We wrap up the week with a jam-packed Friday show ahead of a massive weekend across college football, the World Series, and the WNBA coaching carousel.

The show opens with a thrilling NBA recap — Shea Gilgeous-Alexander drops 55 in double OT to lift the Thunder, Steph Curry hits 42 in another classic, and Aaron Gordon explodes for 50 as the NBA’s opening week delivers instant drama. Larry then pivots to Thursday Night Football, where the Chargers steamrolled Minnesota 37–10, and discusses the SEC’s suspension of referee Ken Williamson following controversial calls in Georgia’s win over Auburn.

Next up, Kyle McAndrew of the Columbia Tribune joins to preview the surprising Top-15 matchup between Missouri and Vanderbilt. He breaks down the Tigers’ rise under Eli Drinkwitz, the transformation of transfer QB Bo Pribula, and the electric playmaking of Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. McAndrew explains how Missouri’s depth, recruiting success, and consistent line play have turned the program into a legitimate SEC title contender.

Then, Colton Sully stops by from Oklahoma to preview the No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Oklahoma showdown in Norman. They discuss Brent Venables’ redemption tour, John Mattei’s recovery from surgery, and how the Sooners’ elite defense plans to stop Lane Kiffin’s high-octane offense.

Producer Tony Cordero closes the show with his insider take on the weekend’s biggest SEC storylines — LSU’s must-win game against Texas A&M, Mizzou’s historic opportunity, and how officiating mechanics explain the recent rash of missed pass interference calls.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

• NBA fireworks: Shea Gilgeous-Alexander’s 55-point game, Curry’s heroics, Gordon’s 50-piece

• Chargers crush Vikings; Minnesota’s season unravels

• SEC suspends referee Ken Williamson over Georgia–Auburn officiating

• Missouri vs. Vanderbilt preview with Kyle McAndrew — historic rise and QB Bo Pribula’s impact

• Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss preview with Colton Sully — Venables’ defense vs. Kiffin’s offense

• LSU–Texas A&M primetime clash: playoff hopes and hot seats

• WNBA news: Toronto hires Sandy Brondello as first head coach, Dallas Wings target Jose Fernandez

• Inside officiating: Tony Cordero breaks down PI calls and SEC referee mechanics

• Moment of Awe: The evolving art of defense — and how football’s rulebook shapes the game

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“If you said back in September that Missouri–Vanderbilt would be must-see TV, people would’ve called the men in white coats.” — Tony Cordero
“This Missouri team is deeper, tougher, and hungrier than any I’ve covered in a decade.” — Kyle McAndrew
“Brent Venables’ defense doesn’t just stop you — it suffocates you.” — Colton Sully
“You either rush smart or you chase air — and that’s how Pavia will beat you.” — Larry Smith

Larry and opens with one of the biggest early stories in sports — Victor Wembanyama’s 40-point, 15-rebound masterpiece against rookie Cooper Flagg in Dallas. It’s a statement win for the Spurs and a “Welcome to the NBA” moment for the top pick. Larry recaps a wild night around the league, including VJ Edgecombe’s record-setting debut for Philadelphia and strong showings from Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson.

Then, Purdue play-by-play voice Rob Blackman joins the show ahead of Friday night’s exhibition clash between No. 1 Purdue and No. 9 Kentucky. He and Larry break down the Boilermakers’ rise to preseason No. 1, the leadership of Braden Smith, the resurgence of Trey Kaufman-Renn, and how Coach Matt Painter’s consistency has turned Purdue into a powerhouse.

Later, the conversation shifts to baseball as Larry and Tony react to the Giants’ stunning hire of Tennessee’s Tony Vitello — the first college coach to jump straight to an MLB managerial role. They preview the Dodgers–Blue Jays World Series, discuss the dominance of L.A.’s rotation, and debate whether Toronto can keep up.

Finally, Chris Bengel of CBS Sports joins to talk early NHL trends: Carolina’s hot start, Tampa’s slide, Vegas’ dominance, and whether Boston and Detroit are contenders or pretenders. The episode closes with Larry and Tony breaking down the NBA’s second night and a Moment of Awe recalling the Jets’ legendary “Monday Night Miracle.”

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

• Wembanyama’s 40-point statement win vs. Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks

• Rookie VJ Edgecombe makes NBA debut history with 34 points

• Purdue vs. Kentucky exhibition preview with Rob Blackman

• Matt Painter’s culture and Braden Smith’s All-American leadership

• Giants hire Tennessee’s Tony Vitello — a historic MLB move

• Dodgers–Blue Jays World Series preview: rotation breakdowns & x-factors

• Chris Bengel on NHL headlines: Carolina’s rise, Vegas’ title push, Boston’s struggles

• NBA early takeaways — Thunder, Warriors, 76ers, Knicks all making noise

• Moment of Awe: The 2000 Jets’ “Monday Night Miracle” comeback

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“Wemby just went from prodigy to problem — 40 and 15 in 29 minutes? Unreal.” — Larry Smith
“You can’t get out in transition if you don’t have the ball. Purdue’s rebounding will decide everything.” — Rob Blackman
“If the Giants think Vitello’s the guy, you pay the buyout and see if it works — but expect fireworks.” — Tony Cordaro
“Vegas looks scary again. Adding Mitch Marner might have just put them over the top.” — Chris Bengel

Its a packed midweek show as the NBA season tips off on NBC for the first time since 2002. Larry recaps an opening night full of drama — Oklahoma City’s double-overtime banner-raising thriller, Draymond Green’s big debut for Golden State, and the league’s nostalgia overload with the return of Roundball Rock.

Then, Erik Anderson of Heavy.com joins the show to break down early NBA storylines: the Thunder’s quest to repeat, Denver’s depth around Jokic, Golden State’s veteran window, and Giannis’ uncertain future in Milwaukee. They also discuss how the Pacers and Celtics can survive major injuries, what’s next for Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks debut, and which young teams — like Orlando and Utah — could be the next breakout franchises.

Later, Producer Tony Cordaro joins Larry for his much-anticipated “Contenders and Pretenders” list in the NFL. From Buffalo’s collapse and San Francisco’s injury woes to Indianapolis’ resurgence behind Daniel Jones, Tony breaks down who’s real and who’s fading fast.

The show wraps with Larry’s Moment of Awe — tracing the origins of baseball’s first players’ union in 1885, connecting it to today’s billion-dollar salaries ahead of the Dodgers–Blue Jays World Series opener.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

• NBA Opening Night: Thunder edge Rockets in double OT; Warriors top Lakers

• The $77 billion NBA media deal and NBC’s Peacock strategy

• Erik Anderson on the Thunder’s dynasty potential and Denver’s offseason moves

• Golden State’s aging core and Steve Kerr’s veteran management

• Giannis’ future and trade rumors swirling in Milwaukee

• How injuries reshape the East: Halliburton out for Indiana, Tatum sidelined in Boston

• Early Rookie Watch: Cooper Flagg’s Dallas debut

• Tony’s NFL “Contenders & Pretenders” — Buffalo, San Francisco, and more

• Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series preview

• Moment of Awe: The birth of baseball’s first players’ union

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“NBC’s playing Roundball Rock so much, I’m hearing it when I flush the toilet.” — Larry Smith
“The Thunder are so young, so deep — it’s scary how much better they can still get.” — Erik Anderson
“Buffalo’s defense is a train wreck. The safeties might be the worst duo in the league.” — Tony Cordaro
“If the Colts keep that offensive line together, this is no mirage — they’re for real.” — Tony Cordaro

Larry opens with the big story of the week — the World Series is set: Toronto vs. Los Angeles. Larry shares a classic behind-the-scenes tale from his World Series reporting days before welcoming returning guest Andrew Monaco, the voice of the Texas A&M Aggies.

Andrew Monaco joins to break down the Aggies’ undefeated start, their road to the SEC Championship, and what to expect this weekend as they take on LSU. The two dive into Jimbo Fisher’s coaching future, the realities of college football’s back-channel job market, and why A&M’s offensive line has quietly become one of the best in the nation.

Later, Larry and producer Tony shift to the NBA, where NBC revives its iconic “Roundball Rock” theme. They discuss Oklahoma City’s bid to repeat as champions, the wide-open Eastern Conference, and which veteran teams might have one last run left in them.

The show wraps with Larry’s “Moment of Awe,” revisiting the worst opening-night loss in NBA history and previewing the return of college hoops in just two weeks.

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

• Toronto vs. Los Angeles: World Series matchup and Springer’s Game 7 heroics

• Larry’s “Jasmine stole my hits” World Series locker-room story

• Jimbo Fisher’s comeback talk and the coaching carousel

• Texas A&M’s perfect 7–0 start under Mike Elko

• Previewing Aggies vs. LSU in Death Valley

• The return of NBA on NBC and “Roundball Rock” nostalgia

• OKC’s dominance and the reshuffled Eastern Conference

• Warriors, Knicks, and Hawks as surprise contenders

• “Moment of Awe”: Phoenix’s 48-point opening-night loss in 2017

It’s a wild Monday on Sports IQ with Larry Smith — one of the most chaotic weekends in sports we’ve seen all season.

Larry opens with a full recap of an unbelievable football weekend:

• Four Top-10 college teams fall in a single Saturday, shaking up the playoff race.

• Georgia Tech stays perfect — now 7-0 and ranked #7 in the nation after beating Duke.

• In the NFL, the Broncos stage a historic 33-point fourth-quarter comeback to stun the Giants 33-32, snapping a streak of 1,602 straight wins by teams leading by 18+ points late.

• Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs remind the league they’re still the champs, crushing Las Vegas 31-0.

• The Eagles, Cowboys, and Bears also notch statement wins, while the Colts quietly move to 6-1 — the NFL’s best record.

Then the headlines turn serious:

• Florida fires Billy Napier, despite a win — making him the latest coach axed midseason in what Larry and producer Tony Cordaro call “the year of the $20-million buyout.”

• Colorado State parts ways with Jay Norvell, and Florida State boosters eye Mike Norvell’s future after another loss.

• Larry and Tony break down the cost of firing frenzy — from $72M buyouts to NIL wars — and predict a record-breaking offseason carousel with elite jobs potentially opening at Penn State, Florida State, UCLA, Michigan, and Auburn.

Later, Chad Bishop from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution joins to spotlight the rise of Georgia Tech under Brent Key. The Yellow Jackets are unbeaten, ranked in the top ten, and led by Heisman-worthy quarterback Haynes King, whose toughness and poise have transformed the program. Chad details the team’s mindset, their road win at Duke, and the playoff path ahead — including their massive regular-season finale against Georgia, now moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a $10-million payday.

Larry and Tony close with a moment of reflection — honoring the life of former NFL running back Doug Martin, who passed away at age 36 — before wrapping with a Moment of “Ah” celebrating Curry College’s Monty Quinn, who set an NCAA all-division rushing record with 522 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Topics Discussed:

• Four Top-10 upsets that reshaped the playoff race

• Georgia Tech’s 7-0 start and Haynes King’s Heisman buzz

• Billy Napier, Jay Norvell, and the rising cost of buyouts

• Florida State’s unraveling and the Big Ten coaching dominoes

• NFL Week 7 recap: Broncos miracle comeback, Chiefs dominance, Bears revival

• Brent Key’s future and Georgia Tech’s playoff path

• Remembering Doug Martin

• Monty Quinn’s historic 522-yard rushing day

Guest:
🎙️ Chad Bishop – Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia Tech Beat Writer)

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It’s a full-throttle Friday on Sports IQ with Larry Smith — big games, big money, and even bigger conversations about what sports are becoming in 2024.

Larry kicks things off with a nostalgic trip back to backyard baseball — then fast-forwards to the staggering price tags of modern franchises. From $2.5 billion NHL expansion fees to college coaches pulling eight-figure salaries, he and producer Tony Cordaro break down how money is changing sports at every level — and why the Big Ten’s latest private equity deal just got iced.

Then it’s game time:

• Adam Lichtenstein (Sun Sentinel) previews #10 Miami vs. Louisville, exploring how the Hurricanes’ physical dominance in the trenches has turned them into a legit ACC powerhouse. He breaks down Carson Beck’s steady hand, Mario Cristobal’s rebuild, and why complacency could be Miami’s biggest opponent.

• Ryan Weiner (Cavalier Daily) explains how #19 Virginia became one of college football’s surprise stories. From Tony Elliott’s trust rebuild to transfer quarterback Chandler Morris’s poise, Virginia’s quietly playing its best football in a decade — with homecoming hype and playoff whispers in Charlottesville.

• Michelle Gardner (Arizona Republic) gives the inside story on Arizona State’s rocky start after last year’s Big 12 title run — injuries, expectations, and whether QB Sam Leavitt will be ready to face red-hot #7 Texas Tech.

The show closes with Larry and Tony unpacking the week’s money headlines:

• NHL commissioner Gary Bettman sets a jaw-dropping $2 billion minimum expansion price

• Indiana’s Curt Cignetti lands an $11.6 million-a-year extension — the third highest in college football

• Big Ten’s $2B private equity deal stalls as Michigan and USC hit pause

• And a Moment of “Ah” celebrating the Chicago Bears’ first-ever game, 104 years ago today — back when football dreams started for just seven bucks a ticket.

Topics Discussed:

• Miami’s dominance and Louisville’s upset hopes

• Virginia’s shocking turnaround and playoff potential

• Arizona State’s injuries and Texas Tech’s rise

• The billion-dollar business of sports ownership

• Coaching salaries and private equity in college athletics

• The historic roots of pro football

Guests:
🎙️ Adam Lichtenstein – Sun Sentinel
🎙️ Ryan Weiner – The Cavalier Daily
🎙️ Michelle Gardner – Arizona Republic

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It’s Friday Eve on Sports IQ with Larry Smith, and the show’s bursting with hoops, helmets, and heartwarming headlines.

Larry opens with the countdown to next week’s NBA tip-off — a season loaded with Western Conference storylines. Joining him is Jasmyn Wimbish of CBS Sports, who breaks down:

• The Thunder’s title defense and how their depth could spark a dynasty

• Kevin Durant’s move to Houston and how it reshapes the West

• The LeBron-Luka handoff in L.A. as James battles sciatica and Doncic slims down

• Why Golden State’s veterans might have one more miracle run left

• Cooper Flagg’s debut in Dallas and why the 18-year-old rookie might already be NBA-ready

• A shakeup in the East: Boston’s Jason Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton out for the year

Then it’s back to the gridiron: Henry Oelhafen, Sports Editor for The Vanderbilt Hustler, joins Larry to spotlight the Vanderbilt Commodores’ historic start.

• From 5–1 and ranked No. 17 to a massive home matchup vs. LSU

• QB Diego Pavia’s leadership and his comeback from injury

• Clark Lea’s coaching magic and whether Penn State might try to lure him away

• A sold-out stadium, energized alumni, and the rise of Vandy football in Nashville

Larry and producer Tony round out the show with the day’s headlines:

• Albert Pujols in talks to manage either the Orioles or Angels

• Bruce Pearl joins the CBS broadcast crew

• NFL Week 7 preview: Steelers vs. Bengals, Lions’ drama, and locker room loyalty gone viral

• College football weekend preview: Georgia vs. Ole Miss, Tennessee vs. Alabama, and why TV ratings are smashing modern records

Finally, a Moment of “Ah” for the ages:
Alabama QB Ty Simpson gives every teammate a custom Yeti cooler — a classy NIL-powered thank-you from a $2.3M man.

Topics Discussed:

• NBA season preview: Thunder, Rockets, Lakers, Warriors, Mavericks

• Vanderbilt’s rise and SEC playoff math

• Clark Lea’s loyalty and Vanderbilt’s Nashville revival

• NFL Week 7 and Lions locker-room fire

• College football TV dominance

• Ty Simpson’s NIL gift that froze the room

Guests:
🎙️ Jasmyn Wimbish – CBS Sports NBA Writer
🎙️ Henry Oelhafen – Sports Editor, The Vanderbilt Hustler

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It’s a coach’s crisis Wednesday on Sports IQ with Larry Smith — and this one’s loaded. From James Franklin’s shocking Penn State firing to Matt Rhule’s sudden connection to State College, and Wisconsin’s stunning collapse under Luke Fickell — the college football carousel is officially spinning out of control.

Larry opens with the latest headlines:

• Dodgers dominate as Yamamoto throws the first postseason complete game in eight years

• Mariners surge toward their first-ever World Series berth

• FIFA confirms 2026 World Cup sites will not move despite political chatter

• And the WNBA Finals draw record-breaking viewership, even without Caitlin Clark on the court.

Then the guests roll in:
🎙️ Mike Gross (The Gross Rational Product, Substack) breaks down what really happened at Penn State — from Franklin’s brutal exit to fan backlash, locker-room tension, and why the program’s meltdown is unlike anything he’s seen in 40 years.

🎙️ Evan Bland (Omaha World-Herald) joins from Lincoln to dissect the Matt Rhule–Penn State rumors, his Monday press conference, and what it means for Nebraska’s momentum as the Huskers return to the Top 25. Is Rhule leveraging the moment for NIL muscle — or is there more to the smoke?

🎙️ Matt Perkins (Believe in Badgers Podcast) closes the coaching gauntlet with a fiery segment on Luke Fickell’s unraveling in Madison. From locker-room chaos to offensive collapse and alumni outrage, Perkins argues Wisconsin football is in its darkest era since the 1980s — and names who should replace Fickell if the axe falls.

Larry and Tony finish the show with lighter fare — a segment on Tiger Woods’ back surgery and the possibility of a Champions Tour comeback, plus a bizarre story of Dodgers players avoiding a haunted Milwaukee hotel during the NLCS.

Finally, a Moment of “Ah” honors Kirk Gibson’s legendary walk-off homer on this day in 1988 — one swing that defined grit and glory.

Topics Discussed:

• James Franklin’s firing fallout

• Penn State’s next coach: Rhule? Cignetti? Mullen?

• Nebraska’s NIL reality check and Top 25 return

• Wisconsin’s locker-room collapse under Luke Fickell

• Tiger Woods’ surgery and Champions Tour potential

• The haunted Fister Hotel spooking MLB players

• 1988 World Series flashback: Kirk Gibson’s miracle homer

Guests:
🎙️ Mike Gross – The Gross Rational Product (Substack)
🎙️ Evan Bland – Omaha World-Herald
🎙️ Matt Perkins – Believe in Badgers Podcast

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Follow Larry Smith and Sports IQ for smart, fast-paced sports storytelling — where headlines meet hindsight, Monday through Friday, wherever you get your podcasts.