football chaos. Frank, A-Mitch, and Steve debate whether Notre Dame needs to stop complaining and finally join a conference, if Miami deserves a playoff spot, and why Alabama always finds its way in. They talk MrBeast fixing the CFP, the FCS playoffs, and the electric atmosphere at JMU's biggest sporting event ever
UC Davis Head Coach, Tim Plough joins the show to discuss the Aggies big FCS quarterfinal matchup against Illinois State tomorrow & to discuss his family's love for the M&M show!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
UC Davis Head Coach, Tim Plough joins the show to discuss the Aggies big FCS quarterfinal matchup against Illinois State tomorrow & to discuss his family's love for the M&M show!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CFP Bracket is here! Some CFB & NFL Week 15The ONLY! Tyler Peacock is back for another brand new episode of the PodCock PeaCast! First, we preview NFL week 15. Breaking down the big games of the week and running through the rest of the schedule and finally giving out some wagering opportunities. Then we react to the CFP selections, after that we preview and breakdown the FCS quarterfinals then we look at the Army Navy game, and finally view a handful of bowl games. And of course, we give out some potential money making bets. Thanks so much for listening, rate review subscribe and share that's greatly appreciated!RATE REVIEW SUBSCRIBE! Follow the show on X @podcockpeacast & like the Facebook page @ PodCock PeaCast, Available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcast & the rest of the major podcast platforms! Finally enjoy your listen!A semiprofessional sports podcast that may or may not have a gambling problem, we will touch some entertainment subjects as well & elements of general tomfoolery, also it may have a witty moment or two along the way.
THE PLAYOFF BRACKET IS SET!!!! Lots of drama in the CFB world! With conference championship weekend over, we gave our flowers to the champs and recapped some scores and stats from last weekend. In our CFB news segment we ran through the final CFP rankings and the 12 team CFP. We analyzed the Bama and Miami decision over Notre Dame and heard from both sides of the argument. We took a deep dive into Notre Dame's war of words and tantrum as well. Next we contemplated is the 12 team playoff currently constructed to really have the "best 12 teams?" The coaching carousel continues spinning with lots of hires throughout the CFB world. There is a new notion of entire teams not just players opting out of bowl games and we listed the 9 confirmed so far. Shout out to the FCS playoffs and a bracket update; finished by rattling off our games of the week along with Chew's and the AI Bot's picks.
Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore on Wednesday. He was fired with cause for having an "inappropriate relationship with a staff member." The story broke with this news, but continued to evolve and a few hours later it was reported that Moore had been detained by police. Details will continue to come out as more is learned about this situation. Until then, Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey will just look at the football impact of Moore's firing with the big question: Who will be Michigan's next head coach? Signing Day has passed, so Michigan does not need to rush the process of finding their guy. The Transfer Portal opens January 2nd, and it would make sense to want to have a coach in place by that date. Kalen DeBoer is a name that is being rumored, but it is not known if he has any interest. Kenny Dillingham is another name the crew suggests as a good fit. Andy, Ross and Godfrey discuss who may be a good fit for the Wolverines going forward.Then, we get some more news from Ross in Vegas. It appears there is momentum to move the playoff to a 16-team model. Most of the conferences are on board, but the Big Ten is still not fully sold. The guys talk about the potential of moving to a 16-team playoff and what that format would look like. The other big piece of news is there seems to be a groundswell of support to get rid of the weekly College Football Playoff Rankings Show. How would ESPN handle the elimination of this show? Andy, Ross and Godfrey discuss how realistic this idea is.Later, it is a big weekend in college football. The biggest individual award in the sport will be given out on Saturday. Indiana's quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, is the betting favorite to win the Heisman, but the guys think that Vanderbilt's quarterback, Diego Pavia, might make a push to win the award. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are the other two finalists for the prestigious award. Will Indiana or Vanderbilt have its first Heisman trophy winner? Plus, the guys make their I've Got A Feeling picks. They discuss the Army/Navy game, an FCS playoff game, and one of the first bowl games of the season. Get ready for award and bowl season with College Football Enquirer.(1:09) - Michigan fires Sherrone Moore(9:18) - Who should be Michigan's next head coach?(27:32) - Expanding to a 16-team playoff(30:14) - Ending the CFP weekly rankings show(37:34) - What would a 16-team playoff look like?(49:48) - Heisman preview(52:38) - I've Got A Feeling including an Army/Navy game preview Subscribe to the College Football Enquirer on your favorite podcast app:
In the final hour, Mike Mulligan and David Haugh were joined by Chicago Sports Network analyst Jake Butt to discuss Michigan firing football coach Sherrone Moore for cause after an investigation revealed he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. After that, legendary Chicago sportswriter Fred Mitchell joined the show to present his annual Fred Mitchell Award to the best collegiate placekicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams.
Mike Mulligan and David Haugh were joined by legendary Chicago sportswriter Fred Mitchell to present his annual Fred Mitchell Award to the best collegiate placekicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez welcomes the voice of South Dakota, John Thayer, to preview the playoff showdown between Montana and South Dakota — with a spot in the FCS semifinals on the line. They break down key matchups, players to watch, and the storylines that will define one of the biggest games of the postseason. (1:24)Next, Colter shares an interview with Montana wide receiver Drew Deck to discuss the Grizzlies' preparation and mindset heading into Saturday's huge matchup against South Dakota at Washington–Grizzly Stadium. (27:32)
To kick off Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by FCS expert and HERO Sports contributor Sam Herder to break down last weekend's action — including the major upset of North Dakota State — and preview the next four games in the FCS playoffs, featuring upcoming matchups for both Montana and Montana State. (3:20)Next, Geoff Safford is joined by the man behind the glass, Hayden Smith, for a conversation on the Brawl of the Wild on the ice, the Seattle Kraken, and the latest storylines from around the NHL. (34:03)
Richard and Alex start this episode with a discussion of this week's mostly one-sided war of words between Notre Dame and the ACC after the Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff. Then, Rodger Sherman joins for a much longer talk about the infamous CFB calendar, which has been under particular fire in light of Lane Kiffin's messy exit from Ole Miss. Finally, a truncated Tasting Menu of this weekend, featuring Army-Navy, the Celebration Bowl, and some highlights from the FCS, DII, and DIII playoffs. Timestamps: * 0:00: Notre Dame vs. the ACC* 17:55: The college football calendar* 1:10:07: The Week 16 Tasting MenuProduced by Anthony Vito. Let us know your own calendar ideas! This episode is free, but lots of our shows are just for paid subscribers.You can get a lot more of our shows by becoming a paid subscriber. Subscribers get about twice as many SZD podcasts. Thanks to everyone who's decided to become a subscriber over the past few weeks. Also, thanks to our partners:Shop at HomefieldThanks to Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off, or just click https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZDThanks to Nokian Tyres: https://www.nokiantyres.com/szd Modelo: Drink responsibly. Beer imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL 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