Hr 4 - Dawn Davenport joins the show + Things to watch in the football offseason

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Hr 3 - How far away are the Titans from contending? + UK sweeps Tennessee

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Hr 2 - Remembering the ‘25-26 Patriots: Frauds or for real?

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Hr 1 - Seahawks win Super Bowl LX + Open phone lines

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In this episode of Big Orange Sunday, Coach Doug Matthews dives into the latest news on the University of Tennessee's football program. He discusses the upcoming court hearing for quarterback Joey Aguilar's eligibility and the potential impact on the team's quarterback situation. Doug also talks to immy Hyams about the Tennessee basketball team's recent game against Kentucky and the SEC standings. Additionally, he shares his thoughts on the importance of leadership in college athletics and the recent changes made to the football program, including the hiring of new strength and conditioning coaches.

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Coach is joined by sports journalist Jimmy Hyams to analyze the high-stakes landscape of college athletics, beginning with a deep dive into Tennessee football's evolving roster. They explore the legal complexities surrounding quarterback Jojo Aguilar's eligibility, contrasting his case with other NCAA rulings, and discuss the ripple effects on the team's quarterback competition. The conversation shifts to the burgeoning talent of player Nate Ament, whom Hyams considers one of the most promising athletes in his 40-year career covering the Volunteers. They note Ament's significant development throughout the season, particularly his dominant performance against Texas A&M and his prowess at the free-throw line, while acknowledging that head coach Rick Barnes expects even more growth from him as the year progresses.

The segment further expands into a broader discussion on the SEC's competitive hierarchy and the shifting financial realities of the sport. Hyams identifies Florida as the most complete team in the conference, while noting Kentucky’s resilience in second-half comebacks and the recent struggles of teams like Vanderbilt and Alabama. The dialogue concludes with a breakdown of the massive financial payouts within the SEC, highlighting a $72.4 million distribution to member schools. They discuss how these funds, influenced by recent legal settlements like the House case, are managed within athletic departments, balancing revenue sharing for players with the increasing operational budgets that have seen Tennessee's finances nearly double in recent years.

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Coach is joined by Charles Davis, who shares his perspective on the upcoming Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and Seattle. Davis describes the historical significance of their previous championship matchup, noting how its conclusion impacted the trajectory of both franchises. He provides a detailed breakdown of the current teams, highlighting the coaching success of Mike Vrabel and Mike Macdonald, as well as the performances of quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Darnold. The conversation then shifts to the evolving landscape of college football, where Davis discusses the potential for North Dakota State to move to a higher division and the eventual formation of a "super football division" consisting of the nation's top programs. As Davis prepares to transition to calling Big Ten games, he reflects on how his NFL experience will help him navigate the challenges of the modern transfer portal and frequent roster changes.

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Dennis Dodd joins host Doug Matthews to discuss the evolving landscape of collegiate basketball under the new revenue-sharing and NIL models, noting that while football commands the majority of the projected $20 million payouts, basketball programs must increasingly rely on third-party collectives and apparel deals to attract top talent like BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. The conversation highlights the current dominance of the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences and notes surprising success stories, such as Nebraska’s resurgence and the competitive parity seen in Big East matchups like UConn versus St. John’s. Transitioning to football, Dodd emphasizes a "survival of the fittest" mentality regarding conference realignment, reporting that North Dakota State is eyeing a move to the Mountain West to secure its future in the elite tier of the sport.

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Tony Barnhart, Dennis Dodd discuss the evolving landscape of college athletics, focusing on the shifting power dynamics within the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big Ten. The conversation touches upon the financial disparities among schools, the influence of wealthy donors like Larry Ellison and Cody Campbell, and the ongoing transition toward a potential "super league" or new organizational structure by 2031. They also examine the legal complexities of athlete eligibility, specifically the case of Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako, whose antitrust lawsuit challenges NCAA amateurism rules following his professional stint in the NBA G League. Overall, the participants reflect on how the "off-field" business of college sports has become a chaotic but necessary reordering of the traditional system.

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Coach Doug Matthews talks to Tony Barnhart about the shifting landscape of college football, specifically focusing on the leadership of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and the systemic chaos caused by NIL and the transfer portal. The discussion highlights a growing need for structure and collective bargaining as the sport grapples with legal challenges and a lack of central authority, even as the SEC sees record-breaking financial success with annual revenue distributions exceeding $1 billion. The segment also evaluates the impact of the expanded 12-team playoff on traditional bowl games, the rising importance of specialized "analyst" roles for experienced coaches, and the 2026 outlook for key SEC programs like Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

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