From head coaches on the hot seat to college football teams that should be happy with their head coaches; from college football seeding changes to the number of true national title contenders; from Northern first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to the best first-year coach of 2025; Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis face 10 college football truths on this episode of Kings of the North. Plus Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking to wrap up the show. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • True or false on 10 statements about college football (02:15) • Statement 1 (02:44) • Statement 2 (25:20) • Statement 3 (31:00) • Statement 4 (35:30) • Statement 5 (45:05) • Statement 6 (48:35) • Statement 7 (59:00) • Statement 8 (1:03:05) • Statement 9 (1:06:50) • Statement 10 (1:10:15) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:15:00)

Big Ten and SEC leaders are meeting again this week to discuss (and determine) the future of the College Football Playoff. From guaranteed bids to the size of the field to adjusting conference championship weekend, more changes are on the table. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break down all the possibilities and discuss how much freaking out is in order. Then it's a draft of the best Northern quarterbacks, plus some possible Southern quarterbacks to fear. From returning starters like Penn State's Drew Allar, Kansas' Jalon Daniels and Michigan State's Aidan Chiles, to ready-made transfers like Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Iowa's Mark Gronowski and Wisconsin's Billy Edwards, to rising young QBs like Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Michigan's Bryce Underwood and Minnesota's Drake Lindsey, Doug and Bill discuss and draft what the North has to offer in 2025 at QB. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Inbounds/out-of-bounds: SEC and Big 10 should lead the CFP discussion (09:00) • Inbounds/out-of-bounds: The playoff should move to 16 teams in 2026 (14:20) • Inbounds/out-of-bounds: Conference championship weekend should change (20:30) • Inbounds/out-of-bounds: SEC should play 9 conference games (30:00) • Inbounds/out-of-bounds: SEC/Big 10 should play a series (34:40) • Inbounds/out-of-bounds: ACC and Big 12 should play a series (39:45) • Drafting the best QB situations in the North (52:00) • Drafting the best QB situations in the South (1:57:50)

College football win totals are the topic of the day on Kings of the North, including a discussion of four Northern teams that are projected at 10.5 regular-season wins. Among Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Penn State, which teams will go over and which will go under that number? Plus other win total predictions on Michigan, Iowa, Alabama and more. And Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking to wrap up the show. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Four northern teams with win totals set at 10.5 (02:45) • Review of 2024 win total picks (44:10) • Doug's 2025 college football win total picks (49:30) • Doug and Bill's 2025 college football win total picks (56:00) • Bill's 2025 college football win total picks (1:05:00) • Matt Patricia hired as Ohio State's defensive coordinator (1:08:20)

Starting with Kansas State-Iowa State in Ireland, through Ohio State-Michigan, Oregon-Washington and Nebraska-Iowa to end the season, Kings of the North gives you its Ultimate Northern Schedule on this episode. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through the best game each week of our 28 Northern teams, finding the greatest variety of great Northern action. There are 25 of the teams represented on this schedule (sorry to the other three) as Doug and Bill plot out what could be some of their travel schedule this season and let you know how the college football season will unfold. Plus, Northern news including more coaching movement involving Penn State, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Colorado and more. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • News around northern football (03:00) • Ultimate northern schedule for 2025 season weeks 0-7 (40:30) • Ultimate northern schedule for 2025 season weeks 8-14 (1:09:15)

What's the best way to hire an offensive or defensive coordinator in college football? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at Ohio State's coordinator decisions to dive into a deeper discussion of the best strategies, with some lessons learned from Nick Saban. And yes, there seems to be a plan that has the most success. Also, the full Big 12 schedule is out and the guys look at the biggest and best games. Plus some other news from around Northern football, and Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

From Travis Hunter to Mason Graham, from Jeremiah Smith to Jeremiyah Love, from Abdul Carter to Tez Johnson, Kings of the North names its All-North first and second teams on this episode. That also includes a debate over the King of the North award for the best Northern player. Also on this show, final Performance Review rankings for all 28 teams, and news around Chip Kelly leaving Ohio State, Nebraska maybe canceling its spring game, Senior bowl standouts and the future of the ACC. Plus, a South Cram-o-Meter Year in Review. Thanks for joining Kings of the North Chapters: • Ohio State losing 3 assistant coaches (03:30) • Nebraska to cancel their spring game? (10:15) • ACC agrees to new network deal with ESPN (13:45) • Who stood out at the senior bowl? (18:30) • Performance Review recap (21:30) • Cram-o-meter season in review video package (29:55) • KOTN first team defense (54:00) • KOTN second team defense (57:50) • KOTN first team offense (1:04:00) • KOTN second team offense (1:11:55) • King of the North debate (1:29:00) • King of the North winner is (1:42:00)

Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, BYU, Illinois and Iowa State finish off the Kings of the North 2024 College Football Performance Reviews on this episode. Those are the KOTN teams that put together the best seasons, so corporate headquarters should be pleased. But first, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis take a moment to compare the 2023 Michigan and 2024 Ohio State National Championship teams. How did they stack up statistically, in talent and on their paths to titles? Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Comparing Ohio State to Michigan championship teams (01:40) • Oregon 2024 season performance review (30:45) • Syracuse 2024 season performance review (39:13) • Penn State 2024 season performance review (45:00) • BYU 2024 season performance review (52:30) • Notre Dame 2024 season performance review (01:00:00) • Ohio State 2024 season performance review (01:08:20) • Iowa State 2024 season performance review (01:14:40) • Indiana 2024 season performance review (01:20:30) • Illinois 2024 season performance review (01:26:45)

It's Part 2 of College Football Performance Reviews on this Kings of the North, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis rate the seasons of Iowa, Kansas State, Utah, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pitt, Boston College, Northwestern and Maryland. But first, Michigan has responded to the NCAA over the allegations of sign stealing. Doug and Bill discuss what Michigan said in its response, how the rest of The North is reacting, and the important item that relates to the start of the investigation. Thanks as always for being part of KOTN. Chapters: • Michigan's response to the NCAA (01:20) • Who was the tipster? (03:00) • Sherrone Moore deleted texts (08:21) • What advantage gained? (14:44) • Kansas State 2024 Performance Review (39:40) • Minnesota 2024 Performance Review (47:30) • Nebraska 2024 Performance Review (54:30) • Pitt 2024 Performance Review (01:01:40) • Utah 2024 Performance Review (01:08:30) • Maryland 2024 Performance Review (01:14:00) • Iowa 2024 Performance Review (01:19:00) • Boston College 2024 Performance Review (01:23:30) • Northwestern 2024 Performance Review (01:30:00) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (01:35:50)

The ACC released its schedule Monday night, and Kings of the North looks at the biggest games and most important weeks for Notre Dame, Syracuse, Boston College and Pitt. Then it's the start of 2024 Performance Reviews, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis will review and rate all 28 of their Northern teams, starting on this episode with Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Kansas, Rutgers and Colorado, among others. Then it's a quick look at other Northern college football news. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • ACC schedule release (02:30) • Washington 2024 performance review (21:30) • Michigan 2024 performance review (27:10) • Colorado 2024 performance review (33:10) • Wisconsin 2024 performance review (40:10) • Michigan State 2024 performance review (45:36) • Kansas 2024 performance review (52:40) • Rutgers 2024 performance review (59:37) • Cincinnati 2024 performance review (1:06:40) • Purdue 2024 performance review (1:13:15) • West Virginia 2024 performance review (1:15:26) • Ryan Day on Jimmy Fallon (1:22:00)

Penn State hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles away from Ohio State and made it official on Monday. On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at what this move means for both schools -- and their November matchup in Columbus. But then the guys go beyond that, looking at every coordinator move this offseason for their 28 Northern teams. That's 56 coordinators -- how many do you think have changed? And what do we learn from the idea that the offensive coordinators were fired and the defensive coordinators were stolen away? Thanks for joining Kings of the North -- it's great to be back! Chapters: • Jim Knowles leaves Ohio State and heads to Penn State (06:00) • What does this mean for Penn State? (25:36) • What does this mean for Ohio State? (35:30) • Defensive coordinator changes in the north (57:15) • Offensive coordinator changes in the north (1:36:00)