Episode Details

College football is back — and so is James, back alongside Seth as The Preferred Walk-On Show kicks off its seventh season.

Before the first full Saturday of the season, we’re putting some early 2026 takes on tape: the teams nobody is talking about enough, potential conference disruptors, a Group of Six playoff sleeper and our picks for 10 of the most interesting games on the Week 0 slate.

Could Syracuse make noise in the ACC with a healthy Steve Angeli? Is Houston a legitimate Big 12 title contender under Willie Fritz? How dangerous could Missouri be with Austin Simmons? And could Navy actually find its way into the College Football Playoff?

Then, Week 0 picks, including:

🏈 William & Mary vs. Villanova
🏈 TCU vs. North Carolina in Dublin
🏈 San Jose State vs. USC
🏈 NC State vs. Virginia
🏈 Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State
🏈 Monmouth vs. Tennessee Tech
🏈 Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina
🏈 Stephen F. Austin vs. McNeese
🏈 Hawaii vs. Stanford
🏈 Memphis vs. UNLV

Plus: the Fran Brown factor at Syracuse, why Seth came away impressed with SMU at ACC Media Days, Willie Fritz’s rebuild at Houston, the FargoDome advantage, a little William & Mary homerism and why “Week Zero” deserves a much better name.

College football Saturdays are back.

And as Buck Showalter once said: the good old days are right now.

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Preferred Walk-On Show for in-depth interviews with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping college football. New episodes every week.

The Preferred Walk-On is the people's college football show. Hosted by Seth Saunders, with James Kehm joining as featured co-host, the show covers college football's full Division I landscape: every Power Four conference, every Group of Six matchup, and every corner of the FCS. Walk-On grit. All-American tape.

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Inquiries: seth@preferredwalkonshow.com

Walk-On grit. All-American film.