Aug 27, 2026 · 2h 13m
Football returns amid quarterback battles and college upheaval
PMS 2.0 1612 - COLLEGE (FCS) FOOTBALL IS BACK, Adam Schefter, Meredith Gaudreau, Kirk Herbstreit, & AJ Hawk
The episode connects preseason roster decisions, new NFL discipline rules, and legal challenges that could reshape college football.
- 1Adam Schefter examines Pittsburgh’s quarterback competition, defensive contract standoffs, injuries, and the NFL’s new suspension framework.
- 2Kirk Herbstreit previews the college season while weighing Clemson, LSU, Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State, and the SEC playoff picture.
- 3Meredith Gaudreau explains how the John and Maddie Foundation supports youth hockey families while preserving her family’s legacy.
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Kirk Herbstreit connects the LSU eligibility dispute to the broader college football landscape before previewing the season’s leading contenders.
The brief
Pat McAfee and AJ Hawk open from New York City as football returns, moving from preseason expectations and international interest to the decisions that will shape NFL rosters.
Adam Schefter breaks down Pittsburgh’s crowded quarterback room, Alec Pierce’s return, dangerous-play discipline rules, defensive contract disputes, and the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Donald.
Meredith Gaudreau discusses the John and Maddie Foundation, its support for youth hockey families, and the hockey community’s role in preserving memories for her children.
The LSU eligibility dispute becomes a larger question about state law, conference rules, NCAA authority, and whether college programs could recruit affected players.
Kirk Herbstreit previews the college season, including Clemson-LSU, Texas and Arch Manning, Notre Dame, Penn State, and the SEC’s path to the playoff.
The episode’s most revealing tension is football’s transition point: preseason experiments, legal uncertainty, broadcast changes, and roster decisions all collide before opening day.