ESPN national college football reporter Adam Rittenberg joins Zach on the show to discuss a number of topics surrounding Northwestern ahead of Week 1. They begin by talking about Big Ten Media Days and Adam’s impressions about the start of a new year for the conference and David Braun (2:34). Then, Adam gives insight into the Wildcats’ quarterback competition between Mike Wright and Jack Lausch (8:01) before reporting the latest on Northwestern’s search for a new athletic director (12:03). Next, the two discuss Adam’s inside look at the temporary lakeside facility, including what went into the search and how the reception has been on campus and around the league (17:51). Finally, the pair discusses expectations of what Northwestern can accomplish on the football field in 2024 (24:04).

Contact info—Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram: @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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Zach jumps into the next section of his four-part positional preview series about Northwestern football, talking about everything there is to know about the Wildcats’ big guys up front on the offensive and defensive lines. He begins on offense, going over the key names to know on the offensive line (2:37). Next, he talks about the puzzle of putting the unit together in 2024 and why this group badly needs to be better than it was last year (12:41). Then, he pivots to the defensive line, one of Northwestern’s biggest strengths this fall. After going over the deep, veteran group (18:30), he discusses how the stacked front can make life easier for the rest of the defense this season (22:48).

Contact info—Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram: @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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Zach continues a four-part positional preview series about Northwestern football, delivering a breakdown of the Wildcats' skill position players: wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. He begins with the ballcarriers, detailing who's available in 2024 (1:48) and why they'll need to be up to the task in a new offensive system (5:41). He then flips over to discuss the team's pass catchers, listing out the options to step up following some key departures at the top of the depth chart (15:28). Finally, he chooses the X-factor for the receiving corps and explains how the group can make life easier for the offense this season (22:34).

Contact info—Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram: @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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Zach kicks off the first of a four-part positional preview series about Northwestern football, beginning with a breakdown of the Wildcats' quarterbacks. First, he goes over all of the options for NU behind center in 2024, from Mike Wright to Aidan Gray, pointing out key stats and information about each of the team's top options (2:44). He then discusses what it's like for this program, fans and the rest of the college football world to decipher the best choice in the room (8:42). Next, he lists what the Wildcats are weighing most heavily when selecting a starting quarterback (12:52) before pointing out the importance of consistency and clarity at the position for the program over the last decade (19:01). Finally, he makes his pick for this year's starter and why he's backing that particular player (22:50).

Contact info—Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram: @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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Wildcat Report's Matt Shelton (@M_Shelton33) joins Zach on the show for a midsummer check-in of Northwestern football. The pair begins by discussing David Braun's first full offseason as head coach and how he's fared in preparing this team for immediate success (2:24). They then talk about impending changes for the offense (5:26), the all-important quarterback question (8:08) and what units and players need to step up for the Wildcats (12:19). Matt then gives his on-the-ground impression of Northwestern's various stadium projects, including the temporary lakeside facility (23:33). Finally, the two dive deep on Braun's success on the recruiting trail (31:14) and Matt names three of his most intriguing prospects set to join the Wildcats in 2025 (38:58).

Contact info—Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram: @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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It's mailbag week! Zach begins by talking about the start of a new athletic and academic year and how Northwestern can keep the momentum from last year rolling into this one (1:46). He then launches into answering questions from listeners (4:40), including whether or not Mike Wright is a lock to start at quarterback (9:35) and what the most important factor other than quarterback play will be for Northwestern football this fall (21:22). He dissects what offense the Wildcats will run in 2024 (25:04), talks about some of the most notable moments and people in Northwestern sports history (31:48),  breaks down whether Northwestern has a better chance to make the College Football Playoff or the Final Four (44:48) and much more.

Contact info—Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram: @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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Zach opens the show with some brief thoughts on the news that Northwestern will need a new athletic director following the announcement that Dr. Derrick Gragg will be moved into a new role (2:23). He's then joined by deputy athletic director Jesse Marks to discuss the Wildcats' temporary stadium setup for 2024 and 2025, starting with how this idea came to be (9:40). Jesse talks about the importance of building up the entire Lakefill to enhance the game-day experience (15:47) and how the set-up will affect the other programs that play at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium (19:42). Finally, Jesse talks about breaking ground at the new Ryan Field, which took place earlier this week (23:54).

Contact info for the mailbag episode; send in your questions! Twitter: @ZachKoons, Instagram @zach_koons, Email: [email protected]

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Chris Collins and Northwestern men’s basketball landed their first class of 2025 recruit this week, three-star combo guard Phoenix Gill. Zach gets into what to know about Gill’s pedigree (2:05) and gives his early impression of the soon-to-be Wildcat’s game (6:07). Then, he reflects on the spring offseason for the program, discussing the returns of Matt Nicholson, Ty Berry and Brooks Barnhizer as well as the additions of Jalen Leach and Keenan Fitzmorris (14:17). Finally, he discusses who needs to step up in 2024–25 (23:25) and outlines what the depth chart might look like for next season (28:31).

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Northwestern lacrosse lost a heartbreaker to Boston College in the women's lacrosse national championship on Sunday and Zach dives deep on the crushing defeat. He breaks down the turning tides of the first half, beginning with the hot start for the Wildcats before the second quarter response from the Eagles (1:12). Then, he pinpoints the most consequential sequence of the championship battle (9:56) and why Northwestern wasn't able to fully keep pace with BC in the final frame (14:13). Finally, he gives his main takeaways on what the outcome means for the power dynamic in women's lacrosse (19:45) before reflecting on the vast impact that Izzy Scane, Erin Coykendall and the rest of the senior class left on Wildcats' lacrosse (23:52).

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Noah Coffman (Twitter: @coffman_noah) joins Zach (@ZachKoons) to talk all things Northwestern lacrosse ahead of the program’s fifth consecutive Final Four appearance. The two begin by breaking down the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament quarterfinal win against Penn (1:20) before discussing the team’s balanced scoring attack (5:05) and veteran strength on defense (10:30). Then, the pair talks about Izzy Scane’s lasting impact on the program for the last six years (15:55) and analyzes the ceiling for standout sophomore Madison Taylor (19:52). Finally, the duo takes a look at the Final Four matchup against Florida and what Northwestern will have to do to win a second straight national championship (25:23).

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