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

The College Football Playoff semifinals are here — and Sports IQ with Larry Smith delivers wall-to-wall insight, history, and perspective as four unlikely contenders chase a national title.

Larry Smith and the Sports IQ team break down the Ole Miss–Miami semifinal from every angle, featuring expert voices from both programs and deep discussion on how today’s college football landscape is reshaping power, recruiting, and conference dominance.

• Evie Van Pelt (Founder & Publisher, RebelGrove.com) — On Ole Miss’s emotional playoff run, coaching upheaval, and what the Rebels’ breakthrough means for the program.

• Cole Thompson (SEC Unfiltered) — A wide-ranging look at the SEC vs Big Ten balance of power, roster construction through NIL and the portal, and why this CFP feels different.

• Adam Lichtenstein (Miami Sun Sentinel) — Inside Miami’s physical identity, trench dominance, and what must happen for the Hurricanes to reach the title game.

• Ole Miss’s stunning playoff surge amid coaching uncertainty

• Miami’s defensive front and disciplined offensive approach

• How NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping roster building

• Big Ten parity and the national power shift beyond Ohio State and Michigan

• Why this CFP semifinal field represents true parity in college football

• Matchup keys: pressure, time of possession, and quarterback efficiency

On January 8, 1955, Kentucky’s NCAA-record 129-game home winning streak came to a shocking end. Georgia Tech stunned the Wildcats in Lexington, led by Joe Helms’ game-high 23 points — including the game-winning jumper with 11 seconds left. The 59–58 upset snapped a streak that still stands today.

A reminder that no record is untouchable — and history always has a say.

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On this midweek edition of Sports IQ, Larry Smith and Producer Tony break down a jam-packed sports landscape as both the NFL and college sports worlds spin at full speed.

The show opens with a deep dive into the NFL coaching carousel, highlighted by the stunning decision to move on from longtime Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, sweeping coordinator changes in Washington, and growing questions about stability across the league. Larry and Tony debate whether franchises are acting too quickly—and what these moves say about modern expectations in professional football.

From there, the focus shifts to the College Football Playoff, as Oregon prepares to face Indiana in a semifinal showdown. Zach Neel (USA Today) joins the show to analyze Oregon’s dominant defensive performance, key matchup storylines, Dan Lanning’s aggressive coaching style, and what the Ducks must do differently in the rematch with the Hoosiers.

The conversation then turns to college basketball, where William Koch (Providence Journal) breaks down Providence’s statement road win over St. John’s, the development of young talent, and the challenges ahead in Big East play—including a looming matchup with UConn. The discussion highlights why the Big East remains one of the sport’s most intense and tradition-rich conferences.

The episode wraps with a wild Moment of Awe from college hoops, featuring a controversial buzzer-beater overturned at the horn—leaving fans stunned and debates raging.

Smart analysis, strong opinions, and nonstop storylines—this is Sports IQ at full throttle.