On this episode of Sports IQ with Larry Smith, the panel breaks down a loaded weekend across football and basketball — from the NFL playoff field and coaching storylines to Gonzaga’s quiet dominance and Miami’s lucrative run to the College Football Playoff title game.

Producer Tony sits down with NFL beat writer Eric Anderson (Heavy.com) to unpack the AFC and NFC playoff races, evaluating which teams are peaking at the right time, which quarterbacks have answered long-standing questions, and which defenses could carry teams deep into January. From Denver and New England’s rise to the danger posed by Buffalo, Houston, Seattle, and Philadelphia, this is a comprehensive look at the road to the Super Bowl.

Later, Theo Lawson, Gonzaga beat writer for The Spokesman-Review, joins the show to explain how the Bulldogs continue to thrive year after year. The conversation dives into Gonzaga’s culture, international recruiting pipeline, defensive evolution, and what this year’s roster might mean for March — plus a look ahead to the program’s upcoming move into the new Pac-12.

The episode wraps with college football playoff economics, conference realignment fallout, college basketball headlines, and a Moment of Awe revisiting Boise State’s iconic Fiesta Bowl upset — and the proposal that became one of the most unforgettable scenes in college football history.

• NFL playoff outlook in the AFC and NFC

• Eric Anderson on quarterbacks, defenses, and postseason matchups

• Denver, New England, Buffalo, Houston, and Seattle playoff profiles

• Gonzaga basketball’s sustained success under Mark Few

• International recruiting and culture at Gonzaga

• West Coast Conference vs. future Pac-12 competition

• College Football Playoff revenue and Miami’s financial windfall

• College basketball Top 25 notes

• Moment of Awe: Boise State’s legendary Fiesta Bowl moment

• Eric Anderson — NFL Beat Writer, Heavy.com

• Theo Lawson — Gonzaga Beat Writer, The Spokesman-Review