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

Seth Saunders
  • 5.0 (36)
  • Sports News
  • Updated Weekly

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. 2h ago

    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 'Load' 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

  7. May 29

    Geoff Collins' College Football Odyssey: From Walk-On to Head Coach

    Geoff Collins walked on at Western Carolina, earned a scholarship, became a three-year defensive starter — and turned that into a college coaching career spanning three decades that took him from DIII to the FCS to the head coach of multiple Power 4 programs. Seth Saunders sits down with the former Temple and Georgia Tech head coach for the second episode of The Preferred Walk-On Show's summer interview series. Collins traces his full path — from what jersey numbers 92 and 5 meant to a walk-on earning his place, to what he learned from Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, and Jim McElwain, to building his own programs from the lessons he earned along his coaching journey. He talks about why the lower levels of football made him the coach he became, what authenticity actually looks like in a locker room, and what he'd tell the next generation of walk-ons and young coaches. KEY TOPICS: → Walk-on to scholarship to three-year starter at Western Carolina → The stories behind jersey numbers 92 and 5 as a Catamount → How Saban, Carroll, and McElwain shaped his coaching philosophy → Why coaching at the lower levels is a lab, not a stepping stone → Building culture through relationships and authentic leadership → Handling adversity and external noise as the head coach → Advice for young athletes, walk-ons, and aspiring coaches TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Geoff Collins — walk-on, starter, head coach 02:00 — Jersey numbers 92 and 5: what they meant at Western Carolina 06:00 — How walk-on grit wires your work ethic for life 09:00 — The mentorship moments that set the course 13:00 — Saban, Carroll, McElwain — learning to lead by watching and observing the best 17:00 — Why the lower levels of football are where you really learn to coach 21:00 — Building programs on relationships, not just schemes 25:00 — Navigating adversity and blocking out the noise 29:00 — Trust, authenticity, and staying grounded 33:00 — Who you surround yourself with matters more than you think 37:00 — What Collins would tell the next generation of coaches and walk-ons 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

  8. May 26

    Show Me the Money, Pt. 2: NIL, Rev Share & the House Settlement Era

    If LSU's roster really costs an $40 million and the House settlement only allows $20.5 million in direct revenue sharing - where is all of the extra money coming from? In Part 2 of our Show Me the Money series, Seth breaks down the third bucket of college football compensation: everything happening above the rev share cap. That means multimedia rights partners (Learfield, Playfly, JMI Sports), the new generation of school-aligned collectives, and the high-stakes Nebraska arbitration case that just blew a hole in how schools were planning to pay players in 2026. We get into: – Why NIL Go and Deloitte are now the gatekeepers on every deal over $600 – How "warehousing" became the workaround — and why the arbiter just shut it down – The "associated entity" ruling against Playfly and what it means for every MMR deal in the country – What collectives now look like in a post-House settlement landscape – Matador Club, Texas Tech, and the new professionalization of roster management – The unanswered questions still hanging over all of it: employee status, Title IX, and whether NIL Go actually has any teeth "An estimated 70% of NIL deals from 2021 to 2025 would not have passed the smell test." "It's an upfront payday with a sponsorship costume on." "What if Nebraska just says, y'all can kick rocks, we're still gonna pay these kids? The NCAA doesn't really have any teeth here." Chapters 0:00 — Welcome & Part 1 recap (scholarships + the $20.5M rev share) 1:30 — The third bucket: where the rest of the money is coming from 3:30 — NIL Go, the smell test & the 70% rule 5:30 — MMRs explained: Learfield, Playfly, JMI Sports 7:30 — The Nebraska case & how "warehousing" deals work 12:30 — The arbiter's ruling: associated entities & no business purpose 15:30 — From Classic City Collective to Glory Glory: the new collective model 18:30 — Texas One Fund, Spire, Grove Collective & the Matador Club blueprint 22:00 — Donor fatigue, enforcement & what's still unsettled 26:00 — Coming next: Alston, O'Bannon & how we got here 28:00 — The three-bucket recap 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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