Coach leads a college-football roundtable with Tony Barnhart and Dennis Dodd, assessing a chaotic weekend in which five of the top seven teams lost. The panel examines SEC contenders and playoff uncertainty, the Big 12's growing depth, and why the transfer portal, broader talent distribution, coaching investment, and expanded game access are making Saturdays unusually compelling. Sports host Doug Matthews talks with college football reporter Dennis Dodd about officiating accountability, conference realignment, playoff contenders, and the forces driving greater parity. Charles Davis joins later to assess major upsets, quarterback injuries, and the Big Ten race.

Coach leads a college-football roundtable with Tony Barnhart and Dennis Dodd, assessing a chaotic weekend in which five of the top seven teams lost. The panel examines SEC contenders and playoff uncertainty, the Big 12's growing depth, and why the transfer portal, broader talent distribution, coaching investment, and expanded game access are making Saturdays unusually compelling. Sports host Doug Matthews talks with college football reporter Dennis Dodd about officiating accountability, conference realignment, playoff contenders, and the forces driving greater parity. Charles Davis joins later to assess major upsets, quarterback injuries, and the Big Ten race.

Forklift Systems Football Saturday 10-24-26

Doug Matthews, Tony Barnhart, and Dennis Dodd break down the unprecedented parity defining the current college football season, noting that the sport is currently delivering some of its best on-field action in history. The panel examines the shifting balance of power in the Southeastern Conference following a weekend of major upsets, including Alabama's road loss to Tennessee. The conversation explores how the transfer portal, modern roster dynamics, and an expanded playoff format are reshaping the postseason picture for both established powerhouses and emerging contenders

Doug Matthews, Tony Barnhart, and Dennis Dodd break down the unprecedented parity defining the current college football season, noting that the sport is currently delivering some of its best on-field action in history. The panel examines the shifting balance of power in the Southeastern Conference following a weekend of major upsets, including Alabama's road loss to Tennessee. The conversation explores how the transfer portal, modern roster dynamics, and an expanded playoff format are reshaping the postseason picture for both established powerhouses and emerging contenders

Tony Barnhart : SEC Chaos, Tennessee's Historic Defense, and Big 12 Surprises

A breakdown of the latest AP Poll makes the case for Miami at number one and analyzes the controversial pass interference call in the Notre Dame-BYU game. The discussion shifts to referee accountability across conferences, the Group of Six playoff picture featuring Boise State, and the unpredictable nature of the Big 12. Finally, an exploration of recent reporting on conference media rights and the "point compression" theory explains this season's unprecedented parity through a combination of lower scoring, NIL, and the transfer portal.

A breakdown of the latest AP Poll makes the case for Miami at number one and analyzes the controversial pass interference call in the Notre Dame-BYU game. The discussion shifts to referee accountability across conferences, the Group of Six playoff picture featuring Boise State, and the unpredictable nature of the Big 12. Finally, an exploration of recent reporting on conference media rights and the "point compression" theory explains this season's unprecedented parity through a combination of lower scoring, NIL, and the transfer portal.

DENNIS DODD : Officiating Controversies, G6 Contenders, and the Parity Equation

It was a historic weekend of college football upsets that completely shifted the balance of power across the sport. Charles Davis joins the breakdown of a wild Saturday that saw multiple top-tier teams stumble and the undefeated ranks thin out. The analysis covers Ohio State’s critical victory over Indiana and how the Buckeyes will adjust after losing Julian Sayin for the year, forcing freshman Jeff Fahey into the starting role. Out West, undefeated UCLA faces a similar crisis, turning to Ty Dieffenbach to keep their championship hopes alive. Finally, the discussion dives into Notre Dame’s controversial, clock-mismanaged loss to BYU and previews the upcoming clash between a resilient Michigan State squad and UCLA.

It was a historic weekend of college football upsets that completely shifted the balance of power across the sport. Charles Davis joins the breakdown of a wild Saturday that saw multiple top-tier teams stumble and the undefeated ranks thin out. The analysis covers Ohio State&rsquo;s critical victory over Indiana and how the Buckeyes will adjust after losing Julian Sayin for the year, forcing freshman Jeff Fahey into the starting role. Out West, undefeated UCLA faces a similar crisis, turning to Ty Dieffenbach to keep their championship hopes alive. Finally, the discussion dives into Notre Dame&rsquo;s controversial, clock-mismanaged loss to BYU and previews the upcoming clash between a resilient Michigan State squad and UCLA.

CHARLES DAVIS : The Backup Plan: Big Ten QB Crises, Top 10 Upsets, and BYU's Stunner

In this episode, we explore the latest developments in college football, including conference dynamics, key matchups, and the impact of schedule changes. Coach with Dennis Dodd, and Tony Barnhart And Charles Davis  analyze the season's surprises and what to expect in the coming weeks. 

In this episode, we explore the latest developments in college football, including conference dynamics, key matchups, and the impact of schedule changes. Coach with Dennis Dodd, and Tony Barnhart And Charles Davis&nbsp; analyze the season's surprises and what to expect in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Forklift Systems Football Saturday 10-17-26

Dennis Dodd joins the show to discuss the recently approved 14-team college football playoff model that will take effect in 2027, which was heavily driven by the SEC and Big Ten's push for expanded access. Dodd highlights several surprising mid-season storylines, noting that two of the week's most significant games are taking place in Bloomington, where undefeated Indiana hosts Ohio State, and in Provo, where BYU is calling its matchup against Notre Dame the biggest home game in school history. The conversation also covers the incredible performance of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, whom Dodd describes as an adult playing with children while on a trajectory to shatter Big Ten receiving records. 

The segment also explores the season's unexpected disappointments, including Missouri's failure to meet its high preseason playoff expectations and the unfortunate absence of Amad Hardy, who has not played since being shot in the leg in May. Analyzing the conference landscapes, Dodd points to the continued dominance of the SEC, emphasizing that Georgia and Alabama currently look like the clear top two teams in the conference despite deep overall rosters across the league. The discussion wraps up by highlighting the intense competitiveness within the SEC, referencing Tennessee's recent dramatic victory over Texas and previewing their highly anticipated, high-stakes matchup against Alabama.

Dennis Dodd joins the show to discuss the recently approved 14-team college football playoff model that will take effect in 2027, which was heavily driven by the SEC and Big Ten's push for expanded access. Dodd highlights several surprising mid-season storylines, noting that two of the week's most significant games are taking place in Bloomington, where undefeated Indiana hosts Ohio State, and in Provo, where BYU is calling its matchup against Notre Dame the biggest home game in school history. The conversation also covers the incredible performance of Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, whom Dodd describes as an adult playing with children while on a trajectory to shatter Big Ten receiving records. 
The segment also explores the season's unexpected disappointments, including Missouri's failure to meet its high preseason playoff expectations and the unfortunate absence of Amad Hardy, who has not played since being shot in the leg in May. Analyzing the conference landscapes, Dodd points to the continued dominance of the SEC, emphasizing that Georgia and Alabama currently look like the clear top two teams in the conference despite deep overall rosters across the league. The discussion wraps up by highlighting the intense competitiveness within the SEC, referencing Tennessee's recent dramatic victory over Texas and previewing their highly anticipated, high-stakes matchup against Alabama.

Dennis Dodd Breaks Down the 14-Team Playoff Expansion, SEC Dominance, and Mid-Season Surprises

Coach and Tony talks about the  handshake agreement to expand the College Football Playoff to a 24-team field starting in the 2027 season. The newly proposed tournament structure will feature 19 at-large teams, four conference champions, and one Group of Six representative, a move driven primarily by coaches lobbying for greater playoff access rather than financial gain. Off the field, the panel noted James Madison University's impending conference move from the Sun Belt to the American Athletic Conference. The hosts also observed a growing philosophical shift across the sport, with more college coaches actively emphasizing the strategic necessity of establishing the run game to win. 

Turning to the weekend schedule, the hosts previewed several marquee matchups, highlighted by the Deep South's oldest continuous rivalry between Auburn and Georgia, which dates back to an 1892 meeting in Atlanta. Another historic clash features No. 7 Alabama visiting No. 14 Tennessee, marking the first time since 1970 that Tennessee will be wearing orange while Alabama takes the field in crimson. Additional game breakdowns included Indiana hosting Ohio State in what was billed as the biggest home game in Indiana football history, Notre Dame traveling to play BYU, and Texas attempting to rebound from a loss against Oklahoma as they face Florida. The segment wrapped up with praise for Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz, who is successfully managing his team despite relying heavily on second-string offensive players.

Coach and Tony talks about the&nbsp; handshake agreement to expand the College Football Playoff to a 24-team field starting in the 2027 season. The newly proposed tournament structure will feature 19 at-large teams, four conference champions, and one Group of Six representative, a move driven primarily by coaches lobbying for greater playoff access rather than financial gain. Off the field, the panel noted James Madison University's impending conference move from the Sun Belt to the American Athletic Conference. The hosts also observed a growing philosophical shift across the sport, with more college coaches actively emphasizing the strategic necessity of establishing the run game to win. 
Turning to the weekend schedule, the hosts previewed several marquee matchups, highlighted by the Deep South's oldest continuous rivalry between Auburn and Georgia, which dates back to an 1892 meeting in Atlanta. Another historic clash features No. 7 Alabama visiting No. 14 Tennessee, marking the first time since 1970 that Tennessee will be wearing orange while Alabama takes the field in crimson. Additional game breakdowns included Indiana hosting Ohio State in what was billed as the biggest home game in Indiana football history, Notre Dame traveling to play BYU, and Texas attempting to rebound from a loss against Oklahoma as they face Florida. The segment wrapped up with praise for Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz, who is successfully managing his team despite relying heavily on second-string offensive players.

College Football Playoff Expansion and Weekend Rivalry Previews With Tony Barnhart

Coach Dennis And Tony  opens the segment by sharing notable statistics, highlighting that traditional basketball powerhouses UCLA, Kentucky, and Indiana are simultaneously ranked in the AP top 25 for the first time since October 23, 1950. The discussion then turned to Nebraska's ongoing struggles, specifically their 31-game losing streak against ranked opponents. The panel also evaluated the College Football Playoff landscape, noting that a mid-season poll would place three Big 12 teams in the bracket compared to only two from the Big Ten. Highlighting under-the-radar storylines, the group pointed out that six Big 12 programs currently hold winning streaks of at least four games, and praised Missouri's standout performances from Jamal Roberts and Austin Simmons. The hosts also commended Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey for his strong completion percentage and early-season impact.

Transitioning to "hidden gems," the panel celebrated the return of a classic visual for the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry, noting that for the first time since a 1970 Southeastern Conference uniform rule, both teams will wear their traditional dark jerseys at the same time. The panel also lauded Houston head coach Willie Fritz for quietly amassing 220 career victories across multiple collegiate divisions, and acknowledged Bob Chesney for becoming the first Bruins coach in UCLA's 107-year football history to start his career 5-0 in Westwood. The broadcast concluded with sharp criticism of Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko for publicly alienating his fan base and the influential local media outlet TexAgs.com. The panel stressed that a coach must "read the room" before speaking out, especially given the significant sway that passionate fan bases and media platforms hold over coaching tenures.

Coach Dennis And Tony&nbsp; opens the segment by sharing notable statistics, highlighting that traditional basketball powerhouses UCLA, Kentucky, and Indiana are simultaneously ranked in the AP top 25 for the first time since October 23, 1950. The discussion then turned to Nebraska's ongoing struggles, specifically their 31-game losing streak against ranked opponents. The panel also evaluated the College Football Playoff landscape, noting that a mid-season poll would place three Big 12 teams in the bracket compared to only two from the Big Ten. Highlighting under-the-radar storylines, the group pointed out that six Big 12 programs currently hold winning streaks of at least four games, and praised Missouri's standout performances from Jamal Roberts and Austin Simmons. The hosts also commended Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey for his strong completion percentage and early-season impact.
Transitioning to "hidden gems," the panel celebrated the return of a classic visual for the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry, noting that for the first time since a 1970 Southeastern Conference uniform rule, both teams will wear their traditional dark jerseys at the same time. The panel also lauded Houston head coach Willie Fritz for quietly amassing 220 career victories across multiple collegiate divisions, and acknowledged Bob Chesney for becoming the first Bruins coach in UCLA's 107-year football history to start his career 5-0 in Westwood. The broadcast concluded with sharp criticism of Texas A&amp;M head coach Mike Elko for publicly alienating his fan base and the influential local media outlet TexAgs.com. The panel stressed that a coach must "read the room" before speaking out, especially given the significant sway that passionate fan bases and media platforms hold over coaching tenures.

AP Poll Anomalies, SEC Uniform Traditions, and Coaching Critiques in College Football

At the midseason mark of the college football season, Georgia and Alabama have solidified themselves as the premier teams in the SEC—and possibly the nation—following a fiercely competitive, 60-minute clash. The conference landscape is showing vulnerabilities elsewhere, however, with Florida's ongoing struggles highlighting a noticeable lack of top-tier depth across the SEC this year. Meanwhile, in a stunning rivalry upset, Texas squandered early 10-0 and 17-7 leads to fall to Oklahoma on a buzzer-beating field goal, a devastating loss set up by an ill-advised interception thrown by quarterback Arch Manning late in the game. 

Out west, UCLA secured a massive upset victory over Oregon, relying on a gritty, rugby-style rushing attack after losing starting quarterback Nico in the first half. Looking at the broader national picture and the Big 12, an undefeated BYU squad stands out as the conference's top contender. The panel notes that BYU's upcoming matchup against Notre Dame represents the final major hurdle for the Irish before they face Miami later in the season, a highly anticipated matchup that will carry significant playoff implications for both programs.

At the midseason mark of the college football season, Georgia and Alabama have solidified themselves as the premier teams in the SEC&mdash;and possibly the nation&mdash;following a fiercely competitive, 60-minute clash. The conference landscape is showing vulnerabilities elsewhere, however, with Florida's ongoing struggles highlighting a noticeable lack of top-tier depth across the SEC this year. Meanwhile, in a stunning rivalry upset, Texas squandered early 10-0 and 17-7 leads to fall to Oklahoma on a buzzer-beating field goal, a devastating loss set up by an ill-advised interception thrown by quarterback Arch Manning late in the game. 
Out west, UCLA secured a massive upset victory over Oregon, relying on a gritty, rugby-style rushing attack after losing starting quarterback Nico in the first half. Looking at the broader national picture and the Big 12, an undefeated BYU squad stands out as the conference's top contender. The panel notes that BYU's upcoming matchup against Notre Dame represents the final major hurdle for the Irish before they face Miami later in the season, a highly anticipated matchup that will carry significant playoff implications for both programs.

 Midseason College Football Review: Georgia-Bama Fallout, UCLA's Upset, and Notre Dame's Path   

Coach previews a massive weekend in college football, highlighted by the historic rivalry between No. 7 Alabama and No. 14 Tennessee. For the first time in 56 seasons, both teams will wear their home colors—Tennessee in orange and Alabama in crimson—adding visual spectacle to a highly anticipated matchup where both teams enter with a single loss. The host also outlines other major national and SEC matchups, including top-ten battles like No. 2 Notre Dame against No. 8 BYU and No. 5 Indiana taking on No. 4 Ohio State. 

Looking deeper into the Alabama-Tennessee game, the analysis suggests that cooler weather will allow both teams to rely on tighter rotations of about 33 to 34 players, minimizing the need for extensive defensive depth. The broadcast teases upcoming segments featuring college football analysts Dennis Dodd, Tony, and Charles Davis, who will break down the national picture and their respective conferences. Additionally, the segment concludes with a sponsor read for Wilson Bank & Trust, emphasizing their community presence across more than 30 locations to help listeners with their banking needs. 

Coach previews a massive weekend in college football, highlighted by the historic rivalry between No. 7 Alabama and No. 14 Tennessee. For the first time in 56 seasons, both teams will wear their home colors&mdash;Tennessee in orange and Alabama in crimson&mdash;adding visual spectacle to a highly anticipated matchup where both teams enter with a single loss. The host also outlines other major national and SEC matchups, including top-ten battles like No. 2 Notre Dame against No. 8 BYU and No. 5 Indiana taking on No. 4 Ohio State. 
Looking deeper into the Alabama-Tennessee game, the analysis suggests that cooler weather will allow both teams to rely on tighter rotations of about 33 to 34 players, minimizing the need for extensive defensive depth. The broadcast teases upcoming segments featuring college football analysts Dennis Dodd, Tony, and Charles Davis, who will break down the national picture and their respective conferences. Additionally, the segment concludes with a sponsor read for Wilson Bank &amp; Trust, emphasizing their community presence across more than 30 locations to help listeners with their banking needs.

Historic "Third Saturday in October" Highlights the SEC Slate on Football Saturday

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.

Forklift Systems Football Saturday

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