 

College football's opening week has turned into a legal and competitive free-for-all — and this episode has it all covered. With LSU locked in a roster dispute with its own conference that's spilled into federal court. Coach, Tony Barnhart, and Dennis Dodd break down a power struggle that could reshape who's actually eligible to play. Dodd unpacks why LSU ultimately backed down, what the Texas Tech precedent signals, and why the sport is fast approaching an unavoidable question: what really separates a college athlete from a professional? Barnhart brings the SEC's perspective, while Coach  digs into the pressure now facing university presidents, athletic directors, governors, and commissioner Greg Sankey. From there, the crew races through the weekend's biggest storylines — whether Georgia and Texas truly separate themselves in a wide-open SEC, why Ole Miss might deserve more buzz than LSU, the heat on Florida State's Mike Norvell, Arch Manning's debut and Heisman implications, and whether Vanderbilt's Jared Curtis is the next breakout freshman quarterback. They also dive into Miami's early claim as the ACC's team to beat, Colorado's statement road win over Georgia Tech — with notes on Deion Sanders, Juju Lewis, and former Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter — and how Boise State can bolster its playoff case against Oregon even in a loss.

We round out the hour with the SEC's transfer-portal-driven landscape, a rundown of first-year coaches at Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, and Arkansas, and the growing question of whether NIL spending is actually translating into wins. Dennis previews the renewed Missouri-Kansas rivalry, Missouri's rise under Eli Drinkwitz, the Big 12's knack for late-game drama, and the Group of Six programs still churning out head-coaching talent. Finally, Charles Davis joins from Eugene with a national lens on Oregon and Boise State, the shifting value of conference titles in the playoff era, and why just reaching the postseason has become the sport's new benchmark — plus his read on Michigan under Kyle Whittingham, Penn State under Matt Campbell, and USC's early defensive progress under Gary Patterson. With the sport evolving faster than its own rulebook, this episode is essential listening for anyone trying to make sense of the personalities and power plays shaping college football in 2026.

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College football's opening week has turned into a legal and competitive free-for-all &mdash; and this episode has it all covered. With LSU locked in a roster dispute with its own conference that's spilled into federal court. Coach, Tony Barnhart, and Dennis Dodd break down a power struggle that could reshape who's actually eligible to play. Dodd unpacks why LSU ultimately backed down, what the Texas Tech precedent signals, and why the sport is fast approaching an unavoidable question: what really separates a college athlete from a professional? Barnhart brings the SEC's perspective, while Coach&nbsp; digs into the pressure now facing university presidents, athletic directors, governors, and commissioner Greg Sankey. From there, the crew races through the weekend's biggest storylines &mdash; whether Georgia and Texas truly separate themselves in a wide-open SEC, why Ole Miss might deserve more buzz than LSU, the heat on Florida State's Mike Norvell, Arch Manning's debut and Heisman implications, and whether Vanderbilt's Jared Curtis is the next breakout freshman quarterback. They also dive into Miami's early claim as the ACC's team to beat, Colorado's statement road win over Georgia Tech &mdash; with notes on Deion Sanders, Juju Lewis, and former Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter &mdash; and how Boise State can bolster its playoff case against Oregon even in a loss.
We round out the hour with the SEC's transfer-portal-driven landscape, a rundown of first-year coaches at Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, and Arkansas, and the growing question of whether NIL spending is actually translating into wins. Dennis previews the renewed Missouri-Kansas rivalry, Missouri's rise under Eli Drinkwitz, the Big 12's knack for late-game drama, and the Group of Six programs still churning out head-coaching talent. Finally, Charles Davis joins from Eugene with a national lens on Oregon and Boise State, the shifting value of conference titles in the playoff era, and why just reaching the postseason has become the sport's new benchmark &mdash; plus his read on Michigan under Kyle Whittingham, Penn State under Matt Campbell, and USC's early defensive progress under Gary Patterson. With the sport evolving faster than its own rulebook, this episode is essential listening for anyone trying to make sense of the personalities and power plays shaping college football in 2026.

Not many analysts in the midsouth have as much football expertise as Doug Mathews brings to the microphone every Saturday morning. It’s Forklift System’s Football Saturday on 104-5 The Zone.

Mathews, best known for his 10 seasons as Running Backs Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the University of Tennessee, tells it like it is and lets you take show where you want to go every weekend.

Forklift Systems Football Saturday covers all the big games across the nation, including all the action within the Southeastern Conference. It’s the perfect preview before you catch your favorite team play Saturday afternoon. Featuring long-time college football writer Tony Barnhart and NFL analyst Charles Davis.