The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast

BYU vs Notre Dame Controversy! Houston Beats Oklahoma State | College Football Week 7 Reaction

Description:

Was Notre Dame robbed against BYU? Did the officials get the clock right? And how big is Houston's statement win over Oklahoma State? Dan Satterfield is breaking down an unforgettable Week 7 of college football on The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast, where faith and fandom meet!

🏈 BYU vs. Notre Dame Controversy: Was the final pass interference call justified? Should there have been one second left on the clock? Dan breaks down the controversial ending, defends the Big 12, and has a little fun at Notre Dame's expense.

🐾 Houston Cougars Beat Oklahoma State: Houston wins a wild Big 12 shootout! Dan discusses quarterback Connor Weigman, offensive coordinator Slade Nagle's game plan, Houston's explosive receivers, defensive concerns, and the huge opportunity ahead against Utah.

🙏 Faith, Family & Football: Is watching your favorite team worth missing time with your family? Dan shares a personal story about choosing time with his wife and kids over watching every minute of a major Houston game—and why putting God and relationships first matters more than any regular-season result.

🔥 Week 7 College Football Roundup: Kentucky upsets Oklahoma, Tennessee gets creative, Florida beats Texas, Alabama falls, Georgia Southern gets a shoutout, and more college football reactions!

Plus, Chuck joins the conversation, the latest AP rankings get some attention, and Dan reminds us that everyone on the field—including the referees—is made in the image of God.

Whether you're a Houston Cougars fan, a BYU or Notre Dame fan, a Big 12 believer, or a Christian who loves college football, this episode brings football analysis, fan humor, and faith into the same conversation.

Subscribe to The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast for college football reactions, sports debates, Christian perspectives, and plenty of laughs. Where faith and fandom meet.

📧 Sponsorships and inquiries: [email protected]

📱 Instagram & TikTok: @dansatjr

Keep your eyes on the game, keep your heart on God, and thanks for listening to The Higher Call!

#CollegeFootball #HoustonCougars #BYUFootball #NotreDameFootball #ChristianPodcast

College Football Playoff Expansion to 24 Teams? + Week 7 Picks & Faith | Higher Call Podcast

Episode Description

🏈 Is a 24-team College Football Playoff the right move? Can the Big 12 compete with the SEC and Big Ten? And how do you keep your faith and perspective when your favorite team is fighting for a playoff spot?

Welcome to Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast, where faith and fandom meet!

Host Dan Satterfield and AI co-host Chuck dive into the possibility of a 24-team College Football Playoff, debating expanded access, conference representation, player compensation, and whether more playoff teams could diminish the importance of the regular season.

🙏 Faith Talk: Finding Contentment as a Sports Fan

Dan shares a personal reflection on Philippians 4:11–13 and the challenge of staying content during a big game week. How do you keep football from consuming your life? How do you balance your passion for your team with faith, family, and the things that matter most? And why is it okay for your team to win seven or eight games and go bowling?

🏈 Week 7 College Football Picks: Five and Five

Dan breaks down the biggest matchups and his picks against the spread, including:

- Oklahoma State at Houston

- Notre Dame at BYU

- TCU at Baylor

- Kentucky at Oklahoma

- Ohio State at Indiana

- Alabama at Tennessee

- Missouri at Ole Miss

- Florida State at Miami

- Wisconsin at UCLA

- Utah at Colorado

Plus, hear about the latest Higher Call Karma, celebrate the Georgia Southern Eagles, and remember why every player and referee is made in the image of God.

Whether you're a Houston Cougar, a Big 12 fan, an SEC loyalist, or simply a Christian who loves college football, join us for sports opinions, laughs, and conversations about putting faith first.

🙏 Prayer Requests & Church Advice: Email [email protected]

📱 Follow Dan on TikTok and Instagram: @dansatjr

⭐ Help Higher Call grow: Like, subscribe, follow, and leave a five-star review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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

💪 Bill Ellis and the Father Figure Framework — Faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home. Learn more at billllis.coach (Bill Ellis's website as provided in the sponsor read).

Thanks for supporting the sponsors who help make Higher Call possible!

Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast — Where faith and fandom meet. Keep your eyes on the game and your heart on God.

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome to Higher Call & Roll Call

00:39 — Like, Subscribe & Leave a Review

01:04 — Today's College Football Agenda

01:30 — Is a 24-Team College Football Playoff Coming?

02:25 — Chuck's Take on Playoff Expansion

03:49 — Dan's Case for a 24-Team Playoff

05:22 — Player Compensation and College Football Money

05:50 — SEC, Big Ten & Big 12 Representation

07:16 — Conference Strength and Nonconference Results

09:33 — Protecting the Importance of the Regular Season

11:30 — Underdogs, Conference Championships & Playoff Access

13:25 — Faith Talk: Philippians 4 and Contentment

14:21 — Balancing Football, Faith & Family

15:14 — When It's Time to Step Back From Your Team

17:06 — Making Game Day About More Than Football

18:01 — Being Content With a Bowl Game Season

19:01 — Sponsor Shoutouts

20:01 — Oklahoma State at Houston Prediction

23:49 — Notre Dame at BYU

25:14 — TCU at Baylor

25:40 — Kentucky at Oklahoma

26:39 — Ohio State at Indiana

27:36 — Alabama at Tennessee

28:35 — Missouri at Ole Miss

29:04 — Florida State at Miami

29:32 — Wisconsin at UCLA

30:29 — Utah at Colorado

31:27 — Final Five and Five Picks Recap

32:21 — Every Player and Referee Is Made in God's Image

32:48 — Higher Call Karma & Team Shoutouts

33:46 — Georgia Southern Eagles & Guest Host Invitation

34:14 — Final Thoughts: Eyes on the Game, Heart on God

Hashtags

#HigherCallPodcast #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #ChristianPodcast #CFBPicks

What do faith, weightlifting, sports fandom, and awkward church bathroom breaks have in common? They’re all part of this week’s episode of **The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast!**

Host Dan Satterfield welcomes Rob for a fun conversation about life, faith, sports, and everything in between.

Rob shares his journey from leading campus ministry in the Washington, D.C. area to helping start a church in Akron, Ohio, where he’s spent the past decade serving his community. He talks about growing up as an athlete, discovering a lifelong passion for weightlifting and powerlifting, and how the gym has provided friendship, accountability, structure, and an unexpected connection to his faith.

Rob's Instagram:

@robcochran11

On the sports side, we discuss the Cleveland Guardians’ playoff hopes, the Cavaliers’ upcoming season, LeBron James’ impact on Akron, and the eternal roller coaster of being a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Then it’s time for **Church Advice!** This week, we tackle the case of the Awkward Walker: What should you do when you need to use the bathroom just as the pastor begins praying? Should you stop and pray in the aisle, make a quick escape, or accept that your bladder and the Holy Spirit are no longer on speaking terms? Rob brings his church leadership experience to this very serious and completely ridiculous dilemma.

We wrap up with Rob’s prayer requests for wisdom, patience, and gas money to get his son where he needs to go for football. **Dial God up for that one!**

🙏 **PRAYER REQUESTS:** Please pray for Rob to have wisdom and patience as he balances family, work, and ministry—and for that gas budget as he drives his son to football!

📩 **Have a Church Advice dilemma or a prayer request?** Email us at [email protected]. We're not qualified to give church advice, but we're happy to try!

🎧 **THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:**

- **All Too Traveled** — Follow on TikTok for short travel videos to inspire your next getaway.

- **Bill Ellis – Father Figure Framework** — Faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home, especially for men over 40. Learn more at https://billellis.coach.

📱 **FOLLOW THE SHOW:**

TikTok & Instagram: @dansatjr

Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share the show with a fellow Christian sports fan!

The Higher Call: Where faith and fandom meet.

Keep your eyes on the game, keep your heart on God!

## Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to The Higher Call

01:05 – Catching Up with Rob

02:00 – From Campus Ministry to Church Planting in Akron

03:19 – Why Akron? Finding a Place to Serve

04:09 – LeBron James and His Impact on Akron

06:11 – Cleveland Guardians Playoff Baseball

08:10 – Red Sox Nation in Florida and Christmas Tree Season

11:16 – Cleveland Cavaliers: What to Expect This Season

14:07 – Rob’s Lifelong Journey with Weightlifting

15:24 – How the Gym Provides Community and Mental Strength

16:24 – Finding Purpose After Organized Sports

18:15 – Gym Etiquette and Making New Friends

19:01 – The All-Important Protein Powder Question

22:39 – How Faith, Sports, and Weightlifting Intersect

24:33 – Dallas Cowboys: Can They Turn Things Around?

27:55 – Sponsor Break: All Too Traveled & Father Figure Framework

29:05 – Church Advice: Introducing the Awkward Walker

30:02 – The Bathroom Break That Collided with Prayer

32:58 – What If the Pastor Is Praying for You?

34:03 – Does Leaving Church During Prayer Break Etiquette?

36:23 – Small Acts of Kindness in the Church Community

37:22 – The Verdict: Pray in the Aisle or Make a Quick Exit?

38:30 – Rob’s Prayer Requests: Wisdom, Patience & Gas Money

39:23 – Closing Thoughts: Even Referees Are Made in the Image of God

#TheHigherCall #ChristianSportsPodcast #FaithAndSports #ChurchAdvice #ChristianPodcast

Kentucky's OT Gamble, Louisville's Big Win & Houston's Statement | Week 6 College Football Reaction

The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast | Episode 25

College football delivered another wild weekend, and we're breaking it all down! Dan Satterfield and Chuck are back with a special Week 6 reaction episode of The Higher Call, the Christian sports fan podcast where faith and fandom meet.

🏈 Kentucky Wildcats: The Cats pull off a dramatic overtime win over LSU, go for two to win it, and execute a gutsy play that leaves us asking how the defense let Minchey run right up the middle. We break down the decision, the play design, and the electric atmosphere at Kroger Field.

🏈 Louisville Cardinals: Louisville takes down Florida State, but Dan has one major question for Coach Mike Norvell: Why go for it on fourth down when a field goal could put you up three possessions? Sometimes taking the points just makes sense!

🏈 Houston Cougars: Dan's beloved Cougars take care of business against Kansas State behind a big offensive performance and impressive quarterback play from Connor Weigman. But with Oklahoma State looming, how far can Houston go this season?

✝️ Faith & Football: Learning to Be Content — Can you enjoy college football without letting your team's record control your mood? Dan reflects on Matthew 6, the dangers of worrying about game outcomes, and why an eight-win season can still be something worth celebrating. Don't let playoff obsession rob you of the joy of college football!

🤘 Horns Down, Boomer Sooner: Texas loses to Oklahoma, the Yankees get knocked out of the playoffs, and Dan enjoys a little rivalry banter while reminding Longhorns fans to practice the same contentment he just preached.

🙏 Church Advice: Have a funny, awkward, or downright ridiculous church-life story? Email [email protected] and share it with us!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

✈️ All Too Traveled — Follow their short travel videos on TikTok for your next getaway and a little travel-inspired fun.

💪 Father Figure Framework by Bill Ellis — Faith-grounded habits for strength, energy, and leadership at home, especially for men over 40 who feel like they're running on fumes. Learn more at billlis.coach.

📱 Follow Dan on TikTok and Instagram: @dansatjr

Subscribe, follow, and share The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast. We're regular guys who love God, love sports, and love talking about both.

Keep your eyes on the game, keep your heart on God!

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to The Higher Call with Chuck

00:34 – Chuck's Week 6 College Football Takeaways

01:03 – Chuck's Football Strategy: Kick the Field Goal or Go for It?

02:02 – College Football Overtime: Go for Two or Play Another Period?

03:40 – Week 6 Reaction Show: Kentucky, Louisville & Houston

05:07 – Kentucky Wildcats: Big Blue Nation's Dramatic Win

05:59 – Missed Field Goals and Kentucky's Overtime Comeback

07:27 – Why Kentucky Had to Go for Two

08:25 – Breaking Down the Horns Down Two-Point Conversion Play

10:47 – Kentucky Storms the Field

12:15 – Louisville vs. Florida State: Why Didn't Norvell Take the Points?

14:39 – Houston Cougars Dominate Kansas State

15:09 – Connor Weigman and the Big Plays to Overmeyer

17:02 – Houston's Showdown with Oklahoma State

18:30 – Faith & Football: Learning to Be Content

19:00 – Worrying About Your Team and Matthew 6

21:20 – Enjoying College Football Without Playoff Obsession

23:48 – Why an Eight-Win Season Can Still Be a Great Season

24:44 – Faith, Gratitude, and Keeping Sports in Perspective

25:41 – Thanking Our Sponsors: All Too Traveled & Father Figure Framework

26:10 – Horns Down, Boomer Sooner: Texas Falls to Oklahoma

27:05 – Oklahoma Wins Despite Its Offense

27:35 – Red River Rivalry, Texas State Fair & Fried Food

28:29 – A Little More Texas and Oklahoma Rivalry Banter

29:29 – Final Thoughts: Every Player and Referee Is Made in God's Image

29:59 – Keep Your Eyes on the Game, Keep Your Heart on God!

Dan sits down with Shed to talk about how sports and Christianity intersect in everyday life, Shed’s journey through professional sports and campus ministry, being a Vikings fan, and how his faith has shaped the way he approaches sports, work, friendship, and fatherhood.

We also make our NFL picks, talk about some of the biggest storylines around the league, and hear the unbelievable story of how Dan and Shed were at the same Halloween party years ago without knowing each other.

Then it's time for Church Advice, where a listener has a very awkward communion situation—and Shed has a surprisingly simple solution.

Plus, check out Shed's fantasy football podcast, Four Wide, for more fantasy football discussion.

Have a church-life problem for Church Advice? Send your completely unqualified questions to [email protected].

Follow The Higher Call on Instagram and TikTok: @dansatjr

Follow Shed and Four Wide Fantasy Podcast:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fourwide.fantasypodcast/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/j3P-6QIwymI?is=Qp7Dg2GIFTvrd_eU

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

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome to The Higher Call

02:00 — Meet Shed Taylor

05:30 — Shed's Career in Professional Sports

10:00 — Minnesota Vikings Fandom

15:00 — Sports, Faith & Campus Ministry

22:00 — How Faith and Sports Intersect

29:00 — Fatherhood, Faith & Youth Sports

34:00 — The Halloween Party Story

38:00 — NFL Football Talk

43:00 — 5 and 5: NFL Picks

52:00 — Church Advice

57:00 — Shed's Four Wide Fantasy Football Podcast

59:00 — Final Thoughts: Faith, Sports & the Image of God

College football Week 5 is here, and on this episode of The Higher Call: The Christian Sports Fan Podcast, Dan sits down with longtime friend Jono — a Texas Longhorns graduate, huge Green Bay Packers fan, dad of three, and fellow Christian sports fan.

We recap the Packers' loss to the Atlanta Falcons, talk about what's going wrong in Green Bay, and discuss Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur and the Packers' outlook for the season.

Then we turn to Texas football and the SEC, including the Longhorns' win over Tennessee, Arch Manning, Texas' national championship expectations, the move from the Big 12 to the SEC, and what makes college football so much fun.

We also get into the intersection of faith and sports. How does being a Christian change the way you experience sports? Does it make it easier to handle losses? Jono shares how his faith has changed his perspective on competition, fandom and what ultimately matters.

Plus, we talk fatherhood, six-man football in Texas, Jono's state championship experience at AT&T Stadium, old-school basketball stories, the Case Keenum podcast that accidentally happened, and plenty of laughs between two longtime friends.

Then it's time for Five and Five, with our college football and NFL picks against the spread, followed by another ridiculous edition of Church Advice.

And if you're looking for more Savannah and Houston Cougars content, follow Dan on TikTok @dansatjr for the Savannah trip videos from the Houston vs. Georgia Southern weekend.

In This Episode

00:00 – What is the good word?

01:30 – Packers vs. Falcons recap

08:00 – Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur & Green Bay's season

14:00 – Texas Longhorns & the SEC

22:00 – Arch Manning and Texas' championship expectations

27:00 – God, sports and being a Christian fan

33:00 – Fatherhood and raising three boys

38:00 – Six-man football in Texas

43:00 – The Case Keenum podcast

47:00 – Five and Five: NFL picks

56:00 – Five and Five: College football picks

1:05:00 – Church Advice

Chapter times are approximate and can be adjusted to match the final audio.

Sponsors

All Too Traveled – Follow along for travel content and adventures.

Father Figure Framework by Bill Ellis – Faith-based habits and encouragement for men looking to become better fathers and better men.

Savannah Trip Videos

Follow @dansatjr on TikTok for silly, family-friendly Savannah trip videos from the Houston vs. Georgia Southern weekend, including Savannah sightseeing, The Pirates' House, and more.

Church Advice

Have a ridiculous, awkward or completely unnecessary church question for us?

Email your Church Advice questions to [email protected].

Remember: we are not qualified to give church advice.

The Higher Call is the Christian Sports Fan Podcast — where faith and fandom meet.

We're regular guys who love God, love sports, and love talking about both.

Keep your eyes on the game, keep your heart on God.

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.