USD's Aidan Bouman and NDSU's Bryce Lance — two of the best players on two of the best teams in FCS football — decided to not take six figures (maybe seven) to "move up" in the FBS, like SDSU's Tucker Kraft before them but unlike SDSU's Mark Gronowski and Griffin Wilde. Why might it be a better "pay off" to stay put at an FCS power? Also, takeaways from Bouman's chat with John yesterday, including his uber-motivated state of mind for 2025.

Get ready for raw, real, hard-hitting thoughts from five-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowler Chuck Foreman, one of the biggest Minnesota Vikings legends. He makes his case for Sam Darnold after two Darnold disasters forced a full-steam-ahead purple freight train to a screeching hault. Foreman goes down memory lane in revealing why he thinks the Vikings were 0-3 in his three Super Bowl appearances in the 1970's, has vivid first impressions of a young Tommy Kramer.

Did the Packers overachieve or underachieve? Are Jordan Love and his head coach the right men to take Green Bay back to a Super Bowl in the next few years? A lot to unpack with the blunt Bart Winkler, a veteran Milwaukee-based sports talker, lifelong Packer fan, and host of nationally syndicated "The Bart Winkler Show."

Nicknamed "The Spin Doctor" for his elusive moves, Foreman rushed for nearly 6,000 yards in an eight-year NFL career (1973-80), the first seven in Minnesota — which included three Super Bowls — earning him team Hall of Fame honors. He channeled many successful Vikings playoff runs in the 1970's in observing the entire team last night in Arizona, and feels strongly about what the Vikings should do about Sam Darnold after two disastrous outings to finish a mostly-spectacular 14-win season.

Then, Chuck goes down memory lane to describe why the Vikes lost all three Super Bowls he played and what Tommy Kramer was like to be around as a young, up-and-coming NFL quarterback. The conversation weaved into his thoughts on college players now being openly, legally paid by outside interests, and why he has pulled back on being a substitute high school history teacher.

Who is the early national title favorite in 2025 now that the transfer portal has closed — NDSU, SDSU, USD, or another FCS squad? John breaks down the dust settling and smoke clearing on those programs' rosters after a wild portal period, especially at SDSU.

The only returning quarterback from those three teams, Aidan Bouman, joins for 43 minutes to discuss his surprise decision to come back to USD, what NFL scouts told him, why he didn't even enter the transfer portal for possible big bucks at FBS schools, being a newlywed, and the Coyotes' massive turnaround the last couple years. What did Bob Nielson and Josh Davis do to reverse the course of the program, and what is Bouman's assessment of the returning offensive players and Davis' replacements at offensive coordinator?

Which team may benefit more from Monday's NFC wild card game's move from L.A. to Phoenix due to the terrifying wildfires in Southern California? Does Minnesota's nightmare in Detroit actually benefit the Vikings one week later? What can or should we expect from Sam Darnold after his debacle in Detroit?

The former Vikings linebacker (1994-2000), who has been the Vikings Radio Network's color analyst for about 15 years, answers those questions, plus the defensive keys to Minnesota reversing a Week 8 loss to the Rams in L.A.

Which team may benefit more from the game's move from L.A. to Phoenix due to the terrifying wildfires in Southern California? Does Minnesota's nightmare in Detroit actually benefit the Vikings one week later? What can or should we expect from Sam Darnold after his debacle in Detroit?

The former Vikings linebacker (1994-2000), who has been the Vikings Radio Network's color analyst for about 15 years, answers those questions, plus the defensive keys to Minnesota reversing a Week 8 loss to the Rams in L.A.

After Dan Jackson made his public debut as SDSU football head coach in Brookings in an emotional, mostly jovial press conference, John Gaskins and Matt Zimmer discuss the highlights, then sit down for 2-on-1 interviews with athletic director Justin Sell and new (but, yet, old) offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness, who is back for his third stint in that role.

Sell walks through the eventful timeline of learning about Jimmy Rogers and his entire football staff leaving for Washington State, disarming the players who decided to stay, and hiring Dan Jackson. Also, more insight into the Jackrabbits' new, reformed NIL collective and if Jackson demanded that.

Eidsness discusses why he decided to leave FBS Northern Illinois to come back to the FCS and SDSU, his thoughts about Dan Jackson — a former fellow Jacks assistant — being his boss, and reminisces about his last stint as OC (2011-18), when the Jackrabbits had one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Also, a look into why his offensive coordinator role was taken from him in the middle of his fourth season with that title at NIU, and what he has to look forward to with the 2025 SDSU offense.

The QB1 for 2025 was courted by Jimmy Rogers to join plenty of SDSU teammates at Washington State (along with NIL $), but instead became a lead recruiter to keep teammates in Brookings. A 30-minute conversation about his talks with new head coach Dan Jackson, new offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness, and the potential damage the Jacks will do in 2025 despite losing an entire coaching staff and boatload of talented players.

John explains why Eric Eidsness is the best offensive coordinator for SDSU now and why his demotion from OC his last couple years at Northern Illinois (making way for former USD quarterback Wes Beschorner) should not be a concern at all. Then, veteran Des Moines Register columnist Chad Leistikow dives deep about why SDSU legendary quarterback Mark Gronowski is exactly what the Hawkeye offense needs in 2025, and where Iowa football is headed in the expanded Big Ten and College Football Playoff era. SEC Network lead anchor Dari Nowkhah takes us home with a glimpse into Kalen DeBoer's tumultous first season at Alabama and expounds on why the SEC is no longer dominating the college football landscape after a 20-year reign. The former Lincoln, Nebraska (Huskers) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (Sooners) sportscaster makes his semifinal predictions. Oh, and what's it like to host a long-running national radio show with Mel Kiper?

John & Matt Zimmer react to Mark Gronowski deciding to spend his final year of eligibility at Iowa, fulfilling a dream come true for a Chicago kid hoping to someday play in the Big Ten. How will this marriage work? Plus, Zim tells SDSU fans seething at players leaving to stop wasting their energy — and why all these departures won't prevent the Jacks from still being a national title contender. Which familiar face will be the offensive coordinator, and what else should we expect from Jackson and this staff? Finally, reaction to NDSU's 10th national title and what the Vikings should do about Sam Darnold.