Hooks, Hits & Headlocks

Hooks, Hits & Headlocks

By Chad Stephenson Tony CrabtreeSports
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Hooks, Hits & Headlocks episodes

  • “Fixing College Football: Bowls, Rankings, and Respect for the Game”

    College football is broken — and it's not just about NIL or the transfer portal. It's the timing, the structure, and the lack of respect for the season itself.

    In this episode, I lay out a full blueprint to fix college football from top to bottom: moving bowl games to create a real evaluation period, delaying rankings until they actually mean something, restructuring Rivalry Week and conference championships, and putting the national title back on New Year's Day where it belongs.

    I also tackle the chaos of the transfer portal and coaching carousel — and why both should stay closed until the season is officially over.

    This isn't just a rant. It's a plan.
    And it fixes a lot of what's dragging the sport down.

    Tune in and decide for yourself — is this the reset college football needs?

    21 min
  • “Big Ten Built Different: Indiana Wins It All, SEC Exposed”

    College football has a new power structure. Indiana's national championship victory is proof that the Big Ten now sits on top of the sport. I dive into how Big Ten programs are setting the standard, why the SEC hype no longer matches reality, and what this shift means for the future of college football.

    21 min
  • Ranking the Chaos: College Football Playoff Breakdown

    The College Football Playoff rankings are out — and you already know there's drama. Who's overrated? Who got snubbed? And who's actually built for December and January? I'm breaking down every contender, every surprise, and every team that's fooling the committee. No bias, no politics — just real football talk. Let's get into it.

    28 min
  • :Part 1 of Behind the Lanes: Inside the College Bowling Program with Coaches Brandon, Crystal & Todd”

    Host Chad Stephenson sits down with Head Coach Brandon Grice, who leads both the men's and women's college bowling teams, along with Women's Coach Todd Reichard and JV Coach Crystal Grice. Together, they break down what it takes to build a winning culture, develop student-athletes, and keep both squads performing at a championship level. From the mental grind to recruiting and those big-time tournament moments — this is one conversation every bowling and sports fan will want to hear

    46 min
  • Playoff Fever: Football & the Fall Classic Collide

    t's a packed week in sports, and Chad Stephenson is breaking it all down on Hooks, Hits & Headlocks!

    The high school football playoffs kick off across Michigan, with district semifinal battles that'll define local legacies. We dive into matchups like Michigan Center vs. Romulus, Napoleon vs. Buchanan, and more — complete with predictions and key players to watch.

    Then it's on to the college gridiron, where the Big Ten is flexing its power while the SEC takes a few unexpected hits. Who's a true contender, and who's just hanging on to the hype?

    And to top it off — the 2025 World Series is heating up as the Toronto Blue Jays and L.A. Dodgers trade blows in an October showdown for the ages.

    Football intensity meets baseball drama — this is Hooks, Hits & Headlocks.

    38 min
  • “The 2025 World Series Preview: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers — Legacy vs. Destiny”

    The stage is set for the 121st World Series — the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers are ready to battle for baseball's biggest prize!

    Join me Chad Stephenson as I break down every angle of this epic matchup — from how each team got here to the key players who could decide it all.

    Can the Dodgers become the first team since the 2000 Yankees to go back-to-back, or will the Blue Jays bring the trophy home to Canada for the first time since 1993?

    18 min
  • College Football Weekend Recap

    Welcome back to Hooks, Hits & Headlocks, your go-to source for college football highlights, analysis, and playoff drama. What a Saturday it was — the Top 10 saw upsets, statement wins, and playoff hopes hanging by a thread for several teams. Let's break it all down.”

    37 min
  • Friday Night Lights

    Week 8: Rivalries, Rankings & Playoff Chaos
    In this episode of Hooks, Hits & Headlocks, we dive into a pivotal Week 8 across the Cascades Conference, where rivalries heat up and playoff hopes hang by a thread. From Addison battling Hanover-Horton's playoff push to Columbia Central fighting for control in the West, every matchup under the Friday night lights tells a story.

    We break down records, state rankings, key players, and playoff stakes — and cap it all off with our Game of the Week: Michigan Center vs. Napoleon — an undefeated powerhouse colliding with a ranked rival for the East Division crown.

    Rivalries. Heartbreak. Statement wins.
    The road to Ford Field starts right here in the Cascades.

    19 min

About Hooks, Hits & Headlocks

From the publisher's feed

Hooks, Hits & Headlocks is a high-energy sports podcast that covers the worlds of fishing, football, wrestling, and a wide array of other sports at the professional, college, and high school levels. Hosted by passionate sports enthusiasts Chad Stephenson, the show delivers in-depth discussions, expert analysis, and lively debates on everything from the latest gridiron matchups to the biggest wrestling showdowns and top fishing hotspots. Whether you're a die-hard sports fan or just enjoy great conversation, Hooks, Hits & Headlocks has something for everyone.