The road to a championship begins.

On this packed Friday edition of SportsIQ with Larry Smith, the spotlight shines on the opening weekend of the College Football Playoff — plus two massive FCS semifinal matchups that prove elite football doesn’t stop at the FBS level.

The show opens with a deep dive into the highly anticipated Oklahoma vs. Alabama playoff rematch, as Sooners beat writer Colton Sulley joins the program to break down what’s changed since Oklahoma’s regular-season win in Tuscaloosa, how the Sooners can win a third straight matchup, and what Alabama brings into this postseason showdown.

From there, the focus shifts to the FCS semifinals, starting with one of the most historic rivalries in college football. Coulter Nuanez of Skyline Sports previews the first-ever playoff meeting between Montana and Montana State, a 125-year rivalry now playing for a trip to the national championship game.

Later, Randy Reinhardt of the Bloomington Pantagraph joins the show to discuss Illinois State’s remarkable playoff run, including their stunning road upset of North Dakota State and what to expect as the Redbirds face Villanova in another win-or-go-home matchup.

The episode also features:

• A breakdown of Thursday night’s instant-classic NFL game between the Rams and Seahawks

• NBA highlights from LaMelo Ball, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

• Championship matchups set in NCAA Volleyball

• A heartfelt tribute to NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, honoring his life, career, and impact beyond the track

• Picks and predictions for a loaded weekend of college football

The show closes with a Moment of Awe honoring the extraordinary 1905 journey of the Dawson City Nuggets, whose month-long trek to compete for the Stanley Cup remains one of the most unbelievable stories in sports history.

Insightful, emotional, and packed with championship energy — this is SportsIQ at its best.