John explains why Eric Eidsness is the best offensive coordinator for SDSU now and why his demotion from OC his last couple years at Northern Illinois (making way for former USD quarterback Wes Beschorner) should not be a concern at all. Then, veteran Des Moines Register columnist Chad Leistikow dives deep about why SDSU legendary quarterback Mark Gronowski is exactly what the Hawkeye offense needs in 2025, and where Iowa football is headed in the expanded Big Ten and College Football Playoff era. SEC Network lead anchor Dari Nowkhah takes us home with a glimpse into Kalen DeBoer's tumultous first season at Alabama and expounds on why the SEC is no longer dominating the college football landscape after a 20-year reign. The former Lincoln, Nebraska (Huskers) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (Sooners) sportscaster makes his semifinal predictions. Oh, and what's it like to host a long-running national radio show with Mel Kiper?

John & Matt Zimmer react to Mark Gronowski deciding to spend his final year of eligibility at Iowa, fulfilling a dream come true for a Chicago kid hoping to someday play in the Big Ten. How will this marriage work? Plus, Zim tells SDSU fans seething at players leaving to stop wasting their energy — and why all these departures won't prevent the Jacks from still being a national title contender. Which familiar face will be the offensive coordinator, and what else should we expect from Jackson and this staff? Finally, reaction to NDSU's 10th national title and what the Vikings should do about Sam Darnold.

John explains why SDSU will still be a major FCS player in 2025 despite an entire coaching staff departure and several key players leaving, plus gives his FCS title game prediction and where Sam Darnold's future with the Vikings should stand after last night's abomination. Then, Andre Fields gives insight into some of the Jacks' coaching hires and a deep dive into USD's personnel going forward, particularly quarterback Aidan Bouman coming back if the defense can remain strong. 

John predicts Vikings win, plus why Dan Jackson is an "NDSU-type" hire, a la Tim Polasek & Craig Bohl. Voice of the Vikings Paul Allen gives X's and O's, while lifelong Lions fans and Sioux Falls sports media stalwards Stu Whitney & Mike Henriksen describe the life of a Lions fan, Sunday's massive high-stakes game, and go down memory lane of major moments in Sioux Falls and South Dakota sports history. 

The 26-year SDSU head coach (1997-2022) deep dives with insight, opinions, and emotions about two "sons" Jimmy Rogers & Dan Jackson & all that has transpired in Brookings re: staff and players leaving or entering portal. What is Stig's vision for Jackson's staff & a more formidable NIL collective for player money at SDSU -- and why is Justin Sell a "phenomenal" athletic director? Plus, stories about what it took for the Jacks to go from Div. II also-ran to FCS juggernaut, and how Stig almost lost his job turning the Div. I transition.

Matt Zimmer with reaction to the Jacks' golden boy leaving for Washington State. Matt has a good feeling of the man whose job it is to lose, and why SDSU will likely hire that guy.

In the only Happy Hour & "Nobody's Listening Anyway" of Christmas week, John opines on Cam Miller's "hate," Jimmy Rogers' remark about SDSU's "lull," and the Polasek effect in making this one of the most epic college football rivalries of all time. Then, enjoy 50 epic minutes of Kurtiss Riggs on the games, the programs, their futures, their coaches' strengths. Merry Christmas!

John picks who will win Saturday's monster national semifinal games. Will it be both South Dakota teams? Coyotes TV analyst and alumnus Andre Fields on why USD has become an elite program, and Bison TV play-by-play voice Dom Izzo on why fans are nervous for SDSU in Fargo. But first, Paul Allen on what makes Kevin O'Connell special, why these Vikes are as good or better than 2009, why Minnesota will beat Seahawks, and why the Bears will upset the Lions (yeah, he said it).  

Going deep on the Jacks, Yotes, Bison and Bobcats on the biggest week ever for football in South Dakota history. The "NLA" podcasts John & Matt have been doing for over 4 years morphs into Happy Hour every week starting NOW. Same yahoos, same laughs, same deep dives, same Harry Doyle open. No more cursing (f%#$ that!)

John offers a toast to "Boring Bob" Nielson, USD's coach whose team is anything but boring. Veteran Fargo columnist Mike McFeely - NOT BORING -  is bored with the FCS life for NDSU and is bummed the Bison weren't invited into the Mountain West, despite constant national championship contention and monster high-stakes history-defining playoff rivalry games like Saturday vs SDSU. He makes his case for the FBS life, plus previews Saturday's big game. Then, Coyote Eric on the life of a die-hard USD fan -- as he described it during and after one of the biggest wins ever in the DakotaDome.