Kings of the North College Football

Shedeur Sanders was the biggest story of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Quinn Ewers was the quarterback lesson that should have the greatest lasting effect on college football. On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at the one thing that did NOT happen in this draft for college quarterbacks and what that means for the future of third-year college football quarterbacks like Arch Manning and Sam Leavitt and for second-year quarterbacks like Julian Sayin and C.J. Carr. Is the entire landscape for college football quarterbacks changing even more than we realized? Then Doug and Bill look at the full numbers for the NFL Draft: That includes how the North did overall and some position groups where the North surprisingly won the draft and others where the South had the edge. Finally, it's some other lessons, including one about what happened with draft picks, or lack of picks, for BYU and Utah and what that means for the 2025 season. It's what the draft means for college football, not what college football means for the draft, and it's all here on Kings of the North. Thanks for joining us.

The SEC and the South used to dominate the NFL Draft. But those days are over -- though not many people will tell you the truth about that. On Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis explode Southern draft myths while explaining how the Northern talent wave is already here and will continue. From development to keeping North talent home, they dive into the reasons this is happening. Then from Michigan and Ohio State to Iowa State, Penn State and Notre Dame, they look at the biggest stories in the 2025 NFL Draft in the North -- including a run of very interesting quarterbacks. Bradley Locker of PFF.com also stops by to explain some of his recent research that revealed SEC draft busts. Then the guys run through the most productive Northern draft teams of the last decade, and those that are in a drought. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

The transfer portal window for the spring is wide open in college football, and Kings of the North isn't looking just at what's happening, but at what are the right ways to go about winning in the portal. On this KOTN, from Oregon, Indiana and Colorado relying heavily on transfers last year, to Iowa, Utah and Iowa State barely doing anything in the portal a year ago, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis run through all the numbers and results from Northern teams in the portal in 2024 to find what lessons should be learned. Who's doing the same thing this year, and which teams are changing their portal strategies? Plus Max Olson of ESPN.com visits to share his portal knowledge on how important the spring widow really is, what teams are doing the best job in the portal, which positions have the most value and whether the Nico Iamaleava transfer from Tennessee to UCLA is a one-off or a sign of things to come. As always, thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Michigan true freshman Bryce Underwood seems poised to seize the starting job for the Wolverines in 2025, and if he does, where might he fit in the hierarchy of best college football quarterbacks? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look at and take apart the consensus rankings of the best returning quarterbacks in college football. Southern QBs are overrated and too many Northern quarterbacks are left out. But more importantly, young quarterbacks across the North from Michigan to Notre Dame to Ohio State to Oregon to Maryland are poised to potentially make big leaps this year and shake up the quarterback landscape. Underwood tops that list, and the guys then dive into the recent history of true freshmen starting quarterbacks and find eight in the last decade that might serve as the best comparisons for Underwood. Among them -- Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Ohio State has created an receiver pipeline and it's a huge part of the Buckeyes' success. How do they do it, what can other teams learn from it, what other teams have been elevated by great receiver play, and do your NEED great receivers to win at the highest level in college football? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis dive into the stats and strategies of dominating a position group, while looking at teams like Penn State, Notre Dame, BYU, Iowa State, Syracuse, Clemson and others in the process. Then it's a visit with Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, who talks about the Gophers' playoff aspirations, how much Koi Perich might actually play on both sides of the ball, the development of the quarterback room, and their strategy for retaining and developing talent in the NIL and portal world. Finally, it's a discussion of which Northern teams should possibly be interested in adding Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava and whether his move is a huge shift in college football or a one-off. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

What college football teams are already locks for the 2025 College Football Playoff? What teams are the greatest contenders to be the next Indiana, SMU or Arizona State to come from off the radar? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis each drop three locks and three dark horses for this season. Plus, there's news from around college football on a 5-star receiver prospect reaffirming his pledge to Ohio State, a couple teams beefing up in the trenches, BYU wrapping up spring football, and Kirby Smart complaining about something else. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Frauds or Fearsome? On this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis play that game with college football teams across the South. Gotta keep an eye on those guys. From Georgia to Miami, from Clemson to Texas, from LSU to USC, the Doug and Bill run through 14 Non-Northern teams in rapid fire succession and decide whether anyone in the North needs to worry about them this season. Plus it's the conclusion of the bracket for the Most Important Person in Northern College Football. The Final Four is Penn State coach James Franklin, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Minnesota safety Koi Perich. Who will take home the crown? To start the show, it's a roundup of Northern college football news, including the new contract for Colorado's Deion Sanders. And should we have done an April Fool's Day prank? Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • News around the north (03:00) • Fearsome or fraud of southern teams (32:00) • Most important northern person final four and champion (1:19:10)

From quarterback play at Syracuse to offensive line action at Pitt, from young stars at Oregon to a receiver search at Utah, from Nebraska offensive plans to Indiana pass protection, Kings of the North takes you around Northern spring football on this episode. Then it's the fourth region of our Most Important Person in Northern Football bracket. This time, Bill Landis has 16 seeds for Defensive Players in The North, and he and Doug Lesmerises have to pick a winner. Finally, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North.

Penn State coach James Franklin is entering Year 12 leading the Nittany Lions, with his best chance at a national title yet. But there haven't been many modern coaches who won their first national title in Year 12. Is Franklin ready to lead a natty run this season? Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis discuss that. They also open the show with their latest region for their Most Important Person in Northern College Football bracket -- and it's coaches. Franklin is in there, but what other Northern coaches -- head coaches and assistants -- will most define this season? They run through 16 options. Finally, it's a look at several issues around college football from the legal problems of a former Michigan assistant, the continuing arrests of Georgia players, and the departure of the Maryland athletic director. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • Most important northern coach region (09:00) • Can James Franklin win a title after being at Penn State for over a decade? (01:06:30) • News around the north (01:40:48)

Where will your college football coach be in five years? Only 11 of our 28 Northern coaches were in their current jobs five years ago, so on this Kings of the North, Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis look to 2030 and guess who the head coaches will be then. Will your coach be around? If not, who might be a replacement? Then it's the second region in our bracket of Most Important People in Northern College Football in 2025. Last show we did quarterbacks. This show, it's all the other offensive players, from running backs to offensive linemen to receivers. Who are our 16 seeds? Who will win the region? And to finish, it's Whatcha Watching, Eating and Thinking. Thanks for joining Kings of the North. Chapters: • News around the north (03:40) • The 5-year coach test - will each coach still be at their northern school in 2030? (12:30) • Non-QB offensive player region for most important northern player (01:02:00) • Whatcha watching, eating, thinking (1:35:40)