Preferred Walk-Ons

By Michael McGraw and Michael ShuttSports

Preferred Walk-Ons episodes

October 06You Had A Bad Day & ACC Week 6 Preview
The two flagship programs of Virginia had disastrous football games this past weekend. UVA was humbled in a blowout loss in Tallahassee while Virginia Tech narrowly lost in the most agonizing way to Pittsburgh. We talk about both games and their prospects for the remainder of the season, then provide an in-depth preview of Week 6 ACC games.

Topics for discussion include:
Virginia's deflating loss against Florida State and what it means for the rest of the season
Virginia Tech's close and controversial loss against Pittsburgh
Biases against ACC teams among AP voters
Analysis and picks for every ACC football game in Week 6
Other national games of interest to watch this weekend
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
54 min
September 29ACC's Biggest Surprises & Week 5 Picks
The ACC always delivers chaos, and the 2026 football season has been no different. One month into the season and entering the thick of conference play, we take stock of the biggest surprises and debate which team is best suited to compete with Miami for the ACC title. Plus, as we do every week in the fall, we provide predictions and analysis for every ACC game coming up this weekend.
Topics for discussion include:
The most surprising ACC teams the first month of the season
Which ACC football team is second best behind Miami
Picks and previews for every Week 5 ACC football game
Other national games of interest this weekend
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
1 hr
September 22Misery Loves Company & ACC Week 4 Preview
It was a bad weekend of football for our hosts. NC State orchestrated one of the most improbable losses in college football history, while Virginia suffered a disappointing loss in Charlotte. We discuss what these losses mean for both programs before looking ahead to an exciting weekend of college football.

Topics for discussion include:
NC State's improbable last-second loss against Vanderbilt
How worried Virginia fans should be following the Cavaliers' loss vs. West Virginia
Picks and previews of every Week 4 ACC football game
Other exciting college football games to watch this weekend
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
58 min
September 15ACC Bounce Back & Week 3 Preview
The ACC partially redeemed itself in Week 2 after a slow start in out-of-conference games. We discuss the conference's national perception and analyze opportunities for statement victories during the Week 3 slate.

Topics for discussion include:
The ACC's 3-0 week against the Big Ten and what it means for conference prestige
Picks and previews for every Week 3 ACC football game
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show onTwitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
56 min
September 08UN-Seedy Allegations & Week 2 ACC Picks
ACC football teams have not fared well out of the gate against out-of-conference competition. Only UNC—a school with plenty of its own problems—has managed to secure a Power 4 win against a non-ACC program. We debate what the slow start means for the conference, discuss the ongoing investigation at Chapel Hill, and preview the upcoming week of college football games.

Topics for discussion include:
Investigations taking place with UNC football and whether Bill Belichick can keep his job
Whether the ACC's poor start to the college football season will hurt College Football Playoff prospects
Previews of every ACC game in Week 2, with predictions and betting angles
Other games of interest taking place this weekend and LSU's legal battle with the SEC
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
1 hr 2 min
September 01Hoos Tame Wolfpack & Week 1 ACC Picks
The season could not have started better for the Virginia football program, as the Cavaliers dominated NC State from start to finish in the ACC opener. We analyze what went right for the Hoos, where the Wolfpack fell short, and what it means for both programs going forward. Then, as we do every week in the fall, we preview the upcoming ACC football schedule with picks for every game.

Topics for discussion include:
Virginia's dominant victory over NC State and what it says about both programs
Why UVA fans should embrace the excitement surrounding the football team
Previews and predictions for every ACC game in Week 1
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
57 min
August 25Week Zero Hour
After months of waiting, college football is finally back, and it starts with the hosts' favorite schools facing off in a monumental ACC clash. In this episode, we provide an in-depth preview of the "PWO Bowl," sharing optimistic cases for both NC State and Virginia. Then, as we do every week in the fall, we analyze the other ACC games on the docket with predictions against the spread.
Topics for discussion include:
Why NC State presents a formidable challenge to Virginia
UVA's strengths heading into Week 0
Final predictions for the UVA-NC State game and the biggest questions for each team
Picks and previews for the other ACC games taking place this Saturday
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen on TheSabre.com and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
40 min
August 192026 ACC Football Hot Takes
The ACC has long embodied the chaotic nature of college football. In this episode, we share our most outlandish and contrarian predictions for what will happen with ACC football this fall.

Topics for discussion include:
Elevating rivalry trash talk on social media
ACC headlines from fall camps
A problematic report from the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee
Our spiciest takes and predictions for the 2026 ACC football season
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
58 min
August 12Courts, Congress, and College Rivalries
The future of college sports is being debated in halls of Congress and courtrooms across America. In this episode, we discuss how upcoming decisions are likely to impact the ACC and when fans can expect clarity on issues of athlete eligibility. We also debate whether Virginia and NC State have developed an emerging rivalry or more of a quiet partnership.

Topics for discussion include:
Updates from ongoing litigation around athlete eligibility
Whether the Protect College Sports Act will tear apart the ACC
Defining the relationship between UVA and NC State
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
31 min
August 04Opening Pandora's Box
The media has released its football preseason poll and All-ACC players, and fans are getting excited for the upcoming season. But a series of lawsuits have thrown the entire college sports landscape into complete chaos. In this episode, we try to make sense of the ongoing eligibility calamity and where the NCAA and its member institutions go from here.

Topics for discussion include:
Surprises in the media's ACC football preseason poll
Snubs for the All-ACC Preseason Football Team
The court cases that have thrown NCAA eligibility into chaos ahead of the college football season
You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!
37 min

About Preferred Walk-Ons

From the publisher's feed

The world’s preeminent college sports podcast hosted by two people named Michael. ACC fans by birth, degenerate gamblers for mirth. Part of TheSabre.com’s podcast network.