The boys return after a two-week hiatus to kick off their first podcast of the new year. They open by talking about things they are very glad no longer exist from the 1980s, then recap their holiday breaks, including Pat squeezing in both a ski trip and a beach trip, Bill enjoying a relaxing staycation in Seattle, and Bierman setting sail on a nine-night Caribbean cruise.

From there, they dive into the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, sharing their reactions, biggest takeaways, and what surprised them most, including the absolute demolition Indiana put on Alabama. They then preview the CFP semifinals and give their predictions for both matchups.

Next up is Nailed It, with all five questions focused on Wild Card Weekend. With only three weeks left to qualify for the Super Bowl finale and a possible trip to Vegas, listeners have a final call to join in on the action.

Then it’s Hot Takes time, and each host starts the year strong. Pat waxes poetic about the wild ending of the Ravens–Steelers game and once again professes his man crush on Mike Tomlin. Bill relives some brutal NFL Survivor heartbreak thanks to the Browns’ last-second field goal against the Bengals. And Bierman fires a shot at the SEC, telling them to stop living in the past as the Big Ten is clearly the superior conference right now. Along the way, the guys also debate the over-aggressiveness of fourth-down decisions and show some love for Michigan’s hire of Kyle Whittingham.

After that, it’s Stone Cold Locks. The boys admit it’s been a tough season, but they’re determined to start 2026 on a high note, highlighted by a unanimous pick this week.

They wrap things up with a fun Top 5, sharing their boldest and wildest sports predictions for 2026, including Max Homa bouncing back to finish this season in the Top 20, the Sonics returning to Seattle as an expansion team, and Gonzaga winning the 2025–26 national title.

It’s the perfect way to start the year. Hit play, lock it in, and make Enter Sandman Sports part of your weekly routine. Consider it your easiest New Year’s resolution.

is off enjoying a family ski trip. Fear not, though. Bill and Eric are joined by frequent guest host Brandon Lewis, and the fun starts immediately.

Bierman kicks things off with a Christmas surprise, sharing an original song he recorded called The 12 Pods of Christmas. Longtime listeners of the pod will find it especially funny and right on brand. From there, the guys jump into a fast-paced game of Christmas trivia covering movies, TV, music, and more. Brandon and Bill put up a valiant fight, and the competition comes down to the final question.

Next up is Nailed It, where listeners have just a few weeks left to qualify for the Super Bowl finale edition. Then it’s on to Hot Takes, and the guys have plenty to get off their chests. Brandon pleads with the CFP to stop allowing Group of 5 teams into the playoff, arguing that the opening-round games have been brutal and no fun to watch. The Sandman gushes over last week’s Seahawks vs Rams matchup, calling it the best game of the 2025 season and one that deserves a spot on the all-time list. Bierman follows with another unbelievable high school football story, featuring a miraculous Hail Mary. The real headline, though, is the awful coaching decisions that even allowed that ending to happen, and Bierman is not happy about it.

Then it’s Stone Cold Locks, as the boys look to build on last week’s momentum with nine more picks, mixing NFL action with bowl season plays.

They wrap things up with their annual Year’s Best Top 5, where each of them shares their favorite things and experiences from 2025. Movies, TV shows, cities, products, and more are all on the list, and there are plenty of recommendations worth jotting down.

Finally, since the boys are taking next week off, they close with a bonus look ahead to the CFP semifinals, including a quick breakdown of the matchups and who they like.

It’s a festive, fun, and laugh-filled episode that’s perfect for the holiday season, so pour a drink, settle in, and enjoy.

In this episode, the boys kick things off by breaking down the College Football Playoff bracket, tackling questions like who has the easiest and toughest path, potential breakout stars, and their boldest predictions. From there, they dive into each first-round matchup with picks and analysis before revealing their national championship game predictions and winner. And yes, all three picks are different.

Next up is Nailed It, with six weeks left to try and punch a ticket to Vegas as the pressure starts to ramp up.

Then it is time for Hot Takes, which includes some strong opinions on the ManningCast and whether it might be time to stop listening, praise for the University of Washington men’s soccer team after an improbable unseeded run to an NCAA title, and Bierman sharing an incredible high school football national championship story out of Louisiana.

From there, the guys roll into Stone Cold Locks, teeing up nine more picks in hopes of fattening your wallets.

Finally, the show wraps with one of the boys’ favorite Top 5s of the year, a Festivus-inspired airing of sports grievances. Nothing is sacred. College football’s mega conferences get skewered, along with a proposed fix. The city of Philadelphia and its angry fans get called out. MLB MVP voting takes some heat. Rocky Top gets reminded it is not a blue blood. And that is just the beginning.

It is loud, opinionated, and a perfect way to vent one week before Christmas. Grab your aluminum pole and join the cranky boys for a fun, entertaining ride you won’t want to miss.