Zone Podcasts

Talking season is officially wrapping up as kickoff approaches in just five days. Moving past off-the-field storylines, the focus shifts squarely between the lines as coaches make final adjustments and get their squads ready for the starting gate. Coach  breaks down the palpable excitement surrounding the opener and preview what to watch for when the team finally takes the field. Catch the full post-game analysis next week on Big Orange Sunday!

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Coach breaks down what Tennessee must do on both sides of the ball heading into the season opener. Offensively, the priority is keeping young quarterback Faizon Brandon clean by utilizing heavy pass protection, experienced offensive linemen, and strong pass-blocking backs to open up big plays downfield. Flipping over to defense, the focus shifts to defensive fundamentals—setting the edge, containing the quarterback, solid tackling, and attacking the ball in the air. Plus, an insider look from practice at the 20-to-24-man defensive rotation, transfer portal upgrades in the secondary, and fresh talent ready to make an impact across the depth chart.

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Game week is here, and on Coach welcomes fellow former Tennessee assistant, longtime SEC coach Kevin Steele, for a deep dive into what actually matters before kickoff against Furman.

The two break down the "checklist" mentality that separates clean season openers from ugly upsets — sound fundamentals, no mental busts, no chunk plays given up. They get into the X's and O's of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' scheme, from his aggressive pressure packages to how a secondary rebuilt with transfer portal talent is shaping up. And they close with a hard look at the quarterback room, unpacking how Josh Heupel develops his signal-callers and manages the pressure of live reps that count.

If you want the real coach's-eye view of what to watch for in Week 1, this is it.

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This week on Forklift Systems Football Saturday, Coach kicks off the college football season with a packed show centered on the biggest storylines in the sport. The conversation opens with Tony Barnhart breaking down the SEC’s changing landscape, from transfer-heavy rebuilds at Arkansas, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, and LSU to the pressure facing Alabama, the rise of LSU under Lane Kiffin, and the challenge of the SEC’s nine-game conference schedule. Dennis Dodd follows with sharp analysis on coaching shakeups across the country, including Matt Campbell at Penn State, James Franklin at Virginia Tech, Kyle Whittingham at Michigan, Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State, and the growing influence of NIL and the transfer portal in places like Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, SMU, and Notre Dame. Charles Davis closes the show with his national view of the Big Ten, the pressure on USC, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan, plus a look at Tennessee’s true freshman quarterback and the Vols’ early-season test at Georgia Tech. It’s an action-packed season preview with insider analysis, bold takes, and the start of another unforgettable college football year.

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Coach is joined by Charles Davis to break down the current state of college football.

• Big Ten Depth and Competitiveness: The discussion challenges the narrative that only the top few teams in the Big Ten are elite, asserting that the conference is deep and that claims of its lack of depth are unfounded.
• Top Conference Contenders: Analysis covers major programs like Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State, and Michigan, evaluating their rosters, scheduling challenges, and potential playoff positioning.
• True Freshman Quarterbacks: The segment touches on the rare occurrence of starting a true freshman quarterback at Tennessee, contrasting modern player readiness with past eras.

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Coach  is joined by Dennis to discuss recent college football storylines and roster changes across major conferences.

• BYU Football Coaching Updates: BYU announced that its head football coach will no longer report to the athletic director, but will instead report to a vice president, formalizing a longstanding internal friction point with AD Brian Santiago.
• Conference Realignment and Roster Limits: Discussions covered Oklahoma State bringing in a record 92 new players and 117 total rostered players, surpassing previous scholarship caps, alongside the impact of coaching changes at programs like Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech.
• SEC and Big 12 Contenders: The conversation evaluated top-tier programs, including Missouri's returning running back situation, Notre Dame’s favorable schedule and national stature, and the overall competitiveness of the expanded College Football Playoff field.

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Coach is joined by Tony Barnhart and Dennis Dodd to discuss the opening week of college football, major coaching storylines, and the shifting dynamics within the SEC and other major conferences.

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Welcome to another episode of High School Sports Saturday With Tate Matthews today he delivers  a comprehensive review of Week 2 high school football action across Tennessee. featuring statewide Top 10 rankings, detailed game recaps, and insights into how young teams and star players navigated early-season adversity.
The episode highlighted thrilling victories, including Franklin Christian Academy's comeback road win and Nolensville's narrow victory secured by a game-winning field goal. Expert commentary from The Tennessean's Tom Kreager provided a deeper look at the week's marquee matchups and regional power dynamics as teams prepared for Week 3.

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Tate is joined by Tom Kreager  to talk about high school football matchups from week two, including Springfield's strong 2-0 start, backup quarterback Preston Ramsey's big 350+ yard performance, and the standout game between Rockvale and Station Camp.

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Tate is joined by Coach Scott Stidham of the Nolensville Knights to discuss their 2-0 start to the season, including a hard-fought win, standout player performances like kicker Matthew Surpes and running back Tristan Lithgow, defensive execution, and looking ahead to their upcoming matchup against Overton.

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