Forklift Systems Football Saturday

104.5 The Zone
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Football
  • Updated Weekly

Not many analysts in the midsouth have as much football expertise as Doug Mathews brings to the microphone every Saturday morning. It’s Forklift System’s Football Saturday on 104-5 The Zone. Mathews, best known for his 10 seasons as Running Backs Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the University of Tennessee, tells it like it is and lets you take show where you want to go every weekend. Forklift Systems Football Saturday covers all the big games across the nation, including all the action within the Southeastern Conference. It’s the perfect preview before you catch your favorite team play Saturday afternoon. Featuring long-time college football writer Tony Barnhart and NFL analyst Charles Davis.

  1. 5d ago

    Forklift Systems Football Saturday 6-27-26

    Welcome to another episode of Forklift Systems Football Saturday  Coach is joined by college football insiders Jimmy Hyams and Dennis Dodd to break down the sport's rapidly shifting landscape, evaluating everything from conference power dynamics to the complexities of NIL and revenue sharing. Referencing an OpenDorse report, the panel unpacks how financial shifts are rewriting roster-building strategies alongside their predictions for the expanded playoffs. Hyams identifies Georgia as the clear SEC favorite and forecasts a four-loss regression for Alabama, while Dodd highlights Oregon’s elite defense, Notre Dame’s highly favorable schedule, and Utah’s potential to dominate the wide-open Big 12. Furthermore, Dodd praises Missouri’s overachieving program and their massive $250 million stadium renovation as a prime example of how mid-tier teams are investing heavily to keep pace with the elite. Shifting to off-field developments, the discussion examines the NCAA's recent implementation of "low-hanging fruit" policies aimed at stabilizing a chaotic system. These calculated steps include a one-time transfer portal window, a six-week coaching dead period, and a "five-for-five" eligibility rule that effectively eliminates traditional redshirting. While major structural challenges—like capping player pools and enforcing anti-tampering rules—remain unresolved, these changes signal that the NCAA is actively recognizing its systemic issues. The Ultimate Takeaway: Despite unprecedented changes to revenue sharing, playoff expansion, and massive infrastructural investments by rising programs, the path to a national championship still dictates that these teams must consistently defeat established blue-blood powerhouses on the field. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 59m

  2. 5d ago

    FSFS - DENNIS DODD

    Coach Is Joined by  Dennis Dodd to break down the latest preseason polls and evaluate the shifting landscape of the SEC and Big 12. Following a brief recap of Scott Ramsey's insights on bowl game uncertainties, Dennis highlights Oregon's formidable returning defense and Notre Dame's highly favorable schedule as key factors for the upcoming playoffs. The discussion also examines the wide-open Big 12, noting Utah's strong potential to dominate. Finally, Dennis offers a detailed perspective on Missouri's overachieving football program, praising their $250 million stadium renovation. The ultimate takeaway for listeners is that while mid-tier teams are making massive infrastructural investments, breaking through to win championships requires consistently defeating established blue-blood powerhouses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 min

  3. 5d ago

    FSFS- SCOTT RAMSEY DENNIS DODD

    Coach welcomes Nashville Sports Council CEO Scott Ramsey and sports columnist Dennis Dodd to explore Nashville’s evolution into a premier sports destination. Ramsey reflects on the city's remarkable 30-year infrastructure growth, while Dodd questions the survival of regional bowl games amidst the expanded college football playoffs. Ramsey acknowledges the bowl industry is currently in a reactive holding pattern awaiting conference decisions. However, he emphasizes that strategic planning and the upcoming enclosed stadium position Nashville perfectly for major event bids. The most important takeaway for listeners is that despite drastic shifts in the college football landscape, Nashville's strong market appeal and proactive development ensure it will remain a top-tier host city for premier athletic events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  4. 5d ago

    Navigating the NCAA's New Era: Incremental Shifts in College Football

    In this segment, Coach examines the recent off-field rule changes in NCAA college football. Emphasizing the NCAA's slow but positive shift, the discussion highlights newly implemented "low-hanging fruit" policies, such as the one-time transfer portal window, a six-week summer dead period for coaches, and the significant "five-for-five" eligibility rule that eliminates redshirting. While acknowledging that larger challenges remain—including capping player pool pay, establishing comprehensive transfer regulations, and enforcing anti-tampering rules—the most important takeaway for listeners is that the NCAA actively recognizes its systemic issues and is taking calculated, incremental steps to stabilize the sport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    5 min

  5. 5d ago

    FSFS - JIMMY HYAMS

    Coach is joined by Jimmy Hyams to dissect the rapidly evolving college football landscape and the economic impacts of the ongoing World Cup. The duo dives into the complexities of NIL and revenue sharing, referencing an OpenDorse report to highlight how financial shifts are impacting roster building, such as Tennessee's situation with Chaz Coleman. Shifting to SEC predictions, Jimmy identifies Georgia as the definitive top contender led by returning quarterback Gunner Stockton, while forecasting a significant four-loss regression for Alabama. They also evaluate Oklahoma's defensive improvements and Vanderbilt's grueling schedule. The most important takeaway for listeners is that despite Georgia's clear on-field dominance, unprecedented structural changes to revenue sharing and playoff expansion are fundamentally rewriting the sport's future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min

  6. Jun 20

    Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2026

    The newly announced Hall of Fame class honors a wide array of legendary athletic figures, logically grouped by their ties to West, Middle, and East Tennessee. The West Tennessee inductees feature major league pitcher Matt Cain, Rhodes College coaching icon Mike Clary, Memphis Grizzlies basketball standout Marc Gasol, and longtime basketball coach Bubba Luckett. Middle Tennessee’s honorees include record-setting MTSU basketball coach Kermit Davis, basketball champion Ron Mercer, Cy Young Award-winning pitcher David Price, and the iconic Nashville Predators broadcasting duo of Pete Weber and Terry Crisp. Finally, rounding out the class from East Tennessee are champion women's basketball player Jennifer Azzi, Bristol Motor Speedway executive Jerry Caldwell, former University of Tennessee football standouts Reggie Cobb, Antone Davis, and Charles McCray, and legendary NFL tight end Jason Witten. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 min

  7. Jun 20

    Forklift Systems Football Saturday 6-20-26

    Welcome to another episode of Forklift Systems Football Saturday. The show kicks off with a nostalgic dive into Nashville sports history as the host sits down with Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Drawing on Willis’s deep roots with Titans Radio and 104.5 The Zone, the two chart Nashville’s dramatic evolution from a strictly college-focused sports town into a booming professional sports hub. Willis also pulls back the curtain on the Hall of Fame itself, detailing the meticulous and highly competitive nomination process utilized by its 18-member Board of Directors to select and honor the state's most legendary athletes, coaches, and sports figures. The gridiron conversation quickly shifts to the national stage as Coach is  joined by premier college sports insider Dennis Dodd to unpack a chaotic landscape ahead of the 2026 season. The panel tackles massive off-field storylines, including the monumental legal battle surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby—who opted for the supplemental draft after a protracted eligibility dispute—and the potential legislative impact of the Cruz-Cantwell bill on NCAA self-governance. Turning to on-field action, Dodd breaks down the shifting conference power dynamics and top quarterback transfers across the ACC and Big 12, while locking in the early Heisman Trophy race with Arch Manning labeled as the undisputed favorite alongside premium contenders CJ Carr of Notre Dame and Josh Hoover of TCU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 hr

  8. Jun 20

    College Football Chaos: Brendan Sorsby’s Legal Saga and 2026 Season Previews With Dennis Dodd

    Coach is joined by college sports insider Dennis Dodd, to unpack a chaotic college football landscape ahead of the 2026 season. The discussion heavily focuses on the monumental legal battle surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who opted for the supplemental draft after a protracted dispute over his playing eligibility, as well as the potential legislative impact of the Cruz-Cantwell bill on the NCAA's self-governance. Shifting to the gridiron, Dodd provides expert insight into the Heisman Trophy race—highlighting Arch Manning as the undisputed favorite alongside contenders like Notre Dame's CJ Carr and TCU's Josh Hoover—while breaking down the shifting power dynamics and top quarterback transfers across the Big 12 and ACC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Not many analysts in the midsouth have as much football expertise as Doug Mathews brings to the microphone every Saturday morning. It’s Forklift System’s Football Saturday on 104-5 The Zone. Mathews, best known for his 10 seasons as Running Backs Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the University of Tennessee, tells it like it is and lets you take show where you want to go every weekend. Forklift Systems Football Saturday covers all the big games across the nation, including all the action within the Southeastern Conference. It’s the perfect preview before you catch your favorite team play Saturday afternoon. Featuring long-time college football writer Tony Barnhart and NFL analyst Charles Davis.

Information

  • Creator
    104.5 The Zone
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 104.5 The Zone

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