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. 4d ago

    Forklift Systems Football Saturday 5-30-26

    On this episode of Forklift Systems Football Saturday , Coach dives deep into the major takeaways from the recent SEC and Big Ten Spring Meetings. Joined by "Mr. College Football" Tony Barnhart, the two unpack the ongoing debate between SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti regarding the potential expansion of the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams, as well as the push for more conference self-governance. In the second hour, college football experts Dennis Dodd and Charles Davis jump in to analyze the sweeping implications of the bipartisan Cruz-Cantwell bill—also known as the Protect College Sports Act—which attempts to address NIL, antitrust exemptions, transfer rules, and the looming reality of athlete employment. Additionally, Tennessee Education Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul drops by to share a positive fiscal update, projecting up to $455 million transferred for state educational programs this year See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 59m

  2. 4d ago

    FSFS- Dennis Dodd

    Coach is joined by Dennis Dodd to analyze the rapidly evolving and increasingly divided landscape of college athletics, specifically focusing on the financial dominance of the Big Ten and SEC. Dodd explains how recent proposals, like a 24-team playoff, have exposed deep fractures between conferences, with the Big 12 and ACC pushing for the expansion while the SEC and Big Ten resist it. The discussion also covers the severe undervaluation of college sports media rights, noting that keeping broadcasts restricted to individual conference silos drastically diminishes their potential market value compared to pooling them. This growing instability has led prominent figures like Texas Tech's Cody Campbell to heavily lobby for federal intervention to save and regulate college athletics. A major focal point of the conversation is the bipartisan Cruz-Cantwell bill, which attempts to stabilize the industry by granting the NCAA a narrow antitrust exemption, capping compensation, and strictly regulating player transfers. Despite its ambitious goals, Dodd expresses strong skepticism about the bill's viability, suggesting it is highly unlikely to pass in its current form due to upcoming Congressional recesses and widespread reluctance to intervene. To conclude, Dodd outlines five possible paths forward for the future of the sport: federal legislative codification, self-governance led by the powerhouse conferences, corporate spin-offs where schools form separate LLCs for athletics, formal collective bargaining for players, or simply maintaining a status quo defined by endless litigation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  3. 4d ago

    FSFS - CHARLES DAVIS & DENNIS DODD

    Coach is joined by Charles Davis and Dennis Dodd, The conversation begins with a discussion regarding the spring meetings of the Big Ten conference, which recently took place at a resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Charles notes that the conference is feeling very positive about itself, highlighted by the prominent display of recent national championship trophies at the meeting's registration. A significant shift at this year's meeting was the inclusion of the media, which had historically been discouraged from attending. This allowed Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti to publicly reaffirm his commitment to a 24-team playoff format, which emerged as the dominant topic of the meetings despite other minor issues being raised. The participants then delve into the concept of "self-governance" within collegiate athletics, particularly concerning how the major conferences might establish their own rules independently of traditional oversight. Dennis outlines that self-governance would not mean conferences breaking away entirely, but rather choosing how to manage internal affairs such as collective bargaining, player compensation, enforcement of rules, and transfer eligibility while still competing against other schools. They express skepticism about current enforcement methods, recalling past failures when conferences attempted self-policing, which often led to internal friction and instability. Finally, the discussion touches upon the potential conflict between state laws and a unified national standard for college athletics. The speakers contemplate a scenario where individual states, like Texas, might pass independent laws governing athletic programs, which could create a chaotic patchwork of regulations across the country unless a federal law is established to create a single national standard. Charles suggests that if the major conferences do not find a way to effectively govern themselves, they may eventually be forced to adopt a professionalized model similar to the NFL or NBA, complete with a dedicated commissioner and a board of governors to manage the sport's future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  4. 4d ago

    FSFS- Tony Barnhart

    Coach is joined by college football analyst Tony Barnhart to discuss the current landscape of college sports, specifically focusing on the recent SEC and Big 10 spring meetings. They highlight the unprecedented success of the SEC across various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball, attributing this long-standing excellence to the philosophy implemented by former commissioner Roy Kramer. The conversation touches upon the evolution of conference expansion and the active involvement of university presidents and chancellors in shaping the future of college athletics, noting a shift towards more vocal and decisive leadership from these officials compared to past years. The discussion also delves into potential format changes for the college football playoff in 2027, highlighting the contrasting viewpoints between Big 10 Commissioner Petitti and SEC Commissioner Sankey regarding a 12-team versus a 24-team format. They analyze the financial implications of these decisions, particularly concerning the revenue generated by conference championship games. Furthermore, they address key issues such as limiting player transfers, the concept of a "five-for-five" eligibility rule, and the increased emphasis on gambling education within the conference following recent high-profile incidents. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min

  5. May 23

    Forklift Systems Football Saturday 5-23-26

    Coach welcomes NFL game analyst Charles Davis to unpack the legal and collegiate fallout surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby and his recent gambling allegations. The duo juxtaposes the modern era of college sports—where universities and networks profit directly from gambling partnerships—against the strict bans historically placed on student-athletes. They map out Sorsby's expected legal defense strategy, which could heavily leverage the NCAA's own gambling revenue ties and a focus on mental health, while tackling the immense challenges this poses for administrators, potential court-ordered injunctions, and the way high-value NIL contracts are disrupting mid-contract transfers. The gridiron breakdown continues as college football writer Dennis Dodd joins the show to evaluate the bounce-back potential of former national championship programs. Coach and Dodd dive deep into the current trajectories of Lincoln Riley’s USC, Mike Norvell’s Florida State, and Dabo Swinney’s Clemson, weighing each program's unique recruiting triumphs and critical turn-around pressures. The conversation shifts into a rapid-fire analysis of the latest high-profile coaching carousel moves, assessing Matt Campbell’s transition to Penn State, James Franklin’s arrival at Virginia Tech, and Kyle Whittingham taking the reins at Michigan, alongside a snapshot of recent developments reshaping the Big 12.  Dennis Dodd and Tony Barnhart team up with Coach on Football Saturday, opening with a reflection on Memorial Day weekend before shifting focus to the highly consequential SEC spring meetings in Destin. The panel breaks down whether these meetings will rival the historic 1991 expansion in long-term impact, especially if they chart a course toward a 24-team playoff system. Highlighting key insights on influential figures like Georgia President Jerry Morehead and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, they examine Morehead's comments on SEC self-governance and potential breakaway from the NCAA. The episode closes with a breakdown of Sankey's methodical data-driven approach to a nine-game conference schedule, a look at Coach Ed Orgeron’s rumored return to the LSU sidelines, and breaking news regarding an active NCAA tampering investigation into Ole Miss stemming from a complaint by Clemson's Dabo Swinney against Pete Golding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 59m

  6. May 23

    Coach talks to Charles Davis about Former College Quarterback Faces Strict Scrutiny Over Gambling Allegations

    Coach is joined by NFL game analyst and commentator Charles Davis to discuss the serious legal and collegiate implications surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton and his recent gambling allegations. The pair contrast the modern landscape of college athletics—where universities, professional leagues, and broadcast partners actively generate revenue from sports betting—with the historical strict prohibitions, penalties, and warnings players traditionally faced regarding gambling. They examine the quarterback's potential legal defense strategy, which reports indicate may focus on the NCAA’s own financial ties to the gambling industry and a defense related to mental health and gambling addiction, while exploring the complications this case presents for college athletic administrators, the possibility of a court-ordered injunction allowing him to play, and how the evolution of high-dollar NIL contracts complicates mid-contract transfers between schools. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 min

  7. May 23

    Coach talks to Dennis Dodd on College Football Rebounds and High-Profile Coaching Carousel

    Coach is joined by college football writer Dennis Dodd to discuss several prominent football programs that have fallen from national championship status and their potential for a rebound. They evaluate the future of USC under Lincoln Riley, Florida State under Mike Norvell, and Clemson under Dabo Swinney. Dodd shares his perspective on the strengths and challenges facing each program, highlighting USC's strong recruiting class and Florida State's need for a turnaround season. The conversation then transitions to recent coaching changes, including Matt Campbell's move to Penn State, James Franklin's shift to Virginia Tech, and Kyle Whittingham's new role at Michigan. Dodd provides context on each coach's background, past successes, and expectations in their new positions, while also briefly touching upon recent developments within the Big 12 conference. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min

  8. May 23

    Historic SEC Meetings and Potential Playoff Shakeups Dominate Football Saturday With Tony Barnhart And Dennis Dodd

    Coach  is joined by Dennis Dodd and Tony Barnhart on Football Saturday, where they reflect on the significance of the Memorial Day weekend before diving into the major storylines surrounding the ongoing conference meetings. A significant portion of the discussion centers on whether the SEC meetings could be the most impactful since the 1991 expansion, particularly if they pave the way for an eventual 24-team playoff system. The group also analyzes comments from Georgia President Jerry Morehead regarding the possibility of self-governance for the SEC, raising questions about whether the conference might break away to form its own rules compliance system due to frustrations with the NCAA. Additionally, they break down SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s methodical, data-driven approach to making scheduling decisions, the looming challenges of transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule, and the news regarding an NCAA investigation into alleged tampering charges at Ole Miss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 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
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 104.5 The Zone

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