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How strong are the brands of both Jackrabbits and Coyotes football heading into the 2026 season?

It was not a topic on the docket of hosts John Gaskins and Matt Zimmer for the first "Nobody's Listening Anyway" podcast of the new year, but that is the beauty of the show — a natural barstool conversation, "Happy Hour with John Gaskins" style, that leads down unplanned roads. 

The "brands" of South Dakota's two Div. I football programs were dissected after John and Matt discussed the early transfer portal headlines for SDSU and USD. Nothing much new has popped since the December news that two Jackrabbits who would potentially be big money Power Four transfers (Chase Mason and Quentin Christensen) announced they were staying in Brookings, while two Coyotes decided to leave Vermillion to seek greener pastures (L.J. Phillips and Larenzo Fenner).

The bigger picture is what second year head coaches Dan Jackson and Travis Johansen — who both tackled massive portal losses before their first seasons started — are doing to establish and maintain strong brands that will allow stability and success no matter how brutal portal combat gets year after year.

And what about the rest of the FCS? Did Montana State and Illinois State breaking the nine-season streak of either North Dakota State or SDSU playing for (and winning) the national title mean there is more parity, or should we expect the usual suspects back in 2026?

And how about Monday night's game? It felt like Redbirds lost it more than the Bobcats won, and John and Matt don't hold back on ISU's collapse. 

Next, a dive into the early Summit League men's and women's basketball seasons. Speaking of brands and identities, what do nonconference slates and early league battles suggest for things to come in a couple of months once the tournament comes back to Sioux Falls?

Will the SDSU women go unbeaten in league play for a fourth consecutive season since Dawn Plitzuweit left USD? How much stronger of challengers will the Coyotes be? On the men's side, is there any clear favorite? And what do we make of USD's M*A*S*H unit and how that affects the program moving beyond this season?

The show ends back on the gridiron, where both hosts say "I told you so" on the Minnesota Vikings turning down Aaron Rodgers in the offseason. Considering the shaky ability and availability of J.J. McCarthy in his first season, should Kevin O'Connell reach out to Rodgers or another veteran again... or ride it out with the kid and give him time he may need to pop?The answer to both could be yes. Hear why.

Finally, John and Matt try to make sense of Alabama's 38-3 humiliation from Indiana in the Rose Bowl and what legs Kalen DeBoer has to stand on heading into his third year. A history lesson from his early years as head coach at the University of Sioux Falls could lend a hint.