On this Wednesday edition of SportsIQ with Larry Smith, the stakes are sky-high across college sports.

🏈 Texas Football at the Crossroads — Producer Tony sits down with Austin American-Statesman beat reporter David Eckert to preview No. 11 Texas’s elimination showdown with No. 5 Georgia. How has Arch Manning evolved under pressure, can the Longhorns’ line protect him against Kirby Smart’s defense, and what must Steve Sarkisian’s team do to stay alive in the playoff race? Eckert breaks down the keys — from trench play to turnovers — and the cultural turnaround inside the Texas locker room.

🏀 Duke Reloads, Not Rebuilds — Tony talks with Anna Snyder of the Fayetteville Observer about life after Cooper Flagg and the rise of Cam Boozer as Duke’s newest star. Snyder shares insight on Coach John Shire’s back-to-back No. 1 recruiting classes, Duke’s brutal non-conference gauntlet, and the defensive mindset that could make the Blue Devils Final Four contenders again.

📈 Headlines with Larry Smith —

• Dallas Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison after a sluggish start.

• CFP Rankings: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia hold the top five spots.

• MLB Managers of the Year announced.

• LSU fires Brian Kelly amid contract controversy.

• WNBA faces new competition from “Project B,” a Saudi-backed global women’s league offering multimillion-dollar deals.

💡 Moment of Awe — An Australian teen finds $3,500 at a gas station, returns it, and ends up inspiring $10,000 in GoFundMe donations plus a gift that funds brain-surgery expenses for a stranger.

🎧 Listen every weekday for beyond-the-buzz insight into the stories shaping sports.
SportsIQ with Larry Smith — Beyond the Buzzer, Inside the Game.

On this Veterans Day edition of SportsIQ, Larry and Producer Tony cover a packed lineup from coast to coast.

Segments Include:
🇺🇸 Opening Tribute: Larry opens the show with a heartfelt salute to America’s veterans and their families, reflecting on the freedoms they protect and the importance of civic discourse.

🏈 College Football Spotlight:

• Guest 1: Tom Kakert of HawkeyeReport.com breaks down Iowa’s ironclad defense and ongoing offensive woes ahead of their clash with USC.

• Why wide receivers who can create separation are now as vital as elite quarterbacks in the Big Ten arms race.

• How the Hawkeyes can contain USC’s explosive attack — and what it’ll take for the Trojans to stay alive in the playoff race.

☘️ Guest 2: Stephen Thompson, Pitt beat writer for The Athletic, joins to preview Notre Dame vs. Pitt — a likely playoff elimination game.

• Can Pitt’s top-five run defense slow down Notre Dame’s balanced attack?

• Quarterback play, turnovers, and red-zone execution will decide this one.

• A look inside the expected sellout atmosphere in Pittsburgh.

📊 College Football Playoff Race:Larry runs through the 23 teams still in the hunt, from undefeated to two-loss hopefuls — and delivers a reality check: “If your team has three losses, they’re out.”

🏀 ACC–Big East Merger Talk:Larry reacts to Mike Krzyzewski and Rick Pitino’s idea of merging the two leagues — and why it might water down both conferences.

🏈 NFL Breakdown:Producer Tony spotlights a changing of the guard in the AFC, as rising teams like the Colts and Broncos surge while the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens struggle under massive QB contracts.Larry adds context on salary-cap realities, Brady’s sacrifice model, and why smart structuring wins championships.

✨ Moment of Awe:Division II North Greenville stuns Division I Gardner-Webb 92–81 — a true David vs. Goliath upset that reminds us why we love college hoops.

Listen & Subscribe:SportsIQ with Larry Smith — new episodes every weekday.Follow the conversation at @SportsIQLS on all platforms.

Larry and Tony kick off a packed Monday edition of SportsIQ with college football chaos, NFL comebacks, and an inside look at two major stories shaping sports this week.

First up, Kevin Noon from BuckeyeHuddle.com joins the show to break down Ohio State’s unbeaten season — from quarterback Julian Sayin’s near-historic efficiency to Ryan Day’s “old-school” offensive style and a defense that refuses to bend. With Michigan looming, can the Buckeyes stay perfect and secure another Big Ten crown?

Then, Tony welcomes Boston Globe senior sports editor Katie McInerney for an inspiring deep dive into the new Women’s Professional Baseball League, set to launch in 2026. They explore its origins, the vision of founder Justine Siegal, and why this could be a golden era for women’s sports — from volleyball to softball to baseball.

Larry wraps the show with reflections on the legacies of Lenny Wilkens and Paul Tagliabue, breaking stadium news out of UCLA, and the latest on LSU’s Brian Kelly buyout drama.

Guests:

• Kevin Noon — Assistant Editor, BuckeyeHuddle.com

• Katie McInerney — Senior Sports Editor, The Boston Globe

Topics Covered:

• Ohio State’s methodical rise and Heisman chatter

• Inside the Buckeye defense with new DC Matt Patricia

• Women’s Professional Baseball League announcement and tryouts

• The business boom in women’s sports

• Remembering legends Lenny Wilkens & Paul Tagliabue

• UCLA’s potential move from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium

• Brian Kelly’s massive LSU buyout dispute

• Texas, A&M, and the playoff race heating up

Listen to SportsIQ with Larry Smith — where insight meets energy, every weekday.