The Markcast®

We went LIVE to react to XFL week 8 on Tuesday, April 11 at 830am PST.

Join Andrew Murray and me as we take your comments and calls LIVE and react to the 8th week of XFL 2023 games, XFL week 8 as a whole, as well as the things the XFL is doing well, and things the XFL can work on in the future.

Week 8 games include the Vegas Vipers at the St. Louis Battlehawks, the Arlington Renegades at the Orlando Guardians, the Houston Roughnecks at the San Antonio Brahmas, and the D.C. Defenders at the Seattle Sea Dragons.

Can XFL and USFL co-exist? What is the “magic formula” for spring football to work? We ask these "important" questions, preview XFL 2023 week 8 and more on this week’s episode! Bill Shea from The Athletic and Josh Lewin from XFL’s Week in Review podcast stop by to share their thoughts on XFL 2023 as we approach the end of the season, Bill also does a deep dive on spring football TV ratings and where XFL 2023 matches up. Then Eric Eager of Sumer Sports returns to the program to preview all the XFL 2023 Week 8 matchups and we welcome Mathew Sexton of the XFL Vegas Vipers on the show. Finally head coach Rick Campbell of America’s CFL team the BC Lions sits down for the first time to talk CFL off-season and the BC Lions ahead of the 2023 season.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
3:04 Show Intro
5:56 Bill Shea, The Athletic Interview, Are XFL’s TV Ratings Sustainable?
36:00 Josh Lewin, XFL Week in Review Podcaster and Contributor Interview
54:08 Eric Eager, Sumer Sports XFL Week 8 Preview
1:16:47 Mathew Sexton, XFL Vegas Vipers Interview
1:28:38 Rick Campbell, BC Lions Head Coach Interview
1:45:36 Show Outro

We went LIVE to react to XFL week 7 on Monday, April 3 at 830am PST.

Join me and Andrew Murray as we take your comments and calls LIVE and react to the 7th week of XFL 2023 games, XFL week 7 as a whole, as well as the things the XFL is doing well, and things the XFL can work on in the future.

Week 7 games include the Seattle Sea Dragons at the Arlington Renegades, the San Antonio Brahmas at the Vegas Vipers, the D.C. Defenders at the Orlando Guardians, and the St. Louis Battlehawks at the Houston Roughnecks.

The XFL has been confirmed for a 2nd season in 2024 by Dany Garcia and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but what needs to happen by the XFL in 2023 to ensure success for the XFL in 2024? We welcome Austin Karp from the Sports Business Journal, Eric Mac Lain from ESPN/XFL, and Greg Parks from XFL Board to chat through the recent XFL announcements, preview XFL Week 7, and discuss lessons learned from XFL 2023 and what needs to be done before the XFL returns in 2024. Devin Darrington from the XFL Orlando Guardians stops by after a strong outing last week against the Seattle Sea Dragons, and Case Cookus quarterback for the USFL Philadelphia Stars sits down during USFL training camp ahead of his second stint for them. Finally, CFL Toronto Argonauts historian Paul Woods returns to the show to discuss his travels to Birmingham profiling recent CFL to USFL signing McLeod Bethel-Thompson ahead of his planned book on MBT.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
3:42 Show Intro 5:56 Austin Karp, Managing Editor/Digital at Sports Business Journal Interview
27:17 Eric Mac Lain, ESPN/XFL 2023 Sideline Reporter Interview
51:07 Greg Parks, XFL Board Contributor Interview
1:35:49 Devin Darrington, XFL Orlando Guardians Running Back Interview
1:48:01 Case Cookus, USFL Philadelphia Stars Quarterback Interview
2:06:04 Paul Woods, CFL Toronto Argonauts Historian Interview
2:24:54 Show Outro

Is XFL 2024 season 2 confirmed??? We went LIVE to react to XFL week 6 on Monday, March 27 at 8am PST and to recap Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson's recent USA Today interview discussing plans for XFL season 2 and more!

Join me, Andrew Murray, and special guest USFL historian Paul Reeths from OurSports Central as we take your comments and calls LIVE and react to the 6th week of XFL 2023 games, XFL week 6 as a whole, as well as the things the XFL is doing well, and things the XFL can work on in the future. We'll also preview the XFL week 6 Monday night matchup of the Houston Roughnecks taking on the D.C. Defenders at Audi Field!

Week 6 games include the Seattle Sea Dragons at the Orlando Guardians, the St. Louis Battlehawks at the Vegas Vipers, and the San Antonio Brahmas at the Arlington Renegades.

We have been nominated for “Best Sports Business Podcast” by the Sports Podcast Group! If you want to vote for us, please do so at the link below. Voting closes on April 6! https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-business-podcast/

XFL 2023 TV ratings have “collapsed” competing against March Madness, is there a cause or concern or is this “fine”? We welcome Stormy Buonantony from ESPN and XFL TV broadcast onto the program this week to get her thoughts on XFL 2023 thus far, her access to players, and the storylines she’s tracking through the season. Show fan-favorite Brandon Silvers Quarterback of the Houston Roughnecks and Wide Receiver Jeff Badet of the Vegas Vipers make appearances courtesy of their teams and we talk XFL 2023 TV ratings with Andrew Bucholtz of Awful Announcing. Cody Main, Director of Niche Sports for Establish the Run previews XFL 2023 week 6, and we welcome Senator Larry Smith, former CFL commissioner and newly named Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee onto the program.

We have been nominated for “Best Sports Business Podcast” by the Sports Podcast Group! If you want to vote for us, please do so at the link below. Voting closes on April 6! https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-business-podcast/

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
5:10 Show Intro 8:16 Stormy Buonantony, ESPN + XFL2023 On-Air Reporter Interview
32:24 Brandon Silvers, XFL Houston Roughnecks Quarterback Interview
49:49 Jeff Badet, XFL Vegas Vipers Wide Receiver Interview
1:05:32 Andrew Bucholtz, Awful Announcing Reporter Talks XFL 2023 TV Ratings
1:41:25 Cody Main, Establish The Run’s Director of Niche Sports Previews XFL 2023 Week 6
2:13:00 Senator Larry Smith, Former CFL Commissioner, Canadian Football HoF Inductee
2:28:37 Show Outro

We went LIVE to react to XFL week 5 and to recap the XFL season at its midway point on Monday, March 20 at 8am PST.

Join me, Andrew Murray, and special guest Pat Rifino as we take your comments and calls LIVE and react to the 5th week of XFL 2023 games, XFL week 5 as a whole, as well as the things the XFL is doing well, and things the XFL can work on in the future.

Week 5 games include the Houston Roughnecks at the Seattle Sea Dragons, the D.C. Defenders at the St. Louis Battlehawks, the Orlando Guardians at the Vegas Vipers, and the Arlington Renegades at the San Antonio Brahmas.

Is XFL 3.0 a FLIP or a FLOP? What defines “success” for XFL 2023 leadership? We asking these questions and more this week on a VERY long (but hopefully entertaining) episode! Matt Barrie from ESPN stops by to share his thoughts on XFL 2023 thus far, whether or not he views the league as a success, and if he sees a path for XFL 3.0 to gain ground moving forward. Then, XFL “Insider” Mike Mitchell joins the program to share his extended thoughts on XFL attendance, marketing, ratings, and more, you don’t want to miss this! Zach Gartin of Neptune Scouting does a full analysis of all 8 XFL 2023 teams’ offensive and defensive schemes plus we preview XFL 2023 week 5. Donald Payne of form the XFL Arlington Renegades makes an appearance and Moe Khan stops by to discuss the recent sale of the Montreal Alouettes, what next steps the franchise needs to work on moving forward, and what promise there is for a new CFL 10th franchise following Pierre Karl Péladeau’s purchase of the Alouettes and the “new energy” that has been brought into the CFL.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:50 Show Intro 5:13 ESPN and XFL 2023 Broadcaster Matt Barrie Interview
29:21 XFL “Insider” Mike Mitchell on XFL 2023 Attendance, Marketing, Ratings, and More!
1:55:38 Zach Gartin, Full XFL 2023 Team Scheme Breakdowns, XFL Week 5 Preview
2:57:28 XFL Arlington Renegades LB Donald Payne Interview
3:14:09 Montreal Alliance PxP Announcer Moe Khan on Montreal Alouettes Sale, CFL Expansion
3:30:59 Show Outro

We have been nominated for “Best Sports Business Podcast” by the Sports Podcast Group! If you want to vote for us, please do so at the link below. Voting closes on April 6!
https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-business-podcast/

We went LIVE to react to XFL week 4 on Monday, March 13 at 8am PST.

Join me, Andrew Murray, and special guest Evan Willsmore as we take your comments and calls LIVE and react to the 3rd week of XFL 2023 games, XFL week 4 as a whole, as well as the things the XFL is doing well, and things the XFL can work on in the future.

Week 4 games include the Houston Roughnecks at the Orlando Guardians, the San Antonio Brahmas at the Seattle Sea Dragons, the Arlington Renegades at the St. Louis Battlehawks, and the Vegas Vipers at the D.C. Defenders.

Is XFL 3.0 living up to its fans’ lofty expectations? We discuss on the show this week as we preview XFL 2023 week 4. Skubie Mageza of XFL Today and ESPN joins the show to share his thoughts on XFL 2023 thus far, and Justin Freeman of RunTheSims.com stops by to preview all 4 XFL 2023 matchups. We welcome Joe Wallace of the XFL D.C. Defenders and Darrius Shepherd of the XFL St. Louis Battlehawks and then QB1 of America’s CFL team the BC Lions Vernon Adams Jr. returns to the program!

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
3:08 Show Intro 5:44 Skubie Mageza, ESPN XFL Today Show Co-Host Interview
30:12 Justin Freeman, RunTheSims.com XFL Week 4 Preview
1:11:01 Joe Wallace, XFL DC Defenders DT Interview
1:22:16 Darrius Shepherd, XFL St. Louis Battlehawks WR Interview
1:28:57 Vernon Adams Jr., CFL BC Lions Quarterback Interview
1:45:34 Show Outro