Podcasts about mid american conference

Scott Thompson and Jesy Herron are both storytellers, they just come at it a little differently. Scott is the Founder and Team Champion of RESLV, a filmmaker and big-idea guy who's always looking for the story beneath the surface. Jesy leads client partnerships, hosts Rediscover Your Story, and brings the energy, curiosity, and instinct for what will actually connect with people. Together, they've helped build RESLV into an Emmy Award-winning creative agency.  Now they're telling one of their biggest stories yet. Their upcoming documentary, Cradle of Coaches, explores the incredible coaching legacy of Miami University and the people who helped shape the game far beyond Oxford. In this unique episode of Building Ideas, we're going behind the scenes of how that story came together, and why it's about a lot more than football.

Student-athlete success extends far beyond wins and losses—it begins with creating environments where young people can thrive academically, emotionally, physically, and personally. In this episode of Let's Have This Conversation, Kevin McShan sits down with Dr. Chet Hesson, Athletics Director at Monroe High School and an educational leader whose career has been dedicated to helping student-athletes reach their full potential both on and off the field. Holding a Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies, Dr. Hesson believes athletics should be an extension of the classroom—providing opportunities for young people to develop resilience, leadership, character, and lifelong skills. At Monroe Public Schools, he has built an athletic culture centered on four core values: Courage and Curiosity, Health & Well-being, Emotional Intelligence and Environment, and Thoughtful Teaching and Learning. Before joining Monroe High School, Dr. Hesson served in the Bowling Green State University Athletic Department as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, where he oversaw student-athlete services, mentorship and life design, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, mental health, sports nutrition, and served as the sport administrator for several NCAA programs. Nationally recognized for his commitment to student-athlete wellness and inclusive leadership, Dr. Hesson has chaired the N4A Student-Athlete Well-being Committee, served on the Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Council of Excellence (DIECE), co-chaired the BGSU Athletics DEI Task Force, and contributed to Mid-American Conference committees focused on student-athlete well-being and diversity. During this thoughtful conversation, Kevin and Dr. Hesson explore: Whether you're a coach, educator, parent, school administrator, or student-athlete, this episode offers valuable insights into how sports can become one of the most powerful tools for developing the next generation of leaders.   For more information: https://schools.snap.app/monroetrojans LinkedIn: @Dr. Chet Hesson   Follow: @monroetrojanathletics Email: hesson@monroe.k12.mi.us Call: 734-265-3444 ( Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The previous post covered my grades on how the strength of today’s four largest college athletic conferences compare with their previous versions twenty years ago in 2006. Here's a brief recap. In my estimation, only the SEC (which expanded from 12 to 16 teams over that 20 year period) has shown an upgrade in competition levels since 2006.  I awarded the SEC a “B” grade. The Big 12 (which lost four of its prominent members to the SEC) received a C+ for their nimble addition of several relevant regional sports schools. A “D” grade was handed down to the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Their nonsensical addition of West Coast newcomers Cal (Berkeley) and Stanford in 2024 crashed the ACC's overall score. Speaking of lousy grades, I awarded a D- to the Big Ten Conference as its recently-annexed properties have resulted in a BIG thud.  From the east (Maryland and Rutgers) to the west (Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington), the Big Ten’s new coast-to-coast configuration has failed to improve this conference for either sports fans or student/athletes. How have the five mid-major conferences fared with recent expansion issues? These other conferences (nicknamed the “Group of Five”) can be quite entertaining but rarely win national championships.  They must compete against the “Big Four” major conferences featuring the wealthiest college sports programs. American Athletic Conference (AAC) The AAC has only been around since the year 2013.  There were 10 initial AAC members and now 14 in 2026. Only Memphis, South Florida, and Temple remain from 2013.  The ACC raided Conference USA to obtain several of its new members. Army and Navy – What's not to like about these two additions?  They bring the focus of the entire college football world to their annual game played in early December.  Grades – A Charlotte – The 49ers have been perpetual cellar dwellers in most sports.  Charlotte, North Carolina sports fans are more likely to follow UNC, Duke, and Clemson.  Yawn.  Grade – D- East Carolina – The Pirates have made the NCAA baseball playoffs ten times since 2013 and have occasionally contended for the AAC title in football.  A hearty fan base makes ECU a fun place to watch sports.  Grade – B Florida Atlantic – A member of the AAC since 2023, this school is best known for its men's basketball team and having a great beach nearby.  Sadly, most local sports fans don’t give a hoot about the FAU Owls yet.  Grade – C- North Texas – The Mean Green had a brilliant 12-2 football season in 2025 in the school's third year as part of the AAC.  The other sports are lagging behind.  Grade – C Rice – Another third year AAC member, the Houston-based Owls have been an athletics flop in their new conference.  Grade – D Tulane – Green Wave football program has rejuvenated Tulane athletics down in the Crescent City.  Unfortunately, the remainder of the school’s sports teams rarely lead the AAC.  Grade – C Tulsa – Golden Hurricane football and men's basketball programs have been on the decline in the past decade.  That's a shame, because Tulsa fans desperately want to get behind the city’s lone major college athletics team.  Grade – C- UAB – Try as I might, I'm having trouble remembering any recent sports successes for the Blazers.  Grade – D- UTSA – Like Tulsa, the Roadrunners have the entire San Antonio market ready for their athletics programs to take off.  Other than some recent success in football, UTSA sports still appear to be taking a siesta.  Grade – C- AAC overall grade for expansion: C- Conference USA (C-USA) I am not going to provide individual grades to Conference USA member schools.  It is not their fault that C-USA management has done such a lousy job of keeping this conference together and relevant in major college sports. The conference has seen a 100% turnover in the past 20 years. Schools being added have generally been former FCS top teams such as Delaware, Sam Houston, and Jacksonville (AL) State. Things have declined so badly in Conference USA (“How badly have they declined?”) that longtime member Louisiana Tech recently agreed to pay a reported $8 million to buy its way out of C-USA.  The Bulldogs’ jubilant athletic department and fans are rejoining the Sun Belt Conference this fall.  Louisiana Tech will save more than $1 million annually in travel costs formerly required to travel to schools within the far-flung Conference USA. Longtime C-USA holdovers Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State deserve a better fate.  Save your money and call the Sun Belt in a couple of years! C-USA overall grade for expansion –  F- Mid-American Conference (MAC) In contrast to Conference USA, the MAC has remained remarkably stable for the past 20 years. Eleven of the dozen MAC members in 2006 remain a part of the conference today.  Northern Illinois (which had been part of the MAC for 30 years) is leaving this fall to become part of the Mountain West Conference. In a couple of curious moves, the Mid-American Conference has added two new members recently. UMass – The 2025 addition of the University of Massachusetts (which is at least in regional proximity to longtime MAC member Buffalo) was rather questionable.  Athletic success at Umass has been nearly invisible over the past decade.  After just one year in the MAC, the Minutemen have been a net negative in sports for the Mid-American Conference.  Grade: D- Sacramento State – Seriously?  Yes, the Mid-American Conference will add this longtime FCS member from California to its football schedules this fall.  Sacramento (the #20 TV market) is 2,500 miles from the middle of Ohio. The Hornets will be a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference.  For the usually stable MAC, this is a rather bizarre expansion move.  Grade: F MAC overall grade for expansion:  D- Mountain West Conference (Mountain West) The Mountain West has survived a few departure tremors in recent years.  Of the nine Mountain West members 20 years ago, only Air Force, New Mexico, UNLV, and Wyoming remain.  Let’s review the teams which have come aboard since 2006. Hawaii – The Rainbow Warriors (2012) have posted winning football records in just four of their 14 seasons in the Mountain West.  The other athletic squads are nearly invisible in the post-season tournaments.  Hawaii remains a dream road trip destination for visiting teams and their fans, though.  Grade: C- Nevada – At least the men’s basketball team has appeared in the NCAA March Madness event five times over the past nine seasons.  Otherwise, fans of the Nevada Wolfpack (which joined the Mountain West in 2012) haven’t had much to howl about lately.  Grade: C- North Dakota State – This former FCS division powerhouse football program is stepping-up to play against the big boys beginning this fall.  The move is for football only. The Bison are a terrific geographic fit for the Mountain West Conference, too.  This makes sense.  Grade: A Northern Illinois – The Huskies will join the Mountain West this fall after 30 years in the Mid-American Conference.  Northern Illinois’ sports resume has weakened in recent years.  Other than bringing the #3 TV market (Chicago) to the Mountain West, this move makes little sense.  Grade: D San Jose State – The Spartans (members since 2013) have appeared in four bowl games over the past decade.  On the other hand, the men’s basketball team has won just 33% of its conference games over the past 13 years.  Grade: C- UTEP – This longtime Conference USA member joins the Mountain West this fall.  UTEP’s football team has been downright awful in recent years.  Despite a sports slump, UTEP bring strong fan support from the El Paso area.  They should be a fine geographic fit for the Mountain West.  Grade: C Mountain West overall grade for expansion:  C Sun Belt Conference (Sun Belt) The Sun Belt has been nicknamed the “Junior SEC”.  This conference has grown from 10 members in 2006 to 14 today. Only Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Troy, and UL-Monroe remain from 2006. Appalachian State – The Mountaineers (members since 2014) have been a top football contender in the Sun Belt.  Their enthusiastic fans make road trips to Boone, North Carolina a fun stop.  Grade: B Coastal Carolina – Speaking of fun stops, how about a visit to Myrtle Beach to play Coastal Carolina?  The 2017 Sun Belt addition of the Chanticleers has been a terrific addition for the conference.  Coastal’s football team has played in six straight bowl games.  The baseball team won the men’s College World Series in 2016.  Grade: A Georgia Southern – Would it surprise you to learn that the Golden Eagles from Statesboro, Georgia have played in seven bowl games over the past eight seasons?  The other sports programs at Georgia Southern need to step it up.  Grade: B Georgia State – The 2013 addition of the Panthers from Atlanta has not added a lot of sports notoriety.  However, the men’s basketball program has earned four invitations to March Madness in the past 11 seasons.  Grade: C Louisiana Tech – The Bulldogs paid dearly ($8 million) to escape Conference USA beginning this fall.  Louisiana Tech brings several highly competitive sports teams. They are a perfect geographic addition to the Sun Belt Conference Western division.  Grade: A Marshall – This begins Marshall’s fourth year in the Sun Belt Conference.  The Thundering Herd has been a top football competitor and competes well in other major sports.  Grade: B Old Dominion – ODU came into the Sun Belt in 2022.  The Monarchs from Norfolk, VA posted a nifty 10-3 football record in 2025.  Old Dominion has been relatively quiet in its other sports, though.  Grade: C Southern Miss – The Golden Eagles (Sun Belt members since 2022) have been a dominant team in recent NCAA college baseball post-season tournaments.  Last season’s 2025 football team improved from a miserable 1-11 record in 2024 to a hopeful 7-6 mark.  Grade: B Sun Belt overall grade for expansion:  B+ Bonus Conference!  The newly revived Pac-12 Conference “states” its case in 2026 The most prominent names of the long-time Pac-12 Conference bolted for better TV money into the Big Ten and ACC in 2024.  That left holdovers Oregon State and Washington State “homeless”.  The Beavers and Cougars have bagged a few top teams from the Mountain West Conference to help them rebuild the Pac-12 starting this fall. Boise State is the biggest name coming to the new Pac-12.  The Broncos have fielded a nationally ranked football program several times in the past few decades. Other Mountain West migrants include Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Washington State. Texas State (formerly of the Sun Belt Conference) will also join the Pac-12 this fall. In case you didn’t notice, each of the eight new Pac-12 schools has the last name of “State”! Summary Only the Sun Belt Conference has earned a positive score (B+) from SwampSwami among the “Group of Five” mid-major conferences. The Sun Belt is the only major college athletic conference opting to maintain two divisions (East and West) to minimize travel expenses for its member schools and lessen the travel impact on their student/athletes.  Bravo! The post Grading the Mid-Major Conference expansions – Part 2 appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

This week, Kev and Ciarnan revisit the never-ending Brendan Sorsby saga as his request to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft is denied. They also discuss the NCAA adopting an age based eligibility model, and debate potential changes to the transfer portal windows. They also react to Brian Kelly joining CBS to cover the Mountain West, and ask an important question: are there actually mountains in Illinois? Then it's time for another logo history deep dive, this time covering the MAC. From iconic mascots and underrated classics to some truly questionable design choices, the guys rank every Mid-American Conference logo while celebrating the beautiful chaos that makes MACtion one of the best traditions in college football. Plus, thoughts on The Citadel finding bodies during their stadium renovation, World Cup talk, mascot weirdness, and planning some MACtion livestreams! 00:00 NFL denies supplemental draft request 06:38 NFL legal dispute discussion 10:17 Discussing Brandon Source's draft prospects 13:03 Big 12 legal discussions 14:37 College football lawsuit drama 20:33 Old bodies, not a murder case 21:15 Brian Kelly joins CBS 24:48 New eligibility rules for athletes 29:16 NCAA transfer timeline discussion 31:56 Raccoons at college football games 34:51 Getting rid of the logo 38:45 Discussing logo design choices 42:25 Central Michigan's logo history 46:25 Discussing color changes 47:56 Toledo vs. Kent State Performance 50:54 Changing team branding and mascots 55:04 USA's World Cup chances

UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford joins the podcast to look back at the year that was for 2025-2026. Ryan addresses the Department's first year in the Mid-American Conference, the nuances of NIL, NCAA legislation, potential rule changes, roster construction, five UMass Championships and more! A lot packed into this episode of Plant the FlagSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us Fan MailJasmine Jones is an Airman in the United States Air Force, a High-Performance Athlete with Team USA Bobsled, Mid-American Conference Most Outstanding Track Performer, First Team College All-American, Bobsleigh Bronze Medalist in the 2026 Winter Olympics (which ended EMU's 42-year drought without a US Olympic medal for the university's athletes) and a single Mom.-Quick Episode Summary:Air Force Olympian Jasmine Jones discusses resilience, motherhood, bobsled journey.-People and Names mentioned in the episode:Riley TejcekAlex KleinKelly CurtisCoach Chris Best / Eastern MichiganCoach Christopher Fogt / USA Bobsled CoachElana Meyers Taylor-

President Geoffrey S. Mearns serves as the 17th president of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.   This 21,000 student institution competes at the NCAA Division 1 FBS level in the Mid American Conference.   In addition to its' acclaimed programs in the Estopinal College of Architecture & Planning, the College of Communication Information & Media, Honors College, and the Miller College of Business - the Ball State's Teachers' College is a world-renowned leader in teacher education.   After joining the University in May 2017, President Mearns helped to develop a new strategic plan. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path established a long-range vision for the University that sets priorities across five key areas: undergraduate excellence, graduate education and lifetime learning, community engagement and impact, scholarship and societal impact, and inclusiveness and institutional excellence. A refreshed version of the plan, which upholds these five long-term goals, was approved by members of the Board of Trustees in 2025.    During his tenure, President Mearns has pursued initiatives that have sustained and expanded the University's enrollment, despite the adverse impact of the pandemic, and increased alumni engagement and fundraising. President Mearns has also strengthened the University's relationship with the community, most notably through its innovative partnership with Muncie Community Schools and its ambitious plan to revitalize The Village through a $200 million mixed use academic village redevelopment.  During his tenure the University continues to invest in core academic, student life, and athletic facilities.   A former elite collegiate distance running athlete and distinguished attorney and federal prosecutor, he previously served as President at Northern Kentucky University and Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State University.  He and his wife Jennifer have five adult children and multiple grandchildren.

Dan and Tom continue their conversation about the Akron Zips and their hopes for John Groce's team to finally get a win in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Paul Fritschner of Rebound Rundown joins Afternoon Drive on The Fan. He talks about the Mid-American Conference teams in the NCAA Tournament, teams that are on upset watch in the first-round, the hardest teams to figure out in the bracket, and more.

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

Ken Carman and Danny Cunningham examine the Cleveland Browns' current roster struggles and the "sins" of the Deshaun Watson trade while debating potential future quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders and Ty Simpson. They also analyze recent offensive line moves, the "greasy" trade tactics of Eric DeCosta, and the future of Joel Bitonio. The conversation covers the Mid-American Conference tournament scheduling and Gus Johnson's viral take on the UConn women's basketball team. 02:00 - Miami Redhawks Tournament Status 09:30 - College Sports Memories 15:57 - Browns Trade Sins 24:00 - Shedeur Sanders Draft Hype 33:20 - Kyler Murray Debate 43:50 - Trading For Wide Receivers 53:40 - Ken's Dog Food Dilemma 01:00:00 - AFC North Rivalry Outlook 01:11:00 - Cavs Vs Pistons Preview 01:18:30 - MAC Tournament Scheduling 01:25:00 - Ty Simpson Scouting Report 01:34:13 - Daryl Ryder On O-Line 01:45:30 - Browns QB Fact-Finding 01:53:30 - Joel Bitonio Career Future 02:01:15 - Nathan Zegura Training Analysis 02:10:00 - Mid-Round Draft Targets 02:20:30 - Ravens Trade Tactic Debate 02:30:15 - Lamar Jackson Contract Theory 02:36:30 - Caleb Downs Draft Potential

Ken Carman and Danny Cunningham react to the Miami RedHawks' shocking loss to UMass in the Mid-American Conference tournament. They debate whether a 31-win team deserves an at-large bid over Power 5 bubble schools while sharing highlights from coach Frank Martin's defense of the program. Danny also reflects on his time playing college football at Lake Erie College.

Jeff Phelps and Andy Baskin analyze the Miami Redhawks' defeat in the Mid-American Conference tournament and its consequences for their NCAA tournament aspirations. They examine the limitations of strength of schedule metrics and discuss the difficulties faced by mid-major programs during the postseason. 01:39 - Miami Redhawks Tournament Loss 05:46 - Strength Of Schedule Discussion 09:19 - NBA Betting Update

In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men's basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• Chris gives some shoutouts to players and coaches who have earned postseason awards.• Joe Lunardi joins us to talk about going Hollywood, who else can win the natty besides the Big Three, whether so-called Cinderella upstarts are gone for good and whether Miami (Ohio) deserves a bid.• Blue Ribbon associate editor Lindsey Willhite, who has covered the Mid-American Conference for us for many years, tells us the story behind Miami's fantastic run and how it happened despite key personnel losses.• Chris and Kevin provide an update on the coaching carousel, which is spinning faster and faster as the days go by.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com

To kick off Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by FCS expert and HERO Sports contributor Sam Herder to break down what has been a wild few weeks across the subdivision. The latest headline: Sacramento State announcing its move to the FBS by joining the Mid-American Conference. Herder shares his perspective on what the transition means for the Hornets, how it impacts the broader FCS landscape, and what ripple effects could be coming as realignment continues to reshape college football. The two also dive into other major storylines and offseason developments from around the FCS.Later in the show, Colter sits down with Jaden Steppe, sophomore forward for the Montana State Bobcats men's basketball, to talk about his journey, his connections to Montana, and his mindset as the Bobcats gear up for the upcoming conference tournament.

This Week, Voice of the Cardinals Mick Tidrow chats with Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns and Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell about Sacramento State joining the Mid-American Conference in football only.

On this episode of The Group of Five Guys Podcast, The GOFG break down Sacramento State Football joining the Mid-American Conference — what it means competitively, financially, and geographically. Can the Hornets transition successfully from the FCS level? Plus, we dive into the Pac-12 Conference schedule breakdowns — who drew the toughest slate, who caught a break, and which teams could benefit most from how things lined up. We highlight the biggest opponents, trap games, and potential playoff implications. Do not miss out on another jam packed episode of The Group of Five Guys Podcast! SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@GroupofFiveGuys WEBSITE: http://www.groupoffiveguys.com/ MERCH: https://groupof5guys.onechaptr.com/group_of_5_guys_2-24/shop/products/all?page=1 Subscribe and follow the Group of Five Guys! @groupoffiveguys @Sprouse_68 @Tyler_J_Tipton @JMurphyLee SPONSOR THE SHOW OR BUSINESS INQUIRES: Email: groupoffiveguys@gmail.com Direct Message on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GroupOfFiveGuys #G5 #groupoffiveguys #G5Live Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez offers thoughtful perspective on Bobby Hauck's departure to the University of Illinois after taking time to process the move. With a clearer lens, Colter breaks down what Hauck's exit means for Montana, the timing of the decision, and how it reflects the broader shifts shaping the ever-changing landscape of college football.The conversation then shifts to Sacramento State making the jump to the FBS level by joining the Mid-American Conference. Colter analyzes what the move means for the Hornets, the financial and competitive challenges that come with moving up a level, and how continued conference realignment is reshaping the national picture. Plus, hear clips from Sacramento State athletic director Mark Orr as he shares insight into the university's decision, the opportunities ahead, and what the transition means for the future of the program.Later in the hour, Colter delivers his Prep Extra update, highlighting some of the top storylines from around the state — including the Billings West High School girls capturing their first state swimming title since 2004 and a Sentinel High School squad led by Lincoln Rodgers continuing its impressive run. To wrap things up, Colter runs through his weekly Treasure State Stars, recognizing standout athletic performances from across Montana.

The college football landscape never stops moving, shifting and changing. The latest change is yet another drastic move of conference realignment. Sacramento State is leaving the FCS to join the FBS as they will now become a part of the MAC. Yes, the team in California is joining the Mid-American Conference. Ross Dellenger explains why Sac State is making this move and what other avenues they pursued. Andy Staples and Steven Godfrey join the conversation and react to this decision. The conversation evolves to the broader landscape of conference realignment. The guys discuss why so many of these drastic shifts are being made and what type of change to the college football landscape they see coming in the future.Then, the guys dive into a couple of notable eligibility court cases. Trinidad Chambliss will be a Rebel for one more season after a judge in the Mississippi state court granted an injunction to give Chambliss one more season of eligibility. The guys compare the Chambliss situation to other court cases of the past and they contrast it with the Joey Aguilar case in Tennessee. At the time of this recording, we have yet to get a ruling on Aguilar. Plus, the crew shares some of the very unique events that happened at the courthouse during the Chambliss ruling.Later, Andy, Ross and Godfrey revisit a topic from the previous episode. Recently, a fan of Mr. Beast proposed the idea of Mr. Beast donating $100 million to East Carolina University to try to win them a National Championship. Andy was convinced that wouldn't do much, but Godfrey said he does not feel the same way. The crew discusses the feasibility of this, how small schools could make a big jump with a large cash infusion and what additional power ECU would have by having Mr. Beast behind them.All of this and more on today's College Football Enquirer.0:00:00 - Sac State to the MAC14:31 - Where does conference realignment go from here?24:44 - Trinidad Chambliss & Joey Aguilar eligibility cases42:32 - Would a $100 million from Mr. Beast get ECU to the CFP? Subscribe to the College Football Enquirer on your favorite podcast app:

The Toledo Blade's Dave Briggs joined Ken and Anthony on this Emerging Podcast Scene to talk about Sacramento State joining the Mid-American Conference and what that might mean for the staples of Ohio football in the MAC.

Eric Frandsen and Jason Walker discuss the latest dialogue surrounding the Utah Jazz and tanking.Utah State adds a home-and-home series with the University of Nevada in football.More details emerge about Sacramento State's bold (and financially irresponsible) move to the MAC.Tweaks to the NBA All-Star game seemed to work with strong viewership on Sunday.Pick 6 results.

The GameAbove Sports Bowl, formerly the Motor City Bowl, is no more. On3's Brett McMurphy reported earlier this week the Detroit-based bowl was shutting its doors, ending a 29-year run. It debuted as the Motor City Bowl, rebranded as the Little Caesars Bowl in 2009, shifted to the Quick Lane Bowl in 2014 and finally the GameAbove Sports Bowl in 2024.The bowl's inaugural matchup — on the day after Christmas — was Ole Miss against Randy-Moss-led Marshall, the Mid-American Conference champion. The Rebels won, 34-31, including a game-sealing strip of Moss by linebacker Broc Kreitz.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Underdog Fantasy and use my code CHAMPIONS for a great deal: https://underdogfantasy.com* Check out Underdog Fantasy and use my code CHAMPIONS for a great deal: https://underdogfantasy.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A triple OT thriller and back-to-back games agains the top two teams in the Mid-American Conference. Get caught up on this episode of Just Being Frank. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks men's basketball team has taken the college basketball world by surprise, improving to an undefeated 21–0 record with a dramatic 86-84 win over UMass that kept their perfect season alive. That victory — marked by a career-high 30 points from junior guard Eian Elmer — wasn't just another win; it underscored Miami's resilience and ability to close out tight games. The RedHawks trailed in the second half before rallying to secure the two-point triumph, with contributions also coming from playmakers like Peter Suder and freshman Justin Kirby. At 21–0, Miami is now one of only a handful of unbeaten teams in Division I this season — a rare feat in modern college basketball. Their perfect record also ties the longest in-season winning streak in Mid-American Conference history, matching the 2001-02 Kent State squad and rewriting the RedHawks' own program lore. Under fourth-year head coach Travis Steele, Miami has blended efficient offense with timely defense, building its success on team cohesion rather than one standout star. The RedHawks have been particularly strong in MAC play, sitting atop the conference at 9–0 as of their latest game. Despite facing questions about strength of schedule — a common challenge for mid-majors — Miami's unbeaten run has earned national respect, reflected in their ranking in both the AP and Coach polls. With March approaching, the big storyline isn't just whether the RedHawks can keep their perfect season alive, but how deep they can go in the postseason and whether they can silence doubters about mid-major legitimacy.

Jeff Mitchell was introduced as the Cardinals' Director of Athletics on February 6, 2023. A respected administrator with more than two decades of experience in higher education and athletics administration, Mitchell is currently in his third year as a member of the Ball State University senior executive team and leads an athletics department that sponsors 19 programs with more than 450 student-athletes.During his first two years at the helm, Mitchell's leadership fostered significant competitive success, new standards of academic excellence, increased commitment to community engagement, enhanced growth in philanthropic support and revenue generation, and investment in comprehensive facility improvements. In 2024–25, Mitchell led Ball State to secure its first-ever Carol A. Cartwright Award, signifying the Mid-American Conference's best overall athletics program, recognizing academic excellence, athletic success, and civic engagement.Ball State has claimed 10 conference championships under Mitchell's leadership. Academically, Ball State established a new benchmark in 2024–25 as all 19 varsity programs recorded a team GPA above 3.0 in both semesters. The department achieved its highest spring semester GPA in the past decade (3.487) and its highest full-year GPA in 10 years (3.46). In the community, the Cardinals logged more than 4,200 hours of service in Muncie and across East Central Indiana.In addition to these competitive and academic milestones, Mitchell negotiated a new multimedia rights deal with Peak Sports MGMT valued at more than $10 million. Fundraising for Ball State Athletics also recorded its highest two-year total ever, with more than $17.9 million raised. Nearly all Ball State sports venues have undergone significant updates over the past two years, with completed or approved construction projects accounting for approximately $25 million in facility enhancements.Mitchell is the co-author of the textbook Sport, Ethics and Leadership, published in 2017, and previously served as an adjunct professor of business leadership at the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (2001) and Master of Business Administration (2003) degrees from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2005, where he also served as a graduate assistant in the external relations unit, primarily working with the Ole Miss football and men's basketball programs. Mitchell and his wife, April, are parents to a daughter, Harper Wynne (17), and a son, Carson (12).

It’s official!  The 12-0 Indiana Hoosiers team (football, not basketball) crushed nearly every opponent and have earned the final #1 ranking for the 2025 college football season. Other college football rating services made 12-0 Ohio State as their #1.  That’s quite understandable.  The Buckeyes are the defending national champions and have enjoyed another terrific season. However, the Buckeyes finished in second place in the SwampSwamiSports.com College Football Top 25 rankings for the 2025 regular season. My ranking system gave the edge to Indiana by virtue of the Hoosiers’ 30-20 road victory at 11-1 Oregon. By contrast, the Buckeyes’ toughest win of the season came last Saturday in Ohio State’s methodical 27-9 beatdown of 9-3 Michigan. The Big Ten has morphed into “The Big 18” teams.  That meant that Indiana and Ohio State will face a different set of conference opponents every season. Indiana handed Oregon its only loss of the season.  That’s why the Hoosiers are my #1 team as the regular season ends. Indiana and Ohio State are now the final two unbeaten FBS teams after 9-3 Texas handed Texas A&M its first loss of the season Friday night in Austin by a 27-17 final score. The Indiana Hoosiers will enjoy some unexpected home cooking this Saturday as they face the Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game at 7PM (CST) on FOX.  Saturday’s game will be played (as always) at the home field of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. By this time next week, the FBS will have just one team with a perfect record heading into the College Football Playoffs. Congratulations to Indiana for being my top rated team in 2025! Why are 10-2 Alabama and 11-1 Georgia playing in the SEC Championship game instead of 11-1 Texas A&M or 11-1 Ole Miss? All four teams were 7-1 in SEC competition this season, but only two can play in Saturday’s SEC title game (3PM on ABC). Here are the SEC tiebreaker rules: A. Head-to-head competition among the tied teams. Alabama – won at Georgia 24-21 in late September.  Bama did not play either Texas A&M or Ole Miss this season.  Bama gets the nod over Georgia in a tiebreaker. Georgia – lost to Alabama 24-21.  The Bulldogs beat Ole Miss 43-35.  That win gives Georgia the advantage over Ole Miss.  The Bulldogs did not play Texas A&M this season.  Texas A&M – did not play Alabama, Georgia, or Ole Miss this year (odd, isn’t it?) Ole Miss – lost at Georgia (43-35) and did not play against Alabama or Texas A&M this season. In this first scenario, Alabama would eliminate Georgia (based on a head-to-head win) and Georgia would eliminate Ole Miss (another head-to-head win).  Texas A&M (which didn’t play any of the other three SEC teams with a 7-1 conference record this year) would still be “alive” at this point. B. Record against all common opponents among the tied teams. In the second tiebreaker scenario, Georgia beat Texas (35-10).  Texas A&M then lost to Texas 27-17 last Friday. Georgia’s win over Texas was enough to eliminate Texas A&M. How did 7-5 Duke make it into the ACC Championship game this Saturday? This year’s Atlantic Coast Conference football race was dominated early in the season by Georgia Tech and surprising Virginia.  The Yellow Jackets started 8-0 but faded by losing three of its final four games. The Virginia Cavaliers finished as the ACC’s #1 team by virtue of a 7-1 conference mark and a 10-2 overall record. This Saturday night at 7PM, the ACC Championship game features Virginia playing…7-5 Duke? Duke benefited from a weak conference schedule.  The Blue Devils’ six ACC wins came over teams with losing conference records. Duke was part of a massive five-way traffic jam for second place in the ACC at 6-2.  They were tied with 10-2 Miami (FL), 9-3 Georgia Tech, 8-4 SMU, and 8-4 Wake Forest. Somehow (I won’t try to explain this one), Duke won tiebreakers over Miami, G-Tech, SMU, and Wake Forest to emerge as the second place team. A win by Duke over Virginia on Saturday night would hand the ACC crown to the Blue Devils.  However, an 8-5 Blue Devils team would not receive an automatic invitation into the College Football Playoffs.  Other conference champions (such as the American or Sun Belt) could receive that slot in the playoff by virtue of having better season records. So, why do the Power Four Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC) bother playing these conference championship games now? Television money, of course! This weekend’s reduced college football slate brings more TV eyeballs to the rather finite number of televised games.  That’s a bonanza for the networks (ABC/ESPN and FOX).  Their sales staff is busy selling prime advertising slots to a male-dominated audience of shoppers during the crucial Christmas merchandising season. Believe it or not, the SEC is paid about $470 million for its entire slate of games televised by ABC and ESPN for this season.  That doesn’t count extra money from the College Football Playoffs. The “Bank of SEC” takes in about $31 million per week over a 15-week season (12 regular season games over a 14-week span plus this weekend’s championship game). An incremental $31 million payday for this weekend’s SEC Championship game is why we are being forced to wait another week prior to the beginning of the College Football Playoffs. A special consolation note to U-Mass Minuteman football fans The University of Massachusetts (U-Mass) joined the Mid-American Conference beginning July 1, 2025. After November 29, 2025’s final weekend of college football games, U-Mass is still searching for its first Mid-American Conference football victory.  They didn’t win a single game this season! The Minutemen even lost (at home) to FCS member Bryant University 27-26 in September. U-Mass lost its home finale on Saturday to 4-8 Bowling Green 45-14 as the only FBS team in America to finish 0-12. First-year coach Joe Harasmyiak said after the team’s final loss, “The record is the record.  It’s crappy.  It’s not acceptable.” Indeed!  There’s only one way to go next season, right?!!! Hey, Swami!  Aren’t you going to discuss the Lane Kiffin situation today? Come back on Tuesday for that.  Here’s a teaser to think about today. Why did Tulane and North Texas allow their current coaches (who are leaving for Florida and Oklahoma State respectively) to keep leading their current teams until season’s end, but the Ole Miss Athletic Director did not? Let’s reveal the FINAL SwampSwamiSports.com FBS College Football Top 25 rankings for the week ending November 29, 2025: The post Indiana Hoosiers Earn SwampSwami’s 2025 Top Spot! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Rob Summers is in his first season as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Cleveland State University. An Ohio native, Summers spent 2019-2022 with Cleveland State as an assistant coach, where he helped CSU win the Horizon League and make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009. CSU advanced to the postseason twice during his first stint with the Vikings. Most recently, Summers joined former Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates' staff at the University of Missouri for the 2024-25 season, where he served as the team's offensive coordinator. Prior to joining the Tigers, Summers spent two seasons at Miami (Ohio) as associate head coach, where he helped the program achieve its highest Mid-American Conference finish in 10 seasons. Summers also served as an assistant coach at James Madison, three years as the head coach of Division II Urbana (Ohio) and two years at Glenville State as associate head coach. As a player, Summers played two seasons at Penn State before transferring to West Virginia, where he helped WVU reach the sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament as a junior and win a NIT Championship as a senior. He played professionally in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. On this episode Mike & Rob discuss his vision for the Cleveland State Men's Basketball Program, emphasizing the importance of a transformative approach to coaching rather than a transactional one. He reflects on his journey, including previous roles and the experiences that have shaped his coaching philosophy. Central to his strategy is fostering a strong community connection and ensuring that players develop not only on the court but also as individuals. The discussion delves into the significance of building a cohesive team and creating an environment where players feel valued and engaged. Ultimately, Summers seeks to cultivate an atmosphere of growth, accountability, and excitement surrounding Cleveland State Basketball, aiming for success both in terms of wins and character development.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod.Make sure you're subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and while you're there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you're hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation.Grab your notebook before you listen to this episode with Rob Summers, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Cleveland State University.Website - https://csuvikings.com/sports/mens-basketballEmail - r.c.summers75@csuohio.eduTwitter/X - @RobSummers33Visit our Sponsors!Dr. Dish BasketballThe Dr. Dish Training Management System (TMS) is built for coaches who want structure, accountability, and smarter player development.Here's what you can do with TMS:✅ Advanced Stats Tracking✅ Assign Custom Workouts✅ Team Insights✅ Multi-Drill Workouts✅...

Jason Toth was named senior associate vice president for administration for the University of Toledo in January 2019. He oversees the University's Facilities & Construction and Supply Chain offices.In his role, Toth leads the planning, directing, and monitoring of facilities operations and maintenance for the physical plant of the University. He is also responsible for the coordination and management of capital construction projects, aligning them with the University's Strategic and Campus Master Plans. Additionally, Toth leads the supply chain management division which handles University procurement, Shipping/Receiving/Mail Services/Surplus Property, along with the University of Toledo Medical Center's central distribution and linen services areas.Toth joined the University in 2011 as the Director of Facilities/Civil Engineer. He oversaw the re-engineering of the department's Construction Project Management Team. He applied his expertise to streamline processes and create efficiencies resulting in increased customer satisfaction and a reduction to the University's deferred maintenance liability.In 2012 Toth was promoted to University Chief Engineer, in 2013 to Associate Vice President, and in 2019 to Senior Associate Vice President. Under his leadership the departments for which he provides oversight strive to provide exceptional environments, deliver top end service, and promote the University's mission to improve the human condition.Prior to joining UToledo, Toth spent 13+ in the construction management field working for Bostleman Corporation.Toth received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is a LEED accredited professional and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Institute for Educational Management.Jason has been happily married to his wife Janell for 27+ years.  They have 5 children – Addison, Broc, Carson, Delaney, and Eli (ABCDE) and two adorable grand children (Julia – 5 and Sadie – 2).  In his free time he enjoys walking, hiking, cycling and has been coaching youth sports for nearly 30yrs.

Over the course of his collegiate coaching career, Geoff Carlston served as head coach at Ohio University, Ohio State University, and Concordia University, amassing more than 400 career wins. His teams consistently competed at the highest level, earning multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including several Sweet Sixteen runs, and he has been honored with numerous Coach of the Year awards. In 23 years of leading high performance NCAA volleyball programs, Geoff only had one student athlete transfer out of his program. Think about that for a moment.  At Ohio University, Geoff led the program to five straight Mid-American Conference titles and a Top 10 national ranking — one of the most successful stretches in MAC volleyball history. Later, at Ohio State, he turned the program into a perennial contender in the Big Ten, widely regarded as the most competitive volleyball conference in the nation. Beyond wins and championships, Geoff is known for his values-based leadership and commitment to athlete well-being. He is a frequent speaker at coaching clinics nationwide and brings a unique perspective that blends high-performance results with intentional team culture-building. Connect with Geoff: www.epicjourneyleadership.com BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team come to your school, club or coaching event? We are booking November and December 2025 and Winter/Spring 2026 events, please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to set up an introductory call. PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MCLAREN F1! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. BECOME A PREMIUM MEMBER OF CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you or your club/school is looking for all of our best content, from online courses to blog posts to interviews organized for coaches, parents and athletes, then become a premium member of Changing the Game Project today. For over a decade we have been creating materials to help change the game. and it has become a bit overwhelming to find old podcasts, blog posts and more. Now, we have organized it all for you, with areas for coaches, parents and even athletes to find materials to help compete better, and put some more play back in playing ball. Clubs please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com for pricing.  Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our Premium Membership, with well over $1000 of courses and materials. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK, its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will be granted a Premium Changing the Game Project Membership, where you will have access to every course, interview and blog post we have created organized by topic from coaches to parents to athletes. Thank you for all your support these past eight years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

On The Kenny & JT Show, Phil Steele from “Phil Steele College Football Preview” magazine returns. We focus closely on his expectations for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Big Ten, the national playoff contenders, players to watch, the state of the Mid-American Conference, and more. Check out his site and get the magazine at philsteele.com.

Rj Alphonse joins Larry Blustein as he talks about his work as a Defensive End and why he's commiting to Eastern Michigan

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW MACThe only! Tyler Peacock is here to get you ready & informed on the 2025 CFB SZN, he's has power ranked all the teams in Mid American Conference, we discuss each team, touch on the win totals conference odds & CFP odds, who to watch for, the schedule & what we can expect for the season, also he gives you a handful of games to watch for in 2025! RATE REVIEW SUBSCRIBE! Follow the show on X @podcockpeacast & Facebook also @ PodCock PeaCast, Available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcast & the rest of the major & minor podcast platforms by B y!!! 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. X @podcockpeacastFacebook PodCock PeaCast

It's time to talk MACtion! Jim and Erik are breaking down everything you need to know about the Mid-American Conference. From sleepers to watch, top returning talent, and the best futures bets you can make right now — this is your all-access preview to one of college football's most chaotic and entertaining conferences.

In this episode of Call to MACtion, we welcome UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford as the Minutemen officially join the Mid-American Conference. Ryan shares what the move means for UMass across all sports, how the decision came together, and what MAC fans can expect from the newest member of the league. We also get to know Ryan on a personal level - from his days as a sharpshooter at Ithaca College to being the second most competitive person in the Bamford household.

Ricky Stokes, Senior Associate Commissioner of Men's Basketball for the Mid-American Conference, joined Jerry Ratcliffe & Jerry Miller live on The Jerry & Jerry Show! The Jerry & Jerry Show airs live Tuesday from 10:15 am – 11:15 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The Jerry & Jerry Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible and iLoveCVille.com.

We're continuing Season 3 of our Recruit Reflection series with Heather Parker, a redshirt sophomore at Central Michigan University who began her college career at the University of Georgia. One of the top athletes in the class of 2023, Parker suffered an injury during her freshman season that led her to reevaluate her path. She ultimately transferred and found her home at CMU, where she recently wrapped up the season as a Mid-American Conference team champion.Our goal with this series is to bring more transparency to the recruiting process and highlight the variety of paths and outcomes student-athletes experience. With June 15 just around the corner, the class of 2027 will soon be able to speak with college coaches. We hope this series sheds light on the highs and lows of the journey and provides reassurance to those feeling uncertain about what lies ahead. Through these athletes' stories, you'll see that everyone ends up where they're meant to be—regardless of the obstacles they faced. We hope you enjoy this episode featuring Heather Parker.Thank you to our monthly Patreon supporters: Lee B, Cookiemaster, Christa, Happy Girl, Erica S, Semflam, Amy C, Maria L, Becca S, Cathleen R, Faith, Kerry M, M, Derek H, Martin, Sharon B, Randee B, MSU, Kimberly G, Robert H, Lela M, Mara L, Jenna A, Alex M, Mama T, Kelsey, Lidia, Maria P, Alicia O, Cristina K, Bethany J, Diane J, Kentiemac, Marni S, Betny T, Emily C, Cathy D, Lisa T, Libby C, Thiago, Taryn M, Dana B, Jamie S, Chuck C, Je_GL, Kaitlin, Susan P, Katertot, Mallory D, LFC_Hokie, Ella, Debbie, Megan F, Kay, Diane J, Julie B,, Austin K, Jane, Sarah, Amy, Stephen S, Johanna T, Alison S, Kristina T, Abigail W, Becky, Ola S, Jennifer K, Kate M, Naomi S, Claudia, Siona, Erin L, Sarah A, Kennedy B, Thomas B, Lauren D, Kihika N, Beth C, Amy, Renee PM, Ryan V, Brandon H, Tyler, Hayley B, Ben S, Kate & Landon, Danielle, ALittleUnderRotated, Dana C, Amy C, Grace, Pat G , Lexi G, Laura N, Kathy, Katie A, Ruby B, Katie E, Róisín, Becca, Megan J, Emily D, Britton, Ry Shep, Reyna G, Catherine, William A, MB, MJ L, Jackson G, Brittany A, Stella, Ulo F, Noah C, Melissa H, Alexis, William M, Trish, Susie, Leslie G, Catherine B, Karlin, Laura L, Katy S, J'nia G, Kathy M, Kathy S, Okcaro, Caroline P, JD B, Cookiecutter, & Ailish D! 

Chris Creighton, the head Coach of Eastern Michigan University Eagles, joins Larry Blustein to talk about the program as a whole and what he looks for in a football player

“It's almost been ten years and for me it was just kind of time. Contract changes, life changes now with having a two-year-old and wanting to grow the family side of things... A lot of factors all came together at the right time for me to make the decision.”My guest for today's episode is Clayton Murphy, who's been part of American middle-distance running history for the better part of a decade and is now officially hanging up his spikes.From the small town of New Madison, Ohio, to the Olympic podium in Rio — Clayton's career is the stuff of dreams. He was the kid from the Mid-American Conference who took down giants. The collegiate star who doubled up at NCAAs. The 21-year-old who kicked his way to Olympic bronze in the 800 meters — running 1:42.93, still the fifth-fastest time by an American in history.Over the years, Clayton's worn the red, white, and blue across the globe — from the Pan Am Games, where he struck gold, to two Olympic Games, multiple U.S. titles, and countless memorable finishes.But it hasn't always been smooth sailing. He's battled injuries, coaching changes, and the highs and lows that come with being one of the best in a brutal event. And now, after a career that spanned over a decade at the professional level — Clayton is here to reflect on what it meant, how he made peace with the decision, and what's next.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders.GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. Grand Slam Track: bigger stakes, bigger stars, and a fan experience that hits different.SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. The super-soft, adjustable uppers allow for a customized fit across your forefoot, while the moisture-wicking lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!

Alex and Richard break down offseason happenings in the Mid-American Conference, which saw lots of coach carousel turnover. * Ohio: Tim Albin to Charlotte, OC Brian Smith replacing him * Ball State: An off-the-beaten-path coach hire, bringing on a guy who most recently coached non-scholarship football in the Pioneer League * Miami: It's a Return to the MAC for QB Dequan Finn* Buffalo: Pete Lembo tries to follow up a surprisingly good opening act* Bowling Green: Has an offseason loss of a coach ever looked better than the Falcons winding up with Eddie George? * Western Michigan: Major staff turnover as Lance Taylor tries to fix it * Toledo: Jason Candle has a good roster (as usual) and spicy spring game commentary * NIU: Losing basically everything from last year's team that beat Notre Dame, and also preparing for a conference switch * Akron: A portal exodus * EMU: Ditto, but Chris Creighton is a hard man to count out * Central Michigan: Trying something different with Army's Matt Drinkall as head coach. We applaud the spirit of the hire* Kent State: Well, it's really, really badThe MAC also has some realignment coming for this season, with UMass joining back up. They're not officially Midwesterners again until July, though, so we'll discuss the Minutemen when we check in with the independents. (Ed. note! We recorded most of this episode shortly before the spring transfer portal window opened, but we made a few updates before publication on 4/23, mostly to cover the late-spring firing of Kent State's head coach.) Elsewhere in Offseason Vibe Checks* Big Ten* SEC* ACC* Big 12* Sun Belt* Conference USA* AACSubscriber exclusives all offseason longTwo of them just this week! * What on Earth is going on at Cal? * The NFL Draft QB Tiers Special, with Ben Solak and Derrik KlassenAnd much more from SZDPaid subscribers help us make these episodes and get lots more of them. Get a weeklong free trial to see how you like them.Get cool stuff from SZD's partnersSUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF* Shop Diamond Classics and much more at www.homefieldapparel.com. * Follow Nokian Tyres on Instagram @NokianTyresNA 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

Clark Kellogg joined Ken and Anthony to recap all of the games from day 1 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and broke down why none of the winners were a surprise for him. He shared his thoughts on NIL, why he thinks it's a good thing for college athletes and what regulations need to be in place. Clark also explained why he thinks Akron has a shot for an upset win over Arizona in their Round 1 match up.

Akron Zips men's basketball coach John Groce joined Baskin and Phelps to talk about the team's path to the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. He broke down the play of the MAC Tournament and how Akron managed the win, and what they'll need to do in order to go deep in the NCAA tournament.

Andy and Jeff share their takeaways from their conversation with Akron Zips men's basketball coach John Groce and discuss why they think the Zips could go deep in the NCAA Tournament.

On this episode of The Group of Five Guys Podcast, The GOFG discuss the recent MAC (Mid American Conference) schedule release for the 2025 college football season. The guys talk who have the easiest and worst draws for next season. Also, which program based on their schedule should have the overall best season. Finally, which team has the best path to the CFP!! Stay on top of it all with your favorite morning football show, The Group of Five Guys Podcast!SUBSCRIBE:https://www.youtube.com/@GroupofFiveGuys WEBSITE:http://www.groupoffiveguys.com/ MERCH: https://groupof5guys.onechaptr.com/group_of_5_guys_2-24/shop/products/all?page=1 Subscribe and follow the Group of Five Guys!@groupoffiveguys@Sprouse_68@Tyler_J_Tipton@JMurphyLee SPONSOR THE SHOW OR BUSINESS INQUIRES: Email: groupoffiveguys@gmail.com Direct Message on Twitter: ​https://twitter.com/GroupOfFiveGuys#G5 #groupoffiveguys #G5LiveSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andy and Jeff lament the Akron Zips not getting to play their tournament games in Cleveland.

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel & ESPN writer Bill Connelly discuss Bowling Green's splashy offseason move by hiring Eddie George as their new head football coach - It's also a big win for the Mid-American Conference whose offseason has seen other coaches and players leave for greener pastures. The guys also look at early storylines for next season. Is Clemson back? Are they a top five team right now? Will Notre Dame's new roster get them to the College Football Playoff? Who will lead the charge at the quarterback position, Steve Angeli or CJ Carr?  0:00 - Why eyes are on Eddie George at Bowling Green 2:22 - The two emerging head coach hiring trends 6:10 - The talented coaches & players leaving the MAC 13:41 - The MAC rivalry you may not know about 14:19 - A way-too-early CFP scenario prediction 19:17 - Will Clemson be a top five team next season? 21:26 - In a 14-team CFP, what is the 4-4-2-2-1-1 model? 36:39 - How will head coach Marcus Freeman reset Notre Dame? 40:38 - Who will be Notre Dame's starting quarterback be next season? 42:23 - How is Rece on EA Sports CFB 25 Dynasty Mode? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Akron Zips men's basketball head coach John Groce joined Baskin and Phelps to preview their upcoming MAC Tournament contest with Bowling Green. He discussed how they were able to string together back-to-back winning seasons with completely different rosters, what it's like to make it to the big dance, as well as what he expects out of his team in the MAC Tournament.

Andy and Jeff talk about how exciting MAC basketball has been this season and why it deserves more attention.

Rick Boyages has worked inside the college sports industry as a basketball coach, special assistant, conference administrator, and consultant for 39 years. Most recently, he spent 12 years as vice president for men's basketball at the Big Ten Conference in Chicago. His role included oversight of event management, game operations, conduct policies, and officiating. During his tenure, Rick served as sport liaison to 31 head coaches, 30 athletic directors, and dozens of network television executives, arena directors, and NCAA stakeholders. As executive director of the Collegiate Officiating Consortium, LLC, he simultaneously directed men's basketball officiating operations for 65 Division I institutions in 22 states.Boyages also spent time as associate commissioner for the Mid-American Conference and special assistant to the athletic director at Ohio State University. His 19 years as a college basketball coach included stops at Ohio State, Boston College, William & Mary, and Bates College. He was an integral part of Big East and Big Ten championship seasons with Ohio State and Boston College, and coached in five NCAA Tournaments, two Elite Eight's, and a Final Four with the Buckeyes in 1999.As a consultant, Rick has advised clients in areas including sports tech, higher education, and professional/international basketball.On this episode Mike & Rick his extensive journey through coaching, administration, and officiating. He discusses the evolution of the NCAA landscape, highlighting the complexities introduced by NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) legislation and the transfer portal, which have significantly altered the dynamics of college sports. Boyages reflects on his experiences at the Big Ten Conference, where he oversaw officiating and implemented a successful training program for referees, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and development in the officiating community. He also recounts the influence of his father, a youth basketball coach, on his coaching philosophy, prioritizing empathy and fundamental skills over rigid structures. As he embarks on a new chapter teaching leadership at Denison University, Boyages aims to inspire and connect with the next generation of athletes and coaches, sharing lessons learned from decades in the game.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod.Make sure you're subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts and while you're there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you're hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation.Get ready to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Rick Boyages, former college basketball coach and administrator.Website – https://denison.edu/people/rick-boyagesEmail – boyagesr@denison.eduTwitter/X – @coachboyagesVisit our Sponsors!Dr. Dish BasketballOur friends at Dr. Dish Basketball are doing things a little differently this month with $3,000 Off the Dr. Dish Rebel+, $3,000 Off the Dr. Dish All-Stat+, AND $3,000 Off the Dr.

Shaun Dolac is a linebacker for the University at Buffalo. In high school at West Seneca East Senior High, he was the Buffalo News Player of the Year and rushed for a school-record 1,997 yards on offense and a school-record 157 tackles on defense. After being offered a full-ride scholarship to play lacrosse, Dolac chose to pursue football and join Buffalo as a preferred walk-on. In 2022, he led the Mid-American Conference in tackles (148) and ranked second in the nation. In 2024, he is currently leading the nation in tackles (159) and was named a mid-season All-American by CBS Sports. Today on the podcast, Shaun Dolac talks about the impact of losing his father to cancer, how it shaped his identity in Christ, and the lessons learned through his athletic career. The conversation also touches on the significance of community, the role of God's Word in navigating life's challenges, and the process of transferring schools. WATCH all of our podcast episodes on our YouTube page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SportsSpectrumMagazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Do you know Christ personally? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can commit your life to Him.

Today's Best of Features: (00:00-12:53) – Ball State Football Head Coach Mike Uremovich joins Query & Company to thank Jake for pronunciation his last name correctly. Also, Jake asks him about the type of program he's attempting to build in Muncie, the utilization of the transfer portal, how competitive the Mid-American Conference is year in and year out and makes a pitch to Ball State fans what type of team that they are going to be watching under his guidance. (12:53-24:49) – Kyle Neddenriep from the Indianapolis Star joins Jake Query on the program to put a bow on last week's IHSAA Football State Finals, reveals which story from Thanksgiving weekend that will stick with him the most, and highlights some of the most interesting storylines outside of Braylon Mullins in boys basketball with the season starting last week.Support the show: https://1075thefan.com/query-and-company/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.