Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, discuss how the NCAA Tournament is transforming—and if this is really for the better. The SEC's 14 teams in the field edged out mid-major teams which led to chalk in the first and second round. Is this what kills the domino of upsets and Cinderella runs everyone is so used to? Also, what happens to the Big East? Will their teams secure spots among the power conferences? As of right, BYU is turning heads and grabbing headlines. Do they have a chance to win a tourney title and why do they have lofty expectations for the next few yea ..read more

Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer, discuss the traps in the Midwest Region! Houston may be a top seed, but a showdown with Gonzaga looms large. Also in the region are McNeese and High Point, who are eyeing Cinderella runs that could shake up the bracket. Kentucky, the No. 3 seed, has stumbled into March looking anything but steady, and Tennessee’s coach is looking to rewrite history for himself. The guys end their tournament bracket preview by unveiling who they think will fill the Final Four spots.   0:00 - Houston's brutal seco ..read more

Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer, discuss the battlefield that is the West Region. UConn’s Dan Hurley is eyeing a massive upset over No. 1 seed Florida, while Oklahoma’s NBA-bound star is ready to step into the spotlight. Colorado State sees a clear path forward, but may stumble to Texas Tech or St. John's. With so many top contenders colliding, which team will make emerge and advance to the Final Four?   0:00 - What makes the West Region a gauntlet? 5:06 - UConn's Dan Hurley to upset Florida, the No. 1 seed? 13:16 - Oklahoma's ..read more

Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer, discuss the East Region - the NCAA Tournament's biggest offensive powerhouse. BYU is ready to light up anyone in their path, but VCU lurks as a defensive force capable of shutting down the best. The guys also dive into Arizona’s star player that might be able to carry the team and if Duke can survive without Cooper Flagg.   0:00 - East region: The tourney's offensive powerhouse 2:02 - BYU: The elite scoring team 3:08 - VCU plays some of the best defense in the region 3:55 - Alabama isn't as toug ..read more

Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello, ESPN college basketball insider, & Bill Connelly, ESPN writer dive into their first gut reactions to the field, from Auburn’s No. 1 seed in the South Region to UC San Diego surging in with momentum. Plus, they break down key first-round matchups like Marquette vs. New Mexico and Louisville vs. Creighton, and debate how far teams like Yale and Michigan State can really go.   0:00 - Initial gut reactions to the tourney bracket 10:09 - Auburn: The number one seed in the south region 10:27 - UC San Diego entering the tourney with momentum 12:07 - Iowa State lik ..read more

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 Bowl ..read more

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the bitter standoff between the ACC, Florida State, and Clemson that threatened to fracture the conference. Now that a settlement has emerged, they get into what it entails and if it's sustainable through 2030. Then, Field Yates, NFL Draft analyst joins the pod! He attended the NFL Combine and shares which players he thinks put on a standout performance and the possible hits Will Howard's and Shedeur Sanders' draft stock took. 0:00 - Why were the ACC, Florida State & Clemson at odds? 6:13 - How big of a deal is the ACC, FSU, Clemson settlement? 10:20 - Ho ..read more

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel & Matt Miller, NFL draft insider discuss the quarterback class lacking surefire stars and how this could potentially create volatility in the draft order. Specifically, they get into Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders who flashed toughness and precision throughout the season yet still needs the right team to believe in him. They also look at Travis Hunter, a two-way talent. Will he stick with the cornerback position, where great players are scarce, or chase the money at wide receiver? Finally, they evaluate some familiar-named quarterbacks expected to go in the la ..read more

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the meeting of power brokers in New Orleans and how the decisions from this event could shift the balance of power in the sport. Will this lead to a future SEC and Big Ten partnership? If so, can the Big 12 and ACC level up their teams enough to remain in the sphere of relevance? Meanwhile, in basketball, the NCAA Tournament could expand to 76 teams. The guys get into how this doesn't just benefit teams at the top but is also transformative to those who can break through and get into the field. 0:00 - Should the SEC teams play 8, 9, or 10 conference games? 6 ..read more

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss why former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles could be the missing piece that pushes Penn State to win a national title. Also, they say Clemson is flying under the radar when they shouldn't be. The guys bring out all the details on how Clemson leveled up. Then, ESPN national recruiting reporter Eli Lederman joins the pod to talk North Carolina, specifically how Bill Belichick has yet to put together a star-studded roster. Finally, Rece and Pete get into the underrated basketball history at Auburn and Alabama, and why you should have eyes on that Sat ..read more