The Preferred Walk-On: The People's College Football Show

Seth Saunders
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The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with featured co-host James Kehm, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Weekly previews, recaps, and conversations with the head coaches, coordinators, players and insiders shaping the season — plus the rivalries, characters, and traditions that make this sport singular. New episodes year-round. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Welcome to the Scout Team.

  1. 1d ago

    Chasing the Magic of College Football Saturdays with Josh Sims (@cfbtravelguy)

    What makes a great college football trip? For Josh Sims - better known as CFB Travel Guy - the game itself is only part of the answer. It’s arriving in town on Friday. Finding the restaurant that’s been serving fans for 70 years. Walking a campus for the first time. Seeing the traditions you grew up watching on television. Tailgating with people you’ve never met. And feeling the energy build until kickoff. Josh has crisscrossed the country chasing those experiences, and he joins Seth for a wide-ranging conversation about the places, people and traditions that make college football unlike any other sport. They talk about the surprising greatness of Pullman, Lubbock, Starkville and Raleigh; why Bloomington deserves a place among America’s best college towns; the appeal of MACtion and Big Sky Country; the intensity of Brawl of the Wild; and why experiencing Army–Navy in person completely changed Josh’s appreciation for the rivalry. They also get deep into the art of the college football road trip: scheduling, flights, hotels, points, multi-game weekends and the difference between simply attending a game and truly experiencing a college town. And because no proper road trip conversation is complete without food, Josh builds his ultimate college-town menu: from breakfast and barbecue to pizza, ice cream, breweries and 1:30 a.m. donuts. Most importantly, Josh explains why, for all the changes surrounding college football, the feeling that keeps people coming back remains the same. The traditions. The towns. The rivalries. The people. The magic of Saturday. This is college football beyond the box score. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  2. Aug 2

    From Calling Games for Free to Calling SEC Football | Matt Schumacker

    Matt Schumacker spent years envisioning himself calling college football in front of 80,000 fans. Now he gets to do it for real. The new lead play-by-play voice for SEC Network football joins The Preferred Walk-On Show to tell the story behind an 11-year climb through sports broadcasting, from calling minor league baseball for free and driving hours for $200 assignments to nearly leaving the profession altogether during COVID. Matt discusses the moments he wondered whether the opportunity would ever come, the role his wife and faith played in keeping him going, and why he became a believer in visualizing the life and career he wanted before they became reality. We also go behind the scenes of a major college football broadcast: the preparation fans never see, communicating with producers during live television, developing chemistry with Aaron Murray and Taylor Davis, and the responsibility that comes with telling the story of SEC football every Saturday. Plus, Matt shares what he learned participating in a mock College Football Playoff selection committee, his bucket-list college sports venues, his background as a college track athlete and, because this is college football, the best places to eat barbecue and best college-town fare. ⏰ CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Matt Schumacker joins the show 01:18 — St. Louis food, toasted ravioli & SEC food spots 05:28 — Matt's ultimate barbecue destination 08:28 — From college track athlete to broadcaster 10:33 — How fast is a 3:42 mile? 13:57 — The long road through sports broadcasting 14:44 — “When are you going to get a real job?” 15:39 — Calling games for free & driving eight hours for $200 16:00 — COVID, real estate & nearly leaving broadcasting 17:21 — Faith, family & believing before anyone else does 19:20 — Visualizing himself calling SEC football 20:32 — Getting the call from ESPN 22:18 — What fans don’t see during a live broadcast 24:22 — How broadcasters prepare for a game 25:18 — Working with Aaron Murray & Taylor Davis 28:08 — Inside the College Football Playoff selection room 31:37 — Three must-visit venues in college sports 37:07 — Matt’s advice to his younger self If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  3. Jul 23

    Kerwin Bell: From Walk-On to SEC Player of the Year, Building Winners & Betting on Yourself

    Western Carolina head football coach Kerwin Bell knows what it means to be overlooked. Bell arrived at the University of Florida as an eighth-string walk-on quarterback before climbing the depth chart, earning the starting job, and becoming the SEC Player of the Year. That journey launched a professional playing career and eventually a coaching career defined by explosive offenses, championships, player development, and a willingness to believe in players others might overlook. In this episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show, Bell joins Seth Saunders to discuss the mindset behind his remarkable journey and the lessons that continue to shape the way he leads Western Carolina. Bell explains why he believes luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation, how his own walk-on experience changed the way he evaluates and develops players, and why Western Carolina has awarded scholarships to numerous walk-ons who proved they could help the Catamounts win. Bell shares the characteristics he believes are essential to building winning programs—particularly his search for talented, high-character self-starters who are willing to work when nobody is watching. The conversation also explores Western Carolina’s “Live on the Edge” philosophy, the difference between simply making a roster and becoming an indispensable player, and why Bell believes the 2026 Catamounts have the depth and physicality to compete for a Southern Conference championship. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction and Coach Bell's Background 01:20 Rebuilding Belief at Western Carolina 03:08 Overcoming Being Overlooked in High School 05:13 Moments of Belonging and Confidence 08:39 Influence of Coach Spurrier and Offensive Philosophy 10:32 Building Winning Teams Across Levels 12:51 The Meaning of 'LOTE' and Playing Aggressively 14:09 From Walk-On to Scholarship Player 15:31 Excitement for the 2026 Season 17:06 Coach Bell's Impact on Players' Lives 19:42 Advice for the Final Game and Life Lessons 21:33 Supporting Western Carolina and Future Goals If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  4. Jul 10

    Coach Marco Regalado on UTRGV Football, the Walk On Mindset, and Betting on Yourself

    UTRGV football is being built from the ground up, and Coach Marco Regalado is right in the middle of that foundation. In this episode, Seth Saunders sits down with Coach Regalado to talk about his South Texas roots, his non-traditional climb through the coaching profession, and what it means to help build a new Division I football program in the Valley. Coach Regalado shares how his football journey took him from Zapata, Texas, to Texas State, to creating a football club when his own playing path did not unfold the way he hoped, to grinding through Texas high school football, recruiting, player personnel, Rice, Washington State, and now UTRGV. The conversation also covers Coach Regalado’s life as a Texas country music artist, the lessons he learned from mentors throughout the profession, and the walk-on values that shape the way he coaches: heart, hustle, toughness, humility, relentless effort, and doing the things that take no talent. This is a conversation about betting on yourself, building belief before results, and shifting from proving doubters wrong to proving believers right. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:47 Coach Regalado joins the show 02:11 Football coach by day, Texas country artist by night 07:57 Coming home to South Texas and UTRGV 09:00 Building a program from scratch 11:00 Recruiting belief before results 11:48 What UTRGV looks for in players 14:11 Coach Regalado’s non-traditional climb 15:14 Trying to walk on at Texas State 16:00 Creating a football club from scratch 17:11 Walk-on values and TNT traits 20:10 Coaches who shaped the journey 24:19 Washington State, Nick Rolovich, and taking a chance 25:58 Lessons from Rice and Mike Bloomgren 27:44 Coach Bush and the UTRGV opportunity 29:19 What players remember years later 31:34 Doc Brown's DeLorean 33:55 How to support UTRGV football “Instead of trying to prove people who doubted you wrong, focus on proving every single person who believed in you right.” “You’ll go very far in life if you work hard and treat people right.” “We have to find tough kids that love football.” If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  5. Jun 29

    Casey Woods: From Tennessee Walk-On to Missouri State Head Coach

    Missouri State head football coach Casey Woods joins The Preferred Walk-On Show to talk about leadership, culture, faith, toughness, family, and what it takes to build a football program that lasts. Coach Woods shares his journey from playing at the University of Tennessee, earning his way as a walk-on, coaching on a national championship staff at Auburn, helping build winning programs at UAB and SMU, and now leading Missouri State football into a new era. This conversation goes beyond wins and losses. Coach Woods opens up about the influence of his father, long-time head coach Sparky Woods, the lessons learned from adversity, the five core values guiding his program, and why the walk-on mindset still matters in college football. If you love conversations about college football culture, leadership, player development, program building, and the people behind the game, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: The press conference is the result, not the beginning 01:39 – The moments that prepared Woods for the head chair 04:11 – Sparky Woods: a hero, a mentor, and now a staff member 07:23 – The non-negotiables of a Casey Woods program 11:12 – What a player should carry beyond football 14:43 – The walk-on mindset & the TNT All-American 17:37 – What adversity teaches you about yourself 21:38 – Advice to young Casey leaving Tennessee for the last time 25:15 – Closing thoughts “Love your team. Love your teammates. Always compete. Enjoy the journey.” “You can’t separate the wins and losses from the impact, because the cost of the platform is winning.” “The proudest day of my life is when the University of Tennessee put me on scholarship.” “Two things every single coach can be: organized and enthusiastic.” “Don’t ever, ever, ever settle for average.” If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  6. Jun 25

    Shane Beamer: From Walk-On to Head Coach

    South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer sits down with The Preferred Walk-On Show to trace his path from walk-on player to leading a Power Four program - and to explain why culture, core values, and resilience matter more than any recruiting ranking. Coach Beamer opens up on the leadership lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy, the outsized role walk-ons play in building winning culture, and how adversity and failure became catalysts for growth. He digs into the core values - love, gratitude, and trust - that anchor his program, why authenticity and hard work earn lasting respect, and how the relationships you build become your real legacy. Whether you're a coach, a player grinding for your role, or a fan who loves the human side of the sport, this conversation is a blueprint for building something that lasts. In this episode:🏈 Shane Beamer's journey from walk-on to South Carolina head coach 🏈 Why walk-ons are the heartbeat of championship culture 🏈 The core values that define South Carolina Football 🏈 Leadership lessons from success, failure, and adversity 🏈 How players can earn trust and create opportunity 🏈 Why "every day is a résumé builder" 🏈 Advice for young coaches and future leaders Memorable Quotes• "Core values are the foundation of a program." • "Every day is a résumé builder." ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Coach Shane Beamer 01:17 The Importance of Walk-Ons 02:35 Beamer's Journey as a Walk-On 04:31 Finding Your Role 09:07 Building a Program: Core Values 13:10 The Legacy of Coaching 15:09 Lessons on Adversity 17:28 Advice to Young Coaches 20:55 Walk-Ons in South Carolina If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-OnPartial ScholarshipFull Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  7. Jun 12

    College Football's Cold War: SEC, Big Ten, and the Fight for Control

    For over a century, the NCAA was the sheriff of college football. Today there's no sheriff at all - and the fight to replace it is reshaping the sport. In this solo deep-dive, host Seth Saunders makes the case that NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and playoff expansion aren't separate crises. They're symptoms of one massive transfer of power, and college football is living through its own Cold War. Seth traces the legal through-line that got us here: from the 2014 O'Bannon case, to Justice Kavanaugh's unanimous Alston concurrence ("the NCAA is not above the law"), through the wave of state NIL laws and the House settlement, all the way to the Brendan Sorsby eligibility fight - the case that proves the NCAA is now just the trial court, not judge, jury, and executioner. From there: why the SEC and Big Ten are the sport's two superpowers, why the ACC has become the "Berlin Wall" everyone's watching, how NIL Go exposes college football's enforcement problem, and the six proxy wars driving every headline. Seth closes with three possible futures for the sport - "NFL-lite," managed expansion, or the regional renaissance he's pulling for, built on the lessons of the FCS. The sport isn't dying. The money's never been better. But the fight over who gets to decide what college football becomes is fully underway — and the next five years may define the next fifty. 🎧 Listen & subscribe so you never miss an episode — and if this one made you think, share it with your tailgate crew. Topics: college football, NIL, SEC, Big Ten, conference realignment, College Football Playoff, House settlement, NCAA, transfer portal, revenue sharing, ACC, FCS The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO Want to reach The Scout Team? Sponsorship packages available: Walk-On Partial Scholarship Full Ride Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com Walk-On grit. All-American film.

  8. Jun 5

    A Complete Plan to Save College Football: Regional Conferences, 24-Team CFP, & Rose Bowl Title Game

    College football is changing fast — and most of those changes aren't for the good. Between conference realignment, NIL, the House settlement, player compensation, TV money, playoff expansion, and the slow erosion of regional rivalries, the sport is at a crossroads. In this episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show, Seth Saunders lays out a comprehensive vision for how to reshape college football while preserving what made it great in the first place. This is not just another complaint about the current system. It is a full blueprint. Seth breaks down a proposed model for a unified college football structure built around 14 regional conferences, traditional rivalries, a more inclusive 24-team playoff, campus-site postseason games, iconic bowl tie-ins, and a national championship stage worthy of the sport’s history. The goal: restore regionality, protect rivalries, create more meaningful conference championships, give more schools access to the postseason, and increase revenue across the entire sport — not just for the biggest brands. In This Episode The current state of college football governance and why the sport feels fragmented Why regionality still matters in college football How traditional rivalries have been damaged by modern realignment A proposed structure of 14 regional conferences How a 24-team College Football Playoff could work How at-large bids could create access without watering down the postseason A new postseason calendar featuring campus games and major bowl sites Why the Rose Bowl should be considered as a permanent or recurring national championship venue How TV rights could be packaged under a unified college football model The potential role of federal legislation, antitrust protection, and collective governance How this plan could generate more revenue for Power 4 schools, Group of 5 schools, and smaller programs alike Chapter Markers 00:00 Introduction to College Football’s Current Landscape 02:53 The Impact of Compensation and Expansion on College Football 05:56 Proposed Changes to Restore Regionality in College Football 08:36 Reimagining Conference Structures for Better Rivalries 11:17 The New Playoff System: A Path to Inclusivity 14:02 The Vision for a National Championship at the Rose Bowl 23:10 Revising the College Football Calendar 28:16 The Vision for a Unified College Football Association 34:46 Navigating Legal Hurdles in College Sports 40:35 The Future of College Football: A Comprehensive Plan College football has never been more valuable — but it has also never felt more unstable. The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Apple Podcasts & Spotify — search "The Preferred Walk-On Show" Instagram — @preferredwalk_on TikTok — @preferredwalkon Facebook — facebook.com/PreferredWalkOn X / Twitter — @PreferredWO

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The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with featured co-host James Kehm, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Weekly previews, recaps, and conversations with the head coaches, coordinators, players and insiders shaping the season — plus the rivalries, characters, and traditions that make this sport singular. New episodes year-round. Walk-On grit. All-American tape. Welcome to the Scout Team.

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