A to Z Sports Podcast Network

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A to Z Sports Podcast Network is a sports podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 1,000 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts A to Z Sports Podcast Network, a sports show with 1,000 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  A to Z Sports Podcast Network

  The Tennessee Vols Are Already Getting DISRESPECTED By ESPN...

  Aug 20, 202613 min

  The Tennessee Vols will begin the 2026 college football season ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Top 25, but ESPN's Heather Dinich isn't convinced Tennessee should be ranked at all. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan react to Dinich's criticism of Tennessee on the Big Orange Podcast and debate whether the national skepticism surrounding Josh Heupel's team is actually justified. Tennessee enters the season with legitimate questions. Josh Heupel still has a major quarterback decision to make between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre, while the Vols also have uncertainty along the defensive line as Jim Knowles prepares for his first season running Tennessee's defense. But are those questions really enough to leave Tennessee completely outside the Top 25? That's where Charlie and Zach disagree with the ESPN criticism. The Vols aren't being given the benefit of the doubt as an elite College Football Playoff contender at No. 20. Instead, they're sitting directly in the range where a talented but uncertain Tennessee roster arguably belongs entering the season. Zach explains why Tennessee may also have one of the wider ranges of outcomes among teams in the preseason rankings. If the Vols get strong quarterback play from Brandon or MacIntyre and Tennessee's defensive front performs well, this could potentially become a Top 10-caliber team. If those questions aren't answered? Tennessee could look much more like a borderline Top 25 team. Charlie and Zach also examine the rest of the 2026 preseason AP Top 25 and question why Tennessee is being singled out when programs throughout the rankings have significant uncertainties of their own. Are Texas A&M and Ole Miss deserving of their lofty preseason rankings? What should we expect from Penn State? How much confidence should voters have in programs undergoing coaching transitions? And how much should any preseason poll actually mean in the transfer portal era? The guys also discuss why the first few weeks of the college football season could dramatically reshape these rankings and which highly ranked teams they believe could be vulnerable. Is Tennessee properly ranked at No. 20? Is ESPN overlooking the Vols' upside? Or are the quarterback and defensive-line questions significant enough to keep Tennessee outside the Top 25? Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break it all down on the A to Z Sports Big Orange Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  A to Z Sports Podcast Network

  The Vols QB Battle Is Starting To Look VERY Different...

  Aug 18, 202621 min

  The Tennessee Vols quarterback battle between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre may finally be starting to take shape after Tennessee's first major preseason scrimmage. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down everything coming out of the Vols' scrimmage on the Big Orange Podcast, including the growing buzz around true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre's performance, Tennessee's surprisingly encouraging offense and some legitimate concerns surrounding Jim Knowles' defense. The biggest takeaway may be what happened at quarterback. According to reports coming out of the scrimmage, Brandon made several impressive plays and continued building chemistry with Tennessee wide receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley. MacIntyre didn't necessarily have a bad day, either — and that's exactly why the situation is so encouraging for Josh Heupel and Tennessee. Instead of one quarterback simply making fewer mistakes, Brandon may be starting to actively win the job. Charlie and Zach discuss why another strong performance in Tennessee's second scrimmage could potentially put Brandon in position to emerge as QB1 before the Vols turn their full attention toward the 2026 season. The offense provided plenty of other encouraging developments as well. Tennessee's running back room could become an important part of helping a young quarterback, with DeSean Bishop leading a group that also includes Javin Gordon and D'Mon Marable. The Vols also appear to have legitimate weapons at wide receiver with Matthews, Staley and several other options competing for roles. But what does an impressive offensive scrimmage mean for Tennessee's defense? That's where the conversation gets more complicated. Charlie and Zach discuss their concerns about Tennessee's defensive line and pass rush as Jim Knowles installs his defense. They also examine how much confidence Vols fans should have in the unit entering the season and whether the defensive front can hold up against the better offensive lines Tennessee will face. The secondary is dealing with adversity as well after the injury to Edrees Farooq. The Big Orange Podcast discusses what his absence means for Tennessee's safety depth, the opportunity for DeJuan Lane and Dylan Lewis, and the late addition of Tennessee Tech defensive back Monty Hunt. Is Faizon Brandon beginning to take control of Tennessee's quarterback competition? How concerned should Vols fans actually be about the defense? And what should we be watching when Tennessee holds its second scrimmage? Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break it all down on the A to Z Sports Big Orange Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  A to Z Sports Podcast Network

  Tennessee's QB Decision Could Make or Break 2026...

  Aug 14, 202629 min

  Tennessee football is less than a month away from the start of the 2026 season, and the Volunteers have a roster with plenty of talent and depth but there is one position that could determine just how good this team ultimately becomes: quarterback. On this episode of the A to Z Sports Big Orange Podcast, Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down the projected Tennessee football depth chart position by position, including the quarterback competition between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre, the running back room, wide receiver depth, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, edge rushers, linebackers, defensive backs and special teams. The biggest question remains the Tennessee quarterback battle. George MacIntyre has reportedly looked better during the early stages of fall camp after a difficult spring, but Charlie and Zach continue to believe Faizon Brandon is the most likely player to win the starting job. The hosts discuss the possibility of Tennessee giving both quarterbacks opportunities against Furman before ultimately settling on one starter, while also explaining why Brandon's long-term upside could make him the better choice for Josh Heupel. The Vols also have an intriguing running back room led by Desean Bishop who is expected to be Tennessee's primary back. Daune Morris and transfer Javin Gordon could battle for additional opportunities, giving the Volunteers multiple options behind Bishop as the season progresses. At wide receiver, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley appear to be the top two options, while the third receiver position remains wide open. Radaurius Jackson, Travis Smith Jr., TK Keys, Tyreek King, Joakim Dodson and other young players could all compete for snaps. Charlie and Zach discuss why true freshman TK Keys could eventually become a major factor, even if Tennessee brings him along slowly early in the season. The tight end position could be one of Tennessee's biggest offensive advantages if Ethan Davis can stay healthy. Dasaahn Brame has impressed with his athletic ability and could provide a major mismatch in the passing game, while transfer Trent Thomas could help Tennessee improve its blocking. The combination of Davis and Brame could give Josh Heupel valuable 12- and 13-personnel options. The offensive line also appears to have significantly more depth than Tennessee has had in recent seasons. David Sanders is expected to anchor the left side, while Sam Pendleton brings experience at center. Young center Nick Moore could eventually push for playing time, while Jesse Perry, Donovan Haslam, Umarov and Ory Williams give Tennessee several options at guard and tackle. The hosts view that depth as a major positive heading into the season. Defensively, the biggest question may be the edge rusher position. Jim Knowles has several options, including Tyree Weathersby and Jordan Norman, but Tennessee lacks the proven depth it has at linebacker. Charlie and Zach discuss whether players such as Christian Gass can develop into reliable contributors and whether Knowles can manufacture pressure through different blitz packages. The Tennessee secondary may also be one of the strongest position groups of the Josh Heupel era. Kayin Lee, Ty Redmond and Qua Moss are expected to play major roles at corner, while T.J. Metcalf, Edrees Farooq, De'Juan Lane and Dylan Lewis provide additional options in the secondary. Charlie and Zach believe this could potentially be the best defensive back group Tennessee has had under Heupel. Ultimately, the episode comes back to the quarterback position. Tennessee has talent across the roster, but the Vols need their young quarterback to make good decisions, hit explosive throws and avoid the catastrophic turnovers that hurt the team last season. If Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre can provide that level of play, Charlie and Zach believe Tennessee has the roster to make serious noise in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  A to Z Sports Podcast Network

  Can Josh Heupel Finally Avoid the "Heupel Loss" in 2026?

  Aug 12, 202623 min

  Tennessee football is entering the 2026 season with enormous expectations, but is this finally the year the Volunteers take the next step under Josh Heupel? On this episode of the A to Z Sports Big Orange Podcast, Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan ask three huge questions about Tennessee football heading into the season. Is this the year Josh Heupel makes the correct quarterback decision the first time? Is this the year new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles gets his defense playing at a high level immediately? And perhaps most importantly, is this the year Tennessee finally avoids the dreaded "Heupel loss" against a team the Vols should beat? The conversation begins with the latest Tennessee fall camp news. Ty Redmond returned to practice after missing time with an illness, although he was working on the side, while Ethan Davis remained out with an undisclosed injury. The guys also discuss comments from Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, who was remarkably candid about the performance of his offensive line during the 2025 season. Elarbee acknowledged that his group struggled when it mattered most, creating significant expectations for a talented 2026 offensive line featuring players such as David Sanders. Charlie and Zach then turn their attention to Tennessee's biggest offseason question: the quarterback competition between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre. Is this finally the year Josh Heupel gets his quarterback decision right on the first attempt? The hosts revisit Heupel's decision to start Joe Milton over Hendon Hooker in 2021 and discuss why the quarterback position can be so difficult to evaluate before the lights come on. With Tennessee's first scrimmage approaching, the quarterback battle is entering an important stage, and the second scrimmage could help determine when the Vols ultimately settle on a starter. The podcast also examines Jim Knowles' first season as Tennessee's defensive coordinator. Knowles has said his defense is progressing faster than it did at previous stops because he was able to bring coaches and players familiar with his system to Knoxville. Charlie and Zach discuss whether that continuity, combined with Tennessee's work under new strength and conditioning coach Derek Owings, could allow the Vols defense to make a dramatic improvement from last season. Finally, the guys tackle one of the most important questions for Tennessee's 2026 season: Can Josh Heupel avoid another "Heupel loss"? The hosts identify several games where Tennessee could potentially stumble, including Georgia Tech, Auburn, Arkansas, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. With a young quarterback potentially making his first SEC road starts, Tennessee could be more vulnerable to an upset than in previous seasons. The discussion also explores the increasing parity in college football. With NIL, the transfer portal and roster movement creating more competitive balance across the SEC, Charlie and Zach argue that there are fewer truly "unbeatable" games than ever before. Even highly talented teams can lose to unexpected opponents, making Tennessee's ability to avoid bad losses especially important if the Vols want to compete for the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff. With the first Tennessee football scrimmage coming up Saturday, the answers to these questions are about to become much clearer. Is this finally the year for Tennessee? Watch the latest Big Orange Podcast featuring Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan for the latest Tennessee Volunteers football news, fall camp analysis, quarterback battle updates, Jim Knowles' defense, Josh Heupel analysis, SEC football discussion and everything surrounding the Vols heading into the 2026 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  A to Z Sports Podcast Network

  Tennessee's INJURY Situation Is Starting to Get Very Concerning...

  Aug 10, 202623 min

  Tennessee football is less than a month away from the start of the 2026 season, but the Volunteers are already dealing with several injuries and availability concerns during fall camp. How worried should Tennessee fans be? On this episode of the A to Z Sports Big Orange Podcast, Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down the latest Tennessee football injury news, including the season-ending ACL injury suffered by linebacker Jaeden Harmon, the ongoing absence of defensive back Jadais Richard, Ty Redmond's illness, and the precautionary absence of tight end Ethan Davis. The guys discuss what these injuries mean for Tennessee's depth chart and whether the Vols have enough depth to absorb the losses before the regular season begins. Jaeden Harmon's injury is particularly noteworthy because, while he wasn't expected to be a starting linebacker, he was projected to be an important depth piece and special teams contributor for Tennessee. With Arion Carter suspended for the first two games, Harmon's season-ending injury puts even more pressure on Tennessee's linebacker depth early in the 2026 season. Fortunately for Josh Heupel and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, linebacker may be the deepest position on the Tennessee defense. Charlie and Zach discuss the players who could see increased opportunities because of Harmon's injury, including Brayden Rouse, T.J. White and Jadon Perlotte. The hosts also examine how Jim Knowles could move Tennessee's talented linebackers around in different packages, including Arion Carter potentially seeing more snaps on the edge. With Amare Campbell, Edwin Spillman, Carter and Telander among the key pieces, Tennessee has plenty of talent—but Knowles now has to figure out how to get those players on the field without creating problems in coverage or limiting the pass rush. The podcast also examines the importance of Ty Redmond's health entering the season. Redmond is a young but experienced player who is expected to have an important role in Tennessee's secondary, and missing valuable fall camp practices could be significant, particularly as the Vols prepare to install a new defensive system. The first scrimmage of fall camp becomes especially important because it provides coaches with some of the closest thing to live-game reps before Tennessee opens the season. Charlie and Zach also discuss Tennessee tight end Ethan Davis, his current precautionary absence, and why getting him healthy and improving his blocking could be important for the Volunteers' offense. The conversation expands into the importance of practicing consistently during fall camp and how missed practice time can potentially contribute to tackling, physicality and execution problems later in the season. Finally, the guys discuss one of the biggest behind-the-scenes changes for Tennessee football: the hiring of Derek Owings as the Volunteers' new strength and conditioning coach. Owings came to Tennessee from Indiana after playing an important role in the Hoosiers' remarkable season, and the hosts debate whether the hire could eventually prove to be one of the most important moves of Josh Heupel's tenure. Early signs—including the physical development of Tennessee's players—have Charlie and Zach optimistic about what Owens and the new strength staff can bring to Knoxville. With Tennessee's first scrimmage approaching, the biggest priority is simple: stay healthy. The Vols have plenty of talent and depth, but another wave of injuries could quickly change the equation before the 2026 season even begins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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