A deep dive into the Texas Longhorns' title chances and a breakdown of the top contenders across the country.

In this episode:

* Debate whether the Texas Longhorns are legitimate national championship contenders or just a product of preseason hype surrounding quarterback Arch Manning.

* Identify the Longhorns' biggest concern as a new offensive line breaking in four starters, which faces an immediate test against Ohio State in week one.

* Analyze the Texas defense: With its NFL-caliber players, the unit is a major strength that is considered one of the best in the country and is expected to carry the team early in the season.

* Explain why there is deep skepticism about Ohio State's coaching changes after losing top coordinators.

* Detail Penn State as a potential "sleeper" team that could win the national title.

* Predictions are made!

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Is Texas the De Facto National Champion?

0:50 - Are the Longhorns Legitimate Contenders?

1:36 - Biggest Concern: The New Offensive Line

2:39 - The Importance of O-Line Camaraderie

3:38 - How Texas's Schedule Could Help Them Develop

5:25 - The Case for Preseason Scrimmages in College Football

9:10 - Arch Manning's X-Factor: The Running Threat

10:00 - Question Mark #2: The Receiving Corps

11:06 - Offensive Scheme Comparison: Lions & Dolphins

14:04 - Pivoting to the 'Loaded' Texas Defense

14:22 - Defensive Breakdown: The Secondary

16:09 - Defensive Breakdown: D-Line & Scheme

17:43 - Spotlight on Anthony Hill Jr., a Top LB

18:03 - Final Verdict on Texas's Chances

19:25 - Deep Dive: What's Wrong with Ohio State?

21:37 - Critiquing the Hartline & Patricia Hires

24:30 - The Sleeper Team: Why Penn State Could Win it All

27:21 - Is it a Bounce-Back Year for Georgia?

29:40 - Analyzing Notre Dame & Marcus Freeman

33:08 - Buy or Sell: Clemson

34:10 - Buy or Sell: Oregon

36:15 - Buy or Sell: Alabama Post-Saban

37:42 - Buy or Sell: LSU

39:34 - Final Predictions: Who Wins the National Championship?

41:39 - Outro

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

In this episode, we talk about:

* Dallas Cowboys: Can the Cowboys' offense overcome its offensive line issues, and can their defense, under Matt Eberflus, elevate to an elite status despite concerns in the secondary and run defense?

* New York Giants: What is the New York Giants' quarterback strategy with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jackson Dart, and how will their strong defensive front compensate for their struggling secondary?

* Washington Commanders: Will the addition of left tackle Laremy Tunsil significantly elevate the Washington Commanders' offense?

* Philadelphia Eagles: With an elite receiving duo in A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, how will the Philadelphia Eagles' offense perform and impact their standing in the NFC East?

* NFC East Overview: How do the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of the NFC East teams, particularly the Cowboys' potentially elite offense and the Giants' solid defense with quarterback uncertainty, set the stage for the division?

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Cowboys Offseason Buzz

01:20 - Cowboys Offensive Line & George Pickens Impact

03:00 - C.D. Lamb's Contract Situation

05:00 - Cowboys Defensive Coaching Changes: Zimmer & Eberflus

07:00 - Dallas Cowboys Defensive Weaknesses: Run Defense & Secondary

10:00 - Micah Parsons and the Cowboys Defense

13:00 - Linebacker Play & DVOA Analysis

16:00 - New York Giants Quarterback Battle: Wilson, Winston & Dart

20:00 - Giants Offensive Weapons & Coordinator Outlook

24:00 - Giants Defensive Front: Strength Up The Middle

27:00 - New York Giants Secondary Concerns

31:05 - Philadelphia Eagles: Elite Receivers & Offensive Impact

34:30 - Washington Commanders: Tunsil, Receivers, and Offensive Outlook

37:00 - Concluding Thoughts on the NFC East Dynamics

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

MatchQuarters is a reader-supported publication. So, make sure to subscribe, like, and share articles.

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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Joined by ESPN's Nate Taylor, this discussion covers every team's strengths and weaknesses for the upcoming season:

* Kansas City Chiefs: An in-depth look at the ‘efficiency monster’ and their biggest concerns, including the left tackle position, the offense managing without Rasheed Rice, and if the defense can continue its dominant play.

* Denver Broncos: Exploring if their elite defense is enough to carry them. The offense is a primary concern, with a focus on how new additions like J.K. Dobbins and Evan Ingram can help rookie quarterback Bo Nix succeed.

* Los Angeles Chargers: With Jim Harbaugh implementing a ‘punch you in the mouth’ offensive style, can Justin Herbert and a rebuilt roster overcome defensive question marks to make a playoff push?

* Las Vegas Raiders: Under new head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders look ‘competent.’ An analysis of how quarterback Geno Smith and rookie tight end Brock Bowers will perform and whether the team has a hard ceiling due to its secondary.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:52 Denver Broncos: A Look at the Offense

10:00 Denver Broncos: Defensive Potential

17:35 Las Vegas Raiders: New Era with Pete Carroll

27:55 Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive Power, Defensive Questions

34:28 Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive Concerns

43:05 Kansas City Chiefs: Analyzing the Defense

53:24 Outro

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

MatchQuarters is a reader-supported publication. So, make sure to subscribe, like, and share articles.

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.