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 years to come?

0:00 - Why chalk is okay in the first and second rounds

5:10 - Did the SEC deserve 14 teams in the tournament?

14:45 - Is there room for the Big East alongside the SEC and Big Ten?

21:03 - Why BYU will top headlines in the coming years

25:08 - How BYU signed future NBA star AJ Dybantsa

28:48 - The Rick Pitino - John Calipari rivalry

33:58 - Why did Rick Pitino bench RJ Luis?

39:32 - The two Sweet 16 matchups to watch

40:59 - Maryland head coach Kevin Willard to Villanova?

49:30 - The ACC's most interesting head coach

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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 second round matchup against Gonzaga

3:52 - McNeese & High Point could be potential upset picks

5:48 - Kentucky, the No. 3 seed, looked disheveled the past couple of weeks

10:15 - UCLA vs. Utah St: Two big brands meet in the first round

12:07 - Tennessee's coach has a tortured NCAA Tournament history

14:19 - Jeff Borzello's Final Four picks

16:05 - Bill Connelly's Final Four picks

17:05 - Pete Thamel's Final Four picks

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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 coveted NBA prospect

14:46 - Colorado State's favorable pathway

16:37 - Drake's strategy is to run down the shot clock, will it work?

20:08 - Maryland ready to go on a run, can they get to the Elite Eight?

23:37 - Texas & St. John's are heavyweights in the West Region

25:37 - Why Kansas vs. Arkansas is a spicy matchup

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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 tough as you think

5:00 - Why Oregon lost their way this season

6:30 - How college ball is evolving

11:30 - Baylor has been bit by the injury bug

14:22 - Arizona has the most enigmatic player in the country

17:02 - Can Akron's coach lead his team to upset Arizona?

22:26 - How long can Duke go without Cooper Flagg?

23:57 -  Why Montana doesn't stand a chance

25:37 - Saint Mary's is an anomaly this season

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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 likely out after major player injury?

14:43 - Fun matchup: Marquette vs. New Mexico

15:46 - How far can Yale go?

18:00 - Spicy close matchup: Louisville vs. Creighton

19:28 - Michigan St: A chalky pick

22:05 - No. 1 seed Auburn doesn’t have a history of winning

24:00 - Should the SEC have 14 teams in the tourney?

27:16 - Preview: First Four play-in games

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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 Bowling Green

2:22 - The two emerging head coach hiring trends

6:10 - The talented coaches & players leaving the MAC

13:41 - The MAC rivalry you may not know about

14:19 - A way-too-early CFP scenario prediction

19:17 - Will Clemson be a top five team next season?

21:26 - In a 14-team CFP, what is the 4-4-2-2-1-1 model?

36:39 - How will head coach Marcus Freeman reset Notre Dame?

40:38 - Who will be Notre Dame's starting quarterback be next season?

42:23 - How is Rece on EA Sports CFB 25 Dynasty Mode?

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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 - How much revenue will be paid to players?

13:22 - What will college football look like in 2030?

15:39 - Will streaming services want to broadcast games?

18:18 - The best way to watch the NCAA Tournament

21:12 - How good are AI chat bots at NCAA Tourney trivia?

23:27 - Why teams will overthink DL Mason Graham

25:17 - The NFL draft difference makers outside the top 10

30:30 - Will Howard’s poor performance at the NFL Combine

35:26 - Did Shedeur Sanders shoot down his NFL draft stock?

39:54 - Field Yates’ near altercation at the NFL Combine

44:20 - Should teams be charged a timeout for faked injuries?

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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 latter rounds. Could one rise up to be an NFL star?

0:00 - Why college spring games could disappear

7:21 - What is the depth level of the 2025 NFL draft class?

9:52 - Will Travis Hunter play both ways in the NFL?

16:56 - The player to NOT be blindsided on

18:17 - Could QB Shedeur Sanders fall out of the top 10 draft picks?

24:23 - Pros & cons about QB Cam Ward

26:40 - Where will QBs Quinn Ewers, Jalen Milroe, Dillon Gabriel land in the draft?

31:00 - What kind of NIL deals do players at smaller schools have?

32:50 - Besides NIL, the highest currency in college football is…

36:37 - The best time to be a college free agent

38:00 - Where to find NIL data on schools?

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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?

6:21 - What’s the best way to get more eyes on college football?

12:18 - Will the SEC & Big Ten form a future partnership?

15:48 - Why the current peace in college football won’t last

22:38 - The Big 12 & ACC need to bring the pressure

32:24 - Why expand the NCAA hoops tourney to 76 teams?

40:20 - The hoops tourney expansion primary positive effect

43:28 - Why QB John Mateer to Oklahoma is interesting

45:55 - Can QB Miller Moss sneak Louisville into the CFP?

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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 Saturday matchup!

0:00 - Which Ohio State coaches are out?

5:00 - Penn State to win a title with DC Jim Knowles?

8:00 - Why you shouldn't sleep on Clemson right now

10:53 - Is Texas the number one team going into next season?

13:41 - What to expect from the College Football Playoff meetings

20:30 - Did Belichick recruit any high school stars for UNC?

23:27 - Who did Belichick bring in from the transfer portal?

32:15 - What you need to know about UNC quarterback Bryce Baker

35:00 - Why Auburn vs Alabama is a blockbuster college basketball game

45:30 - Rece's first-ever concert was with Elvis Presley?

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