This FCS postseason has delivered chaos and history — and now it all comes down to one final showdown.

In this episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders breaks down the FCS semifinals, recapping the defining moments that set the stage for the national championship game between the Montana State Bobcats and the Illinois State Redbirds.

From the first-ever playoff edition of the Brawl of the Wild — the Super Brawl, to Illinois State’s unforgettable road-warrior run, this episode is a celebration of everything that makes FCS football special.

🏈 Inside This Episode

🔥 The Super Brawl — Montana State vs. Montana in a historic playoff showdown

🐾 Montana State’s Statement Win — how the Bobcats conquered rivalry pressure to punch their ticket to Nashville

🏈 Illinois State’s Cinderella Run — the first team ever in the 24-team field to win every playoff game on the road

🛣️ The Roadbirds — why this Redbird team thrives away from home

🏆 Championship Preview — styles, stakes, and keys to the title game

🎓 Why the FCS Matters — passion, parity, and high-level football abounds at the FCS level

This episode is about more than Xs and Os — it’s about heart, history, and why the FCS continues to produce some of the best football in the country.

Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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Championship stakes meets storied rivalry in Bozeman, Montana this weekend.

This week on The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders is joined by Montana State Head Coach Brent Vigen as the Bobcats prepare for a playoff semifinal showdown against Montana — the first-ever postseason edition of the Brawl of the Wild, which observers have dubbed the Super Brawl.

Coach Vigen offers rare insight into how Montana State has built one of the most disciplined, physical, and resilient programs in the FCS — and what it takes to prepare for a rivalry game with championship stakes.

🏈 Inside This Episode

🔥 The Super Brawl — what makes a playoff Brawl of the Wild different

🐾 Bobcat Culture — discipline, toughness, and a standard of excellence

🧠 Coaching Philosophy — leading with consistency and clarity

🧲 Recruiting the Right Fit — traits Montana State looks for beyond talent

📈 Team Growth — how this group evolved into a championship contender

🏆 Preparation for Montana — focus, execution, and emotional control

💬 Football & Life Lessons — character, accountability, and excellence

This is a masterclass in leadership, rivalry preparation, and program building — delivered by one of the most respected coaches in the FCS.

Support Coach Vigen and the Bobcats in every way you can:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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The College Football Playoff has arrived — and The Preferred Walk-On Show is ready.

Host Seth Saunders is joined by Chris Marler to break down the Opening Round of the CFP, analyzing matchups, storylines, key players, and betting angles with insight and humor.

🏈 CFP Opening Round:

🟣 JMU vs. Oregon — can the Dukes hold their own against the mighty Ducks

🐘 Alabama vs. Oklahoma — a rematch of the regular season clash between the Tide and Sooner

🌊 Tulane vs. Ole Miss — another regular season rematch where the Rebels look to start fast and dispatch the Green Wave

🌀 Miami vs. Texas A&M — are the Aggies a paper tiger? Can Carson Beck and Mario Cristobal rise up under the bright playoff lights?

They also discuss:

• Atticus Sappington having a name tailor-made for an SEC school
• JMU's Seinfeld connection
• What Oklahoma's win in Tuscaloosa tells us about the rematch at the Palace
• Carson Beck's Rube Baker yips
• Lane Kiffin: LSU head coach and Ole Miss's #1 fan

Support Chris in every way you can and be sure to check out his latest episodes and articles:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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This episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show captures college football at its most intense — and most meaningful.

Hosts Seth Saunders and James Kehm unpack the Michigan football controversy, examining the firing of Sherrone Moore, the responsibility of athletic director Warde Manuel, and how administrative decisions ripple through a program’s identity and future.

The conversation then shifts to what makes college football sacred:

🏆 FCS Playoffs — quarterfinal matchups featuring Villanova vs. Tarleton State, South Dakota vs. Montana, and UC Davis vs. Illinois State

🇺🇸 Army–Navy — the one game where “everyone playing would die for everyone watching”

🟣 James Madison’s CFP Bid — a milestone moment for James’s alma mater

⚔️ JMU vs. Oregon — belief, preparation, and the weight of opportunity

This is a conversation about power, consequence, tradition, and why Saturdays still matter.

Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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Championship Week is HERE — and The Preferred Walk-On Show has one of the sharpest minds in college football on deck.

Host Seth Saunders welcomes Chris Fallica of Big Noon Kickoff and the Bear Bets Podcast for a deep, analytical, and entertaining breakdown of every major conference championship and the playoff chaos that could unfold.

Together, they dive into:

🏆 Coaching Tilt-a-Whirl
From firings to surprise extensions to the Lane Kiffin rumor mill — this season’s carousel is spinning faster than ever.

🌪️ AAC & Sun Belt Championships
Who controls their playoff-access destiny?
Which matchup is the most dangerous for favorites?

🔥 Power Four Championship Games
SEC — Can Georgia get rid of their Alabama albatross?
Big 12 — in a rematch between Texas Tech and BYU, who has the edge?
Big Ten — No. 1 vs. No. 2 for allllllll the conference marbles

🏈 FCS Playoff Spotlight
A massive showdown: South Dakota State vs. Montana — two heavyweights fighting for another title run.

🔮 Predictions, playoff math, and chaos scenarios
Which teams are in with a win?
Who still has a chance if things break perfectly?

This is Championship Week through the eyes of one of the sport’s most trusted analysts — a must-watch for every college football fan.

Support Bear in every way you can and be sure to tune into Big Noon Kickoff this weekend:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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In this playoff edition of The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders welcomes South Dakota Head Coach Travis Johansen to discuss the Coyotes’ mindset, culture, and preparation heading into a crucial postseason matchup against the Mercer Bears.

Coach Johansen shares:

🔴 Resilience & Maturity — the traits that define this USD team

💪 Coyotes Culture — why toughness and selflessness are non-negotiables

🧠 His First Year as Head Coach — challenges, lessons, and growth

🏈 Mercer Game Plan — what will decide the playoff showdown

🏟️ Community Support — why Vermillion and the Coyote family are vital to USD's success

💬 Life Advice to His Younger Self — the importance of patience and presence (“Be where your feet are”)

This is an inspiring episode about building something meaningful, leading with purpose, and embracing the journey.

Support Coach Johansen and the Yotes in every way you can:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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This week on The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders sits down with Villanova Head Coach Mark Ferrante, a cornerstone of the Wildcats football program for nearly four decades. From his early days under Coach Andy Talley to leading Villanova back into the postseason spotlight, Ferrante shares a lifetime of perspective, purpose, and passion for the game.

Fresh off a big opening-round FCS playoff victory over Harvard, Coach Ferrante breaks down what’s made this year’s team special — and what lies ahead in their next postseason battle against Lehigh.

Inside the Episode:

🐾 40 Years of Villanova Football – Ferrante’s full-circle coaching journey and foundational mentors
🔥 Opening Round Win vs. Harvard – how preparation, discipline, and resilience powered the Wildcats
🏆 FCS Playoff Outlook – keys to beating Lehigh and maintaining postseason momentum
🧠 Coaching Philosophy – lessons learned from his father and the legendary Andy Talley
🤝 Team Leadership & Culture – the backbone of Villanova’s identity
🏈 QB Pat McQuaide’s Impact – why the Nicholls State transfer elevated the program
💙 The Importance of Community Support – why Villanova football thrives when the Wildcat family shows up

This is a story of legacy, loyalty, and love for the game — delivered by one of the most respected figures in FCS football.

Support Coach Ferrante and the Wildcats in every way you can:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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A weekend this big means there needs to be a show to match it, so we are in the Classic City LIVE.

In this special edition of the Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders broadcasts from Creature Comforts Brewery in downtown Athens, Georgia alongside Jon Smith of Dawg Social Club and Chris Hayes of Coach Hayes Hudl to kick off Georgia-Texas weekend.

The trio dives into the traditions, tactics, and emotional energy surrounding one of college football’s most anticipated matchups.

Topics include:

🏟️ Sanford Stadium’s emotional legacy

🧠 Georgia’s coaching mindset & game plan

🏈 Gunnar Stockton vs Arch Manning

🐶 Georgia’s physical brand of football

🤘 Texas’ path to upsetting the Dawgs

⚔️ Trench warfare: O-line & D-line breakdown

🔥 Final score predictions & keys to victory

It’s analysis, nostalgia, and pure college football soul — recorded LIVE from the heart of Dawg Nation.

Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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This week on The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders welcomes back ESPN’s Taylor McGregor for an in-depth, wide-ranging conversation on everything shaping college football right now.

Together they discuss:

🏆 Initial College Football Playoff Rankings — who’s overrated, who’s underrated, and who controls their destiny

🌀 The Coaching Carousel — where the dominoes might fall and what Lane Kiffin’s next move could be

🌪️ Group of Five Spotlight — the wild AAC race and how parity is changing the sport

🐶 Georgia vs. Mississippi State — the game Taylor is covering this week

⚓ Navy vs. Notre Dame — classic matchup with modern twists

🦆 Oregon at Iowa — high-stakes crossover game

🐅 LSU vs. Alabama — diverging paths since Week 1

🌾 Big 12 Showdown — BYU and Texas Tech in a battle of conference heavyweights

If you love storylines, strategy, and Saturday energy — this is your episode.

Tune in to Georgia-Mississippi State this weekend on ESPN as Taylor and her teammates, Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek, are on the call, follow her on all of her socials, and support her every way y'all can!

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

🎧 Give Preferred Walk-On a follow on social media:

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This week on The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders welcomes Craig Stutzmann, Offensive Coordinator at San Jose State, for a deep and heartfelt conversation about football, faith, and growth.

Coach Stutzmann shares:

🌺 The Aloha Spirit in Coaching — how Hawaii’s values of respect, humility, and community shape his leadership
🏈 The Journey — from Hawaii to Emory & Henry and beyond, with lessons learned along the way
⚡ The ‘Spread N' Shred’ Offense — a perfect marriage of offensive concepts built on tempo, creativity, and trust, and the "North Shore in the Appalachian Mountains" that helped it happen
🧠 Mentors & Influences — the coaches and experiences that molded his philosophy
💬 Communication & Integrity — why positivity and resilience are central to his program
💭 Advice to His Younger Self — pursuing passion, embracing growth, and living with no regrets

🎧 It’s part storytelling, part masterclass — a reminder that great football starts with great people.

Support Coach Stutzmann and the Spartans in every way you can:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

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This week on The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders welcomes Mercer Head Coach Mike Jacobs for an in-depth conversation about leadership, growth, and the rise of Mercer football.

Coach Jacobs opens up about:

🏈 His journey from walk-on at Ohio State to Mercer head coach

💪 Building a winning culture built on trust, discipline, and resilience

🔥 How he knew this year’s Mercer team had the potential to be special

💫 The rise of freshman QB Braden Atkinson and what makes him special

⚔️ Previewing the Western Carolina matchup and the challenges the Catamounts present

💭 The legacy and life lessons he hopes to leave with his players

🎧 It’s the story of a coach who’s been where his players are — and built something lasting from the ground up.

Support Coach Jacobs and the Bears in every way you can:

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Plus: We’re on the hunt for College Football's Tailgate All-Americans. From Athens to Ann Arbor, Madison to Baton Rouge — we want to see whose the cream of the tailgate crop from coast-to-coast.

🎧 Give Preferred Walk-On a follow on social media:

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If you believe in Saturdays:

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