Kings of the North College Football

Spring football has started at West Virginia, BYU and Kansas, with other Northern schools starting this week. On Kings of the North, that means a dive into 10 potential breakout players to watch this spring. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis chose players from Oregon, Nebraska, Maryland, Kansas State, Penn State, Ohio State and Syracuse, among other schools. Should you trust their spring breakout picks? A year ago, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith were two of the players they discussed. Plus a look at some Northern players who stood out at the NFL Combine, including a couple of Iowa State Cyclones. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • ACC agreement update (06:45) • First 5 players to watch during spring football (14:00) • NFL Combine notes (36:05) • Recapping our 2024 players to watch during spring football (55:40) • Final 5 players to watch during spring football (01:04:00)

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Which Northern college football teams are bringing back the most and the least from last season? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at the teams returning a lot (Illinois, Rutgers, Michigan, Cincinnati) and a little (Syracuse, Oregon, West Virginia). Plus more talk of changes to the College Football Playoff seeding, some NFL Combine updates, and Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Northern news (01:30) • 2025 returning production - who has the most returning production? (21:30) • Who has the least returning production for 2025? (53:40) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:05:25)

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College football changes on moments, from wins and losses to coaching swaps, from transfers to conference realignment decisions. On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis decide to Change One Thing with recent Northern college football history, from Texas joining the Big Ten to Brian Kelly staying at Notre Dame to Michael Penix staying at Indiana to big wins for Kansas State, West Virginia, Michigan and others with title implications. Thanks for joining Kings of the North for this quick version of some alternate histories. Chapters: Change one thing - • The Pac-12 stays alive (05:00) • Nick Saban stays at Michigan State in 1999 (14:10) • BYU beats Arizona State in 2024 (22:20) • Oregon or Kansas State make the 2012 title game (28:00) • 2024 is still a 4-team college football playoff (36:40) • Texas joins the big ten in 2010 (43:55) • Iowa hires Bob Stoops instead of Kirk Ferentz (50:55) • Michigan beats Ohio State in 2016 (59:20) • Justin Fields attends Penn State (1:06:41) • West Virginia beats Pitt in 2007 (1:11:00) • Michael Penix stays at Indiana (1:18:15) • Ohio State makes the 2017 CFP over Alabama • Wisconsin beats Ohio State in 2017 big ten title game (1:22:50) • Brian Kelly stays at Notre Dame (1:31:25) • Ohio State beats Georgia in 2022 CFP semifinal (1:36:25)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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)

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