Fired Up!

Championship season is heating up! This week, the crew previews two title fights at UFC 333, breaks down a historic World Series matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, discusses a massive expansion of the College Football Playoff, and dives into another exciting week of college football with our Week 7 recap and Week 8 predictions.

UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev

The UFC heads to Abu Dhabi for a loaded card featuring two championship fights. We preview Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight title defense against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev, along with the bantamweight championship showdown between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. We discuss the biggest storylines, key matchups, and what each fighter needs to do to come out victorious before making our predictions.

World Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The stage is officially set for the 2026 World Series, and history will be made! The Milwaukee Brewers return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1982 after sweeping the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, while the Tampa Bay Rays punched their ticket by defeating the Cleveland Guardians in six games. With neither franchise having ever won a World Series championship, one team is guaranteed to make history. We break down both teams' paths to the championship, the biggest storylines and players to watch, and which club we believe will ultimately bring home its first World Series title.

College Football Playoff Expansion to 24 Teams

College football is headed for another major postseason shakeup. With discussions progressing toward expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams beginning in 2027, we examine the proposed format, what it could mean for conference championships and the regular season, and whether doubling the playoff field would actually improve college football.

College Football Week 7 Games of the Week Recap

We revisit our five Week 7 matchups, Ohio State vs. Indiana, Alabama vs. Tennessee, Missouri vs. Ole Miss, Oklahoma State vs. Houston, and Notre Dame vs. BYU. With several major results shaking up the national picture, we discuss the biggest performances, surprising outcomes, and what each game means moving forward before reviewing how our predictions held up.

College Football Week 8 Games of the Week

Another exciting college football weekend awaits! We preview Indiana vs. Michigan, Western Michigan vs. Toledo, Ole Miss vs. Texas, North Dakota State vs. New Mexico, and Houston vs. Utah. From major conference battles and ranked showdowns to intriguing matchups outside the traditional powerhouses, we break down the storylines, key players, and matchups to watch before making our predictions for all five games.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

October sports are heating up! This week, the crew dives into the MLB Championship Series, evaluates the biggest storylines from the opening stretch of the NFL season, remembers a legendary figure in football history, and breaks down another exciting week of college football action.

MLB Playoffs

The road to the World Series is down to four teams! We break down the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays, along with the National League showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. We discuss the biggest postseason performances, key matchups, and which teams have the best chance to punch their tickets to the Fall Classic.

NFL First-Quarter Check-In

With the NFL season well underway, it's time to evaluate what we've seen so far. We discuss our early MVP favorites, revisit our Super Bowl championship predictions, identify the teams that have exceeded expectations, and highlight the biggest disappointments through the opening stretch of the 2026 season. Which early trends are here to stay, and which teams still have time to turn things around?

Remembering Mike Ditka

We pay tribute to Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, who passed away at the age of 86. From his playing career as a pioneering NFL tight end to leading the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl Championship, we reflect on Ditka's accomplishments, larger-than-life personality, and lasting impact on the game of football.

College Football Week 6 Games of the Week Recap

We revisit our five Week 6 matchups, Indiana vs. Nebraska, Texas vs. Oklahoma, UCLA vs. Oregon, Georgia vs. Alabama, and Boise State vs. Fresno State. We discuss the biggest performances, surprising results, and what each game means moving forward before reviewing how our predictions held up.

College Football Week 7 Games of the Week

Another loaded college football weekend is ahead! We preview Ohio State vs. Indiana, Alabama vs. Tennessee, Missouri vs. Ole Miss, Oklahoma State vs. Houston, and Notre Dame vs. BYU. With several major conference matchups and potential College Football Playoff implications, we break down the biggest storylines, key matchups, and players to watch before making our predictions for all five games.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews and show announcements.

 

Fired Up! is back with October baseball in full swing, a major NFL trade between Pittsburgh and Dallas, a $200 million commitment in Detroit, and another packed college football slate as we recap Week 5 and look ahead to Week 6.

MLB Playoffs

The Wild Card round is behind us, and the Division Series are underway. We check in on the postseason picture, discuss the biggest performances and surprises from the opening round, and break down the matchups between the White Sox and Guardians, Yankees and Rays, Braves and Dodgers, and Padres and Brewers as the race for the World Series continues.

Joey Porter Jr. Traded to Dallas

The Cowboys have made a major addition to their secondary, acquiring Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. We react to Pittsburgh moving on from the former second-round pick, discuss what Porter brings to Dallas, and debate whether the Cowboys paid the right price for a potential long-term CB1.

Jalen Duren's New Deal

Detroit is betting big on its All-Star center. The Pistons and Jalen Duren have agreed to a five-year, $200 million extension, ending a lengthy contract negotiation and keeping a major piece of Detroit's young core in place. We discuss whether Duren has earned the deal, what it means for the Pistons' future, and just how high his ceiling can be.

College Football Week 5 Games of the Week Recap

We revisit Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech, Alabama-Mississippi State, Ohio State-Iowa, Florida-Missouri, and BYU-TCU after another eventful Saturday. Missouri's dominant win over Florida shook up the rankings, Alabama made a statement on the road, Ohio State handled a ranked Iowa team, BYU stayed unbeaten, and Pitt survived a wild finish at Virginia Tech.

College Football Week 6 Games of the Week

Then we turn to a loaded Week featuring #7 Indiana at Nebraska, #1 Texas vs. Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, #21 UCLA at #13 Oregon, #2 Georgia at #6 Alabama, and #23 Boise State at Fresno State. We break down the biggest storylines and matchups before making our picks for all five games.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

Fired Up! returns with a historic Sunday comeback at the Presidents Cup, the beginning of October baseball, another massive commitment to Stephen Curry in Golden State, and plenty of college football as we recap Week 4 and preview our Week 5 Games of the Week.

Presidents Cup Recap

We look back at a wild finish from Medinah, where the U.S. Team entered Sunday trailing the International Team 10.5-7.5 before dominating Singles play and rallying for a 17-13 victory. We discuss how the American flipped the competition, the biggest performances from the final day, and another heartbreaking Presidents Cup finish for the International Team.

MLB Playoffs Begin

October baseball is here, even if it technically starts in September. We break down the playoff field, the biggest first-round storylines, the teams with the most pressure on them, and who we think is best positioned to make a deep run toward the World Series.

Stephen Curry's New Extension

Stephen Curry and the Warriors are staying together. Golden State has agreed to a reported two-year, $116 million extension with Curry that keeps him under contract through the 2028-29 season. We discuss the significance of Curry potentially spending 20 seasons with one franchise, what the deal means for the Warriors' remaining championship window, and how much longer the 38-year-old can continue playing at an elite level.

College Football Week 4 Games of the Week

We revisit our five Week 4 picks after Texas survived Tennessee, Georgia handled Oklahoma, Iowa edged Michigan, LSU dominated Texas A&M, and Oregon beat USC. We break down what surprised us, what we learned, and how those results change the way we view each team moving deeper into conference play.

College Football Week 5 Games of the Week

Then we turn our attention to another strong slate featuring Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech, #7 Alabama at #16 Mississippi State, #5 Ohio State at #14 Iowa, #8 Florida at #25 Missouri, and #10 BYU at TCU. We break down the biggest matchups and storylines before making our picks for all five games.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

Fired Up! returns with the end of an NHL veteran's career, a major commitment to Green Bay's offense, international golf at the Presidents Cup, and another packed week of college football as we recap Week 3 and preview Week 4.

Ryan Reaves Announces His Retirement

After 16 NHL seasons and 962 regular-season games, Ryan Reaves is hanging up his skates. We look back at the veteran enforcer's career, his impact on the teams he played for, and the memorable moments that made him one of hockey's most recognizable personalities.

Tucker Kraft's New Extension

The Green Bay Packers have locked up tight end Tucker Kraft with a reported four-year, $75 million extension. We break down the deal, discuss what Kraft brings to the Packers' offense, and examine what the investment means for Green Bay moving forward.

2026 Presidents Cup Preview

Team USA and the International Team square off at Medinah Country Club in Illinois from September 24th to the 27th. We examine the two rosters, discuss the key players and potential matchups, and make our predictions for who will lift the Presidents Cup.

College Football Week 3 Games of the Week Recap

We revisit our five Games of the Week: Houston vs. Texas Tech, SMU vs. Louisville, Florida vs. Auburn, West Virginia vs. Virginia, and LSU vs. Ole Miss. We break down the biggest results, standout performances, and surprises before seeing how our predictions held up.

College Football Week 4 Games of the Week

The crew turns its attention to five more matchups: Texas vs. Tennessee, Oklahoma vs. Georgia, Iowa vs. Michigan, Texas A&M vs. LSU, and Oregon vs. USC. We examine the biggest storylines, discuss what is at stake for each team, and make our predictions for another exciting weekend of college football.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

Fired Up! returns with a tribute to one of hockey's most recognizable personalities, a championship fight at UFC 331, a massive commitment to Tampa Bay's franchise quarterback, and plenty of college football as we look back at Week 2 and get ready for Week 3.

Remembering Barry Melrose

We remember longtime NHL player, coach, and ESPN analyst Barry Melrose, who passed away at 70. From leading Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in American hockey coverage, we reflect on Melrose's career, personality, and impact on generations of hockey fans.

UFC 331

We preview UFC 331 from Los Angeles, headlined by Joshua Van defending the UFC flyweight championship against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch. We also break down the pivotal lightweight co-main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy, along with the other fights and storylines we'll be watching on the card.

Baker Mayfield's New Extension

Tampa Bay has made its commitment to Baker Mayfield crystal clear. We react to the Buccaneers giving Mayfield a three-year, $165 million extension through 2029, worth an average of $55 million per season and making him the highest-paid player in franchise history.

College Football Week 2 Games of the Week Recap

We revisit our five Games of the Week from Week 2, Missouri-Kansas, Oklahoma-Michigan, Arizona-BYU, Ohio State-Texas, and Iowa State-Iowa, to see how our predictions held up, discuss the biggest performances and surprises, and figure out what we learned about each team moving forward.

College Football Week 3 Games of the Week

Then we turn the page to another strong slate. We preview Houston at Texas Tech, SMU at Louisville, Florida at Auburn, West Virginia at Virginia, and LSU at Ole Miss, breaking down the biggest matchups and storylines before making our picks for all five games.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

September is here, and the sports calendar is getting crowded. This week, we react to the richest contract in NHL history, check in on baseball's race to October, discuss the return of one of the NFL's all-time great defenders, and go all-in on college football with our Week 1 reactions and Week 2 Games of the Week.

Cale Makar's Record-Setting Extension

Cale Makar isn't going anywhere. The Colorado Avalanche have signed their superstar defenseman to an eight-year, $163.2 million extension worth $20.4 million per season, the richest contract in NHL history. We discuss whether anyone is more deserving of that kind of investment, what the deal means for Colorado's championship window, and where Makar already ranks among the great defenseman of his generation.

MLB Playoff Race

With September underway, every game starts to a matter a little more. We check in on the division races and crowded Wild Card picture, identify the teams that appear built for October, and discuss which contenders have the most pressure on them during the final month of the regular season.

Aaron Donald Comes Out of Retirement

Aaron Donald is back. After stepping away following the 2023 season, the future Hall of Famer is returning to the Los Angeles Rams for another run. We discuss what Donald could realistically have left at 35 years old, how his return changes an already loaded Rams defense featuring Myles Garrett, and whether Los Angeles should now be viewed as the team to beat in the NFC.

College Football Week 1 Games of the Week Recap

We revisit our five opening-weekend Games of the Week, (Baylor vs. Auburn, Clemson vs. LSU, Louisville vs. Ole Miss, Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame, and SMU vs. Florida State), to see what we got right, what we got completely wrong, and what each result tells us about these teams moving forward.

College Football Week 2 Games of the Week

Then it's time to do it all over again. We preview and predict five of the biggest games on the Week 2 schedule: the renewed Missouri-Kansas Border War, Oklahoma at Michigan, Arizona at BYU, Ohio State at Texas, and Iowa State at Iowa. We break down the biggest storylines and matchups before making our picks for each game.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

Football season has arrived, but first we wrap up the PGA Tour year, react to another big NBA move, and say goodbye to one of the NFL's most respected running backs.

TOUR Championship Recap

We look back at the season-ending TOUR Championship from East Lake Golf Club and the crowning of the 2026 FedEx Cup champion. We break down the biggest moments from the final weekend, who delivered when the pressure was highest, and our biggest takeaways from the conclusion of the PGA Tour season. 

Klay Thompson Heads to Miami

Klay Thompson is taking his championship experience to South Beach after agreeing to join the Miami Heat following his stint with Dallas. We discuss what the 36-year-old still has left, how his shooting fits Miami's roster, and whether a change of scenery can help Thompson make another meaningful postseason run.

Nick Chubb Retires

One of the most beloved running backs of his generation is calling it a career. We reflect on Nick Chubb's eight NFL seasons, including seven memorable years in Cleveland before spending his final season with Houston. We discuss the devasting injury he battled back from, his place in Browns history, and the legacy he leaves behind after finishing with 7,349 career rushing yards and four Pro Bowl selections.

Deshaun Watson Named Cleveland's Week 1 Starter

The Browns' quarterback competition is officially over. Head coach Todd Monken has named Deshaun Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders for Cleveland's Week 1 matchup against Jacksonville. We react to the decision, discus what Watson showed to win the job, what it means for Sanders, and just how much pressure will be on Watson when the regular season begins.

College Football Week 1 Games of the Week

College football is back, and we preview five of the biggest games from opening weekend: Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta, Clemson vs. #11 LSU, #24 Louisville vs. #9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Wisconsin vs. #4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, and #19 SMU vs. Florida State. We break down the biggest storylines and matchups before making our picks for each game.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements. 

The FedEx Cup reaches its finish line, college football is officially back on the radar, Cleveland makes another major NBA move, and our NFL division-preview series heads out West.

BMW Championship Recap

We look back at the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs from Bellerive Country Club, breaking down the biggest performances, defining moments, and the players who did enough to earn one of just 30 spots in the season-ending TOUR Championship.

TOUR Championship Preview

The PGA TOUR season comes down to one final event at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. We preview the 30-player field, discuss the biggest championship storylines and players to watch, and make our picks for who will close the season by capturing the FedEx Cup.

Peyton Watson Traded to Cleveland

We react to the Cavaliers acquiring Peyton Watson from Denver in a sign-and-trade and committing to the 23-year-old wing on a four-year, $88 million deal. We discuss how Watson fits alongside Cleveland's current core, what the Cavaliers are trying to build, and whether the price was worth it after his breakout season with the Nuggets.

2026 College Football AP Preseason Top 25

College football season is almost here, and the first AP Top 25 gives us plenty to debate. Ohio State opens at No. 1, with Oregon at No.2, while Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas round out the top five. We discuss the teams ranked too high, teams ranked too low, our biggest surprises, and which programs have the most to prove when the games begin.

NFC West Preview

Our NFL division previews continue with the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. We break down each roster, the biggest questions entering the season, key players to watch, and our predicted order of finish in what could once again be one of football's deepest divisions.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.

Fired Up! returns with the FedEx Cup playoffs in full swing, the end of an unforgettable NBA career, NASCAR's postseason race heating up, and the final AFC installment of our NFL division-preview series.

FedEx St. Jude Championship Recap

We look back at the opening event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs from TPC Southwind, including the tournament's biggest performances, the decisive moments from the weekend, and which players survived the first postseason cut to earn a spot in the BMW Championship. 

BMW Championship Preview

The FedEx Cup Playoffs move to Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis for the BMW Championship. With only 50 players remaining and just 30 spots available for the TOUR Championship, we discuss the biggest names, bubble situations, players to watch, and our picks to win the second postseason event. 

Russell Westbrook Retires

One of the most electric players of his generation is calling it a career. We look back at Russell Westbrook's 18 NBA seasons, his 2017 MVP campaign, his record-setting 209 career triple-doubles, and the complicated but unforgettable legacy he leaves behind. Where does Westbrook rang among the greatest point guards ever, and what moments will define his Hall of Fame career?

NASCAR Cup Playoff Push at New Hampshire

With the Cup Series regular season running out of races, the pressure continues to build at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. We discuss the drivers fighting for their place in the Chase, who can afford to play it safe, and who desperately needs a result before the regular-season finale at Daytona.

AFC West Preview

Our NFL division-preview series continues with the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. We break down each team's offseason, biggest strengths and concerns, key players to watch, and the questions that could decide one of the NFL's deepest divisions before giving our predicted order of finish.

Thanks for listening to Fired Up! Follow the show on your favorite podcast platform and connect with us on social media for new episodes, video clips, previews, and show announcements.