Kings of the North College Football

Ohio State's big win | Big 12 chaos with Kansas State, Iowa State losses | Pitt-SMU Nov 03, 2024

Ohio State beat Penn State 20-13 in a 3-4 matchup on Saturday. Oregon lost a key player but handled its business at Michigan. Upset losses for Iowa State and Kansas State scrambled the Big 12 race. Indiana continued its dominant ways against Michigan State. And Pitt and SMU played a primetime ACC game that mattered a lot to the College Football Playoff picture.
Run through it all on KOTN Late Knight with Doug and Bill.

College Football Best Bets on Nebraska, Syracuse, Kansas State, Army, Iowa State, Vanderbilt & more Nov 01, 2024

The college football best bets still have Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises more than $800 ahead from their initial real money $5,000 bankroll on Bets of the North.
The guys lost their $500 bet last week, but hit their Plus Money Swing, and they are back this week with betting thoughts and picks on Kansas State, Nebraska, Syracuse, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Army and more.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Penn State-Ohio State Big Game Breakdown | Pitt-SMU, Iowa State-Texas Tech, Illinois-Minnesota, etc. Oct 31, 2024

No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 4 Ohio State gets the Big Game Breakdown as Kings of the North opens with Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis diving into this Top-5 Big Ten matchup and investigating both sides of the ball and the two head coaches, PSU's James Franklin and OSU's Ryan Day.
The guys pick that game and then move through other Northern previews and picks including Pitt-SMU, Indiana-Michigan State, Iowa State-Texas Tech, Kansas State-Houston, Nebraska-UCLA, Illinois-Minnesota, Iowa-Wisconsin, Northwestern-Purdue and more.
Plus the battle for the Dragon Statue.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Ohio State vs Penn State big game breakdown (03:15)
• Paul Finebaum talks about Doug Frenchbaum (48:50)
• Other game predictions (52:35)
• Fantasy picks for week 10 (1:37:15)

Oregon-Michigan preview | College Football Playoff predictions to blow your mind | Heisman favorites Oct 30, 2024

The College Football Playoff race is even more wild than you might imagine. With chain restaurant gift cards at stake, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises are joined by Ari Wasserman to make 12-team playoff predictions for the end of the year that they are all willing to bet on. They do the same with the Heisman Trophy race, and pick lots of Northern names.
Plus Doug and Bill start with a Big Game Breakdown of Oregon-Michigan, and they wrap up with Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Oregon vs Michigan big game breakdown (01:30)
• Ari Wasserman joins to give final college football playoff predictions (35:50)
• Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:43:25)

College Football Playoff — 10 most important games in race | Do we trust the committee? | QB news Oct 29, 2024

The College Football Playoff race is in the final month and Kings of the North runs through the 10 most important games of the regular season that will affect the race.
Then Doug Lesmerises and Dan Wetzel look at the playoff committee and the first rankings that will come out in a week. Is this the best way to do this?
Then it’s Punt and Block of the Week, Overrated Southern Team of the Week and news on some Northern QBs.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Playoff hopefuls (03:30)
• Top 25 teams with no ranked games remaining (09:30)
• Ten most important playoff race games remaining (15:00)
• Dan Wetzel on all things college football playoffs (35:00)
• Overrated southern team of the week (1:12:40)
• Bill's block and punt for week 9 (1:14:55)
• Northern news (1:17:00)

BYU, Pitt, Colorado reminders | Nebraska pride | Ohio State, Iowa questions | Minnesota dimes Oct 28, 2024

BYU, Pitt and Colorado put college football on notice with weekend wins, while the Ohio State-Nebraska game produced a winner with questions and a team in defeat that showed why it was proud of itself.
On this Monday Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis investigate the most interesting parts of Northern college football, including a possible quarterback change at Iowa, a Michigan response in a rivalry, Oregon continuing its roll and a Minnesota quarterback dropping dimes.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Nebraska nearly upsets Ohio State| Oregon, Notre Dame, Indiana, BYU dominate | Penn State-Wisconsin Oct 27, 2024

Ohio State barely survived against Nebraska on Saturday, holding on 21-17 in Ohio Stadium. Elsewhere in the Big Ten race, Oregon dominated Illinois in a Top-25 matchup and Indiana (with a backup QB) handled Washington. In a primetime showdown, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was forced to leave the game against Wisconsin with a knee injury.
So on this KOTN Late Knight, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through those games and reset the Big Ten race.
Notre Dame also put up a big win against Navy in another Top-25 game, and BYU (somehow as an underdog) stayed undefeated with a smooth win at UCF.
Plus Kansas-Kansas State, Michigan-Michigan State and more on Kings of the North.

College football's best teams vs. the spread | $500 on Penn State-Wisconsin | Ohio State best bet Oct 25, 2024

Which college football teams are the best against the spread the season? Army at 6-0-1 is the only FBS team undefeated on the betting lines, and they only pushed last week because Doug Lesmerises noticed it and jinxed them.
On this Bets of the North, Doug and Tyler Shoemaker run through the best teams vs. the spread and talk about what to do with winning teams like Indiana, BYU, Illinois, Navy and Iowa State.
Then it's on to their $500 real money bet on Penn State-Wisconsin (and why they are adjusting the line), plus a moneyline parlay and other best bets including on Cincinnati, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Pitt dominates Syracuse as Panthers defense goes Pick Six wild Oct 25, 2024

Pitt's defense picked off Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord four times in the first half Thursday night, returning three of them for touchdowns, as the Panthers dominated this major Northern football and ACC matchup.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis were on the scene and react live from Acrisure Stadium to Pitt moving to 7-0 on the season.

Oregon-Illinois, Ohio State-Nebraska, Penn State-Wisconsin Week 9 Picks | Can Navy beat Notre Dame? Oct 24, 2024

Notre Dame-Navy is unexpectedly a Top-25 matchup on Saturday, and it joins Oregon-Illinois and Boise State-UNLV in getting the Big Game Breakdown treatment from Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis on this Week 9 Picks and Previews show on Kings of the North.
Among the other games of interest are Michigan-Michigan State, Kansas-Kansas State, Penn State-Wisconsin, Indiana-Washington, Rutgers-USC and BYU-UCF.
Plus check Wednesday's show for major breakdowns of Pitt-Syracuse and Colorado-Cincinnati.
Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• First set of game picks including Penn State at Wisconsin, Nebraska at Ohio State, and Michigan State at Michigan (06:05)
• Notre Dame vs Navy big game breakdown (36:15)
• Illinois vs Oregon big game breakdown (48:30)
• Boise State vs UNLV big game breakdown (56:53)
• Final game predictions for week 9 (1:09:25)
• Fantasy picks for week 9 (1:29:30)

Can Boise State beat Georgia? | Pitt-Syracuse and Cincinnati-Colorado breakdowns | ACC, Big 12 races Oct 23, 2024

A major Group of 5 game looms on Friday night between UNLV and Boise State, plus there are huge and underrated games this week in the race for the ACC and Big 12 titles between Pitt and Syracuse on Thursday night and Cincinnati and Colorado on Saturday night.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises welcomes Steven Godfrey of Split Zone Duo to talk about Boise-UNLV and the hopes for the G5 in the 12-team playoff.
Then Doug and Bill Landis break down Syracuse at Pitt and Cincinnati at Colorado and how positioned the winners of those games might be to make a run at their conference titles.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Boise State vs UNLV preview (08:00)
• Could Boise State beat Georgia? (19:11)
• When will a 12 seed beat a 5 seed in the CFP? (25:00)
• Syracuse vs Pitt big game breakdown (47:15)
• Cincinnati vs Colorado big game breakdown (1:21:20)

Michigan problems vs. Alabama problems | Best and Worst Head Coach hires | Overrated Southern team Oct 22, 2024

National champion Michigan and modern dynasty Alabama are a combined 9-5 under first-year head coaches a year after making the College Football Playoff. On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Dan Wetzel compare the issues in Ann Arbor and Tuscaloosa and discuss how much we should expect new playoff teams in the 12-team playoff era.
While looking at Sherrone Moore and Kalen DeBoer, Doug also examines all the first-year head coaches in FBS, from Indiana's Curt Cignetti to Michigan State's Jonathan Smith to Syracuse's Fran Brown and gives them a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs sideways.
There's also the Punt and Block of the Week from Bill Landis, Doug's Overrated Southern Team and some news from around Northern college football.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Best and worst coaching hires (03:00)
• Thumbs up coaching hires (07:30)
• Thumbs sideways coaching hires (22:00)
• Thumbs down coaching hires (26:00)
• Michigan vs Alabama problems (34:45)
• What 12-team playoff would have been in 2023 (58:45)
• New playoff teams (1:02:30)
• Bill's block and kick of the week (1:11:20)
• Overrated southern team of the week (1:13:40)
• Northern college football news (1:17:30)

College football undefeated teams -- The North dominates | Comeback heroes | Paths to bowl games Oct 21, 2024

Iowa State and BYU staged huge comebacks in Week 8 to stay undefeated, as The North continued to dominate the ranks of remaining teams without a loss.
On this Kings of the North, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt and Indiana join BYU and Iowa State as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis open with a discussion of the undefeated teams in college football.
They they run through every other group in The North: 1-loss teams, 2-loss teams, 3-loss teams and teams with losing records (there aren't many.)
So it's a reset of where every Northern team stands right now, from Ohio State and Cincinnati, to Washington and Pitt, to Colorado and Wisconsin.
Plus, it's Monday, and that means The South Cram-o-Meter.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Andy Ludwig resigns as Utah offensive coordinator (05:40)
• Regular season record updates on undefeated northern teams (23:00)
• Top 11.5 rankings (53:00)
• Regular season record updates on teams with losing records (58:57)
• Regular season record updates on teams with one loss (1:07:28)
• South cram-o-meter (1:21:44)
• Regular season record updates on teams with two losses (1:25:45)
• Regular season record updates on teams with three losses (1:36:00)

Indiana destroys Nebraska | Tennessee-Alabama is a joke | Michigan is done | Kansas State rolls Oct 20, 2024

The Indiana Hoosiers destroyed Nebraska 56-7 to make a College Football Playoff case on Saturday, and KOTN Late Knight is here to talk about it.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis also discuss:
• Illinois taking care of Michigan as the Wolverines' QB problems were not solved.
• Tennessee beating Alabama in a game where both teams looked terrible.
• Kansas State rolling over West Virginia in a result what was not great for Mountaineers' coach Neal Brown.
• The general turmoil in the SEC.
• Iowa State on the edge against Central Florida.
And more. For the best and most interesting discussions of Northern College Football, stick with Kings of the North.

Notre Dame, Colorado best bets | Iowa Hawkeyes as a juicy $500 play | Betting against Georgia again Oct 18, 2024

Betting against Georgia was a successful play for Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises last week, as their $500 bet on Mississippi State +34 against the Dawgs hit to make them 5-2 on real money $500 bets this year, and pushing their bank roll to more than $1,800 ahead.
Now they are back to bet against Georgia again as part of their Plus Money Swing. They like Iowa as a $500 bet this week, and there are some other best bets on Notre Dame and Colorado, among others.
Plus, Doug incorrectly cited Greek literature and danced like a mermaid.
Thanks for hanging out with Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Michigan revival? | Indiana-Nebraska playoff eliminator | West Virginia fun cringe | Week 8 picks Oct 17, 2024

College football Week 8 brings two major matchups in the strong middle of the Big Ten, as Michigan visits Illinois and Nebraska goes to Indiana. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis give both those games the Big Game Breakdown treatment.
In other previews, Michigan State thinks it figured out its offense in the off week, and will test it against Iowa. Oregon gets a Friday night trip to Purdue off its huge win over Ohio State. Boston College has a gotta-win Thursday night game at Virginia Tech. And Kansas State gets another road test at West Virginia, where the coach said the wrong thing about fun.
Plus Doug and Bill will make picks on Georgia-Texas and Alabama-Tennessee as well as every other Northern game.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• First set of game predictions (02:00)
• Michigan vs Illinois big game breakdown (41:42)
• Nebraska vs Indiana big game breakdown (57:56)
• Final set of game predictions (1:14:20)
• Fantasy picks for week 8 (1:34:23)

Travis Hunter, Jeremiah Smith, Tyler Warren and All-North Team | Will Georgia and Bama lose again? Oct 16, 2024

From Ohio State’s Jeremiah Hunter to Oregon’s Derrick Harmon, from Colorado’s Travis Hunter to Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke, from Penn State’s Tyler Warren to Syracuse’s Orande Gadsden, Kings of the North reveals its midseason All-North team on Wednesday.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis picked first and second teams on both sides of the ball, including a tough call at quarterback.
Plus, Punt and Block of the Week, and Connor O’Gara of Saturday Down South visits to discuss the most dangerous Southern teams and to preview Alabama at Tennessee and Georgia at Texas this weekend.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• KOTN All-North Offense (04:30)
• Quarterback discussion (08:15)
• All-North Offense 1st and 2nd team (16:15)
• All-North Defense 1st and 2nd team (41:25)
• King of the north top 5 midseason candidates (1:01:00)
• Bill's block and punt of the week (1:09:35)
• Overrated southern team of the week (1:12:45)
• Connor O'Gara joins KOTN (1:16:10)

Nebraska time | Big Ten-SEC Pick ‘Em | Michigan, Wisconsin, Cincinnati spoilers | Farmageddon Mania Oct 15, 2024

Nebraska travels to Indiana for Saturday’s game as a 6.5-point underdog to the Hoosiers, who are having the season many expected the Cornhuskers to have. A week before a trip to Ohio State, this is a huge moment for Nebraska and Doug Lesmerises talks to Cornhuskers reporter Zack Carpenter about it.
Plus, in a packed show:
• Doug sets up how Michigan, Cincinnati and Wisconsin will factor into the playoff race
• Doug and Dan Wetzel talk North NIL and compare the best teams of the Big-Ten and SEC
• It’s a preview of what could be an awesome last-weekend Farmageddon showdown between Kansas State and Iowa State as Doug talks with K-State reporter Ryan Gilbert and Iowa State reporter Alec Busse.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• News around the North (02:10)
• 3 teams that could change the playoff race (11:00)
• Zack Carpenter interview on Nebraska (18:45)
• Dan Wetzel on Ohio State and Oregon NIL (38:00)
• Dan Wetzel joins on the SEC vs Big Ten pick 'em (59:12)
• Ryan Gilbert interview on Kansas State (1:14:45)
• Alec Busse interview on Iowa State (1:30:30)

Kirby Smart shoves a player | BYU, Oregon, Iowa State heat checks | Pitt, Penn State dial it up Oct 14, 2024

BYU, Oregon, Iowa State and Pitt continued to take care of business as undefeated teams while Georgia coach Kirby Smart looked out of control during a sideline incident where he shoved the Mississippi State quarterback.
That’s all on this Monday Kings of the North with Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis, which also includes their rankings, The South Cram-o-Meter, a look back at Kansas State-Colorado and Iowa-Washington and more.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Kirby Smart shoves player (01:00)
• Teams of the week (08:50)
• Teams that changed our mind, got us excited, and players of the week (21:00)
• South Cram-O-Meter with Kirby shove (50:00)
• Top 11.5 Team rankings for week 7 (1:01:45)
• Final team categories (01:11:30)
• One thing from this week about the final teams (01:26:30)

Oregon epic win over Ohio State | OT thrillers for Penn State, Illinois | Pitt, BYU also hit 6-0 Oct 13, 2024

Ohio State-Oregon led a slate of huge Northern college football games in Week 7 that matched the hype. Beyond the Buckeyes and Ducks, Penn State came back to beat USC in overtime to get to 6-0. Purdue stormed back to force overtime vs. Illinois and fell after going for a two-point conversion and the win. Pitt and BYU both won to advance to 6-0, Cincinnati pulled out at win at UCF, Wisconsin made a statement at Rutgers and Iowa rolled over Washington.
Plus, Alabama almost loss.
A great day of Northern football, thanks for joining KOTN to talk about it.

Betting against Georgia for $500 | Why TShoe likes Ohio State | Picking Kansas State in a parlay Oct 11, 2024

After a loss on Ohio State-Iowa last week, Bets of the North is still up more $1,200 on the year after starting with a $5,000 bankroll. To get back on the horse, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are returning to an old favorite -- rooting against Georgia.
They aren't just rooting against the Dawgs, they are betting against the Dawgs. There's also a plus-money parlay involving Ole Miss, a TShoe Best Bet on the Buckeyes and Doug liking bets on Pitt and Minnesota.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Colorado-Kansas State, USC-Penn State, West Virginia-Iowa State and Week 7 Picks and Previews Oct 10, 2024

Colorado-Kansas State, USC-Penn State and West Virginia-Iowa State get the Big Game Breakdown treatment as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis preview and pick every Northern college football game in Week 7. Other showdowns involving Northern teams include Iowa-Washington, Notre Dame-Stanford, Illinois-Purdue, Rutgers-Wisconsin, Pitt-Cal, BYU-Arizona, Minnesota-UCLA, Syracuse-NC State and Maryland-Northwestern. Plus Doug and Bill devoted Wednesday's entire show to Ohio State-Oregon, so don't miss that on the biggest game of the week.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North
Chapters:
• Kansas State vs Colorado big game breakdown (04:22)
• First set of game picks (21:00)
• Penn State vs USC big game breakdown (40:55)
• Iowa State vs West Virginia big game breakdown (56:02)
• Final set of game picks (1:10:10)
• Fantasy picks (1:29:30)

Ohio State-Oregon Big Game Breakdown | Ryan Day vs. Dan Lanning among best CFB coaches Oct 09, 2024

It's Ohio State vs. Oregon on this Kings of the North, as the No. 2 Buckeyes visit the No. 3 Ducks on Saturday night.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis offer a huge Big Game Breakdown on the game, with run game and pass game breakdowns on both sides of the ball, from Dillon Gabriel, Jordan Burch and Tez Johnson for Oregon to Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Quinshon Judkins for Ohio State.
Also, watch for huge defensive line battles on both sides.
To open the show, Steven Godfrey of Split Zone Duo joins Doug to break down the two head coaches -- Ryan Day and Dan Lanning -- who both could use a big game win for the resume.
Plus Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking on Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Steven Godfrey joins KOTN (01:30)
• How Ryan Day is viewed (20:40)
• How Dan Lanning is viewed (27:30)
• Oregon passing vs Ohio State defense (47:00)
• Oregon rushing vs Ohio State defense (1:02:20)
• Ohio State passing vs Oregon defense (1:08:30)
• Ohio State rushing vs Oregon defense (1:19:00)
• Score predictions (1:30:00)
• Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:41:00)

Ohio State-Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma, BYU-Utah, Georgia-Bama & biggest rivalries | A new Penn State? Oct 08, 2024

What rivalries matter the most to this college football season? With Texas-Oklahoma on the schedule this week, Doug Lesmerises and Dan Wetzel look at the 10 rivalries that will have the greatest impact on the full season. You've got to dislike each other and both be good.
Plus Audrey Snyder of The Athletic stops by to talk about Penn State and how the Nittany Lions might be different this season. Doug runs through five hot truths about the college football playoff race to this point, Bill Landis has his Punt and Block of the Week, and Doug gives you his Overrated Southern Team of the Week.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Nebraska fight | Iowa State rise | Washington revenge | Minnesota wild | South Cram-o-meter explodes Oct 07, 2024

College football went crazy in Week 6, especially in the South. There were a lot of great wins in The North, too, and from Minnesota and Nebraska to Iowa State and Washington, from Pitt and Syracuse to Ohio State and West Virginia, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into all the best of Northern football — and decide how hard The South should cram it. Thanks for joining KOTN.

Alabama, Tennessee collapse | Ohio State beats Iowa | Washington, Minnesota, Iowa State big wins Oct 06, 2024

Alabama went down in a huge upset to Vanderbilt on Saturday, while Ohio State, Nebraska, Penn State, Oregon, West Virginia, Pitt, Syracuse and Indiana were among the Northern teams that won in Week 6.
On this KOTN Late Knight, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through the best and most interesting Northern games, and all the ways the South can cram it.
Thanks for hanging with Kings of the North

Betting $500 on Ohio State again | Miracle win on late-night over | Upset mania in Florida Oct 04, 2024

A late-night touchdown with 19 seconds to play by Washington State last week sent Bets of the North to another win on a $500 bet, as the bank roll is now up more than $1,800 on the season. Add in the Alabama moneyline play, and it was a huge week for Bets of the North.
Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are back and getting after it with an Ohio State bet, some wild upset possibilities in the state of Florida, and six more underdogs to like in Best Bets.
Thanks for joining us on Bets of the North. Let's have some fun and cash some bets.

Week 6 Picks | Ohio State-Iowa Big Game Breakdown | CFB sack leader Donovan Ezeiruaku interview Oct 03, 2024

Iowa at Ohio State gets the Big Game Breakdown treatment among the picks and previews for 14 Northern college football games on Kings of the North. Washington-Michigan, Oregon-Michigan State, Nebraska-Rutgers, West Virginia-Oklahoma State, Syracuse-UNLV and Indiana-Northwestern are among the other games that get long looks from Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis.
Plus Boston College star edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, who leads the nation with eight sacks, stops by and explains how he did it on all three of his sacks against Western Kentucky last week and what's it like on campus with the Eagles at 4-1 going into Saturday's game at Virginia.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• First set of game picks including Michigan at Washington (04:00)
• Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku interview (39:00)
• Ohio State vs Iowa big game breakdown (58:07)
• Final game picks (1:20:05)
• Doug and Bill fantasy picks (1:41:00)

Indiana football lessons, playoff hopes | Interview with IU's Mike Katic | The next Curt Cignetti? Oct 02, 2024

How are the 5-0 Indiana Hoosiers doing this, is it sustainable, do they have real playoff hopes, and could other teams learn from this? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into those question with some IU help.
First Doug and Bill discuss if other teams should be looking for a Curt Cignetti. Then it's an interview with Indiana center and sixth-year Hoosier Mike Katic. That's followed buy a talk with Taylor Lehman, who covers the Hoosiers from the statistical side of things and tells us the data says this could keep going.
Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking on breakfast burritos, diet nightmares, bands with an '80s sound, soggy fries, and more.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

New College Football Playoff Predictions | Big Ten-SEC meet for a takeover? | Punt/Block of the Week Oct 01, 2024

Time to update College Football Playoff picks on Kings of the North, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis revisit and adjust their playoff predictions for the first time since the preseason. What happens to Michigan, Notre Dame, Utah, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oregon, Ohio State, Pitt and Penn State in the new brackets?
Then Dan Wetzel stops by to join Doug for a discussion about the meeting between the Big Ten and the SEC. They run through six topics that are on the minds of the two major conferences as they think about the future of college football.
Then it's Bill's Punt and Block of the Week, Doug's Overrated Southern Team of the Week and some final thoughts about Northern ball.
As always, thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Doug and Bill make their new final playoff predictions (09:00)
• Dan Wetzel joins the show to talk about if the Big Ten and SEC should work together? (35:00)
• Bill's block and punt of the week (1:17:44)
• Overrated southern team of the week (1:20:00)

Rutgers, Indiana, BYU, Ohio State, Iowa State and sizzling North teams | Purdue, Wisconsin trouble Sep 30, 2024

From Rutgers to Iowa State, from BYU to Ohio State, from Indiana to Pitt, college football fanbases across The North should be excited about their teams' start to the season.
One-third of the way into the season, Kings of the North is ranking all 28 teams of The North by Fanbase Happiness Ratings, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run from the ecstatic to the hopeless.
That includes teams like Michigan, Washington and Notre Dame floating somewhere in the middle, and teams like Wisconsin, Kansas and Purdue foundering at the bottom.
Plus, The South Cram-o-meter. Thanks for joining Kings of the North

Georgia, Ole Miss frauds | Week 5 Instant Reactions | Kansas State, Notre Dame, Colorado big wins Sep 29, 2024

A huge week of college football for The North includs a tight primetime showcase for Penn State and Illinois; big wins for Notre Dame, Kansas State, Indiana andColorado; tight escapes for Michigan, Boston College and BYU; and more.
But it's also part of The North to tell The South to cram it -- and there are a lot of reasons to do that this week.
Ole Miss showed up as a fraud in a loss to Kentucky.
And the air of Georgia invincibility was popped by Alabama.
Ohhhh, what a night for The North. You'll want to be here.

Betting against Georgia, and a $500 college football comeback on an over to love: Bets of the North Sep 27, 2024

Off their first $500 real money college football betting loss, Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are back with a bet they really like, other best bets on some familiar teams, and a great reason to bet and root against Georgia.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Week 5 Picks | Penn State-Illinois Banger | Pat Narduzzi interview | K-State, Nebraska bouncebacks? Sep 26, 2024

College football previews and picks for Week 5, including 19 Northern games, a huge Group of 5 game and a Cram It Southern Game, are the focus for Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis on this Kings of the North.
But the show starts with a guest appearance from Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, with the 4-0 Panthers off this week.
This it's a Big Game Breakdown of Illinois at Penn State, with the Illini an 18-point underdog in a Top-20 matchup that feels like it will be closer than that.
Other big Northern games include Oklahoma State at Kansas State, Washington at Rutgers, Louisville at Notre Dame, Nebraska at Purdue, Minnesota at Michigan, Indiana at Maryland, Ohio State at Michigan State and Colorado at Central Florida.
And then it's the Fantasy Picks Battle for the Dragon Statue. Can Bill finally claim it?
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi interview (00:20)
• Big game breakdown of Illinois vs Penn State (19:55)
• First 7 game picks (45:36)
• Rest of the game picks (59:20)
• Dragon statue handoff (1:30:55)
• Fantasy picks for week 5 (1:32:30)

Georgia-Alabama battle | UNLV QB chaos | Who Killed College Football? | Big Ten After Dark Sep 25, 2024

Alabama and Georgia kick off Saturday in a Battle for the Soul of the South. Steven Godfrey of Split Zone Duo joins Doug Lesmerises to discuss the past and future of Southern football, and whether Kirby Smart could be the steward for the sport that Nick Saban was for two decades.
There's more coaching talk on Indiana's Curt Cignetti and the future at Iowa, and then a dive into a new narrative podcast called Who Killed College Football? The UNLV QB leaving the team this week over apparent NIL issues fits right into that discussion.
Then it's an Alabama-Wisconsin KOTN Tailgate Report, a look at a busy Big Ten slate this week and Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking.
Thanks for joining Kings of The North.
Chapters:
• Who killed college football and discussion about the south in general (01:40)
• Battle for the soul of the South (14:00)
• Curt Cignetti success (34:30)
• Steven Godfrey new podcast Who Killed College Football? (47:40)
• UNLV QB Matthew Sluka decides to leave the program (57:30)
• KOTN Tailgate report from Alabama vs Wisconsin (1:07:10)
• Big Ten After Dark (1:17:20)
• Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:30:10)

Big Ten power ratings | Realignment mania | Notre Dame limbo | Oregon fixed | Overrated Texas A&M Sep 24, 2024

Is the Big Ten, in its first season as an 18-team league, up or down this season? Better than expected or disappointing? Doug Lesmerises runs through all the Big Ten teams to see if they're going up, down or staying the same, and then offers his Big Ten power ratings. He also groups the Big Ten teams by playoff tiers and compares them to the SEC.
Then Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports visits to discuss the state of Notre Dame football and realignment mania.
Then Bill Landis has his Block and Punt of the Week.
Finally, Tyson Alger of the 1-5 Corridor talks Oregon football after the Ducks had a week off, and Doug gives his overrated Southern Team of the Week.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Week 4 stars, stumbles | Iowa Heisman case | Welcome back, Ohio State | BYU, Utah are rocking Sep 23, 2024

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson should be in the thick of the Heisman Trophy conversation, and Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises are here to make the case on Kings of the North. Plus a Northern pass rusher that also impressed Saturday as part of the stars and stumbles from Week 4.
Also in the North, BYU and Utah rise up (hello, Utah college football), Nebraska, Syracuse and Kansas State create questions and how hard can The South cram it this week?
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Kaleb Johnson Heisman Case (03:40)
• Teams that changed our minds (26:32)
• Teams of the week (39:25)
• State records for power conference teams (47:00)
• Other weekly team awards including teams with big questions, games we are glad we saw, and games that were boring (50:15)
• Top 11.5 rankings for week 4 (1:12:20)
• South cram-o-meter (1:15:45)
• One thing for each remaining team (1:20:48)

Week 4 Instant Reactions | Michigan, Utah pound the run to tight wins | West Virginia flips comeback Sep 22, 2024

Week 4 of college football brought some big wins for The North and on this instant reaction show, Michigan’s win over USC and Utah’s win over Oklahoma State are at the front of the minds of Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis.
Plus West Virginia’s comeback win against Kansas, Rutgers hanging on against Virginia Tech and some blowouts for Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Iowa State and Cincinnati.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North for KOTN Late Knight.

Big college football underdog action, plus bets on Rutgers, Ohio while up $1,600: Bets of the North Sep 20, 2024

At 3-0 on their $500 real money college football bets, Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises arrive at a consensus while trying to go 4-0 and zero in on the Ohio Bobcats and Kentucky Wildcats this week on Bets of the North.
Plus TShoe loves a slate of underdogs, based on the early success of his numbers, and he puts four of them in his Best Bets.
Plus Doug's fat thumb made a bet he wasn't entirely sure about. But remember ... this show is ahead more than $1,600 after three weeks.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Week 4 Picks | Utah-OK State | Iowa-Minnesota for the pig | Kansas-West Virginia Gotta Have It Game Sep 19, 2024

Utah-Oklahoma State, with major implications in the Big 12 race, gets the Big Game Breakdown treatment from Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis on your Week 4 Picks and Previews show on Kings of the North.
The guys also dive into the Boston College-Michigan State Red Bandana game, Iowa-Minnesota fighting for Floyd of Rosedale, USC heading to Michigan for the first time in more than 60 years, Rutgers at Virginia Tech, and a Friday banger with Illinois at Nebraska.
Plus every other Northern game and more fantasy picks as the battle for the Dragon Statue continues.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Game predictions for the best 6 northern games this week (02:45)
• Big game breakdown of Utah at Oklahoma State (38:50)
• Final 14 game predictions (59:30)
• Fantasy picks (1:28:40)

Arch Manning Dylan Raiola, Avery Johnson: Young QB Draft | Iowa State’s Matt Campbell makes history Sep 18, 2024

Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, Texas’ Arch Manning, Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles, Kansas State’s Avery Johnson, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava and Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold are among the first- and second-year players leading their teams at quarterback right now.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are joined by Shehan Jeyarajah of CBSSports.com to draft the best young QBs based on what they should do in their college careers.
Then it’s a Would You Rather Wednesday as Doug and Bill look at Iowa State’s Matt Campbell approaching history and the all-time coaching wins leaders for all Northern schools, bacon crispness, North-South scheduling and Pitt, Boston College, Syracuse, Kansas and West Virginia in various scenarios.
Finally it’s Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Drafting the 9 best young quarterbacks in college football with Shehan Jeyarajah (09:10)
• Would you rather Wednesday (45:22)
• Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:22:40)

USC-Michigan moment of truth | Don't doubt Bret Bielema | Toledo coach Jason Candle | Northern news Sep 17, 2024

USC's game at Michigan on Saturday is a moment of truth for both teams -- maybe a last stand for the Wolverines in 2024, and a maybe a moment for the Trojans to plant their flag in the Big Ten.
Doug Lesmerises and Dan Wetzel talk that out. Plus Toledo coach Jason Candle visits after the Rocket's huge win at Mississippi State; Jeremy Werner breaks down how Illinois got to 3-0 and what the Illini must do to compete at Nebraska on Friday; and Doug runs through Northern news from Iowa to Syracuse.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• College football news around the North (01:30)
• Bill's kick and block of the week (12:32)
• Toledo head coach Jason Campbell interview (16:47)
• Dan Wetzel joins to talk about USC vs Michigan this weekend (32:00)
• Jeremy Werner interview (1:06:26)

Overrated Georgia should have lost | Week 3 stars and questions | Kansas State, Indiana dominate Sep 16, 2024

The Georgia Bulldogs should have lost to Kentucky and don’t look like the No. 1 team in the country. While rolling out their Southern Cram-o-meter, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dig in on Georgia’s shortcoming.
Then it’s Northern teams of the week and teams that surprised us, including Kansas State, Indiana and Pitt. Is Kansas State the new Big 12 favorite?
Plus Top 11 1/2 rankings and a rundown of every Northern team. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• South Cram-O-Meter (01:11)
• Top 11.5 Rankings (25:42)
• Teams that changed our mind and teams of the week (31:45)
• More weekly awards including player of the week (48:05)
• G5 Minutes focusing on Toledo (53:15)
• One thing from this week about the remaining 12 teams (1:14:45)

Michigan QB change? | Pitt wins Backyard Brawl | Bama destroys Wisconsin | Notre Dame, Oregon roll Sep 15, 2024

Pitt won a thriller over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. Michigan got back on the winning side, but has serious QB questions. Wisconsin got blown out by Alabama. Notre Dame steamrolled Purdue. Cincinnati snatched the Victory Bell back from Miami (Ohio).
It was another jam-packed Saturday of college football in the North. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break it all down on KOTN Late Knight.

A scared $500 real money parlay | Betting Northern college football upsets | Look out Cincinnati Sep 13, 2024

After a wins on Ohio State, Texas, Tennessee, Nebraska and Kansas State last week, Bets of the North is up more than $1,000 of real money from its $5,000 bankroll.
Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker are back and ready to go 3-0 on their big money bets with an adjusted line parlay that might mean Doug is scared.
Plus some upsets and an announcement about the charity that this bankroll will benefit.
Come join the fun and maybe cash a bet or two on Bets of the North from Kings of the North.

Week 3 Picks | Inside Backyard Brawl | Apple Cup | Another BC upset? | Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai Sep 12, 2024

From West Virginia-Pitt to Washington-Washington State, from Boston College-Missouri to Kansas State-Arizona, the best Northern college football games are previewed and picked on Kings of the North. Just as they do every Thursday, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis check in on every game involving one of their 28 Northern teams.
The Big Game Breakdown on this ep is Boston College at Missouri (check Wednesday's episode for the Alabama-Wisconsin breakdown.)
Special additions this week -- a Backyard Brawl preview with both Pitt and West Virginia fans talking trash to each other, and Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai stopping by for an interview after a career game last week rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
Plus Doug and Bill fantasy football picks for the weekend.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• First five game predictions including Notre Dame vs Purdue, Arizona vs Kansas State, and two rivalry games (03:40)
• Backyard Brawl trash talk (33:20)
• Eli Holstein interview (36:31)
• Pitt vs Cincinnati Tailgate Report (48:15)
• Kyle Monangai interview (58:00)
• Big game breakdown of Boston College vs Missouri (1:15:22)
• Rest of the game predictions (1:26:45)
• Fantasy picks (01:40:50)

Alabama-Wisconsin breakdown and picks | WVU tailgate report | Syracuse WR Trebor Pena interview Sep 11, 2024

Alabama is coming North for the first time in 13 years for a Saturday showdown at Wisconsin, and on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are joined by Adam Ritternberg of ESPN.com to discuss it.
Then Doug and Bill give the Tide and Badgers their Big Game Breakdown treatment. Syracuse receiver Trebor Pena also stops by for a visit, and Northern Illinois leads the discussion of whether the MAC could make the playoff.
Plus, a tailgate report talking to fans at West Virginia, and Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking to wrap things up.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Adam Rittenberg of ESPN joins to talk about Alabama (03:27), Wisconsin (16:40), and Northern Illinois (24:51)
• Trebor Pena, Syracuse wide receiver, joins KOTN (33:00)
• Alabama vs Wisconsin big game breakdown and picks (46:47)
• Tailgate report from the Penn State vs West Virginia game (01:09:30)
• Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (01:14:00)

Nebraska 7-0 start? | OSU QB Will Howard interview | Travis Hunter vs. Ashton Jeanty | Top North RBs Sep 10, 2024

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard joins Kings of the North to talk about his first two games with the Buckeyes and the four years of ups and downs at Kansas State that brought him to this point.
Plus Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis rank the Top 10 running backs in The North.
But first, Doug and Dan Wetzel open the show talking Nebraska's 2-0 start and what might be ahead, Colorado's Travis Hunter and Boise State's Ashton Jeanty as Heisman Trophy candidates, and whether we need to think about Ole Miss.
Plus, the Block and Punt of the Week.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Dan Wetzel joins the show to talk about Nebraska (02:00), Ole Miss (20:10), and Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter heisman chances (24:13)
• Will Howard interview (33:15)
• Bill's punt and block of the week (58:02)
• Top first-year quarterback transfers (1:00:26)
• Top northern running back rankings (01:04:08)

Oregon's biggest problems | Week 2 Stars and Clutch Plays | Fixing Michigan | South Cram-o-meter Sep 09, 2024

How can Oregon and Michigan get back on track? How hard can Southern college football cram it? And what about winning plays made by teams like Iowa State, Illinois and BYU in Week 2?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis point out the best and most interesting parts of Northern college football in Week 2, and they drop another round of their Top 11.5 rankings.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Pitt fires their AD (01:50)
• Teams that changed our minds (04:50)
• South cram-o-meter (27:10)
• Weekly team categories (37:50)
• G5 Minutes (1:20:20)
• One thing about each team (1:26:20)
• Top 11.5 Rankings (1:39:25)

Notre Dame’s disastrous loss | Michigan thumped | Iowa State, Michigan State, Pitt stunning upsets Sep 08, 2024

Notre Dame’s shocking loss to Northern Illinois threw the playoff picture in The North into turmoil. Michigan’s thumping at the hands of Texas showed the Wolverines exactly where they need to improve. And Pitt, Iowa State, Michigan State and Kansas State pulled out last-second wins.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into a wild day in Northern football on KOTN Late Knight.

Big Ohio State $500 Bet | Nebraska-Kansas State parlay | Iowa-Iowa State debate: Bets of the North Sep 06, 2024

After hitting a $500 bet on Notre Dame last week, Ohio State is the target this week for a $500 bet on Bets of the North.
Doug Lesmerises offers two other Best Bets and Tyler Shoemaker suggests four other Best Bets before they team up and agree on their big play on the Buckeyes. Then it's time for a four-team moneyline parlay featuring Nebraska, Kansas State and two teams in orange.
Join us every Friday morning for college football betting fun and advice on Bets of the North.

Week 2 Game Picks | Nebraska-Colorado, Iowa-Iowa State Huge Breakdowns | Abundant Northern Bangers Sep 05, 2024

Huge college football games are all over the North this week, from Nebraska vs. Colorado to Iowa vs. Iowa State, from Cincinnati vs. Pitt to Illinois vs. Kansas, from Maryland vs. Michigan State to Texas vs. Michigan.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis preview and pick them all on this Kings of the North, including Big Game Breakdowns on the Cy-Hawk Showdown and Shedeur Sanders against Dylan Raiola.
Plus Syracuse-Georgia Tech, Boise State-Oregon, Kansas State-Tulane, BYU-SMU, Utah-Baylor, Northwestern-Duke and every other Northern game.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• First three game predictions (05:50)
• Iowa State vs Iowa big game breakdown (22:20)
• More game predictions starting with Texas vs Michigan (41:30)
• Colorado vs Nebraska big game breakdown (59:30)
• Final 11 game predictions (1:14:10)
• Week 2 fantasy picks (1:34:30)

Huge Michigan-Texas breakdown | Is KOTN Anti-Michigan? | Michigan-Texas as big money bluebloods Sep 04, 2024

Michigan vs. Texas is the huge Week 2 showdown and Kings of the North dives into the Wolverines and the matchup in every way on this episode.
First, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis answer the big question -- are they anti-Michigan? They outline their five foundational thoughts on the Wolverines.
Then it's a huge Big Game Breakdown on Michigan-Texas on both sides of the ball.
Finally, Steven Godfrey of Split Zone Duo stops by to talk about the place Michigan and Texas hold in the sport when it comes to history, winning and money.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Are Doug and Bill anti-Michigan? (01:40)
• Bill's five feelings about Michigan (19:55)
• Doug's five feelings about Michigan (23:35)
• Texas vs Michigan breakdown (34:10)
• Steven Godfrey joins the show (1:02:10)

Boston College's big win | Transfer QB solutions | Syracuse Rises | Notre Dame's playoff path Sep 03, 2024

Boston College upset Florida State on Monday night, and after an offseason visit to BC, Kings of the North has a handle on that big Northern win. Plus, what's the right way to handle quarterbacks in the transfer portal? On this KOTN, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Dan Wetzel to talk out all the offseason QB movement and which teams got it right. Plus our Punt and Block of the Week, the Overrated Southern Team of the Week, and interviews on Syracuse's big chance, Notre Dame's playoff path and Northwestern's new stadium.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Dan Wetzel joins the show to talk about Boston College and transfer QB situations (01:50) and (18:22)
• Brent Axe of Syracuse.com interview (39:55)
• Matt Fortuna reporting on Notre Dame interview (56:53)
• Bill's block and punt of the week (1:13:40)
• Overrated southern team of the week (1:17:00)
• Matt Shelton reporting on Northwestern interview (1:22:40)

Week 1 Stars, Surprises | Pitt, Purdue, Illinois, Notre Dame impress | Ranking Top 11.5 CFB Teams Sep 02, 2024

From Notre Dame and Penn State to Iowa and Pitt, from Purdue and Illinois to Maryland and Colorado, Week 1 brought plenty of stars and surprises for Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis to discuss on this episode of Kings of the North.
The guys will touch on every Northern team, and give their rankings of the top 11 1/2 teams in the country.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North, both new friends and old ones, as KOTN rolls into a second week of bringing you live college football talk five days a week from a Northern point of view
Chapters:
• Top 11.5 team rankings (07:30)
• Other college football news from week 1 (15:30)
• Categories of the week - team, player, most exciting game, etc (18:40)
• Doug's sword shopping experience (57:24)
• One thing from week 1 about each team (1:00:44)
• Five minutes about the group of 5 (1:26:00)
• What else you got? (1:30:40)

Week 1 Reaction: Penn State-West Virginia | Notre Dame-Texas A&M | Michigan, Ohio State debut Sep 01, 2024

Penn State dominated West Virginia, Notre Dame pulled out a huge win over Texas A&M, Oregon had a weird night and close game as a 50-point favorite, Ohio State dealt with a slow start and some offensive line issues, and Michigan has lingering quarterback questions after a win over Fresno State.
All that is covered on KOTN Late Knight, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis kick back and run through the biggest games in Northern football.
They also discuss ponies and what Playoff Quarterback shows they would greenlight as scripted shows.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North, and see you for a full live wrapup on Monday.

Big money Notre Dame bet | Washington-Oregon parlay | 4 other Best Bets: Bets of the North Aug 30, 2024

It's time to make a real money $500 college football bet on Bets of the North, and Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker have zeroed in on their Week 1 target. The Plus Money Swing of the week looks to a West Coast Northern parlay, and TShoe and Doug suggest other best bets on a MAC team, a new quarterback and an old offseason favorite.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Week 1 Game Picks | West Virginia-Penn State Big Game Breakdown | Fantasy Player Showdown Aug 29, 2024

College football Week 1 features 27 games involving Northern teams from the Kings of the North family, and Doug Lesmerises are previewing and picking all of them on this Thursday episode.
From Colorado-North Dakota State on Thursday night to Boston College-Florida State on Monday, to Notre Dame-Texas A&M, Michigan-Fresno State and more in between, the guys run through every single game and pick scores for their teams.
The Big Game Breakdown, a deeper dive into both sides of the ball, will be a part of this show every week, and for Week 1 that treatment goes to Penn State-West Virginia.
Plus Doug and Bill each pick a Northern quarterback and skill player for a weekly head-to-head Fantasy football competition.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Thursday and Friday games and picks (03:00)
• Big game breakdown of Penn State vs West Virginia (21:20)
• Saturday and Monday games and picks (55:25)
• Week 1 fantasy picks (1:38:30)

College Football Playoff Picks | North vs. South playoff debate | Whatcha Watching, Eating, Thinking Aug 28, 2024

Ohio State? Notre Dame? Kansas State? Utah? Penn State? Michigan? Georgia? Texas? College Football Playoff Picks will be revealed on this Kings of the North as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis each pick their 12-team bracket and their national champion.
Then Connor O'Gara from Saturday Down South joins to discuss North playoff contenders vs. South playoff contenders.
Plus news on quarterback battles and Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Chapters:
• Top 4 CFP seeds (03:00)
• College football news (10:06)
• CFP 5-12 picks (32:00)
• CFP semifinals and championship picks (46:00)
• Connor O'Gara joins the show (52:05)
• Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:18:50)

Connor Stalions reaction | Overrated Southern team | Experts on WVU, Minnesota, North Dakota State Aug 27, 2024

The Netflix documentary "Sign Stealer" about Connor Stalions and Michigan dropped on Tuesday, and Kings of the North welcomes one of the primary voices of that doc, Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, to the show to talk all about it.
Plus our KOTN All-North preseason team is revealed, we introduce our Overrated Southern Team of the Week segment, and experts covering West Virginia (Jeremy Phoenix of The Raspy Voice Kids), North Dakota State (Jeff Kolpack of Inforum.com) and Minnesota (Ryan Burns of 247sports.com) drop by to talk about the big games for those teams in Week 1.

KOTN is Live | Southern College Football Villains | Northern College Football Royalty Aug 26, 2024

Kings of the North is fresh and live, as Northern college football from Ohio State and Oregon to Notre Dame and Syracuse to Utah and Michigan finds a home on KOTN.
Now going live five days a week, including Monday through Thursday at noon and Saturday at 11 PM, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis explain their 28 teams on this show. Who are they, and why are they?
Then it's the 20 Most Important People for Northern football in 2024, and the 5 Southern Villains who could stand in the way of Northern football this season.
Tell a friend The North is here! Thanks for joining us on Kings of the North.

Ohio State-Michigan to Georgia-Alabama, betting early lines on Games of the Year: Bets of the North Aug 23, 2024

Bets of the North finishes this show with a big announcement of how it will be betting this season. But first, Tyler Shoemaker and Doug Lesmerises talking betting early lines, watching line movement, and live betting.
Doug seems to understand it, but still loses money at it.
Among the early games where the guys check the lines and discuss whether making a bet now makes sense are Iowa State-Iowa, Nebraska-Colorado, Alabama-Wisconsin, Georgia-Alabama, Ohio State-Oregon, Kansas State-Colorado and Ohio State-Michigan.
Thanks for joining Bets of the North on Kings of the North and come back next Friday for best bets on real games in Week 1.

College football record predictions for all 28 teams of The North: Doug and Bill go head-to-head Aug 22, 2024

From Michigan and Washington to Penn State and Oregon, from Syracuse and Cincinnati to Iowa State and Ohio State, record predictions for all 28 Northern power conference teams are locked down on this Kings of the North.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis mark down their records and reasonings, giving you an easy way to pat them on the back come December, or, more likely, call them out for being wrong.
• Notre Dame, the Northern ACC schools, and Oregon and Washington are up first
• Then it's the former Big Ten West schools
• Then the eight Northern teams in the Big 12
• Finally, the teams from the old Big Ten East
Thanks for joining Kings of the North, and see you for our new schedule of live shows, starting at noon on Monday.

College football's best QB matchups | Northern QB power ratings | Ari Wasserman visits KOTN Aug 20, 2024

What college football quarterback matchups have you most excited this season? Something involving Texas' Quinn Ewers, maybe against Michigan, Oklahoma or Georgia?
A Big 12 showdown involving quarterbacks like West Virginia's Garrett Greene, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Kansas State's Avery Johnson or Utah's Cam Rising?
A Big Ten game with Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Ohio State's Will Howard, Penn State's Drew Allar or Nebraska's Dylan Raiola?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis welcome guest Ari Wasserman for a draft of the 15 best QB matchups in college football -- and most of them are in the North.
Doug and Bill start the show with a rundown of all 28 quarterback situations in the North, and then Bill gives his Northern Power Rankings of Quarterbacks.
And then the guys end the show with Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking with apple pie cinnamon rolls, bad endings to great TV shows, the best way to podcast and more.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

College football win total bets on Notre Dame, West Virginia, Illinois and more: Bets of the North Aug 16, 2024

College football win total best bets are on the menu on Bets of the North with Doug Lesmerises and Tyler Shoemaker.
Each of them pick five win total over-unders, hitting teams like Notre Dame, Rutgers, Nebraska, Colorado, Syracuse and more — and disagreeing on Illinois.
Then it’s a Group of 5 best bet, a Dawg Mentality best bet, and a Cy-Hawk Super Combo.
Catch our college football betting show every Friday morning all season with Bets of the North on Kings of the North.

Outrageous college football predictions for 2024; Heisman Trophy draft Aug 15, 2024

Who will win the Heisman Trophy? What outrageous events may happen this college football season? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are ready to make some picks for the 2024 college football season, and Doug is wound up about it, starting with a draft of 10 Heisman Trophy candidates. Players from Penn State, Utah, Kansas, Ohio State, Oregon and Kansas State are among those who come off the board.
Then Doug and Bill make their official Heisman Trophy picks.
They follow that with three Outrageous Predictions on undefeated seasons, rushing touchdown records, Alabama's year, an ACC champ, a 2,000-yard receiving season and more.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Dylan Raiola, Jeremiah Smith and the top Northern freshmen; what we love about the 2024 CFB season Aug 13, 2024

Which college football freshmen in the North could get on the field in a big way in 2024? From Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith to Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa to Iowa punter Rhys Dakin, the North has plenty of young talent.
On this episode of Kings of the North, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises run through the best freshmen around. (02:30)
Then they list 10 things they love about the 2024 college football season, including hot seat Southern coaches, second-year quarterbacks and teams ready for their best seasons in 20 years. (36:30)
Then Brett Ciancia of Pick Six Previews joins the show to talk about overrated and underrated teams. (58:17)
Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North.

College football betting tips and inside info: Bets of the North Aug 09, 2024

Betting on college football is part of the game now. So while some of you might be trying to enjoy it, maybe you want a little help.
Bets of the North is here to do that.
This weekly college football gambling show will hit every Friday morning with betting insider Tyler Shoemaker, and his proprietary T Shoe Index, joining Doug Lesmerises and adding some smart math to the football conversation.
But it’s fun. Betting on sports shouldn’t feel like homework.
On this first show. Doug and Tyler run through tips for making smart bets, including advice on parlays, player props, season win totals and betting on less popular teams.
So check this out and if you enjoy it (we think you will) join Doug and Tyler every week on Bets of the North.

Nebraska-Colorado matchup will swing the season; inside future recruiting changes Aug 08, 2024

Changes to how college football teams recruit players and build rosters are ahead, and Doug Lesmerises has inside info on the future of the sport after attending a personnel and recruiting conference with almost 700 staffers from college football in Nashville.
That discussion includes an interview with Mark Pantoni, the general manager of Ohio State football.
But first, Doug looks at the energy of Nebraska football and the questions around Colorado football and what that might mean for their Week 2 matchup.
How ready is Nebraska freshman QB Dylan Raiola?
Why does everyone like to pile on Colorado?
And what's the stat that proves Nebraska could make a major leap this season?
Plus the energy at Utah, the cool leather helmets at Illinois and more.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Why the Michigan cheating discussion is wrong; plus a Notre Dame injury and a bad preseason poll Aug 05, 2024

On this Kings of the North, the discussion about the latest Michigan news around the NCAA's look at Connor Stalions and alleged sign-stealing is on the minds of Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis. They believe the general debate around Michigan is all wrong and not focusing on the most important part of the story.
They dive into that, but first they have a few show announcements, a look at an unfortunate Notre Dame injury, some sophomore slumps at running back in the North, and Doug's visit to Penn State over the weekend.
Then it's a lot of Michigan and finally a look at the preseason coaches poll, which loves No. 1 Georgia much more than Doug and Bill think is appropriate.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Utah and more open camp; Oregon and Washington's places in the North Aug 01, 2024

Oregon and Washington are moving from the West to the North with their shift from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, and on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talk about how the Ducks and Huskies will fit into their new realities.
To assist that conversation, they are joined by two guests: long-time Pac-12 analyst Yogi Roth, now a Big Ten Network announcer and the creator of a new media outlet called Y-Option; and Washington beat writer Andy Yamashita of the Seattle Times.
Yogi interview - (51:52)
Andy interview - (1:10:36)
But before that, Doug and Bill run through the start of preseason college football camps, hitting especially on the teams that got an early start to practice this week as they discuss Utah, Kansas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan State, Rutgers, Illinois, Minnesota and Notre Dame.
Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North.

Kansas, Kansas State football join KOTN, and The North will rule the Big 12 Jul 30, 2024

The Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas State Wildcats are officially joining The North, as on this episode, Kings of the North swells to 28 Power Conference college football teams.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis explain why they are adding these Kansas schools to the teams they will cover, and they reset the state of two rising football programs.
They are aided in that cause by several interviews with Jayhawks and Wildcats:
• Kansas State coach Chris Klieman (9:03)
• Kansas deputy athletic director Collin Sexton (33:11)
• Kansas State safety Marques Sigle (46:49)
• Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor (53:15)
• Kansas State announcer and former QB Stan Weber (1:09:10)
Then Doug and Bill wrap up with their desire to get to the Kansas-Kansas State game this year, and they look at other major Northern games those two will play against Illinois, West Virginia, Iowa State and others.
Welcome to Kansas and Kansas State and thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Indiana’s swagger, Michigan’s future; Minnesota’s Serbian Hammer; and why Paul Finebaum can cram it Jul 26, 2024

An Indiana lineman who gets told he looks like a plumber, a Maryland linebacker who wants to take our jobs, and a deep discussion about Michigan’s future are part of this Kings of the North from Day 3 of Big Ten Media Days.
Doug Lesmerises starts things off with a rant about Paul Finebaum’s comments on Penn State coach James Franklin.
And then Doug and Bill Landis interview:
• Indiana lineman Mike Katic (09:08)
• The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman about Michigan (20:18)
• Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson and Minnesota kicker Dragan Kesich together (36:31)
• Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite (49:18)
• Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan (1:01:19)
• Minnesota running back Darius Taylor (1:10:27)
• Michigan safety Makari Paige (1:16:31)
• Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa (1:22:30)
It’s the last KOTN from Indy this week, so thanks as always for joining the show

NFL should pay college football; is Big Ten as aggressive as the SEC, with Ohio State AD Ross Bjork Jul 25, 2024

New Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork came from Texas A&M, so he knows both sides of North-South college football.
In this Kings of the North, Bjork joins Doug Lesmerises to discuss life in the Big Ten compared to life in the SEC.
Is the Big Ten as aggressive as the SEC?
Bjork also talks about the future of college football and funding other sports.
He has an idea — the NFL could pay college football for serving as a de facto minor league.
That and more with one of the decision-makers in college sports on Kings of the North.

Nebraska's Matt Rhule on snow football; Penn State's new playoff standard; and Iowa's defensive QB Jul 25, 2024

Big Ten Media Days Day 2 brought another round of college football talk, including a focus on how much Penn State fans would embrace a spot in the 12-team playoff, or whether they'd only be frustrated if that bid wasn't followed by a win.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis welcome several guests:
• Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins on maybe being the Big Ten's best defender and serving as the right-hand man for Hawkeyes' defensive coordinator Phil Parker. (05:22)
• Nebraska coach Matt Rhule on playing football in the snow and re-establishing the Cornhuskers standards. (11:00)
• Audrey Snyder of The Athletic discussing Penn State coach James Franklin saying the Nittany Lions are one of the few teams that could win 10 or 11 games and not please their fans. (15:40)
• Michigan State running back Nate Carter on a reset in East Lansing with new coach Jonathan Smith. (36:53)
• Nebraska center Ben Scott on helping freshman QB Dylan Raiola prepare for the season. (45:45)
• USC offensive lineman Jonah Monheim on looking like a Man of the North while playing in Southern California. (55:22)
• UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond on his roots at Michigan State and Ohio State helping to lead the Bruins into the Big Ten. (1:04:09)
Thanks for joining Kings of the North, and check back for another round of interviews from Day 3 of Big Ten Media Days, which will feature Michigan, Oregon and Washington, among others.

Ohio State's Ryan Day through the fire; Wisconsin ready to tell Bama to cram it; Purdue fights back Jul 24, 2024

Ohio State, Purdue and Rutgers head coaches sit down with Kings of the North on this episode, as players from Wisconsin and Illinois also stop by at Day 1 of Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis kick off the show with a discussion of how much juice the Big Ten brought to the Tuesday proceedings (not enough).
Then it's off to interviews with:
• Ohio State head coach Ryan Day on why he'll be the best head coach he's ever been. (15:05)
• Purdue head coach Ryan Walters pushing back on the Boilermakers picked to be last in the conference. (26:20)
• Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano explaining why this will be his last job, and not wanting Doug to share his Rutgers record prediction. (36:11)
• Wisconsin tackle Jack Nelson on how fired up Badgers fans are for the Week 3 home game against Alabama. (51:03)
• Illinois defensive players Seth Coleman and Gabe Jacas explaining why they left Florida to play college football in the North. (58:20) - Seth, (1:03:23) - (Gabe)
Thanks for joining Kings of the North, and come back for more coverage the next two days from Big Ten Media Days.

Big Ten Preseason Poll results: Ohio State picked to beat Oregon for conference title Jul 22, 2024

Ohio State was picked to beat Oregon for the Big Ten title, and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson were named the Big Ten preseason players of the year in a poll conducted by Kings of the North.
On this episode, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis reveal the choices of 33 voters from across the conference, and discuss their own picks for:
• The full predicted Big Ten standings, 1 through 18
• The Big Ten title game participants and champion
• The number of Big Ten teams predicted to make the College Football Playoff
• The voting for Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
• The voting for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Get ready for even more KOTN coverage from Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis this week, and thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Nick Saban's retirement ends Alabama's dominance; Can any team rule college football next? Jul 18, 2024

Alabama's Nick Saban leaves a hole in his sport as large as any sporting figure since Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls. With so much changing in college football, it's possible everyone is underestimating how big the Saban void will be.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises is joined by guest Dan Wetzel of The College Football Enquirer to dig into Saban's legacy and examine whether anyone can replace him as the King of College Football (sorry Kirby Smart, it won't be easy as some are making it out to be.)
Doug and Dan discuss:
• Is Saban the greatest college football coach of all-time?
• Was Kalen DeBoer the right hire to replace him?
• How hard is Saban to replace?
• What’s the expected drop-off for Alabama?
• Which team could be next up to dominate like Alabama did for the last 15 years?
Then Doug and Bill Landis talk about the latest from SEC Media Days and what DeBoer and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian had to say.
Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North. We'll stop talking about the South for a while -- we can't take it.

Branding Georgia a rogue program: Why Kirby Smart isn't above questioning Jul 16, 2024

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart addressed reporters at SEC Media Days on Tuesday -- but why wasn't he asked about the repeated driving issues of Georgia players while the cameras were on him?
On this episode of Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss the way Georgia football should be viewed for now -- as a rogue program.
The guys cover what Smart did say to reporters about driving problems when the cameras weren't on, the baseline of Georgia driving arrests in the last year-and-a-half, the way the media has handled Georgia's problems (often poorly) and why Smart should be compared to Urban Meyer and not Nick Saban.
Then they decide what Smart should do to try to fix the issue and how media and fans should view Georgia until this gets better.
There's also some talk of why Smart isn't at Nick Saban's level, why LSU's Brian Kelly wants to play in Ireland, and what SEC commissioner Greg Sankey thinks about the future of college football.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

West Virginia’s reckless, winning QB plan; Big 12 coaching futures from Media Days Jul 11, 2024

At Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas, on Day 2 Doug Lesmerises talked to West Virginia coach Neal Brown and quarterback Garrett Greene about the “reckless” quarterback play that could put the Mountaineers over the top this season.
The Colorado punter stopped by to talk punting for Coach Prime; and the conference chief marketing officer explained how Big 12 branding (hello Nelly and wrestling!) can help this chesty outlaw conference promote its football.
Also, Adam Rittenberg of ESPN talked Big 12 coaching futures and Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports discussed the league without Texas and Oklahoma.
• Garrett Greene (02:46)
• Neal Brown (07:06)
• Wyatt Milum (15:52)
• Adam Rittenberg (18:41)
• Mark Vassett (46:00)
• Tyrel Kirkham (53:23)
• Shehan Jeyarajah (1:09:06)
Thanks for joining Kings of the North from Las Vegas.

Inside Big 12 Media Days: Talking Cincinnati wild punters, Iowa State skill and Utah toughness Jul 09, 2024

The Big 12 Media Days kicked off in Las Vegas on Tuesday and Kings of the North was on the scene to talk Northern college football.
On this show, Doug Lesmerises brings you interviews from three Northern teams. In order, get ready for:
• Cincinnati punter Mason Fletcher (06:21)
• Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel (15:36)
• Utah defensive tackle Junior Tafuna (21:45)
• Cincinnati running back Corey Kiner (26:49)
• Cincinnati right guard Luke Kandra (33:09)
• and Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham (39:50)
Check out the Kings of the North YouTube feed for live shows Tuesday and Wednesday night, and come back Wednesday for more interviews with Colorado, West Virginia and BYU.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Was the Big Ten West a bad idea? Can the College Football Playoff committee handle no divisions? Jul 02, 2024

It's a final farewell to the Big Ten West and a look into a future with no college football divisions on this Kings of the North.
Scott Dochterman of The Athletic joins Doug Lesmerises to take a final look at the 10-year run of the Big Ten West: Why it was formed, why it went 0-10 in the Big Ten title game, and why its perception was even worse than its reality.
Without it, will teams like Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Northwestern be better off or worse off? Those questions are answered.
But first Doug runs through the full history of divisions in major college football, and how every major conference had a stronger division and a weaker division -- and maybe that wasn't such a bad thing
After Scott, Doug expresses a fear about the College Football Playoff committee with no divisions around.
And then Doug hands out his final awards for the Big Ten West's 10-year run:
• Best Player
• Best Quarterback
• Best Coach
• Best Win
• Best Team
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Betting angles on Notre Dame, Oregon, Clemson, Utah and more for 2024 college football season Jun 27, 2024

College football win total overs and unders are the topic of the day as Doug Lesmerises is joined by old friend and betting insider Tyler Shoemaker to discuss 10 college football bets for this season.
Doug also wraps up with news on quarterback recruiting, coaching rules and Blue-Chip Ratio. But thinking about the college football season through a gambling lens is the heart of the show.
That doesn't mean you have to bet or even like betting, because Shoemaker's analysis of the season is worth the time for anyone who likes college football.
So first up are five win total overs that Shoemaker likes -- including Notre Dame.
Then are five win total unders that he likes -- including Penn State.
Thanks as always for joining Kings of the North.

Kirby Smart, Jim Harbaugh, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and more: Coaches and their indispensable players Jun 25, 2024

Which single college football player -- from Deshaun Watson to Manti Te'o to Aidan Hutchinson -- defined the tenures of their head coaches?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at 16 coaches from across college football -- 12 North and 4 South, 7 at their current school and 9 who moved on -- and pick one player for each of them that the coach couldn't live without.
Which players got coaches over the top for a title or playoff spot or 10-win season?
Which players changed their coaches' reputations?
Doug and Bill picked players for these 16 coaches at these schools:
• Nick Saban, Alabama
• Matt Campbell, Iowa State
• James Franklin, Penn State
• P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
• Kirby Smart, Georgia
• Jeff Brohm, Purdue
• Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
• Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
• Kyle Whittingham, Utah
• Urban Meyer, Ohio State
• Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
• Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
• Dabo Swinney, Clemson
• Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
• Chip Kelly, Oregon
Thanks for joining this episode of Kings of the North.

College Football Tiers: National Championship contenders, playoff dark horses, rebuilding teams Jun 20, 2024

Which college football teams are truly thinking about a national title in 2024? Which are aiming to make the playoff? Which could be playoff dark horses? Which are rebuilding, or happy to hope for a bowl?
From Georgia to Notre Dame, from Texas to Ohio State, from Ole Miss to Iowa State, on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break all 68 Power Conference teams into six tiers for this season. And, by luck, they wound up with a pretty even breakdown of the sport.
The six tiers and how many teams landed in them:
• Title contenders (5)
• Playoff contenders (11)
• Playoff dark horses (14)
• Bowl hopefuls (14)
• Rebuilding (14)
• Struggling (10)
Where does your favorite team fit? Doug and Bill categorize all 26 Northern teams, plus everyone in the South, from Florida and Texas A&M to Clemson and USC.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Michigan stealing Ohio State staffers, Rutgers recruiting hot streak and more college football takes Jun 18, 2024

College football takes are on the menu, from Michigan taking another Ohio State staffer, to Illinois getting a major transfer, to the politics of college football and what comes next.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into six different issues on these Takes of the North, starting with cold, reasonable takes that they then must warm up. A couple times, they set the kitchen on fire.
In order, they cover:
• The Big 12 potentially selling naming rights and what else in college football (including stadium names) should be sold
• Rutgers hitting a recruiting run that could signify something
• Michigan hiring another staffer away from Ohio State and how people should react
• Illinois landing a veteran receiving star in the portal
• The politics of college athlete compensation
• The future of walk-ons and how coaches might react
Plus it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking on a Dr. Phil impersonator, Doug eating too much on his recent vacation, and a weird football dream.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

1994 Colorado-Michigan Rewatch: Miracle end, QB trendsetter, Heisman winner on The North Remembers Jun 13, 2024

The 1994 Colorado-Michigan college football matchup is remembered as The Miracle at Michigan, and on this inaugural edition of The North Remembers from Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis tell you why.
Reliving great northern college football games of the past, Doug and Bill cover stars like Kordell Stewart, Rashaan Salaam and Michael Westbrook from Colorado and Ty Law, Tim Biakabatuka and Tyrone Wheatley from Michigan in breaking down this 30-year-old classic.
With categories like Why It Mattered, King of the Game, Meme It, The South Can Cram It and Crazy Time, Doug and Bill run through a fast, furious,. informative and wild 40-minute recap.
That includes the idea that this was the surprising final seasons for both head coaches -- Colorado's Bill McCartney and Michigan's Gary Moeller.
Zip through the past and celebrate a great game in northern college football history with Kings of the North on The North Remembers.

Why Notre Dame is like Oklahoma; Why Nebraska is like Florida State: North-South Sister Schools Jun 11, 2024

What Southern college football teams are most like Northern schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Syracuse, Oregon, Boston College, Michigan State, Washington, Penn State and Nebraska?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis pair up 13 Northern football teams with Southern counterparts based on success, history, geography, coaching mistakes and more. And then they ask whether you'd rather be the Northern team or the Southern team?
Who is Cincinnati's match? Colorado's? And why do Doug and Bill want to see Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in a mullet?
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

College Football Playoff Picks: Georgia, Michigan in danger? Ohio State-Oregon battle! Iowa sleeper? Jun 06, 2024

It's another round of College Football Playoff Picks on this Kings of the North.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis made their first picks in February, and they are back for Round 2 after taking in spring football.
First, they look at all the contenders from the South.
Is Texas or Georgia a bigger monster?
Is Missouri or Ole Miss a more interesting upstart?
Which young QB at Tennessee or Oklahoma is more likely to lead a playoff run?
Then they make their picks, with adjustments from February, and with some teams staying the same. Where are Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, Utah and West Virginia as playoff contenders? Is Ohio State or Oregon more likely to win the Big Ten?
Get all those picks here, and thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Boston College's Bill O'Brien on his 16-year BC plan, the Eagles' starting QB and Penn State lessons Jun 04, 2024

Boston College head coach Bill O'Brien joins Doug Lesmerises on this Kings of the North for a dive into his career and why Boston College is the place for him.
The new head coach of the Eagles discusses:
• His grandfather's legacy in semi-pro Boston football a century ago
• The starting QB plans for the Eagles
• The depth of skill talent at Boston College
• The secret to Boston College's greatest seasons
• If he thought he'd ever be a head coach again
• Balancing career and family
• What he learned as the head coach at Penn State
• His plan to win
This is our second head coaching interview on KOTN after a visit from Wisconsin's Luke Fickell. Look for more of these of future shows.

Northern Recruiting Battles: Fighting Bama, Miami and Texas; Defending Home Turf; Going to the Mat May 30, 2024

What are some major college recruiting battles in the Class of 2025 for Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Purdue, Indiana, Boston College, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Iowa and more Northern teams?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises is joined by recruiting insider Jeremy Birmingham to dive into 10 major recruitments involving North vs. South and North vs. North, and to look at some Northern prospects the South is trying to pluck out of the area.
Plus, the conversation hits on major recruiting battlegrounds like Southern California; Washington, D.C.; Texas; Las Vegas; and Ohio and how Northern schools are faring in those areas.
Official visits are heating up and Kings of the North has some players for you to keep an eye on.
Thanks for joining KOTN.

Utah, Oregon, Michigan State going up; Illinois, BYU, Washington going down: 26 Northern Team Trends May 28, 2024

Which way are the 26 Northern college football teams that are part of Kings of the North headed?
On this episode, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all the Northern schools and designate each as Trending Up, Trending Down or Staying the Same.
• 12 teams are Trending Up
• 5 teams are Trending Down
• 2 teams are Staying the Same
• And 7 teams found Doug and Bill disagreeing on their status, including 2 that one had as Up and the other had as Down.
Which way is your team headed?
Check it out on Kings of the North.

From Penn State to Iowa State to Notre Dame, a shocking draft of best Northern Big 4's May 23, 2024

How good are the skill players at Iowa State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Syracuse and other Northern schools, including ... Rutgers?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis draft the Top 10 Big 4's of their 26 Northern teams. The Big 4 parameters -- it's a QB and three skill players from any combination of running backs, receivers and tight ends.
You might be surprised at some teams picked in the Top 10 and equally surprised by some very good teams left out.
As always, thanks for joining the discussion on Kings of the North.

Is College Football Getting Better or Worse? Money battles, conference fights and big-time Saturdays May 21, 2024

Is college football getting better or worse? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are joined by two special guests to discuss that.
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN and Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports give their views as KOTN examines the past, present and future of college football.
Doug, Bill and Adam discuss:
• Whether the regular season is better or worse (01:30)
• Whether determining a national champion is better or worse (12:00)
• Whether the treatment of players is better or worse (23:45)
• Amanda then drops by to give insight on the future of player compensation and to discuss her blockbuster story on the NCAA and lobbying in Washington for Front Office Sports (35:15)
• A final look at whether it's getting better overall for different levels of teams (56:50)
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Is Ohio State Natty of Bust this season? Inside all-in college football seasons May 16, 2024

Are the Ohio State Buckeyes in National Championship or Bust mode for the 2024 college football season? Is that what the Michigan Wolverines were, and lived up to, in 2023?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises investigates the recent history of Natty or Bust teams and figures out whether Ohio State fits the bill. He checks into:
• The 6 teams with the most NFL Draft picks in a year, who all won a title with those players
• The 4 parameters to make a Natty or Bust team
• The 11 teams in the BCS era who have so far been Natty or Bust -- and only 4 won it all
• Then Doug's old co-host Shehan Jeyarajah joins the show to discuss whether Natty or Bust is a good or bad thing, how he would handle this season if he were Ryan Day, and whether multiple teams can be Natty or Bust in the same season.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Ohio State-Michigan, Nebraska-Colorado, Alabama-Wisconsin: Drafting the North's best TV games May 14, 2024

What college football games in the North will draw the most TV viewers this year? TV is controlling and reshaping college football, so on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis try to think like TV execs (like it or not) while drafting the Top 20 Northern college football TV games for this season.
First, they dig into seven Northern CFB topics, including a huge recruit visit for Indiana, a new player at Purdue, some confused head coaches, the new EA Sports college football cover, returning production, a Kansas rumor and a 1-star review for Doug's gaslighting of himself over Colorado.
Then it's the TV draft, where games like Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Wisconsin, Texas-Michigan, Colorado-Nebraska, Ohio State-Oregon and Penn State-West Virginia fly off the board.
Which teams could be the new TV darlings of 2024? The guys have two suggestions. And how much will TV miss Jim Harbaugh?
As always, thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Frantic 14 - (06:30)
Top-10 Most Watched 2023 Northern Games - (31:30)
2024 Television Draft - (47:20)

From Dillon Gabriel to Julian Sayin to Rocco Becht: A wild Northern QB Draft May 09, 2024

Northern college football is in a bridge year for the 2024 season when it comes to quarterback play.
Of the 26 Northern teams discussed on Kings of the North, 14 have projected starting QBs in their last years of eligibility.
Here's the good news -- a ton of Northern teams have young backup quarterbacks ready to take over in 2025.
On this episode, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all that, and then they finish the show with a draft of 16 quarterbacks based on the winning, awards and stats they should compile for the rest of their careers.
That means drafting QBs with one year left -- like Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Ohio State's Will Howard, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and West Virginia's Garrett Greene -- with young quarterbacks with multiple years left -- like Notre Dame's C.J. Carr, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Iowa State's Rocco Becht, Michigan's Jadyn Davis, Nebraska's Dylan Raiola and Michigan State's Aidan Chiles.
This will give you a full QB picture for all 26 Northern teams, and it will prepare you for the Northern quarterback renaissance to come.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
Quarterbacks in last year - (7:00)
Young quarterback discussion - (19:30)
Quarterback 2024 recruiting rankings - (26:40)
2025 Quarterback Questions - (45:30)
Quarterback draft - (1:14:00)

Washington, Wisconsin, BYU and final Northern Spring Football reactions May 07, 2024

Spring football is a wrap, and Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through five final Northern teams on this episode, meaning they have now covered all 26 of their Northern teams after spring football.
First up is Washington, which held its spring game on Friday night. Reflecting and rebuilding is the name of the game for the Huskies, who did get interesting QB play and showcased a possible young receiver breakout.
Then it's to the four Northern teams that didn't hold public spring games:
Doug and Bill talk BYU
(39:40) Ryan Burns of 247Sports and Gopher Gridiron Radio talks Minnesota
(55:42) Zach Heilprin of The Camp: A Wisconsin Football Podcast joins to talk about the Badgers
(1:10:05) Matthew Shelton of WildcatReport joins to talk Northwestern
(1:27:05) Then Doug and Bill finish with Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking on Challengers, hot chicken pizza, farmers markets, John Mulaney and the Doppler.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Transfer Portal Northern Action, from Michigan to Rutgers to Minnesota May 02, 2024

Northern teams like Ohio State, Cincinnati and Michigan added major players in the spring transfer portal window a year ago. What's the biggest Northern action happening in the spring portal window now?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis compare this transfer class to a year ago, talk about why more QB movement didn't happen, plan a calendar of handsome Northern punters, and cover portal moves for schools like:
• Rutgers
• Minnesota
• Washington
• Michigan State
• Pitt
• Colorado
• Michigan
• Cincinnati
• Syracuse
• Penn State
And more. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Nebraska, Oregon, West Virginia and more Northern Spring game reactions Apr 30, 2024

From Nebraska to Oregon, and Rutgers to West Virginia, six more Northern teams held spring games over the weekend and Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are back to cover them on the latest Kings of the North.
Plus, Doug has some stats on the North in the 2024 NFL Draft that are interesting in how uninteresting they are.
Topics covered on this episode:
• Oregon spring game (01:45)
• Nebraska spring game (17:00)
• The North in the NFL Draft (28:08)
• Maryland spring game (36:00)
• Maryland hiring Brian Ferentz
• Colorado spring game (47:55)
• West Virginia spring game (59:45)
• Rutgers spring game (1:10:45)
Plus some talk on a guy we thought was named Bazooka, and a Warren Sapp story.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

NFL Draft 2024: Marvin Harrison Jr., J.J. McCarthy, Rome Odunze and best Northern draft in 50 years Apr 24, 2024

The top of the 2024 NFL Draft will be filled with Northern college football stars like Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington's Rome Odunze and Michael Penix Jr., Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt and more.
The talent is so deep, Doug Lesmerises explains why the top of the first round could feature more Northern players than any draft since 1967.
Then Doug is joined by NFL Draft analyst Ian Valentino of the 33rd team to run through Northern QBs like Penix, McCarthy and Oregon's Bo Nix; Northern tackles like Alt, Penn State's Olu Fashanu and Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga; Northern running backs like Wisconsin's Braelon Allen, Michigan's Blake Corum and Notre Dame's Audric Estime; Northern cornerbacks like Iowa's Cooper DeJean and Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell; and the battle between Northern and Southern receivers in this draft.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Michigan, Notre Dame, Syracuse and more Northern Spring Game reactions Apr 22, 2024

College football rolled out eight more Northern spring games last week, and Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are here to react to all of them, finding spring stars and asking spring questions on this Kings of the North.
From excitement about Syracuse and Indiana to questions about Iowa and Illinois, ton some confirmation about Michigan and Notre Dame, Doug and Bill discussed in order:
• Syracuse (0:41)
• Michigan (13:00)
• Indiana (25:30)
• Notre Dame (34:45)
• Iowa State (46:00)
• Michigan State (54:00)
• Iowa (1:01:30)
• Illinois (1:10:00)
Thanks for joining kings of the North.

Transfer Portal Updates, Colorado strategy, Michigan's NCAA punishment and more Apr 18, 2024

From the transfer portal to a proposed Super League, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis hit several topics on this Kings of the North.
• What is Colorado doing in the portal and why Deion Sanders might be like Urban Meyer
• Transfer portal moves in the North
• Pick between current football rules or an NFL minor league
• The idea floated of an 80-team Super League
• Jim Harbaugh's future relationship with Michigan after an NCAA settlement
• Basketball power in the North and why Northern football schools aren't winning at hoops
• Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking
Thanks for joining Kings of the North

Ohio State, Utah, Penn State and more Northern Spring Game reactions Apr 16, 2024

Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Pitt, Boston College, Cincinnati and Utah played their college football spring games last weekend and on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis react to them all.
From new coordinators like Penn State's Andy Kotelnicki and Pitt's Kade Bell to returning QB stars like Utah's Cam Rising to defensive position changes like Purdue's Kydran Jenkins and Penn State's Abdul Carte to sure things like the Ohio State defense and the Cincinnati Kelce brothers, Doug and Bill dive into three things they learned about each team this spring.
In order, they cover:
• Penn State
• Pitt
• Purdue
• Cincinnati
• Ohio State
• Utah
• Boston College
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

7 college football spring games ahead; Boston College visit; Show update Apr 12, 2024

Kings of the North is back with an explanation. First, seven Northern teams play spring games Saturday: Ohio State, Penn State, Utah, Pitt, Cincinnati, Purdue and Boston College.
Then, Doug Lesmerises checks in from his visit to BC, where he watched a practice and talked to head coach Bill O’Brien.
Finally, Doug explains what went wrong with his eye in Boston that caused KOTN to go on a brief hiatus.
Thanks for sticking by the show and it’s good to be back.

Fraudulent Georgia, Fearsome Texas: How the North should view The South Apr 02, 2024

Clemson receivers, Texas experience, Georgia quarterback play, Louisville defense, Alabama offensive linemen, Texas A&M unwarranted optimism -- how should Northern college football fans view all these pieces of Southern college football in 2024?
On this episode of Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis go through 5 Southern Frauds and 5 Northern fears, looking at what from the South will and won't challenge Northern football teams in the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
There's a long look at quarterback play in the South vs. the North, plus a disagreement about the place the Georgia Bulldogs hold in the college football world right now.
Dawg Mentality!
This show is all about the North -- and sometimes that means checking in on the South.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

College Football Trivia: Northern Jeopardy on Heismans, Coaches and Southern Frauds Mar 28, 2024

From Washington to Syracuse, from Heisman winners to NFL stars, from Notre Dame to Ohio State, it's time to test your knowledge of Northern college football.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis go head-to-head in a college football battle as producer Mike Yourstowsky asks them questions about college football that he devised.
What do you know about Northern Heisman winners?
About Southern schools that suffered humiliating losses?
About the best Northern coaches?
About bubble game production and Northern college airports?
Test yourself against Doug and Bill. Plus there's a check-in at the start on some Northern injuries and time at the end for Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking and Doug and Bill share what's on their minds.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.
01:30 - Northern college football injury news
08:15 - Northern Jeopardy
47:51 - Final Jeopardy and whatcha watching, eating, thinking

Arch Manning to Michigan and 9 other college football trades Mar 25, 2024

Michigan dealing defense for Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Notre Dame making a trade with Indiana, and rivals Iowa State and Iowa swapping offense for defense are among the 10 Northern college football trades that Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis conjure up on this edition of Kings of the North.
There are 10 deals overall and these are the teams involved:
• Michigan-Texas
• Ohio State-Minnesota
• West Virginia-Wisconsin-Boston College
• Penn State-Northwestern-Boston College
• Penn State-Stanford
• Iowa-Iowa State
• Oregon-Cincinnati
• Michigan-Cincinnati
• Notre Dame-Indiana
• Rutgers-Colorado
Who are the players involved? Is any of the fake movement something that could happen in the transfer portal in real life? What do these fake proposals tell us about the real rosters of the teams involved?
Check out the latest KOTN to find out.

Spring Football Preview: Michigan, Nebraska, Washington and 10 more Northern teams Mar 20, 2024

From the Michigan Wolverines to the Washington Huskies, from the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to the Iowa State Cyclones, from the Colorado Buffaloes to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the Kings of the North Spring Football Mega Preview Part 2 is here to prepare you for spring football for the 13 Northern teams that weren't covered in Part 1.
That means Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis also discuss West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Maryland, Syracuse and Wisconsin. How many players and coaches are back? What's the main issue for each team this spring?
There's also a dive into what Michigan taking running backs coach Tony Alford from Ohio State means for the Wolverines, and views on left tackle Kadyn Proctor leaving Iowa after just a few months.
Plus, Doug and Bill start building out the menu for their Kings of the North Bar and Grille.
Thanks for joining this episode of KOTN.

NCAA Basketball/Football Winners: Best Northern combo schools from Iowa State to Northwestern Mar 18, 2024

From Iowa to Michigan, from Iowa State to Oregon, from Utah to Northwestern, what Northern schools have the best combination of winning among their men's basketball, women's basketball and football programs?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises dives into the numbers and ranks his Top-10 Northern combo programs.
Which Northern schools made both the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments? Only four.
Which Northern schools won a football bowl game and made the NCAA men's tournament? Only two.
It's difficult to be good at all the major sports, but these Northern programs, including Ohio State, Notre Dame and Nebraska, do it best.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell on North vs. South, Winning in Year 2 and Facing Alabama Mar 14, 2024

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, entering his second season in Madison as the Badgers open spring practice on March 22, is the guest on this episode of Kings of the North.
Fickell and Doug Lesmerises discuss:
• The differences between the North and South in college football
• Wisconsin’s huge game hosting Alabama on Sept. 14
• Expectations in Year 2
• The Badgers” offensive line
• Hiring the right staff
• How much Mike Vrabel will be in Madison this season
• His worries about college football’s future
• Fickell’s favorite workout songs
• And more
Thanks for joining this episode of Kings of the North.

Big 12, Big Ten, ACC darkhorses, plus J.J. McCarthy NFL Draft prospect Mar 12, 2024

Michigan, Penn State or USC in the Big Ten?
Utah, Kansas and Kansas State, or the field in the Big 12?
Syracuse, Pitt or Boston College in the ACC?
Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix as NFL Draft prospects?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are playing a new game called Hire, Fire, Portal. They're tackling football discussions about the best teams in the North, and looking at possible changes around the College Football Playoff and recruiting, and deciding what they really like (Hire), what they don't like (Fire) and what they're unsure about (Portal).
It's new, it's pretty fun and it's all about Northern college football -- with a little USC Big Ten discussion thrown in this week.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Spring Football Preview: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Iowa and 10 more Northern teams Mar 07, 2024

Spring football has started and from Oregon to Boston College, Kings of the North is previewing all 26 teams in the North.
From what teams have back to their biggest questions of the spring, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis on this episode worked through 13 Northern teams. The next 13 will follow on a show in a couple weeks -- closer to when their spring practices begin.
On this show, Doug and Bill discussed:
• BYU
• Cincinnati
• Pitt
• Ohio State
• Northwestern
• Notre Dame
• Boston College
• Penn State
• Utah
• Oregon
• Purdue
• Michigan State
• Iowa
And you won't want to miss that Iowa discussion.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Travis Hunter, Dillon Gabriel, TreVeyon Henderson: Drafting Heisman Trophy candidates Mar 05, 2024

From Colorado's Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders to Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to veteran quarterbacks on several potential College Football Playoff teams, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis draft the top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates for the 2024 college football season from the North.
According to the betting odds, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard are the leading contenders from the North. Do Doug and Bill agree?
And which two running backs who backed up Northern superstars a year ago could jump up as legit candidates this season?
All that on the latest Kings of the North. Thanks for joining the show.

Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon national titles & other future college football Leap Day predictions Feb 29, 2024

What could happen in college football between Leap Day 2024 and Leap Day 2028?
From Michigan State QB Aidan Chiles to Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, from the North winning three of the next four national titles to Notre Dame joining the Big Ten, from coaches like Oregon's Dan Lanning, Penn State's James Franklin and Washington's Jedd Fisch moving on to Indiana football making history.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis make some bold predictions for the next four years of Northern college football on this Kings of the North.
Seem crazy? Not when you look back to where college football was on Leap Day 2020. Doug and Bill run through the Northern coaching changes since then and ask if you would have predicted Nick Saban's retirement, Michigan winning a national title and Cincinnati making the playoff before Leap Day 2024? Probably not. So these predictions might sound crazy now, but a lot can change in four years.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Alex Orji, Jordan Seaton, Jeremiah Smith and 10 Northern players to watch this spring Feb 27, 2024

From Michigan's quarterback to Colorado's left tackle, from receivers at Washington and Ohio State to pass rushers at Iowa and Northwestern, from transfers at Penn State, Utah and Syracuse to the next running back up at Notre Dame, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis give you 10 major Northern players to watch in spring football on this episode of Kings of the North.
Some Northern teams, including BYU and Boston College, open spring practice this week, while many more will kick off practice next week. Kings of the North will give you two more major spring previews covering all 26 of our teams, but for now, prepare to hear about these 10 potential breakout stars this March and April.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

College Football Playoff expansion debate, Paterno Field, and Northern CFB news Feb 22, 2024

Is the 12-team College Football Playoff really going to expand to 14 teams in two years? Why are some people complaining about that idea? How does the college football postseason compare to other sports? How much are the Big Ten and SEC running the future of the sport? Should ESPN televise the entire playoff or should multiple networks be involved? Should conference title games be eliminated?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into all those playoff topics.
Then they discuss Iowa State losing its offensive coordinator, Northwestern looking for new football homes for the next two seasons, Penn State floating the idea of naming its stadium for Joe Paterno, and how much teams should focus on hiring alumni as assistants.
Thanks for joining this episode of Kings of the North.

EA Sports College Football Video Game returns: Insider details on stadiums, songs and more Feb 20, 2024

How will schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa and more be featured in the returning EA Sports College Football video game that will be back in 2024 after a decade away? Who should be on the new cover? Why does this matter for college football?
On this Kings of the North episode, Doug Lesmerises is joined by Matt Brown of Extra Points, the No. 1 expert in the country on the return of this college football video game.
Doug and Matt cover:
• How much players will be paid
• What schools sent in to be included in the game
• The history of players on the cover
• Suggestions for this year's cover
• Why schools want this game to return
• How this agreement previews paying college players directly
There's no one better than Matt to cover this particular part of the college football world, so thanks for joining us on Kings of the North.

College Football Win Totals: Nebraska over, Michigan under and other Northern picks Feb 15, 2024

Will the Nebraska Cornhuskers win 8 games or more? Will the Michigan Wolverines win 10 games or fewer? Why do Ohio State and Oregon have the highest Northern college football win totals, and why are BYU, Minnesota, Purdue and Boston College at the bottom?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis each pick their five best bets on Northern win totals, hitting on schools like West Virginia, Michigan State, Minnesota and Maryland, as well as the Cornhuskers and Wolverines.
And then they each pick a Southern under, as the win totals in the SEC are sky-high and Doug and Bill wonder if Alabama and LSU will be as good as expected.
Thanks for joining another episode of Kings of the North.

College Football Coaching Carousel, from Bill O'Brien to Steve Belichick to Wink Martindale Feb 13, 2024

From Bill O'Brien at Boston College to Sherrone Moore at Michigan as head coaches, from Chip Kelly at Ohio State to Mike Denbrock at Notre Dame as offensive coordinators, from Elijah Robinson at Syracuse to Steve Belichick at Washington as defensive coordinators, there are 30 new coaches in major roles in Northern college football.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all these changes among head coaches and coordinators.
That includes:
- 6 head coaches like Jedd Fisch at Washington and Curt Cignetti at Indiana
- 13 offensive coordinators like Andy Kotelnicki at Penn State and Kade Bell at Pitt
- 11 defensive coordinators like Tyson Veidt at Cincinnati and Wink Martindale at Michigan
03:30 - Head coaches
33:30 - Offensive coordinators
1:06:00 - Defensive coordinators
Thanks for joining this episode of Kings of the North.

Super Bowl LVIII tales of Northern stars, from George Kittle to Isiah Pacheco Feb 08, 2024

The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs feature Northern college football stars all over their rosters for Super Bowl 58, and on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises goes to the experts to talk about how these players went from Northern colleges to football's biggest stage.
First, Doug and Bill Landis discuss how many Northern players contribute for the Chiefs and 49ers, and from Penn State to Wyoming, West Virginia to Iowa State, Michigan to Western Michigan, there are more than you think.
Then it's a run through all the quarterbacks from Northern schools (hello Tom Brady and Joe Montana) who have won Super Bowls, as San Francisco's Brock Purdy has a chance to join them.
Then guests pop in for in-depth discussions:
- Iowa/49ers tight end George Kittle with Chad Leistikow of HawkCentral.com (11:58)
- Rutgers/Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco with Steve Politi of NJ.com (28:35)
- Notre Dame/Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill with Eric Hansen of InsideNDSports.com (40:56)
- Ohio State/49ers defensive ends Nick Bosa and Chase Young with Doug and Bill (56:01)
Know which Super Bowl players are from the North before you sit down on Sunday, and get their inside stories to share with your friends.
Thanks for being part of Kings of the North.

Michigan-Ohio State, Penn State-WVU, BYU-Utah: Ultimate Northern College Football Schedule Feb 06, 2024

From Wisconsin hosting Alabama, to Pitt hosting Syracuse, to Washington hosting Michigan, come along as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis plan the Ultimate Northern College Football Schedule for 2024 on this episode of Kings of the North.
Over 15 games in 14 weeks, Doug and Bill highlight the best Northern games of the coming 2024 season, picking 15 different stadiums they'd like to visit and covering 19 Northern teams.
From the Penn State at West Virginia opener to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry in Week 14, to games like Nebraska-Indiana and Minnesota-Iowa in-between, the guys get you prepared and excited for the season to come.
They're ready to drive more than 11,000 miles to see these great games -- and they actually will plan to be at a few of them.
Get prepped for a college football fall in the North on the latest Kings of the North.

College football's NIL mess and 6 real solutions Feb 01, 2024

Jeff Hafley gave up his job as Boston College's head football coach to become an NFL defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Does this signal the end of college football as we know it?
Heck no -- some people are making too big of a deal about this.
But college football clearly needs to change, and on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises offers six changes around six topics that you can talk about with your friends without it feeling like homework.
- Number of CFB players compared to pro sports
- Player Freedom
- Competitive Balance
- Moving NIL Inside College Football
- Contracts
- Donors as Owners
Then Doug is joined by Matt Brown, the creator of the Extra Points newsletter that digs into the financial side of college sports, to talk about how current NIL collectives work, whether it's sustainable, and whether the NCAA should be going after NIL cases or not.
It's a money and rules show that should matter to the average fan.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North,

Dan Lanning, Ryan Day, Kalen DeBoer and the 20 best college football coaches Jan 30, 2024

With Jim Harbaugh off to the NFL and Nick Saban retiring, the list of the best coaches in college football is changing.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis address that with a draft of the 20 best coaches in college football.
But they do that with another point in mind -- identifying how many of those coaches come from the North.
Guess what? It's a lot. And guess what -- Northern coaches have won 60 percent of the last 25 national titles as well.
From the New Jersey roots of Syracuse coach Fran Brown and Washington coach Jedd Fisch, to the Iowa educations of Kansas State's Chris Kleiman and Kentucky's Mark Stoops, to the New England backgrounds of LSU's Brian Kelly and Ohio State's Ryan Day, many top coaches were born and raised in the North and went to college there.
Doug and Bill dive into all of that, and then identify some coaches they'd like to see running programs in the North someday.
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers, Michigan-Ohio State rivalry reset Jan 24, 2024

Michigan has three straight wins over Ohio State. The Buckeyes have momentum this offseason. What does that mean for the 2024 Ohio State-Michigan game and the rivalry as a whole?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into the North's biggest rivalry, looking at the state of the national champions and the team chasing them.
How much talent are the Wolverines and Buckeyes losing from 2023?
What do their schedules look like in 2024, and could we see a third straight 11-0 vs. 11-0 showdown?
How much is Michigan's success tied to Jim Harbaugh, or could the Wolverines keep winning without him?
Thanks for joining the discussion on Kings of the North.

Notre Dame's Riley Leonard, West Virginia's Garrett Greene, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders & 26 best QBs Jan 23, 2024

From Ohio State transfer Will Howard to quarterback uncertainty at Michigan and Washington, from Kyle McCord's move to Syracuse to Cade McNamara's return from injury at Iowa, plenty of Northern college football quarterback situations are new for the 2024 season, and Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are here to rate them all on Kings of the North.
Doug and Bill rank their 26 Northern teams by their quarterbacks, from returning starters like Shedeur Sanders at Colorado, Garrett Greene at West Virginia and Rocco Becht at Iowa State to new starters like Dillon Gabriel at Oregon, MJ Morris at Maryland and Brendan Sorsby at Cincinnati.
What leaps might Drew Allar at Penn State, Aidan Chiles at Michigan State and Thomas Castellanos at Boston College be ready to make?
Is there room for growth from veterans like Purdue's Hudson Card, Illinois' Luke Altmyer and Wisconsin's Tyler Van Dyke? And what should we expect from Nebraska true freshman Dylan Raiola in 2024?
You won't find Northern QB rankings like these anywhere else, so thanks for diving in on Kings of the North.
00:00 - Intro and the North taking Alabama's talent
13:08 - Northern QB rankings 26 - 11
1:10:52 - Northern QB rankings 10 - 1

Notre Dame, Oregon, Ohio State and 2024 college football playoff picks Jan 18, 2024

The 12-team playoff is here, and Northern college football teams like Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame and going to be all over it ... and Washington, West Virginia, Nebraska, Wisconsin and others should make pushes some years as well.
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are ready for an exercise they'll undertake multiple times between now and the start of the college football season.
It's time to pick a 12-team bracket.
The guys pick their 12 playoff teams, and the North is well represented. To start the show they also talk about the coaching moves both leaving and joining Washington, and what it means that Alabama football is copying old Indiana football.
00:00 - Intro and coaching moves for Washington and Alabama
21:01 - 12-team playoff projections
Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Can Ohio State 2024 follow the title plan of Michigan 2023? Jan 16, 2024

Do Northern college football teams have a new formula for winning national titles as laid out by the Michigan Wolverines this season?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are joined by old friend Ari Wasserman of The Athletic to look at the winning paths for teams like Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Nebraska and Wisconsin and what level of recruiting is required.
Topics covered:
- Has the importance of high school recruiting changed?
- Has the top of college football been flattened?
- What Northern teams can compete for titles?
- How much might the 2024 Buckeyes be like the 2023 Wolverines?
- Then the guys wrap up with Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking, focusing on baby pizzas, Fargo, Barbie, jerk culture, unread emails and weather sensationalism.
Thanks for being part of Kings of the North.
00:00 - Intro
2:55 - Changing views of recruiting
39:10 - NIL and transfer portal opening doors
56:30 - Will the North win more titles?
1:08:20 - Can 2024 Ohio State be 2023 Michigan?
1:19:55 - Whatcha watching, eating, and thinking

Kalen DeBoer, Michigan's defense, Nebraska's future and the best of Northern college football Jan 12, 2024

From Michael Penix Jr. and Blake Corum, from West Virginia to Colorado, from Marvin Harrison Jr. to Cooper DeJean, the best Northern college football teams, games and players are honored on this season wrap-up show on Kings of the North.
But first, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into the diabolical scheduling genius of Nick Saban, and the games vs. Northern teams that Alabama is scheduled to play without him.
Then it's onto Northern superlatives:
- Best Offense
- Best Defense
- Program on the Rise
- Most Improved
- Biggest Disappointment
- Best Win over the South
- Best Game
- Craziest Game
- Biggest Upset
Following that is the KOTN All-North Offensive and Defensive teams, with 26 players picked.
Then it's the Coach of the North and the King of the North (best player), with a look at who might have been Kings of the North over the last 50 years.
Thanks for joining the show.
00:00 - Intro and Nick Saban scheduling genius
18:21 - Northern superlative awards
52:19 - All-North Offensive team
1:00:22 - All-North Defensive team
1:10:17 - Coach of the North
1:30:20 - King of the North

Nick Saban retires from Alabama, and the South takes a hit Jan 10, 2024

Alabama coach Nick Saban announced his retirement on Wednesday, and Doug Lesmerises jumped in with instant reaction about this Son of the North leaving a hole in the college football landscape.

How much will Alabama fall off?
How much does this close the gap for all Northern teams?
Who's the next King of the South, and who's the next Alabama coach?
Doug's Saban stories about recruiting and visiting the North

Thanks for joining this bonus edition of Kings of the North.

Michigan beats Washington for College Football National Championship: Postgame Reaction Jan 09, 2024

The Michigan Wolverines beat the Washington Huskies 34-13 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, finishing off a 15-0 season that is almost certainly the greatest season in 144 years of Michigan football.
On this postgame show on Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis break down everything from a Northern football perspective:

The North winning just its third national title in the last 25 years
Michigan's offensive execution and plan of offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore
Michigan's defense keeping Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. off-balance
The history of Northern champs and what this says to other teams in the North
Michigan's roster building and excellent depth
Washington's successful season and what's next for the Huskies
The legacy and future of Jim Harbaugh, and how this season will be viewed inside and outside of Michigan after sign-stealing suspensions in a championship season

Thanks for joining Kings of the North, and we'll see you as the Northern football discussion continues into the offseason.

Michigan-Washington National Championship Preview: Picks for Wolverines vs. Huskies Jan 05, 2024

Who will win the Northern College Football National Championship showdown between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington on Monday night?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis make their picks for the title game in Houston.
But first, Doug runs through the matchups on all sides of the ball:
02:15 - Michigan and Washington ratings comparison
05:40 - Washington passing vs. Michigan pass defense
19:10 - Washington rushing vs. Michigan rush defense
28:40 - Michigan passing vs. Washington pass defense
33:52 - Michigan rushing vs. Washington rush defense
42:30 - Jim Harbaugh vs. Kalen DeBoer, plus special teams
Doug has three special areas of the game that he thinks could flip a close matchup. But when it comes to the full 60 minutes, there are two sides of the ball that will decide things.
Join the Kings of the North for this Northern breakdown!

Michigan-Washington National Championship Preview: How Wolverines, Huskies built their rosters Jan 03, 2024

Michigan and Washington will meet in the National Championship in Houston on Jan. 8. How did the Wolverines and Huskies build teams to get there?
On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dig into the roster building of Michigan and Washington and investigate how sustainable it is and how possible it is for other Northern programs.
They do that by focusing on 4 areas:
- High school recruiting ratings
- Experience
- Recruiting geography
- Using the transfer portal
1:04:30 - Then the guys draft the 10 most important people for the national title game, picking from Washington and Michigan players and coaches.
Thanks for joining the Kings of the North, and come back Friday for a full matchup breakdown and title game picks from Doug and Bill.

Washington beats Texas 37-31: Sugar Bowl postgame reaction Jan 02, 2024

Washington beat Texas in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Sugar Bowl, but the Huskies almost lost their lead and had to hold on in the final seconds ... as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talked and followed along for a game they thought was over.
Washington's aggression won out in the end, as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. put up over 400 passing yards in a brilliant performance. Both Bill and Doug predicted that would happen, and they talked about how the Huskies stayed undefeated, setting up a Northern showdown.
Washington vs. Michigan in the National Championship Game -- KOTN will preview that matchup multiple times in the week ahead.
For a discussion of the Wolverines, check out the Rose Bowl postgame show.
And listen here for how the Huskies stayed undefeated and on track for a title by besting the Longhorns.

Michigan beats Alabama 27-20: Rose Bowl postgame reaction Jan 01, 2024

Michigan beat Alabama in overtime in the Rose Bowl, and Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are here with instant reaction minutes after the huge win for the Wolverines.
Michigan showed there was nothing Alabama did that it couldn't match, and the Wolverines will now take their shot at a national title. A great defensive effort and clutch late drives from the offense pushed Jim Harbaugh and his team to its first playoff win.
Tell the world that Northern football can handle anything Southern football brings, and Doug and Bill get that point across on this postgame show after this College Football Playoff semifinal.

How Washington can beat Texas in the Sugar Bowl Dec 29, 2023

No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas meet in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Sugar Bowl, and for some reason, the Longhorns are favored.
Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis find that curious on this Kings of the North, while anticipating that the Huskies passing attack led by Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan will have its way against Texas.
Can the Longhorns and quarterback Quinn Ewers keep up if it's a high-scoring game? Why is the perception of this game leaning toward the Longhorns then? The show starts there before getting into:
Washington pass game vs. Texas pass defense
Washington run game vs. Texas run defense
Texas pass game vs. Washington run defense
Texas run game vs. Washington run defense
Washington coach Kalen DeBoer vs. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian
Will the underdog Huskies stay undefeated? Doug and Bill make their picks for the Sugar Bowl to wrap up this Kings of the North.
00:00 - Intro and why is Texas the favorite
17:50 - Washington offense vs Texas Defense
40:11 - Texas passing offense vs Washington Defense
51:08 - Texas rushing offense vs Washington Defense, Sugar Bowl picks
Find the Kings of the North Podcast on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VmFlOr...
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

How Michigan can beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl Dec 28, 2023

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Rose Bowl is a tossup -- the Wolverines are favored by 1.5 points.
As Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into a preview on Kings of the North, the game should come down to one player -- Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
The full breakdown hits every aspect of the game, though:
Alabama pass game vs. Michigan pass defense
Alabama run game vs. Michigan run defense
Michigan pass game vs. Alabama run defense
Michigan run game vs. Alabama run defense
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh vs. Alabama coach Nick Saban
What could prevent Michigan from winning this game and allowing the Wolverines to chase their first national title since 1997?
Find out on Kings of the North, as Doug and Bill wrap up by making their picks for the Rose Bowl.
00:00 - Intro
5:30 - Alabama Offense vs Michigan Defense
36:05 - Michigan Offense vs Alabama Defense
1:01:18 - Nick Saban vs Jim Harbaugh, Rose Bowl Picks
Find the Kings of the North Podcast on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VmFlOrpiOx9WtHy6TzVgl?si=a6dd114c523345ae
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kings-of-the-north/id1722674802

Dylan Raiola Nebraska impact; Oregon rising recruiting power; QB updates at Notre Dame, Michigan State Dec 22, 2023

From Dylan Raiola at Nebraska to Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore at Oregon to Aidan Chiles at Michigan State, multiple Northern college football teams made major quarterback moves in the last few weeks. On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis draft the 10 biggest QB improvements in the North, adding in schools like Notre Dame, Syracuse, Indiana, Washington and Ohio State as well. Then it's on to the biggest impact recruiting classes in the North, including Oregon and Nebraska, and the move by Penn State to hire former Indiana head coach Tom Allen.
Sorry for the long break and thanks for joining Kings of the North.

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