Preferred Walk-Ons

The opening week of the college football season was a mixed bag for ACC supporters. Statement wins by Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Miami were offset by losses from Virginia Tech, Clemson, and North Carolina. We discussed whether our perceptions have changed about the state of the conference race and looked ahead to Week 2.   Topics for discussion include: Bill Belichick's disastrous first game at UNC  Biggest surprises from Week 1 ACC games  Predictions and storylines for every ACC game in Week 2 Other important games from around the country 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!

Our long national nightmare is over. Starting on Thursday night, we will have five consecutive days to binge college football. We celebrated the return of the season by discussing the biggest matchups of Week 1 and breaking down every Atlantic Coast Conference game this weekend.  In this episode, we: Recap an eventful Week 0 including close games in Hawai'i and Ireland Preview every Week 1 ACC football game with the top storylines and betting analysis Discuss other intriguing games from around the country this weekend including Texas vs. Ohio State 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 college football finally back on the schedule this week, we wanted to talk to one of the best special teams weapons the ACC has ever seen. All-American kick returner and wideout Joe Reed stopped by to talk about his college and professional career, the importance of special teams, and experiences with ACC fan bases.   Topics for discussion include: Joe's life following his football career (0:00-5:17) The most memorable moments from Joe's illustrious career at UVA What it feels like to change the game with a special teams play The preparation required for playing multiple positions The enduring relationships formed with coaches during his time at UVA Feelings about NIL, the transfer portal, and opposing fan bases Difficulties in transitioning to the NFL during the pandemic What Joe would like to see from UVA this 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!

On this week's episode, we spoke with Ryan Nanni, one of the most prolific and insightful college football podcasters in the business. His newest podcast collaboration, Phantom Island, explores difficult and intriguing questions across the sports landscape.    Topics for our discussion include: The goal of Phantom Island and the state of sports media Fandom and appreciating all that college football has to offer The psychology of NC State fandom The most intriguing storylines for the ACC heading into the season How the ACC can reclaim national respectability 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 subscribe to Ryan's Phantom Island podcast by going to PhantomIsland.show. You can also follow him on Bluesky (@celebrityhottub.bsky.social‬) or Twitter (@celebrityhottub).

Change is constant in the world of college sports. Between neverending conference realignment and athlete movement in the transfer portal, it can be difficult for fans to keep track of their favorite college sports teams. As we countdown the final weeks in the lead-up to the season, we wanted to educate ACC fans on the changes they may have missed this offseason.    Topics for discussion include: Rumors of handshake agreements with UNC and UVA leaving the ACC Former ACC football coaches and players who have new homes for the upcoming 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 ACC Football Kickoff is currently taking place in Charlotte. We listened through hours of coach speak and platitudes to discuss the most important takeaways for the conference and college sports.    In this episode, we discuss: Virginia Tech's recent non-NCAA championships Jim Phillips comments at ACC Media Days and the stability of the conference Expansion of the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff 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!

Are college athletes employees? Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports calls this the existential question now facing college sports. We spoke with Amanda about the challenges the NCAA must now address in the wake of the House settlement and what it means for fans of college sports.   In this episode, we discuss: How fans can make sense of the constant changes to college sports How the NCAA is hoping for Congressional intervention to clarify rules for college sports Early issues with NIL Go reporting and changing requirements about collectives How the House settlement is impacting women's and Olympic sports 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! Be sure to follow Amanda Christovich on X (@achristovichh) as well as Instagram and TikTok (@by_achristovich).

After one of the most tumultuous years in Virginia sports history, there are a lot of new faces around Charlottesville. We brought on Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to analyze the state of the UVA athletic department and what to expect with the upcoming football and basketball seasons.   Topics for discussion include: How Virginia is navigating the new college landscape in the wake of the House settlement What to expect from Virginia basketball now that the roster is nearly complete Fan expectations of UVA football and the portal additions most likely to influence the team's success 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 long-awaited approval of the House settlement was issued on June 6th and has already shifted the landscape of college sports. Has this agreement created a clear path forward or unearthed even more questions and lawsuits? In this episode, we discuss: Will Wade stoking the rivalry flames with UNC UVA baseball hiring Chris Pollard from Duke The most pressing questions that remain in college sports following the House settlement 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 commemorated the 100th episode of the podcast by doing two of our favorite things: celebrating the success of the ACC and talking about college football betting. In this episode, we discuss the College World Series and preview ACC football teams that are under- and overrated by Vegas prognosticators.   Topics for discussion include: The ACC's success in the Regional rounds of the NCAA Baseball Tournament Brian O'Connor leaving UVA to accept a job at Mississippi State Vegas projections of season win totals for ACC football teams and best preseason bets 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 ACC faces economic headwinds in trying to keep up with other major conferences. Now, commissioners of the SEC and Big 10 are attempting to stack the College Football Playoff deck in their favor. What can the ACC do to fight for survival while still advocating for the good of the game?   In this episode, we discuss:  ACC coaches providing unflattering anonymous feedback about Virginia football College football's search for an equitable playoff system Overzealous fan expectations of incoming basketball transfers 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!

Everyday brings new surprises for college sports fans in the era of the transfer portal. No one is more connected to college basketball recruiting than On3's Joe Tipton. We discussed how he has become one of the most influential reporters in the sport and the behind the scenes stories that have defined the offseason.   In this episode, we: Discuss the pros and cons of the new scheduling model for ACC basketball (0:00-9:08) Debate whether UVA and NC State are capable contenders in the new college basketball landscape Ask Joe Tipton about his career as a college basketball insider and get his unique perspective on the chaos of modern day recruiting (15:48-54:05) 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!   Be sure to follow Joe Tipton on Twitter (@TiptonEdits) and read his ongoing reporting with On3.

Virginia's football and basketball programs have experienced significant roster turnover this offseason. What should Cavaliers' fans expect in pivotal years for both teams? TheSabre.com contributor and Hoos On Podcast host Preston Willett joins the show to discuss: What fans should expect from the Virginia football team this fall after a complete roster overhaul Ryan Odom's success in rebuilding the Virginia basketball team Virginia baseball's NCAA tournament chances You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).    Follow Preston Willett on Twitter and subscribe to the Hoos On Podcast.

After a season in which only four ACC teams made the NCAA Tournament, programs appear to be investing significant money in the transfer portal to be competitive in 2026. In this episode, we discuss how the conference is responding to the ever-changing college sports landscape and how the ambiguity about eligibility rules is shaping the offseason.    Topics for discussion include: The Savannah Bananas game at Clemson How ACC basketball programs are faring in the transfer portal Whether the NCAA should change eligibility rules for its athletes Bill Belichick's awkward interview and its impact on UNC football

This is our 2025 NFL Draft preview episode! Which college players are poised for superstardom on Sundays and which will leave fans disappointed? In this episode, we discuss: A missed connection with a possible fan of the show Coach Prime calling out Virginia football for recruiting his players Our overall impressions of this draft class and the buzz around Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter Which quarterbacks are worth the risk of using a first-round draft pick The most intriguing skill position players at the top of mock drafts The players with the biggest question marks entering the draft 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!

March Madness is over and it has ended in glory for the Florida Gators and Connecticut Huskies. Before transitioning to an offseason of transfer portal mayhem, we analyzed how these champions survived and advanced through the tournament and the legacies they leave behind. Topics for discussion include: How Florida was able to orchestrate another come-from-behind victory over Houston How fans are reacting to news from the transfer portal What Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers mean to women's basketball You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).

There are sixteen teams still playing in the NCAA Tournament and only one of them represents the ACC. However, a new class of coaches bring promise to one of college basketball's premier conferences. We sat down with Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to discuss Virginia's new head coach and whether the ACC can bounce back from a disappointing season. In this episode, we discuss: The experience of watching the NCAA Tournament in Seattle What to expect from Ryan Odom's tenure in Charlottesville and UVA's place in the NIL landscape with Kris Wright Whether NIL and the transfer portal are responsible for a chalky NCAA Tournament The most intriguing storylines and best bets in the Sweet Sixteen NC State hiring Will Wade and what it means for the ACC You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).

After four long months, the NCAA Tournament is finally here! We've got you covered with everything you need to know to confidently lose your pool. In this episode, we discuss: Duke's ACC Tournament championship and injury concerns The Selection Committee's questionable decisions with UNC and Louisville Best bets, upsets, compelling storylines, and Final Four picks from each region

Our coverage of the ACC Tournament continues from Charlotte after two thrilling semifinal games. Both Duke and Louisville managed to survive after nearly giving away big leads, while North Carolina is left reeling on the bubble after a brutal lane violation. In this episode, we offer our quick reactions to both games, discuss UNC's chances of making the NCAA Tournament, and look ahead to the ACC Championship. You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).

The Michaels are reporting live from the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. There have been two days of compelling basketball games and the sudden firing of UVA head coach Ron Sanchez. In this episode, we provide a behind-the-scenes look at everything that has taken place in the Queen City. Topics for discussion include: Virginia's decision to fire Ron Sanchez and possible replacements The most interesting and exciting storylines from the first two days of the ACC Tournament A preview of highly anticipated Thursday games You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).