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Stoney Keeley of Football & Other F Words breaks down Titans 2026 Draft Class

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Hr 2 - Stoney Keeley’s draft observations + Nashville SC keeps rolling

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Hr 1 - Breaking down the Titans draft class

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In this episode of Big Orange Sunday, host Coach Doug Mathews takes listeners into "Realville" to analyze the shifting landscape of University of Tennessee football following the conclusion of spring practice. Mathews details the impact of the new 105-scholarship limit and predicts that the transfer portal will likely lead to an annual roster turnover of approximately 40%. He notes that the 2026 squad currently features only 18 players in their final year of eligibility, while the program is simultaneously breaking records by offering 18 in-state high school prospects for the 2027 recruiting class. The discussion also looks ahead to a favorable 2026 home schedule that includes high-stakes matchups against Alabama, Florida, and LSU at Neyland Stadium.

The episode continues with veteran journalist Jimmy Hyams, who provides a comprehensive update on the success of Tennessee’s spring sports. They celebrate a historic milestone for the Lady Vols golf team, which captured its first-ever SEC Championship after entering the tournament as an underdog. Hyams also recaps the 2026 NFL Draft, highlighting the five Volunteers selected—including Jermod McCoy to the Raiders and Colton Hood—as part of a record-breaking year that saw 87 SEC players drafted. Finally, the segment touches on the diamond sports’ performance against Alabama and the basketball program's roster adjustments following Nate Ament's NBA Draft declaration.

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This segment of Big Orange Sunday dives into the concept of "Realville," exploring the current state and future of the University of Tennessee’s football program as the spring evaluation period concludes.

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Coach Doug Mathews and Jimmy Hyams discuss the rare occurrence of both baseball and softball hosting Alabama in the same weekend, followed by a deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft results for the Volunteers, the SEC's dominance and success for the Vol's spring sports. 

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Welcome to another episode of Forklift Systems Football Saturday!

Coach is joined by Tony Barnhart and Dennis Dodd to provide an extensive analysis of the 2026 NFL Draft’s opening days and the shifting landscape of college football. The discussion highlights the SEC’s continued dominance, noting a record-breaking 36 players drafted in the first two rounds. This professional success is juxtaposed with the evolving nature of the conference itself as it transitions to a nine-game schedule, a move analysts believe could allow a three-loss team to qualify for the expanded College Football Playoff for the first time.

The panel examines high-profile prospects like Ruben Bain and Ty Simpson while also looking ahead to the next generation of stars, including Georgia's Gunner Stockton and Texas's Arch Manning. This transition of talent is discussed alongside insights from coaching legends Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, who offer perspectives on how the transfer portal has fundamentally changed talent evaluation.

Beyond the field, the hosts reflect on 15 years of massive institutional shifts, from the collapse of the Pac-12 to the aggressive expansion of the Big Ten and SEC. These changes have brought significant financial and logistical pressures, leading to difficult decisions like Arkansas's move to cut its tennis programs to balance budgets. The broad conversation even touches on leadership changes in other arenas, such as Billy Donovan’s departure from the Chicago Bulls, and looks forward to the historic move of SEC Media Days to Tampa.

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This Hour features an in-depth discussion between analysts Coach and Tony Barnhart on the evolving landscape of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as it transitions to a nine-game conference schedule. The analysts explore the implications of this change, noting that it will likely lead to more losses across the league but may also result in a nine-and-three team qualifying for the expanded College Football Playoff for the first time. They highlight the significant turnover in leadership with six new head coaches and a mix of experienced and inexperienced starting quarterbacks, specifically mentioning high-profile names like Arch Manning at Texas and Gunner Stockton at Georgia. The conversation also touches on historical context, such as the SEC's formation in 1932 and the upcoming move of SEC Media Days to Tampa, while briefly diverging into college basketball with news of Billy Donovan's resignation from the Chicago Bulls.

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Coach is joined by Tony Barnhart and Dennis Dodd to break down the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft and the rapidly shifting landscape of college athletics.

• NFL Draft Insights: The trio analyzes the "Big Ten vs. SEC" dominance, noting that the Big Ten had 10 first-round picks compared to the SEC's 7, though the SEC surged to 36 overall picks by the end of day two.

• The "Realville" Reality: A deep dive into how NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and the Transfer Portal are fundamentally changing player decisions, with many athletes choosing to stay in school because they can outearn a third-round NFL salary.

• Playoff Expansion Debates: The hosts discuss the friction between Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey regarding a potential move to a 24-team playoff and the possible elimination of conference championship games due to scheduling and economic pressures.

• Conference Realignment Fallout: Reflections on the "tragedy" of the Pac-12's collapse and the logistical challenges of West Coast teams like Oregon and Washington now traveling nearly 3,000 miles for Big Ten conference play.

• The Business of Sports: The panel addresses the "spending problem" in college athletics, highlighted by Arkansas dropping its tennis programs despite record media rights revenue, suggesting a looming crisis in non-revenue sports.

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This episode of High School Sports Saturday features a wide-ranging look at the past, present, and future of Tennessee athletics:

• New Beginnings in Antioch: Tate speaks with Jamie Graham, head football coach at the newly opened Nashville Collegiate Prep, about the school's 82-acre campus and his vision for building a legacy of discipline and passion in their inaugural seasons.

• Track and Field Excellence: Nolensville High School coach Kyle Manderfeld joins to recap a historic showing at the Great 8 invitational, highlighting record-breaking performances in the pole vault and 4x4 relay, as well as Brandon Brooks' repeat victory in the triple jump.

• NFL Draft and State Legends: In a lively roundtable with Tom Kreager and Coach Matthews, the group celebrates the draft selection of Tullahoma’s Jacobie Thomas and debates the greatest high school football players in Tennessee history, including legends like Reggie White and Jalen Ramsey.

• A Growing Talent Bed: The discussion concludes by noting the explosive growth of Middle Tennessee recruiting, underscored by the fact that four SEC teams will soon feature quarterbacks from the area.

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