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.

College football is in full swing, and the weekend brings more twists across the gridiron. Larry Smith and producer Tony Cordaro break down the latest headlines — from Antonio Brown’s shocking arrest to Wisconsin’s decision to stick with Luke Fickell — before diving deep into three major storylines shaping November football.

🟥 Segment 1: Alabama’s Swagger Returns
Tuscaloosa News beat writer Colin Gay joins the show to talk about Alabama’s comeback from an early-season loss. Larry and Colin dissect Ty Simpson’s leadership, Kalen DeBoer’s fiery sideline style, and how the Tide’s rediscovered chip-on-the-shoulder swagger has them right back in the playoff hunt.

🟧 Segment 2: What’s Happening at Clemson?
Darien Carter of the Greenville News breaks down Clemson’s shocking tumble from top-five contender to mid-pack struggler. He and Tony discuss the offensive inconsistency, Dabo Swinney’s massive buyout, growing booster frustration, and whether 2026 will be a make-or-break year in Death Valley.

🟨 Segment 3: Danny Sheridan on the Coaching Carousel
Veteran college football analyst Danny Sheridan brings decades of perspective on one of the wildest mid-season firing sprees in memory. From the $170 million in buyouts to the growing power of wealthy boosters, Danny explains why “win now or else” is today’s coaching reality — and which names will be hottest this offseason.

🟩 Segment 4: Weekend Matchups to Watch
Larry and Tony look ahead to a full slate:

• Alabama vs LSU — Can the Tide avoid a trap game?

• BYU vs Texas Tech — Undefeated Cougars in the national spotlight

• Iowa vs Oregon — Smashmouth vs speed in the Big Ten

• Plus, which underdog could shake up the playoff picture

💥 Moment of Awe:
A feel-good story from Texas Tech: when barber Ivan Ortiz’s wife was paralyzed in a drunk-driving crash, BYU fans and players stepped up, raising over $150,000 to help the family — including a $25,000 donation from Crumbl Cookies’ CEO. A true display of humanity beyond the field.

• Alabama’s mid-season transformation

• Kalen DeBoer’s evolving leadership

• Clemson’s coaching culture and recruiting shifts

• Booster power and massive buyouts

• Pat Fitzgerald’s return to coaching

• NIL, transfer portal chaos, and job pressure

• BYU’s rise and redemption story

• Upcoming playoff implications

Larry Smith dives into a loaded Thursday show featuring two CBS Sports insiders — baseball writer Matt Snyder and women’s college basketball reporter Isabel Gonzalez.

⚾ World Series Wrap & MLB Offseason Outlook:
Matt Snyder joins to break down one of the most thrilling World Series in decades — from Shohei Ohtani’s legendary performance to Dave Roberts’ growing legacy with the Dodgers. They look ahead to key offseason storylines including Blue Jays roster moves, potential trades, and surprise teams to watch for 2026.

🏀 Women’s College Basketball Tip-Off:
Isabel Gonzalez covers early-season action across the women’s game — from Paige Bueckers’ injury absence at UConn, to Texas’ retooled offense, to South Carolina’s depth under Dawn Staley. Plus, a look at UCLA’s dominant frontcourt and why LSU could be the most complete team in the country.

🔥 NBA & NHL Highlights:
Thunder finally fall, Lakers thrive without LeBron, and Alex Ovechkin nets goal No. 900.

💔 Tragic News:
The Cowboys mourn the loss of defensive end Marshawn Neeland, gone far too soon at 24.

💥 Moment of Awe:
A jaw-dropping women’s basketball blowout — Cal State Northridge 103, Bethesda 13 — the first time a team has ever been shut out for an entire half since the switch to quarters.

A jam-packed Wednesday lineup:

• Clemson’s Fall from Grace: Chapel Fowler of The State joins the show to break down what went wrong with Dabo Swinney’s Tigers. From blown home games to locker room culture and transfer portal resistance, Chapel gives an insider look at how a perennial playoff contender unraveled in 2025 — and what changes may be coming next.

• NBA Culture Check: New contributor Jonah Kubicek explores how true “team cultures” are built and sustained — from the Spurs’ international legacy and Popovich’s blueprint to the rise of OKC’s young dynasty. Plus: how franchises like the Heat and Warriors turned leadership stability into long-term success.

• NFL Trade Deadline Winners & Losers: Producer Tony Cordero breaks down the biggest deals — why the Colts’ gamble pays off, how Jacksonville quietly got better, and why the Jets might have just set another low bar for dysfunction.

• Moment of Awe: Division II Hawaii Pacific shocks Boise State — a true stunner from the hardwood to close out the show.

🎧 Sports IQ with Larry Smith — Beyond the buzzer, inside the game.

On today’s episode of SportsIQ with Larry Smith, we start in Gainesville, where Florida basketball opens its title defense with a tough loss to Arizona — and the football team faces a full-scale reset after the firing of Billy Napier. Larry welcomes Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun to break down the Gators’ early-season hoops outlook, Todd Golden’s deeper non-conference schedule, and what’s next for Florida football as rumors swirl around Lane Kiffin, James Franklin, and Jedd Fisch in the Gators’ head-coaching search.

Then Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com joins to assess the Texas Longhorns’ resurgence and what the first College Football Playoff rankings could mean for Arch Manning, Steve Sarkisian, and a potential playoff run. Can Texas prove itself with a statement win over Georgia?

Finally, Larry and producer Tony Cordaro relive one of the greatest World Series in modern history — the Blue Jays and Dodgers trading record-setting moments, Shohei Ohtani’s brilliance, and a reminder of why baseball’s October drama still rules.

Topics Covered:

• Florida Gators: early basketball test vs. Arizona, football’s coaching search, and fan expectations

• Texas Longhorns: CFP outlook, Arch Manning’s breakthrough, and SEC road tests ahead

• National headlines: NFL trade moves, NBA lawsuit news, and NHL matchups to watch

• World Series recap: Dodgers go back-to-back, historic performances, and unforgettable drama

Guests:

• Kevin Brockway – Gainesville Sun

• Anwar Richardson – Orangebloods.com

It’s a massive Monday on Sports IQ with Larry Smith — and the sports calendar is overflowing. Larry dives into the NFL’s chaos weekend, with the Bills’ statement win over Kansas City, Caleb Williams’ late heroics in Chicago, and Denver’s improbable surge. Then, it’s all about college football’s November separation season.

🏈 Indiana Football is now the story of the year — undefeated, ranked No. 2, and looking every bit like a playoff lock. Larry sits down with Coach Shannon Griffith, lead analyst for TheHoosier.com, to break down the Hoosiers’ rise, the brilliance of Coach Curt Cignetti, and how Indiana built a true national powerhouse.

🔥 Later, Alexis Cubit of the Louisville Courier-Journal joins to talk Louisville’s playoff chances, Jeff Brohm’s magic touch, Vince Marrow’s new influence, and how both Cardinals basketball teams are shaping up as the new season tips off.

Plus:
🏀 College basketball officially returns — Larry previews the early season schedule and the top 25 matchups to watch.
💥 Tony Cordaro joins to analyze the latest AP Top 25 shakeup, coaching changes, and November elimination games.
🌟 Moment of Awe: Jacksonville’s Cam Little boots his way into the record books with a 68-yard NFL field goal.