2026 is here and it has started in glorious fashion for the ACC. In football, bowl season was a rousing success led by Miami's dominant run through the College Football Playoff. In basketball, eight teams are in the NET Top 50 and others are well positioned for at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Preferred Walk-Ons Podcast previews the upcoming football National Championship and examine some of the most interesting ACC basketball teams hoping to dance in March.

Topics discussed:

  • The most interesting basketball teams in the ACC through the first two weeks of conference play (0:00-8:34)
  • Miami's run through the College Football Playoff and the ACC's bowl success (8:34-16:55)
  • Initial thoughts and frustrations with college football's winter transfer portal window (16:55-27:24)

TheSabre.com presents The Preferred Walk-Ons Podcast, a college sports podcast through the lens of the ACC. Michael McGraw, a University of Virginia graduate and fan, and Michael Shutt, a life-long NC State fan, both grew up watching the ACC and have insights on the history and present of the conference.

You can always email the show at [email protected]. You can also follow the show on Twitter or Instagram (@PWOPod). Make sure to listen here and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!