Best The Associated Press / Westwood One Podcast Network Podcasts (2024)

1
Washington coach Jedd Fisch interview 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

Washington coach Jedd Fisch interview Jedd Fisch is taking over a Washington program that played for a national championship last season, but only returns a total of 28 players, almost none of them starters. In an interview with AP's Ralph Russo, Fisch talks about the difference in the two rebuilds, preparing for the Big Ten and why coaching at Was…

1
Spring portal review 40:35

3M ago40:35

40:35

Spring portal review The spring portal window has closed and while there are still transfers happening, most of the big moves have been made. Max Olson from The Athletic joins AP's Ralph Russo to talk about what teams cleaned up in the portal, including Miami and Oklahoma. Defensive linemen were a particularly hot commodity in April. And, of course…

1
Marcus Freeman on Year 3 leading Notre Dame 30:53

4M ago30:53

30:53

Marcus Freeman on Year 3 leading Notre Dame Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman enters his third season leading the Fighting Irish with maybe his best team. Plus, a new offensive coordinator in Mike Denbrock and another new quarterback via the transfer portal in former Duke star Riley Leonard. How are they meshing as Leonard recovers from an injury?…

1
Playoff dark horses 41:21

4M ago41:21

41:21

Playoff dark horses An expanded College Football Playoff means a bigger reward for surprising teams that go from unranked in the preseason to vying for a spot in the top 10. Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports joins AP's Ralph Russo to run through so teams that could exceed expectations in 2024 and earn a place in the first 12-team playoff. The Atlantic…

1
Mock NFL draft 42:49

4M ago42:49

42:49

Mock NFL draft What will happen after the Chicago Bears take USC quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in next week's NFL draft? AP's national NFL Writer Rob Maaddi joins Ralph Russo to go through his mock draft, which includes a bunch of wheeling and dealing, four more quarterbacks being selected after Williams and a total of 10 offensive line …

1
Where is this all going in college football? 47:56

4M ago47:56

47:56

Where is this all going in college football? A proposed Super League model for college football, which is A) DOA and B) not really a super league, has been floating around for a few months. While that idea isn't viable, where college football is heading is very much a question that needs answers. Andy Staples from On3 joins AP's Ralph Russo to cons…

1
Ohio State coach Ryan Day and QB competitions 1:05:07

4M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Ohio State coach Ryan Day and QB competitions After ending the season on a two-game losing streak, including a third straight to Michigan, Ohio State won the offseason. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day joins AP's Ralph Russo to discuss flipping the vibes, returning stars, managing a loaded QB room and finding one more play to win the most important game of …

1
BC coach Bill O'Brien and CFP optimism 58:12

5M ago58:12

58:12

BC coach Bill O'Brien and CFP optimism Bill O'Brien has had a crazy offseason, leaving the Patriots when Bill Belichik was forced out, going to Ohio State to become offensive coordinator and then landing in February at Boston College as the head coach. At a time when we here a lot about how coaches are fleeing the chaotic world of college football,…

1
Adjusting projections; Interview with Troy coach Gerad Parker 1:11:11

5M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

Adjusting projections; Interview with Troy coach Gerad Parker ESPN's preseason SP+ projections have 13 of the top 15 teams in the country in either the Big Ten or the Southeastern Conference. Bill Connelly, the brains behind SP+, joins AP's Ralph Russo to discuss the projections and what they portend in the first year of super conferences and a 12-…

1
Who are the best coaches in college football? 45:34

5M ago45:34

45:34

Who are the best coaches in college football? Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel of The Athletic join AP's Ralph Russo to discuss their rankings of the Top 25 coaches in college football right now. The retirement of Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh moving on to the NFL and a few down years by Dabo Swinney have opened up more than a few spots in the near the …

1
Post-combined draft talk and CFP shenanigans 45:14

5M ago45:14

45:14

Post-combined draft talk and CFP shenanigans The NFL Draft combine in the the rearview mirror and the is about a month and half left before the actual draft. Eric Edholm from NFL.com joins AP's Ralph Russo to discuss what was learned at the combine and what to make of USC QB Caleb Williams choosing not to be evaluated by every teams' medical staff.…

1
Why the CFP is expanding already 45:06

6M ago45:06

45:06

Why the CFP is expanding already The first 12-team College Football Playoff hasn't even been played yet and the conference commissioners who run the CFP are talking about adding more teams. How did we get here so soon? Nicole Auerbach from The Athletic joins AP's Ralph Russo to discuss how the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference are throwing their …

1
Does ESPN have too much control of college football? 35:50

6M ago35:50

35:50

Does ESPN have too much control of college football? ESPN is moving toward a deal to have sole ownership of the expanded College Football Playoff through the 2031 season. Is that good for college football? Bryan Curtis, sports media writer for The Ringer, joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about the impact of college football’s splintered media rights …

1
Are coaches really fleeing to the NFL? 45:41

6M ago45:41

45:41

Are coaches really fleeing to the NFL? When Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley decided to quit his job and take a new one as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, it inspired more than a few takes that the move was a red flag for the state of college football and that an exodus of quality coaches was something to fear. Max Olson of Th…

1
Wrapping up the January coaching carousel 44:40

7M ago44:40

44:40

Wrapping up the January coaching carousel ! Michigan has new head coach in Sherrone Moore, replacing Jim Harbaugh, but the story of the 2023 national champions is far from over. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg joins AP's Ralph Russo to discuss the lingering debate over how to view Michigan's accomplishments with the cloud of the sign-stealing scandal foreve…

1
2023 review: What is sustainable? 43:24

7M ago43:24

43:24

2023 review: What is sustainable? The 2023 season ended with a Northern team winning a national championship for the first time since 2014. Doug Lesmerises from Kings of the North and THE Podcast returns to the show to gloat about his prediction that a non-Southern team would win it all and to review whether Michigan’s championship formula is repea…

1
After Saban retires, dominos fall. 42:11

7M ago42:11

42:11

After Saban retires, dominos fall. The retirement of Alabama coach Nick Saban triggered another round of coaching carousel moves and, oh boy, has it spun fast. Bruce Feldman from The Athletic and Fox Sports joins AP’s Ralph D. Russo to discuss the swiftness, fallout and somewhat randomness of how Kalen DeBoer ended up at Alabama, Jedd Fisch at Wash…

1
Nick Saban retires 32:08

7M ago32:08

32:08

Nick Saban retires Alabama coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, leaving behind what is the greatest career in the history of the sport. In 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide, Saban won six national championships and was just a few plays away from several others. Matt Fortuna, from the Inside Zone with Matt Fortuna, joins AP’s Ralph Russo to tal…

1
CFP championship preview 41:31

7M ago41:31

41:31

CFP championship preview No. 1 Michigan runs the ball more than most teams. No. 2 Washington throws the ball as much as just about any team in the country. The College Football Playoff championship game will be an intriguing matchup of styles. Parker Fleming, a college football data analyst whose projections can be found on X/Twitter @statsowar, jo…

1
Harbaugh’s last dance? FSU’s opt outs 38:50

8M ago38:50

38:50

Harbaugh’s last dance? FSU’s opt outs When Florida State was first snubbed from the College Football Playoff where was talk about how the Seminoles could still be in the only undefeated team in the country, and if that happened, could they claim a national title after beating Georgia in the Orange Bowl. Now, it looks like FSU will be going into the…

1
College Football Playoff Preview 47:40

8M ago47:40

47:40

College Football Playoff Preview Can Michigan bully its way to a national title? Can Alabama’s offensive line let Jalen Milroe shine? Can Texas’ defensive line outmuscle Washington? Can Michael Penix and Rome Odunze exploit the Longhorns’ secondary? Cole Cubelic of ESPN, the SEC Network and the Mac and Cube Show on WJOX in Alabama joins AP’s Ralph …

1
Bowl preview 1:02:20

8M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Bowl preview Bowl season is here, and the value of a bowl game has never been more unclear. Not just to the players and coaches, but to AP poll voters. Matt Brown from The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss how he might go about factoring in the results of bowl games into his final Top 25 after the national champion is crowned. Also, can th…

1
CFP scenarios aplenty! 51:48

9M ago51:48

51:48

CFP scenarios aplenty! Heading into conference championship weekend, we have never had more playoff contenders and possible permutations and intriguing potential scenarios. Andy Staple from On3 joins AP’s Ralph Russo to sort through them all. Alabama is the biggest wild card. Chaos is largely dependent on the Crimson Tide upsetting Georgia. There i…

1
An Ohio State-Michigan like never before 48:52

9M ago48:52

48:52

An Ohio State-Michigan like never before There has never been a game quite like this Michigan-Ohio State, dripping with storylines and intrigue. Ari Wasserman from The Athletic and the Until Saturday podcast joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about one topic that has many layers: Ohio State vs. Michigan. The sign-stealing scandal. What exactly will be …

1
Jimbo’s out; Michigan takes the Big Ten to court. 43:53

9M ago43:53

43:53

Jimbo’s out; Michigan takes the Big Ten to court. Texas A&M paid $75 million to fire coach Jimbo Fisher. What’s next at College Station? Richard Johnson from Sports Illustrated and the Split Zone Duo podcast joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss the fallout from the Aggies coaching move and what A&M AD Ross Bjork might be signaling with his comments ab…

1
Can Michigan Be Punished? 44:47

9M ago44:47

44:47

There is a lot going on off the field in college football, almost all of it with Michigan. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about the latest with the Michigan sign-stealing scandal. It’s an evolving story but we try to sort out where things are heading and whether Jim Harbaugh will be on the sideline this weekend agains…

1
Dabo’s defense and what’s next at Michigan? 59:57

10M ago59:57

59:57

Dabo’s defense and what’s next at Michigan? Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had the type of volatile interaction with an upset fan that only college football can produce. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss Swinney defending himself on his weekly radio show and whether he was right to get his dander up? Then Dan and Ralk dive in…

1
Penn State’s predicament and Michigan’s mess 45:30

10M ago45:30

45:30

Penn State’s predicament and Michigan’s mess James Franklin and Penn State are still chasing elite. But what is the value of mere excellence, a status plenty of Penn State’s peer program have flailed around trying to get to over the last decade or so? Andy Staples from On3 joins AP’s Ralph Russo for a long discussion about Penn State’s place in the…

1
Going for it and Penn State-Ohio State preview 1:12:08

10M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

Going for it and Penn State-Ohio State preview After Washington beat Oregon in game that turned, in part, on three critical fourth-down plays by the Ducks, when to go for it became a national talking point. AP’s Ralph Russo is a big supporter of four-down football. John Walters, former and recovering sports writer with Sports Illustrated and NBC Sp…

1
Hot seat check-in and Oregon-Washington preview 1:40:00

10M ago1:40:00

1:40:00

Hot seat check-in and Oregon-Washington preview Midway through the season, it’s time to take the temperature of coaching situations around the country. Matt Fortuna from The Inside Zone and The Independent Podcast and AP’s Ralph Russo dive into the state of Notre Dame after the Fighting Irish lost again and discuss which coaches have played their w…

1
Why is USC so frustrating and are we too nitpicky? 1:18:22

11M ago1:18:22

1:18:22

Why is USC so frustrating and are we too nitpicky? USC is 5-0 with one of the great college football players of the past 20 years, but yet the Trojans have become one of the most frustrating teams in the country. Why? Dan Rubenstein from the Solid Verbal joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about some of the Trojans troubles, which leads to a broader con…

1
Ohio State’s toughness dilemma 49:07

11M ago49:07

49:07

Ohio State’s toughness dilemma Ohio State coach Ryan Day went off after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame last week, targeting Lou Holtz, but, really, he was going after the notion that his team lacks toughness. That is not a new thing for Day and Ohio State. Doug Lesmerises of THE Podcast joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about the Buckeyes’ toughness dil…

1
Previewing a monster weekend, by the numbers 57:35

11M ago57:35

57:35

Previewing a monster weekend, by the numbers Week 4 of the college football promises to be the best one yet. There are six games matching ranked teams, plus several other fascinating matchups. To preview the biggest games, college football stats analyst Parker Fleming joins AP’s Ralph Russo. What can we expect out of No. 13 Alabama against No. 15 O…

1
College football dynasties 48:34

11M ago48:34

48:34

College football dynasties Clemson and Alabama have both already lost, which prompts the question: How do college football dynasties rise and fall? Paul Myerberg of USA Today joins AP’s Ralph Russo for a college football history lesson, searching for comparable runs to Clemson’s under Dabo Swinney and putting Alabama’s dynasty under Saban into hist…

1
Clemson’s fall; CU’s ceiling 46:10

11M ago46:10

46:10

Clemson’s fall; CU’s ceiling Two stunning upsets defined Week 1 of the college football. Colorado beating TCU and Clemson falling to Duke. David Ubben of The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about what’s happened to Dabo Swinney’s program at Clemson and how the rest of the season might play out for Deion Sanders and Colorado. Plus, a Texas-A…

1
Coaching carousel preview 1:32:32

12M ago1:32:32

1:32:32

Coaching carousel preview With the season on the verge of full-blown kickoff, it’s time to check in on which coaches need to have success to keep their jobs. Adam Rittenberg from ESPN joins Ralph Russo from AP to talk about the coaching carousel, which these days starts spinning earlier than ever. The clearest hots spots are in West Virginia and In…

1
G5 and Notre Dame previews 1:06:15

12M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

G5 and Notre Dame previews Who will emerge as the top teams in the new-look American Athletic Conference? Is it time for SMU and Memphis to takeover? Boise State might have a difference-maker at quarterback in the Mountain West and the Sun Belt could be the most balanced of the Group of Five conferences. Chris Vannini of The Athletic joins Ralph Ru…

1
Rece Davis and preseason AP Top 25 52:59

1y ago52:59

52:59

Rece Davis and preseason AP Top 25 The preseason AP Top 25 is out. It’s the unofficial start of the college football season. In keeping with tradition, Rece Davis, host of ESPN’s “College GameDay” joins Ralph D. Russo on poll drop day to talk about how he voted. Michigan at No. 1?! With so much news recently in college football, especially with con…

1
Big Ten Preview 1:14:38

1y ago1:14:38

1:14:38

Big Ten Preview Before the Big Ten expands to the West Coast, there is another season to play as a 14-team, mostly Midwest conference. Matt Fortune of the Inside Zone joins Ralph Russo from AP to preview the Big Ten – and talk about recent realignment news. Michigan and Ohio State are again the favorites, with Penn State looking to step up to that …

1
Pac-12 Preview 1:09:04

1y ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Pac-12 Preview The Pac-12 might be the most exciting and interesting conference in the country this season with Heisman winner Caleb Williams and several other star quarterbacks leading the way. Off the field, there is a real concern about whether the conference will still exist next year. Yogi Roth from the Pac-12 Network joins AP’s Ralph Russo to…

1
SEC Preview 1:19:59

1y ago1:19:59

1:19:59

SEC Preview The conference previews roll on with the Southeastern Conference. Cole Cubelic from the SEC Network joins AP’s Ralph Russo to take a deep dive into college football’s toughest conference and the home of the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs. There is more mystery surrounding Alabama this year than there has been in y…

1
Big 12 Preview 1:08:25

1y ago1:08:25

1:08:25

Big 12 Preview Texas and Oklahoma are making their last ride through the Big 12 and hoping to take a trophy with to the SEC. Cincinnati, Houston, UCF and BYU are in their first season in a Power Five conference. How will they make the transition? Can TCU and Kansas State avoid the regression that Baylor and Oklahoma State had last season after maki…

1
ACC Preview 1:15:29

1y ago1:15:29

1:15:29

ACC Preview Florida State is ascending. Clemson seems to have plateaued. The trajectory of these two traditional powers and how it plays out on the field will be the story of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2023. David Hale of ESPN joins AP’s Ralph Russo to preview the ACC, which they break down into the three tiers. Two heavyweights at the top. A…

1
June recruiting rankings and trends 45:06

1y ago45:06

45:06

June recruiting rankings and trends In June, recruiting rankings can be confusing. Ari Wasserman from The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to sort through the big stories from the recruiting trail from the last month, including Florida’s surge, Michigan’s re-entry into Ohio and five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola committing to Georgia. What trends ar…

1
Preseason mags and puzzling programs. 1:12:34

1y ago1:12:34

1:12:34

Preseason mags and puzzling programs How do you prepare for the college football season? USA Today’s Paul Myerberg joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk go-to preseason magazines, and to reminisce about Paul’s days basically writing an online college football preview. That leads to a conversation about college football coverage, the changing landscape of …

1
Klatt on Coach Prime, schedules & Caleb 28:17

1y ago28:17

28:17

Klatt on Coach Prime, schedules & Caleb Joel Klatt has become one of the voices of college football as the lead analyst for Fox Sports and Big Noon. He is also a former Colorado quarterback. Klatt joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about Coach Deion Sanders’ radical rebuild of the Buffaloes and whether it will work in both the long and short-term. Plus…

1
SEC schedule fallout 43:41

1y ago43:41

43:41

SEC schedule fallout The Southeastern Conference is going to stick with an eight-game schedule for at least the first year that it is a 16-team conference, with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma. Why? Braden Gall from the Cover 2 Podcast and Athlon Sports joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about the SEC sticking with eight in 2024, why it’s a disappo…

1
ACC angst 40:25

1y ago40:25

40:25

ACC angst The Atlantic Coast Conference aired its grievances last week at athletic director meetings off the coast of north Florida. Clemson, Florida State and Miami lead a group of schools that are interested in unequal revenue sharing. But Florida State and Miami have not exactly been pulling their weight during football season in recent years. T…

1
Wins totals with the Bear. 1:10:57

1y ago1:10:57

1:10:57

Wins totals with the Bear. Chris Fallica, formerly of ESPN’s “College Gameday” is now at Fox Sports and he’ll be a part of Big Noon Saturday this season. AP’s Ralph Russo talks to The Bear about his new gig. They get into college football win totals for the coming season. Is there a number too big for Georgia? Should you bet on Florida State’s hype…

1
What drew Matt Rhule to Nebraska? 35:10

1+ y ago35:10

35:10

What drew Matt Rhule to Nebraska? Matt Rhule could have taken some time off to relax and live off his buyout after being fired by the Carolina Panthers. Instead, he was lured back to college football by Nebraska. Rhule, who crafted turnarounds at Temple and Baylor, is now at program with a storied history but a recent past of dysfunction and undera…

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