Phantom Island

After years of tumultuous relationships and mixed results in the Big 12, Texas moved to the SEC and things turned out...totally fine, with a national championship in softball, a run to the Final Four in women's basketball, and a football appearance in the SEC title game. But there's lots to unpack about the Longhorns all the same. How do they feel about the resumption of the A&M rivalry? Which Big 12 team will they miss facing? And is the mixed reputation of the DKR crowd a fair one? Sara Cannon, Gerald Goodridge, and Will Baizer address these questions and others.

This episode was originally only available to paid subscribers – go to phantomisland.show to sign up today - but we're making it available to everyone! Presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

Rodger Sherman joins Ryan Nanni on this episode to talk about FIFA's latest invention: the Club World Cup, a 32-team tournament thrown together to...well, move a lot of money around, for one thing. Why does this event exist in this form now, how do fans feel about it, and what is with the pronunciation of DAZN? Phantom Island is presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

Get ready to catch the bouquet, as the original marriage of numbers and words is back with special guest Bill Connelly. Topics include Rice’s move to the triple, Houston vs. Madison, an attempt to predict fortunes in the Big 12, and whether Godfrey can be talked back into Clay Helton. 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 Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

Year 2 of the UFL – the merger of the USFL and the second edition of the XFL – has resulted in mixed TV ratings, shuffled coaching staffs, and less of The Rock. What does the UFL need to do in order to succeed, and how can they learn from past attempts at spring leagues? Steven and Ryan consult Justis Mosqueda, who worked with the XFL on player evaluation and roster management during the league's 2020 launch, to find spring wisdom. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

Steven tackles listener questions on three different ACC-related topics, considers an impossible Ohio State or Kent State theoretical, gives you a brief overview of his evolving habits as a moviegoer, and much more. Presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

In most professional leagues, rookies are prized possessions that can help teams effectively manage the salary cap, develop talent for the future, and show their superiority in scouting. So why do some women's basketball players get picked in the top 20 and wind up washing out before their first season even begins? This is the question that Ryan brings to Godfrey on this episode, with a special appearance from Marisa Ingemi of the San Francisco Chronicle to bring some actual expertise to the discussion. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

The Jordan Bulls dominated the NBA and the sports cultural landscape in the 1990s, but fans have spent the last 25 years watching an organization swinging between mismanagement, heartbreak, and mediocrity. Maggie Hendricks, Ricky O'Donnell, and Jack Silverstein join the show to share their favorite Bulls memories, explain the dreaded GarPax, and discuss where Bulls struggles fall in the general angst of Chicago sports. Presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

The NFL schedule for 2025 is out, and Steven Godfrey is not happy with how many prime slots went to the Dallas Cowboys. So he and Ryan sat down, with some numbers, to figure out whether or not America's team actually gets more choice television placement than their record merits and uncover which team isn't getting the TV love that it should. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

Steven returns to answer listener questions about expectation for Sonny Dykes, the future of Northern California's college football programs, the steady creep of gambling into sports coverage, and a whole lot more as The Single Wing makes its triumphant return. Presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.

Early in the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Will Wade was connected with the open job at NC State. Critics complained this distraction was unfair to Wade's players at McNeese State – and then they beat five-seed Clemson. Steven and Ryan discuss the grudges still held against Wade, how the NFL restricts hiring during the playoffs, and evolving notions of etiquette. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield Apparel and produced by Michael Surber.