College football is heading into Week 4, and Dan is flying solo—with a little help from Chuck to get things started.

Dan recaps Week 3 and takes a closer look at Oregon and Texas A&M, two preseason contenders dealing with major offensive-line questions. Are preseason rankings giving too much credit to teams based on what we expected them to be rather than what they've actually done?

Then Dan introduces a brand-new Higher Call segment: Church Advice. Got an awkward church situation? Someone keeps taking your seat? You don't know whether to shake hands, hug, fist bump, or awkwardly wave? Send it in! Dan wants real, funny, family-friendly church situations from listeners—and promises to laugh with you, not at you.

Finally, it's the Five and Five, with Dan making against-the-spread picks for 10 huge Week 4 college football games, including Texas-Tennessee, Oregon-USC, Ole Miss-Florida, Texas A&M-LSU, Oklahoma-Georgia, Notre Dame-Purdue, Ohio State-Illinois, Wisconsin-Penn State, and Iowa-Michigan.

The Higher Call is where faith and fandom meet—sports, faith, humor, and conversations for Christian sports fans.

Have a Church Advice situation, question, hot take, topic idea, or want to be a guest/co-host?

Email: [email protected]

Follow Dan:

TikTok & Instagram: @dansatjr

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

All Too Traveled — Follow them on TikTok for short travel videos and inspiration for your next getaway.

Father Figure Framework with Bill Ellis — Simple, faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home.

Thanks for supporting The Higher Call and helping us keep bringing faith, sports, and a little bit of ridiculousness to Christian sports fans.

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome to The Higher Call & Chuck Returns

00:37 — Chuck on College Football & Faith

01:34 — Week 4 College Football Agenda

02:33 — Week 3 Recap: Oregon & Texas A&M

03:30 — The Offensive Line Problem

05:21 — Why Preseason Rankings Drive Me Crazy

06:46 — Kentucky vs. Texas A&M & the Ranking Problem

08:12 — Offensive Lines, Quarterbacks & Expectations

09:37 — Introducing Church Advice

10:36 — What Is Church Advice?

12:04 — Awkward Church Situations We Want to Hear

12:57 — Anonymous Submissions & Real Stories

13:26 — What Church Advice Is NOT

14:24 — The Official Church Advice Disclaimer 😂

14:54 — Church Advice & Curveball

15:23 — Sponsor Break and Taylor Swift Patient Zero

15:53 — Five and Five: Week 4 College Football Picks

16:22 — Texas at Tennessee

17:47 — Oregon at USC

19:15 — Ole Miss at Florida

20:08 — Texas A&M at LSU

21:34 — Missouri at Mississippi State

22:29 — Oklahoma at Georgia

23:25 — Notre Dame at Purdue

24:22 — Ohio State at Illinois

24:50 — Wisconsin at Penn State

25:18 — Iowa at Michigan

26:17 — Five and Five Recap

26:46 — Final Church Advice Call

27:13 — Final Thoughts: Made in the Image of God

27:42 — Thanks for Listening

What happens when a Los Angeles Rams fan, a Philadelphia 76ers fan, and a couple of Christian sports fans get together to talk football, basketball, fantasy football, faith, and a very important question about a piece of dropped chicken?

On this episode of The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast, Dan Satterfield sits down with Cory Brown to talk about how Cory became a Rams fan growing up in St. Louis, what we've learned about Los Angeles after the first two weeks of the NFL season, and what he expects from the Rams going forward.

Then we turn to the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James, including what LeBron's presence could mean for the Sixers, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe.

We also talk fantasy football, early-season injuries, the waiver wire, and what we've learned from the first two weeks of the season.

Then we get into the faith side of sports: how sports can create opportunities to connect with people, show good sportsmanship, and live out your faith without taking the fun out of fandom.

And of course, it's time for the Five and Five, where Dan and Cory make their NFL picks against the spread for this week's biggest games.

Finally, Dan brings Cory a Curveball: What do you do when the cafeteria worker drops one of your pieces of chicken? 😂

The Higher Call is the Christian sports podcast where faith and fandom meet. We're regular guys who love God, love sports, and love talking about both.

FOLLOW CORY BROWN: Find Cory Brown on Facebook.

FOLLOW DAN: @dansatjr on TikTok

EMAIL THE SHOW: [email protected]

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTS: "The Higher Call Transcript Archive" (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/0)

SPONSORS:

Check out All Too Traveled on TikTok for short travel videos.

And if you're over 40 and running on fumes, check out Bill Ellis and the Father Figure Framework — simple, faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home.

Thanks for listening to The Higher Call! If you enjoyed the episode, please like, follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another Christian sports fan.

Where faith and fandom meet.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to The Higher Call & Meet Cory Brown

01:48 – How Cory Became a Los Angeles Rams Fan

04:00 – What We've Learned About the Rams So Far

07:11 – Rams vs. Broncos: What to Watch For

08:40 – LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers

10:00 – What Will LeBron's Role Be With the Sixers?

11:20 – VJ Edgecombe and the Future of Philadelphia

12:30 – Are the Sixers Title Contenders?

13:10 – Fantasy Football: Injuries, Waivers & Early-Season Chaos

15:25 – Faith & Sports: Connecting With People Through Fandom

17:20 – Sportsmanship, Church & Rival Fans

17:40 – Sponsor Spotlight

18:25 – Five and Five: NFL Picks

18:40 – Chiefs at Dolphins

20:35 – Chargers at Bills

21:25 – Ravens at Cowboys

22:45 – Falcons at Packers

24:30 – Bengals at Steelers

25:40 – Jets at Lions

26:50 – Eagles at Bears

28:05 – Cardinals at 49ers

29:00 – Seahawks at Commanders

29:50 – Rams at Broncos

30:40 – Curveball: What Do You Do With the Dropped Chicken?

33:55 – Thanks for Listening & Final Thoughts

What is the good word? Welcome to a bonus episode of The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast — where faith and fandom meet!

Dan is joined by Joseph for a conversation that goes everywhere except where you might expect.

We start by getting to know Joseph — his faith, his work with high school students, and his sports fandom from Barcelona and Chelsea to the Cavaliers, Cowboys and Colts.

Then things get interesting.

🚩 90s Church Camp Red Flags — Dan tells the story of an old-school church camp tradition involving freezing Maine lake water, an “Early Dip Challenge,” an angry mob of teenagers and sleeping bags being thrown into the lake. Joseph, a current youth ministry leader, gets to decide what would absolutely not fly at church camp in 2026.

🙏 The Contribution Tray Wave — Dan has an idea for making that potentially awkward moment when the contribution tray reaches your row a little more friendly: smile and wave at the people across the aisle. Joseph has some thoughts.

🐱 The Hairless Cat Curveball — Dan encounters two hairless cats at the veterinarian and has some VERY strong opinions about their appearance.

🏆 Heaven’s Stats — If the Apostle Peter offered you a chance to see any statistics from your life before entering heaven, what would you want to know? Dan and Joseph come up with some surprisingly meaningful answers.

And, of course, there's plenty of sports, faith, church humor and completely unnecessary discussion along the way.

Thanks for listening to The Higher Call — where faith and fandom meet.

📧 Questions, hot takes, topic ideas or just want to connect?

[email protected]

TikTok: @dansatjr

Please like, subscribe, follow and leave a review wherever you're listening. And remember: there are buttons around you. Push them.

Sponsors:

✈️ All Too Traveled — Follow All Too Traveled on TikTok for short travel videos and getaway inspiration.

💪 Father Figure Framework with Bill Ellis — If you're over 40 and running on fumes, check out Bill Ellis and the Father Figure Framework for simple, faith-grounded habits for strength, energy and leadership at home. Learn more at billellis.coach.

Thanks to both of our sponsors for supporting The Higher Call!

00:00 — Welcome to The Higher Call

00:56 — The Technicolor Dream Coat

01:56 — Why This Is a Bonus Episode

03:07 — Meet Joseph: Faith, Family & Ministry

03:39 — Joseph's Sports Teams: Barcelona, Chelsea, Cavs & Colts

05:17 — Lucas Oil Stadium & Taylor Swift

05:57 — 🚩 90s Church Camp Red Flags

07:45 — The Early Dip Challenge

09:13 — The Senior-Year Pressure to Win

10:36 — The Angry Mob Takes Over

11:45 — No Swim Test?!

12:15 — Sleeping Bags in the Lake

13:58 — The Good Old Days of Church Camp

15:22 — What Would a 2026 Camp Counselor Do?

16:39 — 🙏 The Contribution Tray Curveball

18:08 — Joseph's Tithing Song Idea

19:34 — Dan's Contribution Tray Wave

20:31 — "Is Something Wrong With the Tray?"

21:17 — Why People Might Feel Awkward

22:41 — Dan's Two-Penny Offering Idea

23:51 — 🐱 The Hairless Cat Curveball

24:21 — Meet Toby, the COVID Dog

26:15 — Dan vs. Hairless Cats

28:35 — Dog Person or Cat Person?

30:05 — 🏆 If Peter Showed You Your Life Stats

31:06 — What Impact Did You Have?

32:24 — Joseph's Stats: Evangelism, Pictures & Close Calls

34:21 — The Red Flag Over/Under Revealed

35:14 — Premier League, Blues & What's Next

35:28 — Final Thoughts: Every Person Is Made in God's Image

36:12 — Thanks for Listening to The Higher Call

Hashtags

#TheHigherCall #ChristianPodcast #ChristianSports #SportsPodcast #ChurchCamp #ChurchHumor #FaithAndSports #90sChurchCamp #PodcastComedy #ChristianMen

What happens when Chuck joins the Higher Call? We talk faith, sports, relationships, migrating birds, and the eternal question: Can Dan convince the worship band to let him play cowbell? 😂

Then it's time for the 5 and 5!

Dan breaks down five college football games and five NFL games, including Houston vs. Texas Tech, North Carolina vs. Clemson, Kentucky vs. Texas A&M, SMU vs. Louisville, LSU vs. Ole Miss, Bills vs. Lions, Vikings vs. Bears, Bengals vs. Texans, Cowboys vs. Commanders, and Giants vs. Ravens.

Plus, Dan recaps some of the biggest stories from Week 1 of college football and the NFL, including Oklahoma State's shocking win over Oregon, North Dakota State's victory at Air Force, and some early questions about several highly touted NFL defenses.

And of course, there's some Houston Cougars, Patriots, Red Sox, Big 12, and college football homerism along the way.

The Higher Call: Where faith and fandom meet.

Like the show? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another Christian sports fan!

Email: [email protected]

Tik tok: @dansatjr

Thanks for listening!

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome to The Higher Call

00:19 – Chuck's Good Word: Play With Heart, Compete With Kindness

01:32 – Faith Conversations at the Sports Bar

02:36 – Can We Help Migrating Birds? 🐦

04:12 – The Great Church Cowbell Debate 🔔

05:44 – The 5 and 5 Begins!

06:14 – Houston vs. Texas Tech

10:23 – North Carolina vs. Clemson

11:15 – Kentucky vs. Texas A&M

12:10 – SMU vs. Louisville

12:38 – Florida vs. Auburn

14:01 – The Lane Kiffin Bowl: LSU vs. Ole Miss

14:56 – College Football Week 1 Takeaways

16:23 – North Dakota State Takes Down Air Force

17:19 – NFL Week 2: The 5 and 5

17:47 – Lions vs. Bills

18:14 – Vikings vs. Bears

19:08 – Bengals vs. Texans

20:06 – Cowboys vs. Commanders

21:04 – Giants vs. Rams

21:31 – Don't Overreact to Week 1

24:46 – Looking Ahead for The Higher Call

26:36 – Final Thoughts: Keep Your Eyes on the Game, Keep Your Heart on God

A huge thank-you to our sponsors for supporting The Higher Call!

All Too Traveled on TikTok and Father Figure Coaching with Bill Ellis — we appreciate you supporting the show and helping us keep bringing faith, sports, and a little bit of ridiculousness to our listeners.

If you enjoyed today's episode, please like, subscribe, leave a review, and share The Higher Call with another sports fan.

The Higher Call — where faith and fandom meet.

Ohio State vs. 50 Acres Faith & Football with Max | The 5 & 5 + The Spork Solution

Description

Ohio State vs. Horns is one of the biggest games of Week 2, and we're breaking it all down with Ohio State superfan and guest host Max Poritt!

Max shares his journey from growing up a Steelers fan in Pittsburgh to becoming an Ohio State Buckeye, including four years of season tickets, living just steps from the Horseshoe, and the unforgettable story of Brutus Buckeye and a ketchup-covered French fry.

We also talk about how faith and sports intersect in Max's life, including how becoming a Christian changed the way he approached competition, trash talk, and representing Christ through sports. Plus, we hear about the incredible faith movement surrounding Ohio State athletes.

Check out Max on instagram:

@maxtothemaximum

Then it's time for the 5 & 5! We pick the spread for some of the biggest Week 2 college football games, including:

🏈 Oklahoma at Ann Arbor

🏈 Oregon at Oklahoma State

🏈 Arizona State at Texas A&M

🏈 Penn State at Temple

🏈 Alabama at Kentucky

🏈 Arizona at BYU

🏈 Iowa State at Iowa

🏈 Tennessee at Georgia Tech

🏈 Arkansas at Utah

🏈 Ohio State at TU

And finally, the Curveball: Are forks overrated? Dan makes the case for the spoon, while Max introduces the ultimate solution: the spork.

Whether you're an Ohio State fan, Horn fan, college football junkie, or just someone who loves talking about where faith and fandom meet, this one's for you.

Thanks for listening to The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast!

Where faith and fandom meet.

Listen, subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with another Christian sports fan.

Email: [email protected]

A big thank-you to our sponsors for supporting The Higher Call!

All Too Traveled — Follow All Too Traveled on TikTok for short, fun travel videos and getaway inspiration.

Father Figure Framework by Bill Ellis — If you're over 40 and running on fumes, check out Bill Ellis and the Father Figure Framework for simple, faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home. Learn more at billellis.coach.

Thanks to both of these businesses for helping us keep The Higher Call going!

The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast — where faith and fandom meet.Chapters

00:00 — Welcome to The Higher Call

01:00 — Meet Max: From Steelers Fan to Buckeye

03:37 — Four Years of Ohio State Football at the Horseshoe

04:18 — The Legendary Brutus Buckeye French Fry Story

07:48 — Faith, Sports & Learning to Compete Differently

08:46 — Ohio State Athletes Using Their Platform for Faith

11:19 — Ohio State vs. Austin: What We Saw in Week 1

16:23 — Can Ohio State Win in Austin?

18:34 — Will Ohio State-TU Be Another Defensive Battle?

20:23 — Ohio State's Path to the College Football Playoff

22:53 — Sponsor Break

23:50 — The 5 & 5: Week 2 College Football Picks

24:27 — Oklahoma at North School

26:37 — Oregon at Oklahoma State

29:01 — Arizona State at Texas A&M

30:24 — Penn State at Temple

31:46 — Alabama at Kentucky

34:00 — Arizona at BYU

35:34 — Iowa State at Iowa: The Cy-Hawk Showdown

37:08 — Tennessee at Georgia Tech

38:35 — Arkansas at Utah

39:28 — Ohio State at Texas: Max Makes His Pick

40:27 — The Curveball: Are Forks Overrated?

42:04 — The Spork Saves the Day

42:36 — Max's First Time Guest Hosting

43:21 — Final Thoughts: Keep Your Heart on God

43:35 — Thanks to Our Sponsors & Closing

The Higher Call with Keith from Break On 3 Podcast!

Our first crossover episode!

What happens when faith, sports, music, and podcasting all collide? Dan sits down with Keith from the Break On 3 Podcast for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about football, faith, ministry, college life, podcasting, and — of course — the Miami Dolphins.

Keith shares his journey from growing up in Miami and becoming a lifelong Dolphins fan to discovering his faith in college and eventually getting involved in ministry and working with college students. We also dive into the intersection of faith and sports, the challenge of balancing academics and spiritual growth, and what Keith sees ahead for the Dolphins and the AFC East.

And then things get a little ridiculous.

Keith and Dan talk about their love of music and drumming before getting into one of the most important questions in modern civilization:

Does a church band need more cowbell?

You'll definitely want to hear the story behind Dan's own cowbell experience.

If you enjoy sports, faith, humor, and conversations that feel like you're sitting around talking with friends, this episode is for you.

00:00 – Welcome to The Higher Call01:30 – Meet Keith from Break On 304:00 – Growing Up a Miami Dolphins Fan07:00 – Quarterbacks, Expectations & the Dolphins12:00 – Keith's Faith Journey16:00 – Faith, Ministry & College Students20:00 – Balancing Academics and Spiritual Growth21:30 – Sponsor Break22:30 – Dolphins & the AFC East29:00 – How Break On 3 Got Started33:00 – The Christian Sports Podcast Community36:00 – Music, Drums & the Cowbell39:00 – Does Church Need More Cowbell?41:00 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Keith

A huge thank-you to our sponsors who help make The Higher Call possible!

All Too Traveled — Check them out for travel inspiration and great travel content.

Father Figure Coaching with Bill Ellis — Thank you to Bill for supporting The Higher Call and helping fathers become the men their families need.

Please support the businesses and organizations that support the podcast!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0346MomQY44LzyeRhWjABa?si=XVdIe6msQ22Cn79gClUjXA

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@breakon3pod?si=ZPZSWLL8-Xw7tdbR

TikTok:
@breakon3pod

Be sure to follow Keith and the Break On 3 Podcast and let them know you heard about them on The Higher Call!

The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast

Faith and fandom meet.

Sports. Faith. Fun. Real conversations.

Follow, subscribe, and share the show with another Christian sports fan!

#ChristianSports #SportsPodcast #FaithAndSports #MiamiDolphins #Dolphins

PJ joins The Higher Call for a special baseball bonus episode!

PJ has visited all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks, and we talk about how the journey started, his favorite baseball cities and stadiums, underrated ballparks like Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Minnesota, memorable food and souvenirs, and some of the unique experiences he had along the way.

But this conversation goes beyond baseball. PJ shares how traveling to ballparks connected him with Christians across the country and gave him a deeper appreciation for the church as a family. We also talk about keeping sports in their proper place, learning not to let wins and losses control our emotions, and why our favorite teams should never become idols.

Plus, PJ shares his thoughts on the Texas Rangers and Dan tells a few stories from his own baseball travels.

Whether you've visited one ballpark or you're working your way toward all 30, this is a fun conversation about baseball, faith, friendship and the people we meet along the way.

The Higher Call: Where Faith and fandom meet.

Follow us on TikTok: @dansatjr

Email the show: [email protected]

00:00 — Welcome to The Higher Call
01:07 — Dan & PJ’s Musical Connection
03:41 — How the 30-Ballpark Journey Started
05:14 — Dan’s Houston Baseball Memories
06:13 — Favorite Baseball Cities & Fan Atmospheres
07:29 — Best Ballpark Food
08:10 — Hats, Souvenirs & Baseball Memories
09:33 — Finding the Best Seats in the Ballpark
11:24 — Keeping Score & MLB Ballpark Passports
12:08 — The Most Unexpected Ballpark Experience
14:01 — Underrated Ballparks: Baltimore
16:26 — Target Field Surprises
17:16 — Dan’s Padres & Expos Memories
19:55 — Baseball, Travel & Christian Community
22:16 — Dan’s 50-State Challenge
24:42 — PJ & the Texas Rangers
26:33 — When Sports Become an Idol
28:28 — PJ’s First Podcast Experience
29:11 — Final Thoughts & Thank You

A special thank-you to our sponsors for supporting The Higher Call:

• All Too Traveled — follow them on TikTok for travel content and inspiration.
• Father Figure Framework with Bill Ellis — helping dads become the fathers their families need.

And if you'd like to support the show, follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another Christian sports fan.

College football is BACK—and the Higher Call is ready for Week 1!

Dan is joined by new co-host Jake for a packed episode covering the biggest stories from Week Zero and the games we’re watching in Week One.

We continue our ongoing battle with Notre Dame fans over their… let’s just say interesting cupcake schedule. 😏 We also welcome the North Dakota State Bison to the FBS—and after their dominant Week Zero performance, they may have officially become our new favorite team.

Plus, Jake brings the Florida Gator perspective as we look ahead to Florida’s season, Dan talks Houston Cougar football, and the guys dive into one of the most important questions in sports and faith: What’s your “why”?

Can sports teach us something about perseverance, purpose, and how we respond when things don't go our way?

And of course, it's time for the 5 and 5—10 college football games and 10 picks against the spread.

Whether you're a Gator, Cougar, Bison, Irish fan, or just a Christian who loves college football, there's plenty to talk about.

The Higher Call — Where faith and fandom meet.

Subscribe, leave us a review, and share the show with another Christian sports fan!

Tik Tok: @dansatjr

Email: [email protected]

#CollegeFootball #ChristianSports #TheHigherCall

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to The Higher Call

01:29 – The $5 Birthday Card Problem

04:02 – Florida Gators Season Preview

08:08 – Jake on Sports, Faith & Perseverance

10:15 – What’s Your “Why”?

11:17 – Thank You to Our Sponsors

12:10 – Week Zero: UNC vs. TCU

14:20 – Virginia Makes a Statement

15:20 – Why We Don’t Want Our Teams Playing Week Zero

16:15 – Meet Our New Favorite Team: North Dakota State

18:19 – The 5 and 5 Begins

19:00 – Colorado vs. Georgia Tech

19:35 – The Apple Cup

20:31 – Louisville vs. Ole Miss

22:36 – Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin

23:54 – We Continue to Insult Notre Dame’s Schedule

26:19 – Boise State vs. Oregon

27:14 – Texas State vs. Texas

27:33 – East Carolina vs. Alabama

27:46 – Oregon State vs. Houston

29:25 – Florida vs. Florida Atlantic

30:03 – SMU vs. Florida State

34:27 – Bonus Pick: North Dakota State

37:40 – College Football Is BACK

38:25 – Houston Heat & Florida Heat

39:10 – Closing Thought: Made in the Image of God

39:31 – Thank You for Listening

A huge thank-you to our sponsors for supporting The Higher Call!

Check out All2Traveled on TikTok for short travel videos, and check out Bill Ellis and the Father Figure Framework for simple, faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home.

We really appreciate both of you helping us grow The Higher Call!

And to everyone listening—thank you for being part of this community. Please like, subscribe, leave us a review, and share the show with another Christian sports fan.

The Higher Call — Where faith and fandom meet.

NFC North Preview with Dante | The Higher Call

The NFC North is loaded with tradition, rivalries, and plenty of reasons to believe this could be one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions. Dan is joined by lifelong Chicago Bears fan Dante from DanteDreams.com to break down the Bears, Lions, Packers, and Vikings.

Dante shares his love for the legendary 1985 Bears, Walter Payton, and the Chicago fan experience before giving his thoughts on Caleb Williams and the Bears’ potential to make a serious run this season. The conversation also dives into the Packers-Bears rivalry, Jordan Love, the Lions’ future after losing Ben Johnson, and whether the Vikings can compete.

The episode also explores the intersection of sports fandom and faith, including why the passion we bring to cheering for our favorite teams can remind us of the passion we should bring to praising God—and why healthy rivalries should never keep us from loving others.

Plus, Dante gives his game-by-game predictions for the Bears, including some bold picks that have Chicago fans dreaming about a Super Bowl!

Check out Dante’s webcomic and find his social links at DanteDreams.com

You can also check out Dante’s YouTube channel here: Dante’s YouTube Channel

Chapters:

00:00 — Meet Dante & the Olympics Debate
05:03 — The Monsters of the Midway & the 1985 Bears
15:03 — Sports Fandom, Faith & Healthy Rivalries
20:04 — Breaking Down the NFC North
29:16 — Dante’s Bears Game-by-Game Predictions
45:00 — Super Bowl Predictions & Where to Find Dante

A huge thank-you to our sponsors for supporting The Higher Call:

All Too Traveled — Follow All Too Traveled on TikTok for short travel videos and inspiration for your next getaway.

Father Figure Framework with Bill Ellis — If you're over 40 and running on fumes, check out Bill Ellis and the Father Figure Framework for simple, faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home. Visit BillEllis.coach.

Have questions, topic ideas, hot takes, or just want to connect? Email us at [email protected].

And if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, leave a review, and share The Higher Call with another Christian sports fan!

Stat Correction: Case Keenum leads the NCAA in passing TDs, not the NFL.

College football is finally here! Dan is joined by Lucas for a Florida Gators season preview, including new coach Jon Sumrall, quarterback Aaron Philo, the SEC schedule, recruiting and NIL.

Then, in this episode’s faith conversation, Dan and Lucas explore what sports can teach us about selflessness and being willing to sacrifice so others can succeed—from offensive linemen and point guards to teammates, family, work, and faith.

Plus, Dan and Lucas draft 20 teams they believe will make the College Football Playoff, make conference champion and national championship predictions, share bold predictions, and kick off the new Five and Five with Week 0 college football picks against the spread, Red Sox-Yankees predictions, and a Little League World Series champion pick.

Thanks for listening to The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast!

Sponsors:

All Too Traveled on TikTok

Father Figure Coaching with Bill Ellis

Have a question, topic idea, hot take, or want to join the show? Email [email protected].

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome to The Higher Call

01:27 — Florida Gators Season Preview

09:47 — Faith & Sports: Sacrificing So Others Can Shine

17:28 — Sponsor Break

18:27 — 20-Team College Football Playoff Draft

34:46 — Week 0 Five and Five Picks