Preferred Walk-Ons

The opening week of the college football season was a mixed bag for ACC supporters. Statement wins by Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Miami were offset by losses from Virginia Tech, Clemson, and North Carolina. We discussed whether our perceptions have changed about the state of the conference race and looked ahead to Week 2. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Our long national nightmare is over. Starting on Thursday night, we will have five consecutive days to binge college football. We celebrated the return of the season by discussing the biggest matchups of Week 1 and breaking down every Atlantic Coast Conference game this weekend. In this episode, we: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

With college football finally back on the schedule this week, we wanted to talk to one of the best special teams weapons the ACC has ever seen. All-American kick returner and wideout Joe Reed stopped by to talk about his college and professional career, the importance of special teams, and experiences with ACC fan bases. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

On this week's episode, we spoke with Ryan Nanni, one of the most prolific and insightful college football podcasters in the business. His newest podcast collaboration, Phantom Island, explores difficult and intriguing questions across the sports landscape. Topics for our discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! You can subscribe to Ryan's Phantom Island podcast by going to PhantomIsland.show. You can also follow him on Bluesky (@celebrityhottub.bsky.social‬) or Twitter (@celebrityhottub).

Change is constant in the world of college sports. Between neverending conference realignment and athlete movement in the transfer portal, it can be difficult for fans to keep track of their favorite college sports teams. As we countdown the final weeks in the lead-up to the season, we wanted to educate ACC fans on the changes they may have missed this offseason. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

The ACC Football Kickoff is currently taking place in Charlotte. We listened through hours of coach speak and platitudes to discuss the most important takeaways for the conference and college sports. In this episode, we discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Are college athletes employees? Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports calls this the existential question now facing college sports. We spoke with Amanda about the challenges the NCAA must now address in the wake of the House settlement and what it means for fans of college sports. In this episode, we discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Be sure to follow Amanda Christovich on X (@achristovichh) as well as Instagram and TikTok (@by_achristovich).

After one of the most tumultuous years in Virginia sports history, there are a lot of new faces around Charlottesville. We brought on Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to analyze the state of the UVA athletic department and what to expect with the upcoming football and basketball seasons. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

The long-awaited approval of the House settlement was issued on June 6th and has already shifted the landscape of college sports. Has this agreement created a clear path forward or unearthed even more questions and lawsuits? In this episode, we discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

We commemorated the 100th episode of the podcast by doing two of our favorite things: celebrating the success of the ACC and talking about college football betting. In this episode, we discuss the College World Series and preview ACC football teams that are under- and overrated by Vegas prognosticators. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

The ACC faces economic headwinds in trying to keep up with other major conferences. Now, commissions of the SEC and Big 10 are attempting to stack the College Football Playoff deck in their favor. What can the ACC do to fight for survival while still advocating for the good of the game? In this episode, we discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Everyday brings new surprises for college sports fans in the era of the transfer portal. No one is more connected to college basketball recruiting than On3's Joe Tipton. We discussed how he has become one of the most influential reporters in the sport and the behind the scenes stories that have defined the offseason. In this episode, we: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Be sure to follow Joe Tipton on Twitter (@TiptonEdits) and read his ongoing reporting with On3.

Virginia's football and basketball programs have experienced significant roster turnover this offseason. What should Cavaliers' fans expect in pivotal years for both teams? TheSabre.com contributor and Hoos On Podcast host Preston Willett joins the show to discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Follow Preston Willett on Twitter and subscribe to the Hoos On Podcast.

After a season in which only four ACC teams made the NCAA Tournament, programs appear to be investing significant money in the transfer portal to be competitive in 2026. In this episode, we discuss how the conference is responding to the ever-changing college sports landscape and how the ambiguity about eligibility rules is shaping the offseason. Topics for discussion include:

This is our 2025 NFL Draft preview episode! Which college players are poised for superstardom on Sundays and which will leave fans disappointed? In this episode, we discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

March Madness is over and it has ended in glory for the Florida Gators and Connecticut Huskies. Before transitioning to an offseason of transfer portal mayhem, we analyzed how these champions survived and advanced through the tournament and the legacies they leave behind. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).

There are sixteen teams still playing in the NCAA Tournament and only one of them represents the ACC. However, a new class of coaches bring promise to one of college basketball's premier conferences. We sat down with Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to discuss Virginia's new head coach and whether the ACC can bounce back from a disappointing season. In this episode, we discuss: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).

After four long months, the NCAA Tournament is finally here! We've got you covered with everything you need to know to confidently lose your pool. In this episode, we discuss:

Our coverage of the ACC Tournament continues from Charlotte after two thrilling semifinal games. Both Duke and Louisville managed to survive after nearly giving away big leads, while North Carolina is left reeling on the bubble after a brutal lane violation. In this episode, we offer our quick reactions to both games, discuss UNC's chances of making the NCAA Tournament, and look ahead to the ACC Championship. You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).

The Michaels are reporting live from the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. There have been two days of compelling basketball games and the sudden firing of UVA head coach Ron Sanchez. In this episode, we provide a behind-the-scenes look at everything that has taken place in the Queen City. Topics for discussion include: You can always email the show at preferredwalkons@yahoo.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod).