Podcasts about FCS

Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, and linebacker Tye Niekamp met with the FCS media for a virtual press conference a week before the FCS championship. In-person media interviews will be conducted two days before the game in Nashville. Here is audio from the Dec. 29 presser.

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen, offensive lineman JT Reed, and defensive tackle Paul Brott met with the media for a virtual press conference a week before the FCS championship. In-person media interviews will be conducted two days before the game in Nashville. Here is audio from the Dec. 29 presser.

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

-BACK with you after Christmas break-Gameday for NDSU Women's Basketball-Voice of SDSU Tyler Merriam -Talking NFL, CFP with Wes Durham

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry: “Don't hate the player, hate the game,” SMU AD Damon Evans on storytelling, licensing & special events, viewership for FCS semifinals & College GameDay 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome back! Merry Christmas, and happy holidays from the FCS family! This week, we talk about broken airplanes, airplanes that are fixed, and the sales market of some airplanes. We also get into nutrition, fitness, and for us old people, water and sleep lol! We hope you enjoy!

HEY! We encourage you to listen to this show as part of the "Happy Hour with John Gaskins" daily podcast, which you can find at SiouxFallsLive.com, and most podcast platforms like the one you find here! So, if you enjoy the topics Matt & John cover, you'll get those topics, plus relevant local guests, every Monday through Thursday on Happy Hour... so we highly recommend you check that out!Merry Christmas Eve Eve!Go ahead an unwrap our Happy Hour with John Gaskins early Christmas present to you — nothing much different than any other Tuesday with Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer on the show.No "Top 5 Christmas Movies" or "Most Overrated Christmas Songs" lists, or "Egg Nog — Yea or Nay?"No "Year in Review" chronological stroll down memory lane of the biggest sports stories of 2025. (That's for tomorrow's Happy Hour — our Christmas Eve present!) Instead, Zim and the host give the gift that keeps on giving the whoooooooole year for the last five years of the weekly "Nobody's LIstening Anyway" podcast — brutal honesty and candor (with some humor) about the most intriguing current sports topics of the Sioux Empire and South Dakota.In this week's case, yet another discussion about what the future may look like for both NDSU and SDSU in college football, thanks to the latest internet whispers about the Bison's "playing footsie" with the Mountain West Conference. While nothing has been confirmed as fact, it's an open door to discussing which level of football is more desirable for NDSU and SDSU — the FCS or FBS.Did the humiliation of James Madison and Tulane by Power Four schools with far more resources and NIL money signal the beginning of the end to a "seat at the table" for the "rest of the FBS" beyond the Big 10, SEC, ACC, and Big 12? It certainly appears so.If that's the case, do the Bison and Jackrabbits really have a reason to move up? Well, maybe if there is ever the splitting of P4 from Non-P4, creating a new sub-level Div. I fusion of Group of Six FBS programs with some of the more established FBS-ish operations in the FCS like NDSU, SDSU, Montana, Montana State, and USD. As usual, Zim moves to the beat of his own drum on this topic. Then, a dive into the splashiest early pre-transfer portal headlines — heavy hitters who have announced they are staying at SDSU (Chase Mason, Quentin Christensen) and leaving USD (L.J. Phillips and Larenzo Fenner).It isn't just a conversation about the retention of players, but the types of players the two South Dakota programs recruit. Nuance is necessary and provided.Nuance would have been nice as rumors exploded about the possibility that Kalen DeBoer would ever leave Alabama for Michigan. Zim, a former teammate of DeBoer's in South Dakota amateur baseball who also covered DeBoer's five-year run of NAIA dominance at the University of Sioux Falls, sheds his own light on watching the speculation ignite in a ball of flames during the Crimson Tide's 17-point comeback playoff win at Oklahoma.Stocking stuffer — a glimpse into a weekend of South Dakota State's women's basketball that featured the two marquee games on the non-conference schedule within four days of each other. Duke and Texas both soundly beat the Jackrabbits. What might this mean in March for SDSU's possible NCAA Tournament seeding? Is it too early to just assume the Jacks will reach the Big Dance, which feels like an annual rite of passage?    Stocking stuffer II — Now what for Minnesota Vikings fans like Zim if J.J. McCarthy is done for the season with his new hand injury? It seemed like tracking the quarterback's progression to see if there is something to be optimistic about in 2026 has likely been replaced with the QB quandary that has stunted the team's growth for most of our lives.Merry Christmas. Bah Humbug! 

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comFor your holiday listening, Alex and Richard take on dozens of questions from SplitZoneDuo.com's paid subscribers. Let's start with the juicy but sad breakup of Notre Dame and USC, move to the coaching carousel, and then have some fun. A rough listing of the questions featured in this episode, in order:* What's actually going on with Notre Dame and USC breaking up their football rivalry, and whose fault is it?* What is Michigan's realistic play in the coaching carousel, and who could they actually hire?* Is Michigan likely to have a coach in place by the bowl game, or is that assumption wrong?* Is a bridge coach (specifically Biff Poggi) a viable or sensible option for Michigan?* Kyle Whittingham vs. Brian Kelly: Who is the better “CEO” head coach?* With so many Power 4 openings, is the best path to a top job now being a successful P4 coordinator?* What happened at Ohio, how should they move forward, and why did they handle it better than Michigan?* Why does Warde Manuel still have a job (pending investigation)?* Is Pat Fitzgerald possibly a worse pure football coach than Jonathan Smith but better positioned because of NIL and donor buy-in? Is “coach who can unlock donor money” now a core hiring archetype?* Will Michigan State's new $400 million donation allow them to immediately spend big on the roster?* What are agency “speed-dating” events for coaches and athletic directors?* Does the modern college football calendar make it harder for FCS programs to reset or fire coaches?* Will the calendar lead to more long-tenured FCS coaches staying put at big programs?* What are the chances Ed Orgeron resurfaces on LSU's staff?* Why didn't Dan Mullen come up for any of the open head coaching jobs?* What's really wrong at Florida State beyond portal hits and misses?* If an AD tried to reverse-engineer Curt Cignetti, what traits would they be looking for?* What goes on your CFB trip bucket list?* New York or LA: The better CFB city?* Why do national college football narratives so often default to NY/LA logic when the sport itself doesn't?* What are our goals for this podcast in 2026?Thank you so much for being part of what we do. We'll see you around New Year's Eve to get you set for the CFP quarterfinals and FCS title game.Producer: Anthony Vito

The Christmas holiday season is now underway.  Yours truly will trek down I-20 to visit family in north Louisiana for several days later this week. This will be the final SwampSwami report for 2025, so let’s make it worth your time with some bold predictions for the upcoming playoff games! First, a review of last weekend’s first round of the College Football Playoffs #9 seed Alabama 34, #8 Oklahoma 24 The Oklahoma Sooners looked unbeatable early in the second quarter of last Friday night’s opening game of this year’s playoffs. Alas, it was the second half of that same second quarter which wrecked the Sooner Schooner and its national title hopes. OU raced to 17-0 lead early in the second quarter by scoring on three consecutive possessions.  Alabama finally put some points on the board with a 75-yard touchdown drive to make it 17-7. Then Oklahoma’s All-SEC punter Grayson Miller accidentally dropped the ball just prior to punting it.  Bama quickly recovered and would kick a field goal to trail 17-10. On the next possession, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer completed a beautiful pass – right into the hands of Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown – for a 50-yard interception and score for the Crimson Tide. This game went to halftime tied at 17 apiece.  The Oklahoma football team and its home crowd of more than 80,000 looked shocked and deflated heading to the locker room after a self-inflicted second quarter collapse. Alabama tacked on ten more points in the third quarter to take a 27-17 lead.  The Tide went on to win 34-24 and will face #1 seed Indiana in a second round game on January 1. #10 seed Miami 10, #7 seed Texas A&M 3 Nobody could have predicted this putrid offensive performance by both teams in the first two quarters.  The scoreboard registered 0-0 at halftime on a dry, warm 75-degree Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas. Miami finally got on the scoreboard with a third quarter field goal.  They were matched by Texas A&M early in the fourth quarter to make the score 3-3. That’s when Hurricanes’ running back Mark Fletcher, Jr. took over and literally carried his team on his back Saturday with 172 rushing yards.  His punishing fourth quarter runs carried the Canes downfield to take a 10-3 lead with two minutes to go. A final drive by the Aggies to the Miami 5-yard line ended when Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was intercepted on a questionable pass into the end zone. Miami returns to the state of Texas next Wednesday night to play #2 seed Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve. #6 seed Ole Miss 41, #11 seed Tulane 10 Before you blinked, the Coach Lane Kiffin-less Rebels jumped to a 14-0 lead with only a few minutes gone in the first quarter.  You may remember that Ole Miss played Tulane earlier in the season and came away with a lopsided 45-10 victory. Tulane never had a chance (again) in stepping-up to play this high-scoring SEC foe.  The Green Wave finished the season with an 11-3 record. Ole Miss travels to New Orleans to face #3 seed Georgia next Thursday on New Year’s Day in the Sugar Bowl. #5 seed Oregon 51, #12 seed James Madison 34 The Ducks had their way with the JMU Dukes in Saturday’s final first round College Football Playoff game.  Oregon led 34-6 at halftime and coasted the rest of the way. James Madison finished its season with an outstanding 12-2 record. The Ducks of Oregon will migrate across the USA next week to play #4 seed Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. Prediction time! Wednesday, December 31 – 6:30PM CST on ESPN – Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas #2 seed Ohio State (12-1) vs. #10 seed Miami (FL) (11-2) Ohio State is rusty after nearly a month off, but they have more than enough firepower to sink Miami’s battleship.  The Hurricanes’ very expensive NIL transfer quarterback Carson Beck needs to have his best game of the year to deliver a win for the Canes. I don’t think he will. Prediction – Ohio State 31, Miami 14 Thursday, January 1 – 11AM CST on ESPN – Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida #5 seed Oregon (12-1) vs. #4 seed Texas Tech (12-1) Oregon and Texas Tech can light-up the scoreboard, but the Red Raiders’ defense should become the big difference in this game.  Oregon’s second half against James Madison displayed a number of defensive lapses.  Texas Tech took good notes and should exploit the Ducks secondary in rolling to a surprisingly easy win. Prediction – Texas Tech 38, Oregon 24 Thursday, January 1 – 3PM CST on ESPN – Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California #9 seed Alabama (11-3) vs. #1 seed Indiana (13-0) The only unbeaten team in major college football takes center stage in the famous Rose Bowl against SEC power Alabama.  Indiana’s gritty 13-10 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game validated their claim to the #1 spot. Alabama’s offense must duplicate its second half performance against Oklahoma’s defense in order to stay close in this game.  In the end, Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has a more balanced offense than Alabama and should prevail. Prediction – Indiana 28, Alabama 17 Thursday, January 1 – 7PM CST on ESPN – Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana #6 seed Ole Miss (12-1) vs. #3 seed Georgia (12-1) Watch to see if the Ole Miss offense can exploit enough weaknesses in the Georgia defense to stay close in the first half of this game.  If not, Georgia’s ball-control offense has a tendency to wear down opponents late in the game.  Georgia has a proven big-time coach in two-time national champion Kirby Smart.  I cannot pick four favorites, so I like Ole Miss to jump to an early lead and stun Georgia in the Superdome next week. Prediction – Ole Miss 27, Georgia 21 Now, let’s review Saturday’s FCS Semifinals and make a Championship Prediction! #2 seed Montana State 48, #3 seed Montana 23 Montana State has been really close to winning a national title in recent years.  The Bobcats have finished second to North Dakota State three times in the past five seasons. This year, the Bison of NDSU lost – at home – to fast-improving Illinois State and left the door open for a new champion.  Montana State (now 13-2) punched its ticket to the title game on January 5 in Nashville with an emphatic fourth quarter performance to eliminate intrastate rival Montana. The Bobcats scored 21 points in the final quarter on Saturday afternoon to pull away from the Grizzlies.  Montana State will be attempting to win the school’s first FCS national title since 1984. Unseeded Illinois State 30, #12 seed Villanova 14 Illinois State won its fourth consecutive road playoff game by wearing down Villanova in Philadelphia on Saturday night. The “Roadbirds” improved to 12-4 in advancing to the FCS title game in Nashville in less than two weeks.  Illinois State traveled south, north, west, and east to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, defending champion North Dakota State, UC-Davis, and Villanova in succession in this year’s FCS playoffs. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, school-record holding wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, and the Redbirds’ relentless 220-pound running back senior Victor Dawson controlled the football for nearly 40 minutes to just 20 for Villanova in Saturday night’s latest win. The Redbirds will try to grab the school’s first FCS football championship against 13-2 Montana State in the title game. *Prediction – FCS Championship Game – Monday, January 5 – 6:30PM CST on ESPN in Nashville, Tennessee #2 seed Montana State (13-2) vs. unseeded Illinois State (12-4) The two teams which have defeated all comers and will face-off in a fascinating title game being held this year at Vanderbilt University’s football stadium in Nashville. Montana State is capable of beating teams methodically or with big plays on offense.  The Bobcats’ opportunistic defense has been stellar all season.  This confident Illinois State team fears no one.  The Redbirds just became the first FCS football team to go 4-0 on the road to reach the finals. Illinois State’s defense can be suspect at times.  Montana State must not allow the Redbirds to control the ball like they have done throughout their incredible run in the FCS playoffs. This game should be a dandy!  I like the experience of Montana State to prevail in a very competitive title game. Prediction – Montana State 35, Illinois State 28 Heaux, Heaux, Heaux – it’s time for me to geaux! Merry Christmas to all! The post Holiday College Football Review + Playoff Predictions! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

On this episode, Kev and Ciarnan debate the value of hypothetical wins, especially for Notre Dame, and weigh in on whether Group of Five teams belong in the playoffs after blowouts by Tulane and JMU. Kev lashes out about Kalen DeBoer rumors and poke fun at Petrino to UNC. The Pop-Tarts Bowl and its sprinkle-themed helmets get a shout-out, with the duo arguing why Notre Dame doesn't deserve the fun. Johnny Manziel's “fake narrative” is roasted, and they discuss the FCS playoff Cinderella run by Illinois State. Plus, it's all bets and Christmas wishes as Ciarnan and Kevin hope for less chaos (and better betting luck) in the new year.    0:00:00 – No-intro episode, post-Christmas schedule change & college football bowl chaos 0:06:00 – Playoff first round reactions: Alabama comeback, Notre Dame hypotheticals, and “should-have-been-in” arguments 0:12:00 – Group of Five in the Playoff: Debating Tulane and JMU's performances, legitimacy of CFB playoffs 0:18:00 – Booster money mysteries, wildest donors, and LSU payouts 0:24:00 – Coaching carousel: Kalen DeBoer to Michigan rumors, UNC hiring Bobby Petrino conspiracy 0:30:00 – Johnny Manziel GameDay guest picker fiasco & social media damage control 0:36:00 – Pop-Tarts Bowl mania: Helmet designs, Notre Dame “too serious,” and bowl game brand talk 0:42:00 – FCS Playoff update: Illinois State Cinderella run, coaching legends, and small-school dreams 0:48:00 – Cotton Bowl preview, NIL valuations shock, and off-topic CFB talk (wrestling, basketball, and broke betting records) 0:54:00 – This week's bets, Christmas wishes for college football, and closing banter

Colter Nuanez is joined by close friend and former Montana Radio Sportscaster of the Year Ryan Tootell to break down one of the biggest games in Montana football history. The highly anticipated rematch between Montana and Montana State lived up to the hype—and then some—as the Bobcats delivered a statement win, punching their ticket to the National Championship.The duo dives deep into what went right for the Cats, what went wrong for the Grizzlies, and how this rivalry showdown reshaped the FCS landscape. Plus, hear exclusive reactions and insight from Montana State head coach Brent Vigen, Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, and Bobcat standout Taco Dowler.

The conversation continues as Colter Nuanez and former Radio Sportscaster of the Year Ryan Tootell dive further into the aftermath of Montana State's emphatic win over Montana. With the rivalry rematch in the rearview, the focus shifts to what the Bobcats' performance means as they prepare for the National Championship, and where the Grizzlies go from here.This episode features insight and reaction from Montana State head coach Brent Vigen, Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, along with player perspectives from Michael Wortham and TJ Rausch. Colter and Ryan break down key takeaways, standout moments, and the broader impact this result has on both programs and the FCS landscape.

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

Myles Russ the head coach of Keiser University, joins Larry Blustein to talk about their success as an FCS college and why their football program has been super successful the past 4 years

Sean Hayes of Bulls 24/7 joins Larry Blustein as they talk about the New Head Coach, Brian Hartline. Sean talks about who's being held over on Alex Golesh staff for Brian Hartline and so much more. Myles Russ the head coach of Keiser University, joins Larry Blustein to talk about their success as an FCS college and why their football program has been super successful the past 4 years. David Lake joins Larry Blustein to talk about the Miami Hurricanes football program as they won round 1 playoff game vs Texas A&M. They also talk about the big game next week at Jerry World vs Ohio State. Shawn Cerra joins Larry Blustein as they discuss the 35-year Kreul Basketball Classic to highlight its significance for the boys and girls. They Also talk about how important the national schools such as St thomas and Cardinal Gibbons, play and also schools in Dade County. The QB of St Thomas Aquinas, Mason Mallory, joins Larry Blustein to talk about winning the state championship this past year and talk about why they're super successful as a program led by Legendary Head Coach Roger Harriot. Jyron Hughlye of Cardinal Newman joins Larry Blustein as he single-handedly beat Chamindae- Madonna. He also talks about how he's super excited to go to West Virginia University to play football for the legendary Head Coach Rich Rodriguez and so much more.

-Christmas Eve Eve on The Insiders-Bison Men fall in El Paso-Former Bison RB Barika Kpeenu-Jeff Wald joins to talk Vikings-Bets of the week-What's the easiest sport to turn pro?

Der FC Schaffhausen will sein Stadion im Herblingertal besser auslasten. Da die Fussballspiele jeweils nicht gut besucht sind, braucht der FCS eine weitere Einnahmequelle. Als erster Event bietet der FCS ein Weihnachtsdorf direkt auf dem Kunstrasen mit Fondue-Iglus, Glühwein und Eisstockschiessen. Weitere Themen: · Der Zürcher Hauseigentümerverband zieht seine Starthilfe-Initiative zurück. · Das Zürcher Stadtparlament fordert eine zusätzliche Ferienwoche für städtische Angestellte.

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.

Welcome to the 3rd Advent/Christmas/Holiday episode this year. It's a read of a children book again, and that book involves a time-traveling boy and his dog. They time travel, through goalposts, to the first organized football match under Football Association rules, in 1863, between Barnes and Richmond. The game was played at Barnes commons, in West London, across the river from Fulham's FCs stadium, the Craven Cottage. And the boy and his dog (Kane is his name, no relation to Harry) mess up football history while there. Or, almost.The book is by Adrian Lobley, and I don't want to give away the whole thing here - I'll read up to chapter 10. Plus: some of the best Christmas-themed stadium chants. Until January 19th!HELPFUL LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:Adrian Lobley, Kane and the Christmas Football Adventure"The best Christmas Football chants", YouTube"Comfort Comfort O My People" in the opening piano version, from Road to Virtuosity Sheet Music, YouTube"Comfort Comfort O My People," closing version with organ and drums, performed by the First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, NebraskaNEW: send me a text message! (I'd love to hear your thoughts - texts get to me anonymously, without charge or signup) Please leave a quick voicemail with any feedback, corrections, suggestions - or just greetings - HERE. Or comment via Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. If you enjoy this podcast and think that what I do fills a gap in soccer coverage that others would be interested in as well, please Recommend The Assistant Professor of Football. Spreading the word, through word of mouth, truly does help. Leave some rating stars at the podcast platform of your choice. There are so many sports podcasts out there, and only ratings make this project visible; only then can people who look for a different kind of take on European soccer actually find me. Artwork for The Assistant Professor of Football is by Saige LindInstrumental music for this podcast, including the introduction track, is by the artist Ketsa and used under a Creative Commons license through Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/

-Split screen edition on a Minday-Bison MBB falls in El Paso-Illinois State sideline man Craig Bertsche-Sam Herder HERO Sports joins-Talking Bison Hoops with Dexter Werner

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.

Débrief complet des quatre matchs du 1er tour du College Football Playoff 2025-26 (Oklahoma/Alabama, Texas A&M/Miami, Ole Miss/Tulane, Oregon/James Madison) et des demi-finales des playoffs FCS. En bonus : tour d'horizon des premières inscriptions sur le portail des transferts et à la draft NFL 2026. Avec Grégory Richard et Morgan Lagrée. Au programme : - CFB Playoff 2025-26 : la revanche d'Alabama, Miami au bout de l'ennui, Ole Miss et Oregon dans un fauteuil. - FCS Playoffs 2025-26 : débrief des matchs Montana State/Montana et Villanova/Illinois State. - Portail des transferts : les joueurs à surveiller avant l'ouverture du marché début janvier. - NFL Draft 2026 : les premières inscriptions parmi les underclassmen. Bonne écoute !

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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

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: