Forklift Systems Football Saturday

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The college football landscape is shifting at the season's midpoint, highlighted by the fallout from Alabama's controversial victory over Georgia and Oklahoma's upset of top-ranked Texas. Attention now turns to a massive Big Ten clash as Indiana hosts Ohio State to determine the conference's top contender. The hosts contrast Ohio State's traditional power with Indiana's fearless, momentum-driven culture led by quarterback Josh Hoover, who boasts 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions on the year.

Further west, UCLA has surged to the number 12 ranking despite losing starting quarterback Nico to a season-ending injury. Transfer Ty Dieffenbach stepped up in relief to deliver a clutch end-zone strike, keeping the Bruins firmly in the 12-team playoff conversation. Conversely, Oregon is struggling to maintain its preseason expectations, plagued by consistent turnovers and instability at the quarterback position.

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At the halfway point of the 2026 college football season, Coach is joined by Tony Barnhart, Dennis Dodd, and Charles Davis. Barnhart and Coach break down a loaded SEC slate, including Georgia at Alabama, Texas vs. Oklahoma, Texas A&M at Missouri, and Ole Miss at Vanderbilt. They also dig into Oklahoma’s offensive struggles, Shane Beamer’s hot seat at South Carolina, and Tennessee’s quarterback change to freshman George McIntyre. Coach and Dodd then widen the lens to the national picture, debating whether Texas deserves the top spot, how Notre Dame and Miami look as playoff locks, and who benefits most from a 24-team playoff. Along the way they share their stats of the week, under-the-radar stories like Chip Kelly’s wing-T at Northwestern, and hidden gems like Kansas’ defense and an undefeated Duke.

Dodd closes out the Big 12 discussion with a look at BYU, Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State, and Houston, plus his pick of Oklahoma to cover the spread against Texas. Davis then previews the Big Ten’s biggest games, including UCLA at Oregon, Indiana at Nebraska, and USC at Penn State, and weighs in on the Group of Six playoff race between Boise State, James Madison, and North Dakota State. The show wraps with a rundown of the day’s SEC TV schedule and a look ahead to the marquee Georgia-Alabama showdown.

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Coach talks to Charles Davis about the current college football landscape, focusing heavily on critical Big Ten matchups. They evaluate UCLA's defensive plans against an undefeated Oregon squad that recently dropped 50 points in consecutive games against Purdue and Maryland. The discussion shifts to the broader conference, highlighting Indiana's resilient win streak, Nebraska's upcoming challenges, and Northwestern playing in a temporary stadium. The segment concludes with an analysis of USC's daunting cross-country trip to face Penn State in a night-game whiteout environment, alongside a look at rising programs like Boise State, James Madison, and North Dakota State.

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Coach talks to Tony Barnhart and Dennis Dodd about the college football playoff landscape at the season's halfway point, analyzing whether Texas will hold the number one spot over contenders like Georgia, Notre Dame, and Miami. The crew dives into their "Stat of the Week," highlighting Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton's 75.5% completion rate and Missouri running back Jamal Roberts hitting a 200-yard, three-touchdown milestone previously only reached by Derrick Henry. In their "Under the Radar" and "Hidden Gems" segments, they break down potential SEC transfer portal restrictions, innovative offensive schemes at Northwestern and Utah, and Kansas unexpectedly fielding the top defense in the Big 12. The conversation wraps up with a look at which programs—specifically Missouri and Notre Dame—stand to benefit the most from an expanded 16-to-24-team playoff format.

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