Kings of the North College Football

Latest Episodes:

The 25 Year Winter Episode 5: The North Returns Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Everything that held the North back on a national level – coaches, the geography of talent, and attitudes about how college football should be treated – seems to have leveled out. When Ohio State faced Notre Dame in Atlanta at the end of the 2024 season, it was a coronation for the North, one paved by the destruction of several of the South's biggest brands. In Episode 5 of The 25 Year Winter, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss what the future holds for the sport, what trends have helped push the North back to the top, and whether balance has, at long last, returned to college football for good.

Thanks for joining us.

Producer: Michael Henahan.

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The 25 Year Winter Episode 4: The cheating episode Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

It's finally here, the episode of The 25 Year Winter where we get into the South's (sometimes alleged, sometimes well-documented) rule-breaking as it took over college football.

But it's not just that. In Episode 4 of our five-part series, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are dissecting attitudes: what fueled the South as it so cavalierly pushed the envelope and how the North counted money, touted education, bathed itself in hypocrisy and rarely sought ways to get an edge on the football field.

Thanks for joining us.

Producer: Michael Henahan

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Heisman Draft from Jeremiah Smith to Arch Manning to Jeremiyah Love | Young QBs vs. Veteran QBs Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

It's a draft of Heisman Trophy contenders on Kings of the North, as Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis are joined by Ari Wasserman and Andy Staples of On3 to pick 12 Heisman contenders. Each of the four drafters picks two favorites, one medium long shot and one big long shot, while discussing the most important players and teams heading into the 2025 college football season. Before that, Doug and Bill dissect veteran quarterbacks vs. young quarterbacks this season, how that might affect this year and how it compares to seasons of the past. Lastly, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. But it's not just Doug and Bill chiming in. They asked a bevy of coaches and players at Big Ten Media Days what they've been watching and eating, and you'll get those answers as well. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

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The 25 Year Winter Episode 3: North leaks talent, South reaps advantages as SEC asserts dominance Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

As the SEC took control of college football, demographic shifts helped fuel that dominance by ensuring the region was flush with a large percentage of the country's best high school football prospects. To compound the issue, the North started leaking too much of its best talent.

What did it amount to? Sustained success for the South.

In Episode 3 of The 25 Year Winter, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis examine how recruiting realities combined with more Northern shortcomings contributed to the South's reign over college football from 1998-2022. The South had the better prospects, and was more aggressive in how it built rosters.This is the players episode.

Thanks for joining us.

Producer: Michael Henahan.

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Why Nebraska, USC, Michigan make Big Ten deeper than ever | 8-way battle for playoff contention Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

How deep is the Big Ten this season? Maybe deeper than it has ever been? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into what they think will be an 8-way battle in the middle of the conference behind expected Big Ten leaders Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon. What will separate the next eight teams? Who has the easiest schedule? The toughest? And how does the middle of the Big Ten compare to the middle of the SEC -- and how will it be perceived? Plus breakdowns on Iowa, Purdue and Michigan State and a visit from Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

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The 25 Year Winter Episode 2: Nick Saban, Urban Meyer leave the North and ignite Southern dominance Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

One of the edges for the South over the North in their dominant era of college football? Coaching.

Nick Saban and Urban Meyer drove a new era of SEC excellence -- as natives of the North who spent much of their careers coaching in cold weather before turning around Alabama and Florida. How did the Big Ten let these Northern sons get away?

Lacking superstar coaching power, the North also fell short in ingenuity. That happened despite a revolution starting in the middle of Iowa -- before spreading through the rest of the country.

And then there was the money that wooed a Wisconsin winner like Bret Bielema -- a true Northerner headed South -- and he was just one example.

It's the coaching episode of The 25 Year Winter. Thanks for joining us.

Producer: Michael Henahan

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The Michigan mystery of 2025: Bryce Underwood, NCAA questions and rivalry dominance Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis wrap up Kings of the North's coverage from Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas with a discussion about Michigan. How should we be thinking about the Wolverines in 2025? What impact will Bryce Underwood have? That and more from our final show from Las Vegas. Thanks for watching.

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An angry Oregon title run | Big Ten dark horses Washington & Minnesota | Day 2 from Las Vegas Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Oregon won the Big Ten last season, went undefeated through the regular season -- and then the Ducks saw their season end in their first College Football Playoff game against Ohio State. Yeah, the Ducks are angry about that. On this Kings of the North from Las Vegas, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis talk with three Oregon players and dive into how their views of Oregon may have changed, as the angry Ducks prepare for 2025. Then it's a debate over the more interesting Big Ten dark horse -- Washington or Minnesota. That includes interviews with Demond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman, Drake Lindsey, Koi Perich and P.J. Fleck. Then it's talk about Wisconsin and Northwestern, including a chat with Wildcats coach David Braun and players Preston Stone and Anto Saka. Thanks for joining Kings of the North for this episode from Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas.

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Will Penn State live up to 2025 expectations? | Big Ten Media Days reaction Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Penn State is the preseason favorite in the Big Ten, according to KOTN poll. Will the Nittany Lions live up to the expectations? How are they handling them? Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis check in from Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas to discuss.

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Ohio State's test | Curt Cignetti vs. SEC | Illinois-Indiana showdown | Inside Big Ten Media Days Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers kicked off the first day of Big Ten Media Days, and Kings of the North was there in Las Vegas to dive into all of them. Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all six teams, while interviewing Ryan Day, Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Luke Altmyer and Athan Kaliakmanis among others. Indiana-Illinois as a huge swing game for the season. Matt Rhule standing up for the Cornhuskers. Curt Cignetti taking on the SEC. The future of big-time nonconference games. And more. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

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