Advertise on podcast: The Preferred Walk-On: The People's College Football Show

Matt Vitzthum never set out to climb the coaching ladder. He just kept showing up and doing the work. A Division III football player at Wartburg College, Vitzthum learned early that the game gives you far more than it asks in return. He stuck around after his playing days, sat quietly in the back of meeting rooms, and filled notebooks with lessons learned, absorbing everything he could. Nearly two decades later, he's the head football coach at the University of South Dakota. Vitzthum joins Seth Saunders to talk about the people and experiences that shaped his journey, the culture he's helping build in Vermillion, and what it takes to win in the unforgiving Missouri Valley Football Conference. Along the way, they discuss the coaches who mentored him, the development of Yotes quarterback Austyn Modrzewski, the upcoming border rivalry matchup with North Dakota, and why consistency might be the most underrated quality in a leader. But the conversation's most revealing moments come when the discussion moves away from football. Coach Vitzthum reflects on what it means to be a husband, a father, and a mentor to young men - and the lessons he's learned about pursuing a career without losing sight of what matters at home. It's a conversation about embracing the moment you're in, doing the work nobody sees, and understanding that the measure of a life extends well beyond the scoreboard. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Is Notre Dame overrated? Can Indiana knock off Ohio State? And is anybody buying Texas as a top-10 team? It's a PYA (Plant Yo' A**) Saturday on The Preferred Walk-On Show, and Seth and James are breaking down one of the most loaded college football slates of the season. The fellas are making picks for Ohio State–Indiana, Notre Dame–BYU, Alabama–Tennessee, Georgia–Auburn, Florida–Texas, Missouri–Ole Miss, Wisconsin–UCLA, Oklahoma State–Houston and Mississippi State–LSU. Plus, Indiana's undefeated run, Bob Chesney's turnaround at UCLA, JMU's move to the American, and three fantastic FCS matchups featuring South Dakota State-North Dakota, Idaho State-Weber State in the battle for the Train Bell Trophy, and Idaho and Montana for the Little Brown Stein. And yes, we've got a best bet of the week. Seth has some strong feelings about Notre Dame laying 10.5 points in Provo. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Saturday gave us another reminder that nothing in college football stays settled for long. George Somerville of The College Chaps joins Seth for the first Sunday Walk-Through to unpack a weekend that reshaped the conversation around several teams. Alabama walked into Starkville and overwhelmed one of the hottest stories in the sport, with Keelon Russell making his own case for the spotlight. Missouri brought Florida crashing back to earth with a dominant performance in Columbia. Kentucky erased a 17-point deficit at South Carolina before Will Stein put the game - and maybe Shane Beamer's time in Columbia — on ice with a two-point conversion in overtime. The guys discuss whether Alabama should now be viewed as one of the very best teams in America, what Florida’s loss means for Jon Sumrall, why Missouri continues to be overlooked, and whether Shane Beamer is running out of runway at South Carolina. Then it’s on to Minnesota, where P.J. Fleck and Minnesota reclaimed the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014, before closing with an early look at next weekend’s heavyweight showdown between Georgia and Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Plus: the changing Big Ten picture, UCLA’s resurgence, Gunner Stockton’s next test and the problems Keelon Russell presents for Kirby Smart’s defense. The Sunday Walk-Through: coffee on one side of the Atlantic, afternoon tea on the other, and college football everywhere in between. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. Follow George Somerville and The College Chaps for more interviews, analysis and college football coverage from across the pond. The College Chaps YouTube: The College Chaps X: @TheCollegeChaps Instagram: @TheCollegeChaps George Somerville X: @GeoSomerville Instagram: @GeoSomerville The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Is a 24-team College Football Playoff inevitable? And if expansion is coming, does anyone actually have a plan for what college football should look like when it gets here? Seth and James dive into the latest CFP expansion conversation, including automatic bids, the future of conference championship games, the G6, an FCS-style postseason model and the larger problem facing the sport: college football keeps changing, but its structure hasn’t caught up. Then the boys turn to the field after another wild weekend. Dylan Raiola delivers a breakout performance for Oregon, Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State continue their remarkable start, Florida suddenly looks dangerous, and Oklahoma State refuses to stay buried. From there, it’s time for the Week 5 board: 🏈 Pitt at Virginia Tech 🏈 Penn State at Northwestern 🏈 Alabama at Mississippi State 🏈 Ohio State at Iowa 🏈 Florida at Missouri 🏈 North Dakota State at Wyoming 🏈 Oregon State at Colorado State 🏈 Miami at Clemson PLUS, The People’s Division: 🏈 South Dakota State at Illinois State 🏈 Northern Arizona at Idaho State 🏈 Youngstown State at Southern Illinois Also discussed: • Is a 24-team CFP actually good for college football? • Why guaranteed conference bids could create even more problems • Dylan Raiola’s breakout moment at Oregon • Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell and a huge SEC quarterback matchup • Is Florida for real under Jon Sumrall? • Ohio State’s matchup advantage against Iowa • North Dakota State’s path to the College Football Playoff • Can the Pac-12 reclaim “power conference” status? • Jesse LeGree and Braden Atkinson powering Oregon State • The Battle of the Basins trophy • Why the Missouri Valley is the SEC of the FCS If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Texas somehow found a way. Seth and James open Week 3 by breaking down Texas’ comeback win over Ohio State - and why the final score doesn’t necessarily erase the questions surrounding Arch Manning. Did Ohio State get too conservative? Should Ryan Day have taken the points early? And what happens when Texas faces another elite defense? Then the guys try to figure out what exactly happened to Oregon in Stillwater. After escaping Boise State and falling to Oklahoma State, are the Ducks simply working through early-season growing pains - or did losing both coordinators create a bigger problem than expected? Plus: Michigan and Oklahoma’s offensive struggles, the latest wins for the People’s Division, Malachi Toney’s electric start at Miami, and picks for a loaded Week 3 slate. Games discussed: • Syracuse at Pitt • Miami at Wake Forest • Houston at Texas Tech • SMU at Louisville • North Carolina at Clemson • Mississippi State at South Carolina • LSU at Ole Miss If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

College football is back — and so is James, back alongside Seth as The Preferred Walk-On Show kicks off its seventh season. Before the first full Saturday of the season, we’re putting some early 2026 takes on tape: the teams nobody is talking about enough, potential conference disruptors, a Group of Six playoff sleeper and our picks for 10 of the most interesting games on the Week 0 slate. Could Syracuse make noise in the ACC with a healthy Steve Angeli? Is Houston a legitimate Big 12 title contender under Willie Fritz? How dangerous could Missouri be with Austin Simmons? And could Navy actually find its way into the College Football Playoff? Then, Week 0 picks, including: 🏈 William & Mary vs. Villanova 🏈 TCU vs. North Carolina in Dublin 🏈 San Jose State vs. USC 🏈 NC State vs. Virginia 🏈 Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State 🏈 Monmouth vs. Tennessee Tech 🏈 Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina 🏈 Stephen F. Austin vs. McNeese 🏈 Hawaii vs. Stanford 🏈 Memphis vs. UNLV Plus: the Fran Brown factor at Syracuse, why Seth came away impressed with SMU at ACC Media Days, Willie Fritz’s rebuild at Houston, the FargoDome advantage, a little William & Mary homerism and why “Week Zero” deserves a much better name. College football Saturdays are back. And as Buck Showalter once said: the good old days are right now. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

What makes a great college football trip? For Josh Sims - better known as CFB Travel Guy - the game itself is only part of the answer. It’s arriving in town on Friday. Finding the restaurant that’s been serving fans for 70 years. Walking a campus for the first time. Seeing the traditions you grew up watching on television. Tailgating with people you’ve never met. And feeling the energy build until kickoff. Josh has crisscrossed the country chasing those experiences, and he joins Seth for a wide-ranging conversation about the places, people and traditions that make college football unlike any other sport. They talk about the surprising greatness of Pullman, Lubbock, Starkville and Raleigh; why Bloomington deserves a place among America’s best college towns; the appeal of MACtion and Big Sky Country; the intensity of Brawl of the Wild; and why experiencing Army–Navy in person completely changed Josh’s appreciation for the rivalry. They also get deep into the art of the college football road trip: scheduling, flights, hotels, points, multi-game weekends and the difference between simply attending a game and truly experiencing a college town. And because no proper road trip conversation is complete without food, Josh builds his ultimate college-town menu: from breakfast and barbecue to pizza, ice cream, breweries and 1:30 a.m. donuts. Most importantly, Josh explains why, for all the changes surrounding college football, the feeling that keeps people coming back remains the same. The traditions. The towns. The rivalries. The people. The magic of Saturday. This is college football beyond the box score. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Matt Schumacker spent years envisioning himself calling college football in front of 80,000 fans. Now he gets to do it for real. The new lead play-by-play voice for SEC Network football joins The Preferred Walk-On Show to tell the story behind an 11-year climb through sports broadcasting, from calling minor league baseball for free and driving hours for $200 assignments to nearly leaving the profession altogether during COVID. Matt discusses the moments he wondered whether the opportunity would ever come, the role his wife and faith played in keeping him going, and why he became a believer in visualizing the life and career he wanted before they became reality. We also go behind the scenes of a major college football broadcast: the preparation fans never see, communicating with producers during live television, developing chemistry with Aaron Murray and Taylor Davis, and the responsibility that comes with telling the story of SEC football every Saturday. Plus, Matt shares what he learned participating in a mock College Football Playoff selection committee, his bucket-list college sports venues, his background as a college track athlete and, because this is college football, the best places to eat barbecue and best college-town fare. ⏰ CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Matt Schumacker joins the show 01:18 — St. Louis food, toasted ravioli & SEC food spots 05:28 — Matt's ultimate barbecue destination 08:28 — From college track athlete to broadcaster 10:33 — How fast is a 3:42 mile? 13:57 — The long road through sports broadcasting 14:44 — “When are you going to get a real job?” 15:39 — Calling games for free & driving eight hours for $200 16:00 — COVID, real estate & nearly leaving broadcasting 17:21 — Faith, family & believing before anyone else does 19:20 — Visualizing himself calling SEC football 20:32 — Getting the call from ESPN 22:18 — What fans don’t see during a live broadcast 24:22 — How broadcasters prepare for a game 25:18 — Working with Aaron Murray & Taylor Davis 28:08 — Inside the College Football Playoff selection room 31:37 — Three must-visit venues in college sports 37:07 — Matt’s advice to his younger self If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Western Carolina head football coach Kerwin Bell knows what it means to be overlooked. Bell arrived at the University of Florida as an eighth-string walk-on quarterback before climbing the depth chart, earning the starting job, and becoming the SEC Player of the Year. That journey launched a professional playing career and eventually a coaching career defined by explosive offenses, championships, player development, and a willingness to believe in players others might overlook. In this episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show, Bell joins Seth Saunders to discuss the mindset behind his remarkable journey and the lessons that continue to shape the way he leads Western Carolina. Bell explains why he believes luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation, how his own walk-on experience changed the way he evaluates and develops players, and why Western Carolina has awarded scholarships to numerous walk-ons who proved they could help the Catamounts win. Bell shares the characteristics he believes are essential to building winning programs—particularly his search for talented, high-character self-starters who are willing to work when nobody is watching. The conversation also explores Western Carolina’s “Live on the Edge” philosophy, the difference between simply making a roster and becoming an indispensable player, and why Bell believes the 2026 Catamounts have the depth and physicality to compete for a Southern Conference championship. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction and Coach Bell's Background 01:20 Rebuilding Belief at Western Carolina 03:08 Overcoming Being Overlooked in High School 05:13 Moments of Belonging and Confidence 08:39 Influence of Coach Spurrier and Offensive Philosophy 10:32 Building Winning Teams Across Levels 12:51 The Meaning of 'LOTE' and Playing Aggressively 14:09 From Walk-On to Scholarship Player 15:31 Excitement for the 2026 Season 17:06 Coach Bell's Impact on Players' Lives 19:42 Advice for the Final Game and Life Lessons 21:33 Supporting Western Carolina and Future Goals If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

UTRGV football is being built from the ground up, and Coach Marco Regalado is right in the middle of that foundation. In this episode, Seth Saunders sits down with Coach Regalado to talk about his South Texas roots, his non-traditional climb through the coaching profession, and what it means to help build a new Division I football program in the Valley. Coach Regalado shares how his football journey took him from Zapata, Texas, to Texas State, to creating a football club when his own playing path did not unfold the way he hoped, to grinding through Texas high school football, recruiting, player personnel, Rice, Washington State, and now UTRGV. The conversation also covers Coach Regalado’s life as a Texas country music artist, the lessons he learned from mentors throughout the profession, and the walk-on values that shape the way he coaches: heart, hustle, toughness, humility, relentless effort, and doing the things that take no talent. This is a conversation about betting on yourself, building belief before results, and shifting from proving doubters wrong to proving believers right. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:47 Coach Regalado joins the show 02:11 Football coach by day, Texas country artist by night 07:57 Coming home to South Texas and UTRGV 09:00 Building a program from scratch 11:00 Recruiting belief before results 11:48 What UTRGV looks for in players 14:11 Coach Regalado’s non-traditional climb 15:14 Trying to walk on at Texas State 16:00 Creating a football club from scratch 17:11 Walk-on values and TNT traits 20:10 Coaches who shaped the journey 24:19 Washington State, Nick Rolovich, and taking a chance 25:58 Lessons from Rice and Mike Bloomgren 27:44 Coach Bush and the UTRGV opportunity 29:19 What players remember years later 31:34 Doc Brown's DeLorean 33:55 How to support UTRGV football “Instead of trying to prove people who doubted you wrong, focus on proving every single person who believed in you right.” “You’ll go very far in life if you work hard and treat people right.” “We have to find tough kids that love football.” If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

Missouri State head football coach Casey Woods joins The Preferred Walk-On Show to talk about leadership, culture, faith, toughness, family, and what it takes to build a football program that lasts. Coach Woods shares his journey from playing at the University of Tennessee, earning his way as a walk-on, coaching on a national championship staff at Auburn, helping build winning programs at UAB and SMU, and now leading Missouri State football into a new era. This conversation goes beyond wins and losses. Coach Woods opens up about the influence of his father, long-time head coach Sparky Woods, the lessons learned from adversity, the five core values guiding his program, and why the walk-on mindset still matters in college football. If you love conversations about college football culture, leadership, player development, program building, and the people behind the game, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: The press conference is the result, not the beginning 01:39 – The moments that prepared Woods for the head chair 04:11 – Sparky Woods: a hero, a mentor, and now a staff member 07:23 – The non-negotiables of a Casey Woods program 11:12 – What a player should carry beyond football 14:43 – The walk-on mindset & the TNT All-American 17:37 – What adversity teaches you about yourself 21:38 – Advice to young Casey leaving Tennessee for the last time 25:15 – Closing thoughts “Love your team. Love your teammates. Always compete. Enjoy the journey.” “You can’t separate the wins and losses from the impact, because the cost of the platform is winning.” “The proudest day of my life is when the University of Tennessee put me on scholarship.” “Two things every single coach can be: organized and enthusiastic.” “Don’t ever, ever, ever settle for average.” If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer sits down with The Preferred Walk-On Show to trace his path from walk-on player to leading a Power Four program - and to explain why culture, core values, and resilience matter more than any recruiting ranking. Coach Beamer opens up on the leadership lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy, the outsized role walk-ons play in building winning culture, and how adversity and failure became catalysts for growth. He digs into the core values - love, gratitude, and trust - that anchor his program, why authenticity and hard work earn lasting respect, and how the relationships you build become your real legacy. Whether you're a coach, a player grinding for your role, or a fan who loves the human side of the sport, this conversation is a blueprint for building something that lasts. In this episode:🏈 Shane Beamer's journey from walk-on to South Carolina head coach 🏈 Why walk-ons are the heartbeat of championship culture 🏈 The core values that define South Carolina Football 🏈 Leadership lessons from success, failure, and adversity 🏈 How players can earn trust and create opportunity 🏈 Why "every day is a résumé builder" 🏈 Advice for young coaches and future leaders Memorable Quotes• "Core values are the foundation of a program." • "Every day is a résumé builder." ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Coach Shane Beamer 01:17 The Importance of Walk-Ons 02:35 Beamer's Journey as a Walk-On 04:31 Finding Your Role 09:07 Building a Program: Core Values 13:10 The Legacy of Coaching 15:09 Lessons on Adversity 17:28 Advice to Young Coaches 20:55 Walk-Ons in South Carolina If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

For over a century, the NCAA was the sheriff of college football. Today there's no sheriff at all - and the fight to replace it is reshaping the sport. In this solo deep-dive, host Seth Saunders makes the case that NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and playoff expansion aren't separate crises. They're symptoms of one massive transfer of power, and college football is living through its own Cold War. Seth traces the legal through-line that got us here: from the 2014 O'Bannon case, to Justice Kavanaugh's unanimous Alston concurrence ("the NCAA is not above the law"), through the wave of state NIL laws and the House settlement, all the way to the Brendan Sorsby eligibility fight - the case that proves the NCAA is now just the trial court, not judge, jury, and executioner. From there: why the SEC and Big Ten are the sport's two superpowers, why the ACC has become the "Berlin Wall" everyone's watching, how NIL Go exposes college football's enforcement problem, and the six proxy wars driving every headline. Seth closes with three possible futures for the sport - "NFL-lite," managed expansion, or the regional renaissance he's pulling for, built on the lessons of the FCS. The sport isn't dying. The money's never been better. But the fight over who gets to decide what college football becomes is fully underway — and the next five years may define the next fifty. 🎧 Listen & subscribe so you never miss an episode — and if this one made you think, share it with your tailgate crew. Topics: college football, NIL, SEC, Big Ten, conference realignment, College Football Playoff, House settlement, NCAA, transfer portal, revenue sharing, ACC, FCS The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-On Partial Scholarship Full Ride Inquiries: [email protected] Walk-On grit. All-American film.

College football is changing fast — and most of those changes aren't for the good. Between conference realignment, NIL, the House settlement, player compensation, TV money, playoff expansion, and the slow erosion of regional rivalries, the sport is at a crossroads. In this episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show, Seth Saunders lays out a comprehensive vision for how to reshape college football while preserving what made it great in the first place. This is not just another complaint about the current system. It is a full blueprint. Seth breaks down a proposed model for a unified college football structure built around 14 regional conferences, traditional rivalries, a more inclusive 24-team playoff, campus-site postseason games, iconic bowl tie-ins, and a national championship stage worthy of the sport’s history. The goal: restore regionality, protect rivalries, create more meaningful conference championships, give more schools access to the postseason, and increase revenue across the entire sport — not just for the biggest brands. In This Episode The current state of college football governance and why the sport feels fragmented Why regionality still matters in college football How traditional rivalries have been damaged by modern realignment A proposed structure of 14 regional conferences How a 24-team College Football Playoff could work How at-large bids could create access without watering down the postseason A new postseason calendar featuring campus games and major bowl sites Why the Rose Bowl should be considered as a permanent or recurring national championship venue How TV rights could be packaged under a unified college football model The potential role of federal legislation, antitrust protection, and collective governance How this plan could generate more revenue for Power 4 schools, Group of 5 schools, and smaller programs alike Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction to College Football’s Current Landscape 02:53 The Impact of Compensation and Expansion on College Football 05:56 Proposed Changes to Restore Regionality in College Football 08:36 Reimagining Conference Structures for Better Rivalries 11:17 The New Playoff System: A Path to Inclusivity 14:02 The Vision for a National Championship at the Rose Bowl 23:10 Revising the College Football Calendar 28:16 The Vision for a Unified College Football Association 34:46 Navigating Legal Hurdles in College Sports 40:35 The Future of College Football: A Comprehensive Plan College football has never been more valuable — but it has also never felt more unstable. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO

Geoff Collins walked on at Western Carolina, earned a scholarship, became a three-year defensive starter — and turned that into a college coaching career spanning three decades that took him from DIII to the FCS to the head coach of multiple Power 4 programs. Seth Saunders sits down with the former Temple and Georgia Tech head coach for the second episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show's summer interview series. Collins traces his full path — from what jersey numbers 92 and 5 meant to a walk-on earning his place, to what he learned from Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, and Jim McElwain, to building his own programs from the lessons he earned along his coaching journey. He talks about why the lower levels of football made him the coach he became, what authenticity actually looks like in a locker room, and what he'd tell the next generation of walk-ons and young coaches. KEY TOPICS: → Walk-on to scholarship to three-year starter at Western Carolina → The stories behind jersey numbers 92 and 5 as a Catamount → How Saban, Carroll, and McElwain shaped his coaching philosophy → Why coaching at the lower levels is a lab, not a stepping stone → Building culture through relationships and authentic leadership → Handling adversity and external noise as the head coach → Advice for young athletes, walk-ons, and aspiring coaches TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Geoff Collins — walk-on, starter, head coach 02:00 — Jersey numbers 92 and 5: what they meant at Western Carolina 06:00 — How walk-on grit wires your work ethic for life 09:00 — The mentorship moments that set the course 13:00 — Saban, Carroll, McElwain — learning to lead by watching and observing the best 17:00 — Why the lower levels of football are where you really learn to coach 21:00 — Building programs on relationships, not just schemes 25:00 — Navigating adversity and blocking out the noise 29:00 — Trust, authenticity, and staying grounded 33:00 — Who you surround yourself with matters more than you think 37:00 — What Collins would tell the next generation of coaches and walk-ons The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. 🎧 Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" 📸 Instagram — @preferredwalk_on 🎵 TikTok — @preferredwalkon 👍 Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn 🐦 X / Twitter — @PreferredWO