They’re back. Somehow… the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. AGAIN. New England punches its ticket for Super Bowl #12, setting up a throwback matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, and we break down exactly how it happened, why people are mad about it, and why none of that actually matters.

This episode kicks off with college football chaos, as the Playoff Committee drops new rules that immediately light the internet on fire — including automatic bids, Notre Dame favoritism, and the SEC taking a real hit in perception. If you’re tired of the same tired narratives, this conversation goes where most shows won’t.

From there, it’s straight into the AFC and NFC Championship Games. Patriots vs Broncos in brutal weather, missed kicks, and a game that felt over before it ever really opened up. Then one of the best NFC title games we’ve seen all year, as the Seahawks outlast the Rams in a rivalry that delivered every single time. Sam Darnold’s story, Stafford’s MVP case, and why Seattle might be the most battle-tested team in football right now.

And then… UFC is officially back. UFC 324 delivered violence, controversy, weird judging debates, breakout performances, and some brutally honest takes — including Gaethje vs Pimblett, O’Malley’s next move, heavyweight madness, and what actually mattered on a chaotic card.

The episode wraps with a full UFC 325 preview, including Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2, who’s being fed to the wolves, who’s getting pushed, and why this card feels very different from UFC 324.

NFL, college football, UFC — Just real breakdowns, real opinions, and calling things exactly how they are.

🔍 Questions Answered in This Episode

• How did the Patriots win the AFC Championship despite brutal weather and limited offense?

• Why do people keep saying New England had a “cupcake” path — and is it fair?

• Did the Broncos cost themselves the game with key fourth-down decisions?

• What made the Seahawks vs Rams NFC Championship one of the best games of the season?

• Is Sam Darnold playing at an MVP level heading into the Super Bowl?

• Who really deserves the NFL MVP?

• Did the College Football Playoff Committee get it right with the new rules?

• Why does Notre Dame keep getting special treatment?

• Was UFC 324 actually a success on Paramount+?

• Did Sean O’Malley clearly beat Song Yadong?

• Is Paddy Pimblett overrated after the Gaethje fight?

• Who wins Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 at UFC 325?

• Is this potentially the end of Alexander Volkanovski’s career?

⏱️ Episode 7 Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Championship weekend, UFC is back

01:10 – College Football Playoff rule changes explained

06:30 – Notre Dame automatic bid & SEC backlash

12:40 – Recruiting shifts, NIL impact & conference power changes

17:45 – AFC Championship: Patriots vs Broncos breakdown

22:30 – Weather impact, missed kicks & Denver’s key mistakes

26:40 – Drake Maye playoff performance & Patriots criticism

30:30 – NFC Championship: Seahawks vs Rams instant classic

35:45 – Sam Darnold’s run & why Seattle earned this

40:40 – Stafford vs Drake Maye MVP debate

44:30 – Pro Bowl controversy & league optics

47:30 – UFC 324 recap begins

49:40 – Main card reactions (O’Malley, Gaethje, heavyweights)

53:20 – UFC on Paramount+ reaction & ratings

55:10 – UFC 325 preview: Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2

57:20 – Final thoughts & episode wrap-up

In this segment, I shift to Major League Baseball and break down two moves that say a lot about where the league is right now — and where some teams are completely dropping the ball. I start with the Yankees backing off Cody Bellinger and why Scott Boras negotiations continue to hurt his own clients as much as they help them. We talk contract expectations, market reality, and why Bellinger’s asking price doesn’t line up with what he actually is as a player at this stage of his career.

From there, I get into the Cubs landing Alex Bregman and why, despite the massive price tag, it actually makes sense for Chicago. We talk roster construction, elite defense, fit at Wrigley, and why the Cubs might be one of the most quietly well-built teams in baseball heading into the season.

I also hit on a bigger issue that keeps popping up: why teams like the Yankees and Red Sox are suddenly acting like small-market franchises in a sport with no salary cap. If you’re one of the richest organizations in sports history, there’s no excuse for constantly pulling back when it’s time to spend. Meanwhile, other teams are putting their money where their mouth is and building real contenders.

No hot-take nonsense — just context, roster logic, and honest frustration with how MLB’s biggest brands are handling business.

Timestamp

0:00 MLB offseason thoughts begin

0:30 Yankees backing off Cody Bellinger

1:40 Scott Boras contract problems

2:40 Why Bellinger’s asking price doesn’t make sense

3:30 Cubs sign Alex Bregman

4:30 Why the move actually works for Chicago

5:20 Big-market teams refusing to spend

6:00 Final MLB thoughts

Questions that I answer

Why did the Yankees back off Cody Bellinger?

Is Scott Boras hurting his own clients?

Did the Cubs overpay for Alex Bregman?

Does Alex Bregman fit at Wrigley Field?

Are the Yankees and Red Sox acting like small-market teams?

Why do MLB teams refuse to spend without a salary cap?

Are the Cubs built better than the Brewers, Mets, and Phillies?

Who’s actually building a contender the right way in MLB?

Episode 6 Segments

6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???

UFC is finally back, and it’s been a long six weeks. In this episode, I break down UFC 324 from top to bottom, starting with the early prelims and working all the way to the interim title fight. I go through the matchups that actually matter, the fights worth paying attention to, and which ones feel like guaranteed chaos.

On the prelims, I highlight sneaky fun fights like Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman, why Michael Johnson is always dangerous as an underdog, and why Ateba Gautier might be one of the scariest prospects in the sport right now. I also break down Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo and why that fight likely comes down to whether Figueiredo can land early.

On the main card, I get into Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva, Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas, and why flyweight just isn’t Rose’s division anymore. We also get into one of the most entertaining heavyweight matchups possible with Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta — two guys who sell fights better than almost anyone in the division.

Finally, I give full predictions for Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong and the interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, including how Paddy actually wins if this fight hits the ground. No fake hype, no narrative pushing — just real breakdowns, matchup logic, and honest picks.

🥊 UFC 324 Segment – Chapter Timestamps (starts at 0:00)

0:00 UFC is finally back (ESPN → Paramount, long break)

0:45 Prelims overview & fights to watch

1:20 Ty Miller vs Adam Fugitt

1:55 Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman (high pace)

2:45 Josh Hockett vs Denzel Freeman (early KO talk)

3:25 Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez

4:40 Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson

5:45 Krylov vs Bukauskas (which version shows up?)

6:50 Ateba Gautier vs Andre (lock of the card)

8:30 Umar Nurmagomedov vs Figueiredo preview

9:50 Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva

10:45 Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas

11:30 Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta

12:10 O’Malley vs Song Yadong

12:40 Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett pick

13:00 Final UFC thoughts

Questions that I answer

Is UFC 324 worth watching?

Who should you watch on the UFC 324 prelims?

Is Ateba Gautier the scariest prospect in UFC?

Can Umar Nurmagomedov lose before a title shot?

Is Rose Namajunas done at flyweight?

Who wins Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta?

Does Sean O’Malley lose to Song Yadong?

Can Paddy Pimblett actually beat Justin Gaethje?

Is Gaethje past his prime?

What’s the best bet on UFC 324?

Episode 6 Segments

6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???

Episode 6.2 of the SPR Sports News Podcast shifts fully into the NFL — and it’s not pretty. Sean Ryan breaks down what may have been the sloppiest Divisional Round weekend in recent memory, filled with brutal quarterback play, nonstop turnovers, coaching failures, and media narratives that completely missed the point.

The episode opens with an unfiltered rant on ESPN, Ryan Clark, and the Mike Tomlin situation in Pittsburgh. Sean pushes back on race-baiting narratives, questions how ESPN chooses which stories to amplify, and explains why sports coverage should be about performance — not manufactured controversy.

From there, it’s all football. Bills vs Broncos turns into a turnover disaster as Josh Allen melts down, Bo Nix outplays a former MVP, and Buffalo implodes despite a strong defensive effort. Sean breaks down why the Bills lost this game themselves — and why Bo Nix deserves far more credit than he’s getting.

The Patriots-Texans game is even uglier. C.J. Stroud delivers one of the worst postseason quarterback performances in recent history, wasting a dominant Houston defense with interceptions, fumbles, and poor decision-making. Sean explains why this loss falls squarely on the quarterback — and why coaching failed to step in.

Seattle’s blowout of San Francisco stands out as the cleanest game of the weekend, with dominant defense, elite special teams, and a blueprint for how championships are actually won. The episode closes with Bears vs Rams, Caleb Williams’ rollercoaster performance, weather impacts, and why turnovers once again decided everything.

No excuses. No narratives. Just calling bad football bad football — and giving credit where it’s earned.

Timestamps / Chapters

00:00 – ESPN narratives, Ryan Clark & bad media takes

06:30 – Why ESPN keeps missing the real football story

11:45 – Bills vs Broncos: sloppy playoff football

17:00 – Josh Allen vs Bo Nix: chaos vs efficiency

22:30 – Patriots vs Texans: turnovers ruin the game

27:30 – Seahawks vs 49ers: how clean football wins

31:45 – Final thoughts on the Divisional Round

ESPN / Media

• Why did Mike Tomlin leave the Steelers?
• Is ESPN race baiting for ratings?
• Ryan Clark Mike Tomlin controversy explained
• Why does ESPN push bad narratives?

Bills vs Broncos

• What happened to Josh Allen vs Broncos?
• Josh Allen playoff turnovers breakdown
• How did Bo Nix beat the Bills?
• Why did the Bills lose to the Broncos?
• Is Josh Allen a playoff choker?

Patriots vs Texans

• Worst quarterback playoff performances ever
• How many turnovers did the Texans have?
• Did C.J. Stroud cost Houston the game?
• Why didn’t the Texans bench Stroud?

Seahawks vs 49ers

• How did Seahawks dominate the 49ers?
• Are the Seahawks Super Bowl favorites?

Bears vs Rams

• Caleb Williams playoff performance analysis
• Bears vs Rams cold weather game breakdown
• Did turnovers cost the Bears the game?
• Is Caleb Williams already a top QB?

Episode 6 Segments

6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???

The college football season ends with a national championship that feels impossible on paper and unforgettable on the field. In Episode 6.1 of the SPR Sports News Podcast, Sean Ryan breaks down Indiana’s perfect 16–0 season and national title — one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college football history.

Indiana, a program with more losses than any team ever, goes from decades of failure to Heisman winner, Coach of the Year, and a championship. Sean dives into the NIL and payroll numbers to shut down the “they bought it” narrative, comparing Indiana directly to Miami, Ohio State, Texas, and Notre Dame — and why the numbers tell a very different story than the headlines.

The championship game itself gets a full breakdown, including Mendoza’s iconic fourth-and-five run, Indiana’s wide receivers making NFL-level plays, Miami’s strong rushing attack, and the officiating decisions that shaped the flow of the game. Sean explains why the lack of flags mattered and how it kept the game closer than it probably should have been.

This episode also turns into a deeper conversation about ESPN, Disney, and modern sports media. Sean goes off on ESPN’s coverage of the College Football Playoff, the constant push for big-market programs like Miami, and how Indiana’s historic season was largely ignored until it became unavoidable. That criticism extends to ESPN’s decision to repeatedly spotlight a pornstar during the national championship broadcast — raising questions about ratings, money, and where the line should be when a Disney-owned network is broadcasting to kids.

Celebration, frustration, analysis, and ranting all rolled into one episode.

Timestamps / Chapters

00:00 – National Championship intro & why this story is different

02:10 – Indiana’s history & rise under Coach Cignetti

06:05 – NIL & payroll numbers: debunking the “bought title” claim

10:45 – Miami vs Indiana: postseason context & rivalry angles

14:30 – Mendoza’s 4th-and-5 touchdown run

17:05 – Indiana’s receivers & big-time plays

20:15 – Officiating decisions & no-flag approach

22:45 – ESPN, Disney & the broadcast controversy

25:30 – Closing thoughts on Indiana’s championship run

Indiana vs Miami Game Breakdown

• Indiana vs Miami national championship breakdown
• How did Indiana beat Miami?
• What happened in the Indiana Miami championship game?

Officiating & Game Flow

• Were the refs bad in the national championship game?
• Why were there no pass interference calls?
• Was targeting missed in the national championship?
• Refs keeping flags in pockets explained

ESPN and Disney

• Did ESPN ignore Indiana all season?
• Did money really decide this championship?
• Was this the greatest college football story ever?

Indiana Story

• How did Indiana win the national championship?
• Was Indiana’s season the greatest turnaround in college football?
• How bad was Indiana football before this championship?
• Who is Coach Cignetti and how did he change Indiana football?

Episode 6 Segments

6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???

Welcome back to SPR Sports News. This episode is a full breakdown of a wild sports weekend, starting with a chaotic opening round of the NFL playoffs where most games came down to the final drive. I walk through what actually decided those games, where coaching mattered, and where teams flat-out beat themselves. There’s a deep dive into the Jaguars–Bills game, the Bears’ latest comeback, the Texans’ dominant defensive performance, and why some playoff teams are leaning way too hard on quarterbacks instead of playing smart football.

On the college side, we’re down to one game left. I break down the College Football Playoff semifinals, including Ole Miss–Miami and the controversial final play, why the pass interference debate misses the bigger picture, and why “keeping the flag in your pocket” late in games is a bad philosophy. I also cover Indiana’s demolition of Oregon and what to expect in the national championship, including matchups, spreads, and how this game could actually play out.

There’s also a quick but important MLB segment, covering two major moves: the Yankees backing off Cody Bellinger and the Cubs landing Alex Bregman, plus what it says about big-market teams refusing to spend like big-market teams.

To close it out, I start the early breakdown of UFC 324, hitting the main card, storylines, and early thoughts on Gaethje vs. Pimblett, O’Malley vs. Song Yadong, Derrick Lewis, and more, with a deeper fight-by-fight preview coming next week.

College Football / CFP

• Was that Ole Miss vs Miami play pass interference?
• Did the refs cost Ole Miss the game?
• Indiana vs Miami national championship preview
• Is Indiana the best team in college football?

NFL Playoffs

• Why did the Jaguars stop running the ball vs the Bills?
• Did Josh Allen outplay Trevor Lawrence?
• How did the Bears come back again in the playoffs?
• What went wrong with the Eagles offense?

Predictions / Betting

• NFL Divisional Round predictions and picks
• Which NFL teams are most likely to reach the Super Bowl?
• Best upset picks for NFL playoffs this week

MLB

• Why did the Yankees back off Cody Bellinger?
• Did the Cubs overpay Alex Bregman?

UFC

• Can Paddy Pimblett beat Justin Gaethje?
• Is Justin Gaethje too old to win at UFC 324?
• Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong who wins?

1:20 Ole Miss vs Miami breakdown

2:30 Was that final play pass interference?

3:40 Why refs shouldn’t “swallow the whistle”

6:40 Indiana dominates Oregon

7:20 National Championship (Indiana vs Miami)

10:20 Jaguars vs Bills coaching disaster

14:00 Bears pull off another comeback

17:20 Rams barely survive Panthers

20:00 49ers vs Eagles playoff rivalry

22:05 Chargers vs Patriots (Herbert debate)

23:20 Texans defense

27:25 Divisional Round predictions

28:40 Bills vs Broncos

30:10 Texans vs Patriots

32:05 Seahawks vs 49ers

34:05 Rams vs Bears

35:50 Yankees back off Cody Bellinger

37:40 Cubs sign Alex Bregman

42:30 UFC 324 preview

43:05 Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett

49:25 O’Malley vs Song Yadong

52:10 Derrick Lewis chaos fight

This episode is about results, not reputation. I break down the college football playoff games, what actually happened on the field, and why some teams advanced while others got exposed. Conference bias, bad assumptions, and lazy narratives get tested against matchups, game flow, and coaching decisions—not brand names.

I start with the college playoffs, going game by game through Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Ole Miss, and the teams that didn’t live up to the hype. We look at why certain “power” programs fell short, how defensive lines and quarterback decisions decided games, and why some wins look a lot different once you strip away the final score.

From there, the focus shifts to the NFL. I break down the most important games from the final week, including playoff clinchers, rivalry matchups, and games that exposed real strengths and real flaws. Seattle’s surge, Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore, late-game execution, coaching decisions, and how defenses—not highlights—are shaping this postseason.

The episode ends with a full NFL playoff bracket done live. Every matchup, every pick, and the reasoning behind it—no edits, no walking it back. Some picks follow logic, some follow momentum, and some follow matchup problems that aren’t obvious on the surface.

If you want analysis that values context over noise and performance over reputation, this episode delivers exactly that.

BEST EPISODE YET!!!!!!!!!!

Approximate Time Stamps

00:00 Intro & Episode Focus

02:00 College Football Playoff Overview

05:30 Who Deserved to Make the CFP

10:30 SEC Bias, Alabama, and Reputation vs Results

16:30 Indiana, Oregon, Miami, and Playoff Reality 22:30 Ole Miss vs Georgia Breakdown

26:30 Live NFL Playoff Bracket Begins

30:40 NFC Bracket & Seeding

Logic 36:00 AFC Bracket Breakdown

41:40 Steelers vs Ravens Sunday Night Football

47:30 Seahawks, Defense, and Late-Season Momentum

53:30 Super Bowl Path Logic & Risk Picks

59:00 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Questions that I answer in the podcast:

Who deserved to make the College Football Playoff this season?

Is the SEC still the best conference in college football?

Why Alabama didn’t belong in the playoff conversation

How Indiana became the most complete team left in the CFP

What Miami’s defensive line does better than everyone else

Why Ole Miss vs Georgia exposed bad offensive play-calling

Why final scores lie about how close games really were

Which coaching decisions mattered most in the CFP games

Are Big Ten teams overtaking the SEC in college football?

What separates elite playoff defenses from average ones

Who are the real contenders heading into the NFL playoffs?

Why Seattle looks like the most complete NFL team right now

How defense and game management win playoff games

Which NFL teams are overrated based on record alone

Why quarterback efficiency matters more than highlight plays

How matchup problems decide playoff games

What makes a smart playoff bracket versus a blind pick

Which teams are peaking at the right time in January