Preferred Walk-Ons

Tomorrow kicks off the ACC Tournament which will have major implications for the NCAA Tournament field. We debate whether anyone can beat Duke, and which bubble teams most need statement victories to punch a ticket to March Madness.    Topics for discussion include: Chaos occurring in mid-major conference tournaments Boston College and Georgia Tech firing their coaches The biggest questions heading into the ACC Tournament this week You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

It's the last week of the regular season and everyone in the ACC is chasing Duke basketball. We discuss Virginia's loss at Cameron Indoor Stadium and analyze where things stand in college basketball's most chaotic conference. Topics for discussion include: Takeaways from Duke's dominant victory over Virginia in a battle for ACC supremacy NC State's recent struggles The confusing pecking order of ACC teams fighting for NCAA Tournament bids You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

With one month away until Selection Sunday, it's time to start sorting the contenders from the pretenders. In this week's episode, we talked with college basketball insider Jim Root about the most interesting and confounding programs in the ACC and beyond.   Topics for discussion include: The improved reputation and depth of the ACC The success of UVA in Ryan Odom's first season and the tournament ceiling for the top of the conference Teams that deserve more attention and the Darryn Peterson situation at Kansas Whether Duke and UNC are realistic contenders ACC and national coaches on the hot seat NCAA Tournament dark horses and possible disappointments You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!   You can read more from Jim Root on Basket Under Review or in The Athletic. You can also listen to his basketball analysis on the Three Man Weave and STATS by Will & Jim podcasts.

It has never been more challenging to follow college athletics. To help us better understand the many financial and political issues at the center of the college sports landscape, we brought on Matt Brown of Extra Points. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discussed the evolution of Matt's career in sports media, financial struggles in higher education that impact athletic departments, ways to reform the current system, and the future of college sports video games.   You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!   You can read more from Matt Brown on his Extra Points newsletter at https://www.extrapointsmb.com/.

ACC basketball is in full swing and everyone is one again chasing the Duke Blue Devils. We open the show by analyzing the race at the top of the conference and discussing the depth of talent. Then, we turn to football where fans are splitting their attention between transfer portal controversies and the release of the 2026 schedule.   Topics for discussion include: The race for the top of the standings in ACC basketball The unsavory elements of the transfer portal, highlighted by the Darian Mensah saga Top takeaways from the release of the ACC football schedule Reasons to root for the Seahawks in the Super Bowl You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

2026 is here and it has started in glorious fashion for the ACC. In football, bowl season was a rousing success led by Miami's dominant run through the CFP. In basketball, eight teams are in the NET Top 50 and others are well-positioned for at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. We preview the upcoming football national championship and examine some of the most interesting ACC basketball teams hoping to dance in March.   Topics for discussion include: The most interesting basketball teams in the ACC through the first two weeks of conference play Miami's run through the College Football Playoff and the ACC's bowl success Initial thoughts and frustrations with college football's winter transfer portal window You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Next week begins the start of conference play for ACC basketball. We discuss which teams have positioned themselves well for Selection Sunday and which still have major questions. Additionally, we recap a busy week of news for ACC football, including a statement victory for the Miami Hurricanes in College Station. Topics for discussion include: An update on the podcast's fantasy football team Miami's big CFP win over Texas A&M and what it means for the ACC ACC football scheduling mishaps and UNC likely hiring Bobby Petrino Analysis of the state of ACC basketball heading into conference play, including UVA's performance through the first third of the season You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

A storybook season ended in heartbreak for the Virginia football team, as the Cavaliers lost a wild ACC Championship in overtime. The defeat had ripple effects across the college football landscape, especially the CFP committee. We analyze what went wrong for UVA and take a look ahead at the playoff bracket.   Topics for discussion include: The ACC Championship and accessing the season for Virginia football Notre Dame complaining about the ACC and being left out of the CFP A preview of the CFP bracket with initial predictions and most interesting matchups A look at ACC basketball through the first month of the season You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

The miracle season for Virginia football continued last week with a dominant victory over Virginia Tech. Now the Hoos must face a familiar foe in the Duke Blue Devils with a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line. We preview the ACC Championship and discuss whether Virginia can save the conference from its own chaos.   Topics for discussion include: Virginia's win over Virginia Tech and what it means for the program A preview of the ACC Championship game between UVA and Duke Updates to the coaching carousel after Lane Kiffin's decision to join LSU You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

For most of the college football universe, it's rivalry week. However, the stakes have never been higher for Virginia football, one win away from a trip to Charlotte and the ACC Championship. We preview the Cavaliers colossal matchup against the Hokies, as well as other rivalry games that will impact the college football postseason.    Topics for discussion include: The experience of watching UVA basketball play in a ballroom ACC Championship game scenarios and fan perspectives on the UVA/Tech game Picks and previews of every Week 14 ACC game Other rivalry games to watch this weekend You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

The Commonwealth of Virginia is at the center of the college football universe this week. With a win against Duke, UVA finds itself on the doorstep of the ACC Championship game. Meanwhile, down the road in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech has secured one of the biggest offseason names in the coaching carousel. We discuss the state of the ACC race going into the last two weeks of the season and analyze what James Franklin might bring to the wayward Hokies football program.   Topics for discussion include: Virginia and NC State taking the ultimate ACC road trip How James Franklin fits at Virginia Tech The race for the ACC Championship and picks for every Week 13 conference game Other games of interest this weekend including the Greenbrier Tip-Off for UVA basketball You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Virginia missed a golden opportunity to solidify its place atop the ACC standings after a loss to Wake Forest. Now there is a logjam of teams trying to prove they belong in the CFP discussion. But are any of them...good?    Topics for discussion include: The complicated race for ACC football superiority now with UVA's first conference loss Previews and picks for every ACC game in Week 12 Other college football games to pay attention to this weekend You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

We have football and basketball to discuss this week. The College Football Playoff released its first rankings and UVA is currently in the field. Can the ACC get two teams into the playoffs? We discuss that possibility and give our picks for Week 11.   We also invited Craig Marimpietri of the Point to the Passer podcast to discuss Carolina basketball and predictions for the upcoming college basketball season.   Topics for discussion include: Virginia's placement in the CFP standings and what it says about perceptions of the ACC Picks and analysis for every Week 11 ACC football game Other college football games of interest around the country this weekend Craig's perspective on a pivotal year for UNC basketball Predictions and hot takes for the upcoming ACC basketball season You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!   Listen to Craig's work on the Point to the Passer podcast. You can follow him on Twitter (@PointPasserPod) and on YouTube as well.

It's been a chaotic October for college football coaches and fans of the Virginia Cavaliers. LSU has added another high-profile opening to the coaching carousel, while UVA secured its third overtime win of the season by inches. In this week's episode, we discuss the state of the ACC and preview a pivotal weekend of college football.   Topics for discussion include: Brian Kelly's termination at LSU and what it means for the coaching carousel How worried UVA fans should be after several consecutive nail-biting wins Previews and picks of every ACC game on the Week 10 slate Best bets and games of interest around the country You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

We're halfway through a college football season that is full of surprises. In the ACC, teams like Virginia and Georgia Tech have defied expectations, while Florida State, Clemson, and North Carolina have underachieved. We discuss the ACC race at the midpoint of the season and preview a pivotal weekend in the conference.   Topics for discussion include: Penn State moving on from James Franklin and what it means for the coaching carousel The ACC's biggest surprises through the first half of the season Picks and analysis of every Week 8 ACC football game The most interesting national games taking place this weekend You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Following an embarrassing blowout loss to Clemson, North Carolina has faced days of negative press coverage and rumors about Bill Belichick's future in Chapel Hill. Meanwhile, Virginia, a team with no preseason buzz, remains undefeated going into the bye week. In this episode, we discuss the trajectory of both programs and give our picks for the Week 7 slate of games.   Topics for discussion include: The ongoing calamity with Bill Belichick's tenure at UNC Virginia's gutsy win at Louisville and the soaring expectations of the Cavalier fan base Penn State's shocking upset at UCLA Picks and analysis of every ACC game in Week 7 Other games of interest around the country You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

UVA's upset victory over Florida State was a euphoric moment for the Cavalier fan base and a signature win for head coach Tony Elliott. We discussed the biggest takeaways from one of the best games of the college football season and analyzed what it means for the ACC race going forward.   Topics for discussion include: Virginia's victory over Florida State and what it means for the future of the Cavaliers' program NC State's embarrassing home loss against Virginia Tech and evaluating Dave Doeren's tenure Analysis and picks for every game on the ACC schedule this weekend Other interesting college football games in Week 6 You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

An epic weekend of college football starts on Friday in Charlottesville and doesn't let up until late night on Saturday. With marquee matchups taking place across the country, which teams will solidify their resume as true contenders? In this episode, we preview the upcoming weekend of college football, both in the ACC and beyond, while taking time to laugh at Clemson and UNC for their misfortunes.   Topics for discussion include: The ACC's new football scheduling model Embarrassing losses for Clemson and UNC Picks and analysis of every Week 5 ACC game Marquee matchups around the country this Saturday You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Two high-profile losses rocked the ACC in Week 3. Virginia Tech's embarrassing home loss to ODU brought an end to the Brent Pry era in Blacksburg. Meanwhile, perennial juggernaut Clemson lost its second game of the season in Atlanta. Where do things stand in the ACC as we get into conference play?   Topics for discussion include: Virginia Tech's decision to fire Brent Pry and where the Hokies might go next  Clemson losing its air of invincibility in the ACC Picks and analysis for every Week 4 game in the ACC Other interesting games on the Week 4 schedule You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

On this week's episode, we spoke with Noah Fleischman of The Wolfpacker and On3 to debrief the exciting non-conference game between NC State and Virginia. Noah provided his perspective on strengths and areas for concern from both teams, fan base expectations, and the race for the ACC title.    Topics for discussion include: Takeaways from the UVA-NC State game, reactions from the two fan bases, and what to expect the rest of the season Previews for every ACC game on the Week 3 schedule and other games of interest around the country You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!   You can find Noah's reporting on NC State sports at TheWolfpacker.com and on X (@fleischman_noah).