College football is BACK — and so are Seth and James for Season 7 of yapping about it.
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 we make our 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: why the vibes around SMU have Seth buying the Mustangs, North Dakota State’s first game at the FBS level, James’ complicated relationship with Dan Mullen and an unapologetically biased William & Mary pick.
Seven seasons of PWO in, the best part remains the same: Saturdays are back.
Chapters
00:00 College Football Is Back + James Returns
01:27 Seven Seasons of the Show
04:22 2026 Sleeper Teams
05:19 Syracuse & Iowa
07:01 Kansas, Kansas State & Missouri
08:49 Why Mizzou Could Make Noise
10:06 Buying Syracuse & SMU
12:01 Houston: Big 12 Sleeper?
13:35 BYU-Houston for the Big 12 Title?
15:20 Navy to the College Football Playoff?
18:08 Week 0 Picks Begin
19:30 William & Mary vs. Villanova
23:25 TCU vs. North Carolina
26:45 San Jose State vs. USC
28:10 NC State vs. Virginia
32:00 Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State
34:15 Monmouth vs. Tennessee Tech
35:25 Eastern Kentucky vs. Western Carolina
37:01 Stephen F. Austin vs. McNeese
38:44 Hawaii vs. Stanford
40:40 Memphis vs. UNLV
44:10 Week Zero Needs a Better Name
45:03 What We're Most Excited About This Season
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.
