Preferred Walk-Ons

Preferred Walk-Ons

The world’s preeminent college sports podcast hosted by two people named Michael. ACC fans by birth, degenerate gamblers for mirth. Part of TheSabre.com’s podcast network.

Episodes

July 29, 2025 34 mins
Change is constant in the world of college sports. Between neverending conference realignment and athlete movement in the transfer portal, it can be difficult for fans to keep track of their favorite college sports teams. As we countdown the final weeks in the lead-up to the season, we wanted to educate ACC fans on the changes they may have missed this offseason.    Topics for discussion include:
  • Rumors of handshake agreeme...
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The ACC Football Kickoff is currently taking place in Charlotte. We listened through hours of coach speak and platitudes to discuss the most important takeaways for the conference and college sports.    In this episode, we discuss:
  • Virginia Tech's recent non-NCAA championships
  • Jim Phillips comments at ACC Media Days and the stability of the conference
  • Expansion of the NCAA Tournament and College Football Playoff
Y...
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Are college athletes employees? Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports calls this the existential question now facing college sports. We spoke with Amanda about the challenges the NCAA must now address in the wake of the House settlement and what it means for fans of college sports.   In this episode, we discuss:
  • How fans can make sense of the constant changes to college sports
  • How the NCAA is hoping for Congressional i...
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After one of the most tumultuous years in Virginia sports history, there are a lot of new faces around Charlottesville. We brought on Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to analyze the state of the UVA athletic department and what to expect with the upcoming football and basketball seasons.   Topics for discussion include:
  • How Virginia is navigating the new college landscape in the wake of the House settlement
  • What to expect from Vir...
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June 17, 2025 35 mins
The long-awaited approval of the House settlement was issued on June 6th and has already shifted the landscape of college sports. Has this agreement created a clear path forward or unearthed even more questions and lawsuits? In this episode, we discuss:
  • Will Wade stoking the rivalry flames with UNC
  • UVA baseball hiring Chris Pollard from Duke
  • The most pressing questions that remain in college sports following the House settle...
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June 4, 2025 47 mins
We commemorated the 100th episode of the podcast by doing two of our favorite things: celebrating the success of the ACC and talking about college football betting. In this episode, we discuss the College World Series and preview ACC football teams that are under- and overrated by Vegas prognosticators.   Topics for discussion include:
  • The ACC's success in the Regional rounds of the NCAA Baseball Tournament
  • Brian O'Connor lea...
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May 28, 2025 41 mins
The ACC faces economic headwinds in trying to keep up with other major conferences. Now, commissioners of the SEC and Big 10 are attempting to stack the College Football Playoff deck in their favor. What can the ACC do to fight for survival while still advocating for the good of the game?   In this episode, we discuss: 
  • ACC coaches providing unflattering anonymous feedback about Virginia football
  • College football's search f...
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May 13, 2025 54 mins
Everyday brings new surprises for college sports fans in the era of the transfer portal. No one is more connected to college basketball recruiting than On3's Joe Tipton. We discussed how he has become one of the most influential reporters in the sport and the behind the scenes stories that have defined the offseason.   In this episode, we:
  • Discuss the pros and cons of the new scheduling model for ACC basketball (0:00-9:08)
  • Deb...
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May 7, 2025 36 mins
Virginia's football and basketball programs have experienced significant roster turnover this offseason. What should Cavaliers' fans expect in pivotal years for both teams? TheSabre.com contributor and Hoos On Podcast host Preston Willett joins the show to discuss:
  • What fans should expect from the Virginia football team this fall after a complete roster overhaul
  • Ryan Odom's success in rebuilding the Virginia basketball team
  • V...
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April 29, 2025 44 mins
After a season in which only four ACC teams made the NCAA Tournament, programs appear to be investing significant money in the transfer portal to be competitive in 2026. In this episode, we discuss how the conference is responding to the ever-changing college sports landscape and how the ambiguity about eligibility rules is shaping the offseason.    Topics for discussion include:
  • The Savannah Bananas game at Clemson
  • How ACC b...
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This is our 2025 NFL Draft preview episode! Which college players are poised for superstardom on Sundays and which will leave fans disappointed? In this episode, we discuss:
  • A missed connection with a possible fan of the show
  • Coach Prime calling out Virginia football for recruiting his players
  • Our overall impressions of this draft class and the buzz around Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter
  • Which quarterbacks are worth the r...
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April 9, 2025 37 mins

March Madness is over and it has ended in glory for the Florida Gators and Connecticut Huskies. Before transitioning to an offseason of transfer portal mayhem, we analyzed how these champions survived and advanced through the tournament and the legacies they leave behind. Topics for discussion include:

  • How Florida was able to orchestrate another come-from-behind victory over Houston
  • How fans are reacting to news from the tran...
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There are sixteen teams still playing in the NCAA Tournament and only one of them represents the ACC. However, a new class of coaches bring promise to one of college basketball's premier conferences. We sat down with Kris Wright of TheSabre.com to discuss Virginia's new head coach and whether the ACC can bounce back from a disappointing season. In this episode, we discuss:

  • The experience of watching the NCAA Tournament in Sea...
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March 17, 2025 57 mins

After four long months, the NCAA Tournament is finally here! We've got you covered with everything you need to know to confidently lose your pool. In this episode, we discuss:

  • Duke's ACC Tournament championship and injury concerns
  • The Selection Committee's questionable decisions with UNC and Louisville
  • Best bets, upsets, compelling storylines, and Final Four picks from each region
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March 15, 2025 21 mins

Our coverage of the ACC Tournament continues from Charlotte after two thrilling semifinal games. Both Duke and Louisville managed to survive after nearly giving away big leads, while North Carolina is left reeling on the bubble after a brutal lane violation. In this episode, we offer our quick reactions to both games, discuss UNC's chances of making the NCAA Tournament, and look ahead to the ACC Championship.

You can always email t...
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The Michaels are reporting live from the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. There have been two days of compelling basketball games and the sudden firing of UVA head coach Ron Sanchez. In this episode, we provide a behind-the-scenes look at everything that has taken place in the Queen City. Topics for discussion include:
  • Virginia's decision to fire Ron Sanchez and possible replacements
  • The most interesting and exciting storylines f...
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On the eve of the men's ACC basketball tournament, the basketball world received shocking news out of Raleigh. A year after winning the conference tournament and taking his team to the Final Four, Kevin Keatts has been fired from NC State. We analyzed the decision and whether any ACC teams are capable of making a similar run in this year's tournament. Topics for discussion include:
  • NC State's decision to fire Kevin Keatts and ...
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February 26, 2025 37 mins
With the ACC having a tough year in men's college basketball, is it time for the conference to explore a merger with the Big East? We explore that topic and look ahead to the upcoming ACC tournament. Topics for discussion include:
  • The possible partnership of the ACC and the Big East
  • The ACC's bubble situation approaching March Madness
  • Current matchups in the ACC Tournament
  • Miami's potential hire of Jai Lucas and the weirdly s...
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February 12, 2025 50 mins
With only a few weeks left in college basketball's regular season, we analyzed the job security of ACC basketball coaches. Which coaches are safe at their current schools and which should start updating their CV? Topics for discussion include:
  • Duke's first loss of the season, UNC's tournament hopes, and the ascension of Clemson
  • Which ACC basketball coaches are on the hot seat
  • Ron Sanchez's prospects of getting another season ...
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February 3, 2025 36 mins
The first weekend of February was fun for casual college basketball fans but less encouraging for supporters of Virginia and NC State. As the ACC title race heats up, we look at the most surprising teams in the conference and analyze whether anyone can stop Duke from an undefeated season. In this episode, we discuss: 
  • How the Luka Dončić trade impacts the ACC
  • The prospect of NC State and UVA missing the ACC Tournament
  • The big...
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