On this episode, Ryan Nanni is joined by guest Yaron Weitzman, NBA writer and author of the new book "A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers" to review Year 1 of the J.J. Redick era. Has the criticism of hiring LeBron's podcast cohost worn off? How did Redick handle bringing Bronny James into the fold? What did the trade for Luka mean for expectations in J.J.'s first year, and what do they look like now? And will new ownership mean yet another change in the direction of this franchise? Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

Want to attend the first live Phantom Island show on Friday, November 14 in Athens, Georgia? Click this link for tickets and more details!

When Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni started recording this episode, there were 10 FBS programs looking for a new head coach. Thanks to LSU, that number jumped to 11 before this was published, but Godfrey is not stopping there. He'll walk you through the dominoes and decisions that could lead to forty different schools (at least) starting 2026 with new leadership – and it doesn't even get particularly outlandish until the very, very end. This is a preview of the full episode, which is available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

Steven Godfrey responds to questions from paid subscribers to Phantom Island, including: What's next for the Mike Bobo Renaissance? Does an active coach carousel season dissuade certain teams from firing their coaches? Could Sonny Dykes become a late candidate for several open jobs? And how do you manage the growing calendar of an active young kid? This is a preview of the full episode, which is available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

The Seattle Mariners present a unique case for the unaffiliated fan who wanted to jump on their bandwagon in the postseason. They've had a number of nationally intriguing players but no World Series appearances, an extended playoff drought, and minimal friction with the rest of baseball. Though, as you'll learn, not zero friction. This leads Steven Godfrey to ask: Are the Mariners the easiest team to bandwagon? Ryan Nanni attempts to answer that query with comparisons and listener feedback. (This episode was recorded before Game 7 of the ALCS, which means you can blame us for Seattle's loss.) Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

Want to attend the first live Phantom Island show on Friday, November 14 in Athens, Georgia? Click this link for tickets and more details!

With two more FBS jobs open in this season's carousel, Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni discuss the end of an uninspiring tenure for Billy Napier at Florida, wonder what Colorado State looks for after Jay Norvell, engage a handful of Tallahassee hypotheticals, and explain what's different about Lane to the Gators this time around. This is a preview of the full episode, which is available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

Steven Godfrey answers questions from paid subscribers to Phantom Island, and on this episode all those questions concern the coaching carousel. Is incoming private equity fueling coaching terminations? What does the first day of a coach getting fired look like? How much does playoff access matter to attracting coaching talent? And could James Franklin and Matt Rhule just swap jobs? This is a preview of the full episode, which is available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

Faking injuries has been a part of football for decades, though how and when it's used as a tactic has shifted, as has the response it elicits from opponents and league officials. Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni discuss the history of pretending to be hurt, what the NFL and college football have done to combat the practice, and get some on-field perspective from Marshall Newhouse on how players feel about fake injuries. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber, and research on this episode was contributed by Ryan Fortune.

Want to attend the first live Phantom Island show on Friday, November 14 in Athens, Georgia? Click this link for tickets and more details!

The sudden departure of James Franklin from Penn State brings about questions for all kinds of schools, including Wisconsin, Nebraska, Florida, Auburn, Indiana, Virginia Tech, and the Tennessee Titans. (OK, not that last one.) Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni examine what the search will look like for Franklin's successor, his mitigation future, and what schools that haven't made a move yet but might want or need to should be doing right now. This is a preview of the full episode, which is available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

The University of Wisconsin is home to a normally steadily football team that's hit a stretch of alarming decline, a men's basketball team that's reinvented itself, an incredibly popular volleyball team, and an ongoing dynasty in women's hockey. How do Badger fans juggle the emotions and different expectations of that universe, and why does Minnesota pop up across basically all of them? We talked to Drew Hamm, Nicole Haase, and Kedrick Stumbris to find out. This is a preview of the full episode, which is available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.

Not long ago, a college kicker lining up for a 50+ yard field goal attempt sent terror and doubt into the hearts of that team's fans, and an NFL kicker lining up from 60+ yards was a rare sight. Rodger Sherman, author of the Read Rodge newsletter, joins Ryan Nanni to discuss how those trends have changed over the years at both levels, why kicking is unique in its historical assessment, and how we feel about the end of #collegekickers pessimism. (Also: here's Jourdan Rodrigue's story about the changes in the NFL's K-ball rules!) Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.