A to Z Sports Podcast Network

A to Z Sports
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Nashville's On-Demand podcast network!

  1. 1d ago

    The Vols Are About To Find Out How Good They Really Are...

    The Tennessee Vols have one final game before the biggest test of the season arrives. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan preview Tennessee's matchup with Kennesaw State, discuss what the Vols need to accomplish in the final tune-up before Texas and look around the SEC at several games that could have major implications for Tennessee's season. Kennesaw State is a massive underdog, and the guys expect Tennessee to win comfortably. But that doesn't mean the game is meaningless. Tennessee needs to stay focused, avoid unnecessary injuries and give its younger players valuable game reps before the Vols turn their attention toward Texas. The guys discuss how Josh Heupel could approach the game, how much playing time the starters should receive and why Tennessee needs to avoid allowing Kennesaw State to turn the game into a frustrating, physical battle. The biggest priority? Get out healthy. Charlie and Zach also discuss the importance of getting younger players meaningful reps, particularly with Tennessee's depth and upcoming SEC schedule in mind. Then the conversation turns toward the rest of the SEC. The guys break down Florida vs. Auburn, a matchup between two teams Tennessee will see later in the season, and discuss what they expect from both teams. They also preview LSU vs. Ole Miss, a game with plenty of history and potential implications for Tennessee's schedule. Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss is expected to create a highly emotional atmosphere, and Charlie and Zach discuss why LSU could be at its best in that environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Sep 10

    Tennessee's Defense Just Gave Us A BIG Reason To Be Excited...

    The Tennessee Vols' defense may be much better than expected in 2026. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down Tennessee's defensive performance against Furman, Xavier Gilliam's dominant three-sack performance, the emergence of the defensive line and what it could mean for the Vols heading into Saturday night's matchup with Georgia Tech. Yes, it was Furman. But there were still plenty of encouraging signs. Xavier Gilliam was the biggest standout, recording three sacks and constantly creating disruption up front. After entering the season with questions surrounding Tennessee's edge-rushing situation, Gilliam's performance provides another potential answer for the Vols' defensive front. Tyree Weathersby also made an immediate impact, while the hosts discuss how much more Tennessee's defense could have in the tank once Arion Carter returns from his suspension. The Vols also received strong performances from transfer defenders Amare Campbell and others, while several young defensive players showed enough to create optimism about Tennessee's depth. But the real test comes against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets struggled to run the football against Colorado, which could create an opportunity for Tennessee's defense to dictate the game. Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza was one of the team's best players in Week 1, meaning Tennessee's secondary could face a much tougher test than it did against Furman. Charlie and Zach discuss whether Georgia Tech will lean more heavily on Mendoza through the air, how Jim Knowles could attack the Yellow Jackets and why Tennessee's defense may be able to control the game if it stops Georgia Tech's rushing attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Sep 8

    The Vols Offense Could Be SCARY Good... If They Fix One BIG Problem

    The Tennessee Vols' offense could be one of the most exciting units in college football in 2026 — but there is one major question standing in the way. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down Tennessee's offensive performance in the season opener, the incredible early returns on Faizon Brandon, the emergence of Mike Matthews and DeSean Bishop and the biggest concern facing the Vols heading into their matchup with Georgia Tech. The biggest positive? Faizon Brandon looks like a legitimate difference-maker. The true freshman quarterback showed tremendous poise in his first game, made smart decisions with the football and added an element with his legs that Tennessee hasn't consistently had since Hendon Hooker. Brandon's ability to escape pressure, avoid negative plays and turn broken plays into first downs could significantly raise the ceiling of Tennessee's offense. Charlie and Zach explain why that element of Brandon's game reminds them of what made Hooker so effective during Tennessee's explosive 2022 season. But there is one major problem. The offensive line did not look as good as expected against Furman. Tennessee struggled at times on the right side, rotated several players and still appears to be searching for its best combination at right tackle and right guard. The hosts aren't ready to panic, but they believe Tennessee needs to settle on a consistent lineup before the competition gets significantly tougher. And the Vols have plenty of talent around the quarterback. Mike Matthews had a huge game, DeSean Bishop continues to look like one of Tennessee's most physical players and the running back room appears much deeper than expected entering the season. Tennessee also has a wide receiver room loaded with potential contributors. If the offensive line can become a strength, Charlie and Zach believe Tennessee could have an offense capable of ranking among the best in the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Sep 4

    The Tennessee Vols Have HUGE Expectations Entering The 2026 Season...

    Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down Tennessee's 2026 season, starting with Saturday's matchup against Furman and looking ahead to what could be a massive year for Josh Heupel and the Vols. How good can Tennessee actually be? The guys go through the schedule and make their predictions for every game, including the biggest matchups against Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and LSU. Charlie has Tennessee finishing the regular season 10-2, while Zach predicts a 9-3 record. Both believe the Vols have a legitimate path to the College Football Playoff, but there are plenty of opportunities for Tennessee to stumble along the way. A huge part of Tennessee's ceiling will depend on true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. The Vols have plenty of talent around him, including DeSean Bishop, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, but Brandon will be asked to navigate one of the toughest schedules in college football. The guys also discuss the importance of Jim Knowles' first season as Tennessee's defensive coordinator. After concerns about how quickly the new system would come together, there is optimism that Knowles can turn the Vols' defense into a legitimate strength by the end of the season. Plus, Charlie and Zach make their bold predictions for the 2026 season. Will Mike Matthews emerge as an NFL Draft first-rounder? Can Kayin Lee become one of Tennessee's breakout defensive stars? Could an offensive player find himself on the Heisman radar? And can Jim Knowles produce a top-20 defense? Before all of that, though, Tennessee has to take care of business against Furman. The Vols are massive favorites entering Saturday's game, and the guys expect Tennessee to win comfortably. Zach predicts a 70-3 type of game, while Charlie lands around 55-6. The Big Orange Podcast puts the entire Tennessee 2026 season on the record. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Tennessee for Tennessee Volunteers football news, analysis, recruiting updates, game reactions and the Big Orange Podcast throughout the 2026 season. Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: http://kalshi.com/r/ATOZ Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Sep 2

    Tennessee's 2026 Season Prediction Is In... How Good Will The Vols Be?

    The Tennessee Vols are finally entering the 2026 college football season but how good can Josh Heupel's team actually be? Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down the entire Tennessee football schedule, predict every game, reveal their final records and discuss whether the Vols have what it takes to compete for a College Football Playoff spot. Entering the season, Tennessee has plenty of questions. The biggest one? How quickly can true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon develop against an SEC schedule? The Vols have talent all over the roster, including playmakers like DeSean Bishop, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, but the quarterback position will determine just how high this team can climb. Charlie and Zach go game-by-game through Tennessee's 2026 schedule, including major matchups against Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas A&M and LSU. They discuss: 🏈 Whether Tennessee can beat Texas early in the season 🏈 Why Alabama in Neyland Stadium could be a massive opportunity 🏈 The biggest road challenges for the Vols 🏈 Why the LSU matchup could become a revenge game 🏈 Whether Tennessee can finally solve Vanderbilt after last season's loss The guys also make their bold predictions for the season. Zach predicts breakout seasons for Kayin Lee and Mike Matthews, believing both players could enter the first-round NFL Draft conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Sep 1

    The Vols Just Made A HUGE Uniform Change Tennessee Fans Hate...

    The Tennessee Vols officially have a new uniform sponsor — and it created a massive debate among fans. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down Tennessee's First Horizon Bank uniform patch announcement, why the Power T was removed from the collar, whether this was the right decision and what this says about the future of college football. Tennessee's new uniform sponsorship deal is reportedly worth around $120 million over 10 years, giving the Vols a major new revenue stream during a time when college football programs are constantly searching for ways to fund increasingly expensive rosters. But there is a catch. To add the sponsor patch, Tennessee removed the Power T from the collar of the jersey and replaced it with SEC branding. That decision immediately created backlash from fans who believe the Power T is one of the most important symbols in Tennessee football history. Charlie and Zach discuss both sides of the argument. On one hand, Tennessee fans have every reason to want the Power T protected. It represents the history and tradition of the program. On the other hand, college football has entered a new era where programs need massive amounts of revenue to compete for elite players. The guys explain why $12 million per year can make a real difference for Tennessee's roster building and why this type of sponsorship is becoming unavoidable across college athletics. They also discuss why the First Horizon patch itself was handled better than some other examples around college football, why Tennessee's uniforms still maintain their traditional look and how athletic director Danny White has balanced revenue generation with protecting Tennessee's identity. Is losing the Power T on the collar worth $12 million per year? Should Tennessee fans be upset? Or is this simply the reality of modern college football? Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan discuss the biggest Tennessee uniform debate of the offseason on the Big Orange Podcast. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Tennessee for Tennessee Volunteers football news, analysis, recruiting updates and Big Orange Podcast episodes throughout the season. #TennesseeVols #Vols #TennesseeFootball #CollegeFootball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Aug 27

    College Football Has ANOTHER Huge Lane Kiffin Problem...

    Lane Kiffin and LSU are at the center of the latest college football controversy after the SEC announced potential penalties for programs that attempt to bring NFL players back to the college level. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down the entire situation on the Big Orange Podcast, including why the SEC finally decided to take action, why Lane Kiffin's argument has created so much controversy and what this means for the future of college football. The biggest question facing the sport: How far are teams willing to go to build their rosters? After recent eligibility changes opened the door for some former college players who entered the NFL Draft process to potentially return, programs began exploring whether NFL players could come back to college football. The SEC responded by creating significant penalties for schools that attempt to make that move, including potential suspensions and financial punishments. Charlie and Zach explain why targeting coaches and schools instead of players is the only realistic way to enforce these rules. Players wanting another opportunity makes sense but allowing programs to continuously bring back NFL-level talent would fundamentally change roster construction across college football. And naturally, Lane Kiffin is right in the middle of the controversy. The guys discuss why Kiffin's argument that “someone else will do it” doesn't hold up, why LSU's situation has become the center of attention and why this controversy says a lot about the current state of college football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Aug 25

    Tennessee's Defense Just Made A HUGE Statement...

    The Tennessee Vols defense is beginning to show some extremely encouraging signs under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles after a much stronger performance in Tennessee's second preseason scrimmage. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down what they're hearing about the Vols' defense on the Big Orange Podcast, why Tennessee finally appears to be developing a defensive identity and the one position that still creates some legitimate concern entering the 2026 college football season. Tennessee's defense reportedly bounced back in a major way during the Vols' second scrimmage. The defense created multiple turnover opportunities against Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre, while Tennessee's defensive front generated pressure and players such as Xavier Gilliam continued to create optimism along the interior. More importantly, Josh Heupel believes the defense is developing a personality under Jim Knowles. That's a potentially significant development for a Tennessee defense that struggled with communication, consistency and identity last season. Charlie and Zach explain why Knowles' ability to build his scheme around the strengths of Tennessee's personnel could put the Vols' defenders in a much better position to succeed. The goal doesn't have to be creating an elite defense immediately. Tennessee simply needs to make a substantial improvement from what it put on the field last season. There are still questions. Edge rusher remains one of the biggest concerns on Tennessee's roster. The Vols don't have much proven SEC production at the position, which could put additional pressure on Tennessee's interior defensive line to generate a consistent pass rush. The guys also discuss Daevin Hobbs' health, Jordan Norman's opportunity, the development of Tennessee's secondary after the loss of Edrees Farooq and why getting linebacker Arion Carter back for the Georgia Tech game is such an important development. Carter's NCAA suspension has officially been reduced to one game, meaning he'll miss Tennessee's season opener against Furman but will be eligible to return when the Vols travel to face Georgia Tech. And, of course, Tennessee finally has its starting quarterback. Josh Heupel officially named five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon the Vols' QB1 after his competition with George MacIntyre. Charlie and Zach briefly discuss why Brandon was the right choice and why the freshman's combination of talent, maturity and upside makes his future in Josh Heupel's offense so exciting. Has Jim Knowles already changed Tennessee's defense? Can the Vols generate enough pressure off the edge? How much improvement does this unit need to make in 2026? And what should Tennessee fans expect when the Vols finally take the field? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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