Warde Manuel Under Fire, Miami’s Big Gamble & ACC Media Days Begin

Show Pony Live: Warde Manuel looks to be running out of time!

It’s time for Show Pony Live, presented by AR’s Hot Honey Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is facing perhaps the biggest week of his tenure as the university prepares to meet following its athletic department investigation. I break down where things stand, what could happen next, and whether Manuel can survive the growing pressure. Plus, the latest movement surrounding the Protect College Sports Act. We look at where the legislation stands, what it could mean for the future of college athletics, and why the next few months could reshape the sport. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, AR’s Hot Honey—the Sweet Heat of the South. Use promo code SHOWPONY15 to save 15% on your order. Subscribe to Show Pony Media for free and never miss a column, podcast, or live show. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Warde Manuel Under Fire, Miami’s Big Gamble & ACC Media Days Begin

Show Pony Live, presented by AR’s Hot Honey College football doesn’t stop just because it’s July. On today’s episode of Show Pony Live, presented by AR’s Hot Honey (use promo code SHOWPONY15 for 15% off), we dive into two of the biggest storylines heading into a busy week across the sport. We begin in Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan has concluded an investigation into its athletic department. What does it mean for athletic director Warde Manuel, and could one of the most powerful jobs in college sports be headed for a major change? I break down where things stand, why this matters beyond Michigan, and what the fallout could mean across college athletics. Then it’s on to ACC Media Days, which kick off this week. The spotlight is on Miami, a program trying to get back to the College Football Playoff after coming up just short of a national championship a year ago. The Hurricanes made one of the offseason’s biggest moves by landing quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred in from Duke. Can he be the missing piece? Is Miami ready to take the next step under Mario Cristobal? And who else in the ACC has a chance to make noise this season? We’ll also look at the conference’s biggest storylines, coaches under pressure, and what to watch as preseason talk officially gets underway. Show Pony Live is presented by AR’s Hot Honey—the Sweet Heat of the South. Whether it’s pizza, wings, chicken, burgers, or barbecue, AR’s brings the perfect balance of sweet and heat to every bite. 🌶️ Save 15% on your order with promo code SHOWPONY15. Thanks for listening! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow college football fan. For daily columns, podcasts, videos, and more, visit ShowPonyMedia.com. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Show Pony Live: College Sports Needs More Real Leadership and Less Marketers!

Another busy day in college sports is in the books, and tonight on Show Pony Live, we tackled one question that kept popping into my head: Where have all the statesmen gone? It feels like college athletics has become a contest to see who can yell the loudest, fire off the hottest take, or grab the biggest headline. We have plenty of carnival barkers. What we’re lacking are leaders willing to make difficult decisions, tell people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear, and put the long-term health of the sport ahead of their own interests. That was the foundation of tonight’s show. We also broke down reports that the NCAA is looking into what Cincinnati knew regarding Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility situation. The story continues to evolve, and the ripple effects could stretch well beyond one program. Then we discussed another fascinating development: the NIL clearinghouse has reportedly rejected nearly $90 million worth of proposed deals. Is this finally the beginning of meaningful oversight, or is it simply creating another layer of confusion? We examined what it could mean for schools, collectives, and athletes moving forward. On the recruiting front, Marcus Spears Jr.’s decision to reclassify has everyone talking about how quickly the recruiting landscape can change. We also looked at UCLA landing a Serbian basketball phenom who many evaluators believe has the talent to become a future No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick. Thanks to everyone who joined the live conversation and continues to support Show Pony Media. Show Pony Live is presented by AR’s Hot Honey—the Sweet Heat of the South. Whether it’s wings, pizza, chicken, biscuits, or just about anything coming off the grill, AR’s Hot Honey makes it better. Save 15% on your order with promo code SHOWPONY15. If you missed the live show, you can catch the full episode here on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you’re enjoying what we’re building at Show Pony Media, subscribe for free, share the show with another college sports fan, and consider becoming a premium subscriber. Your support allows me to keep bringing you independent, daily coverage of the stories that matter most. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Big 12 Media Days: Day 2 Takeaways with Ari Temkin

Show Pony Live is presented by AR’s Hot Honey — The Sweet Heat of the South. From pizza and wings to fried chicken, biscuits and burgers, AR’s Hot Honey makes everything better. Save 15% on your order with promo code SHOWPONY15. Today’s episode comes to you from The Star in Frisco, where Big 12 Media Days rolled into Day 2. Joining me is Ari Temkin from TuneIn’s Big 12 Radio, who has been on the ground covering every press conference, interview and storyline from one of the biggest events of the college football offseason. We break down everything that stood out from Wednesday’s lineup, featuring: * Arizona * Kansas State * Kansas * TCU * Utah * West Virginia * Iowa State Among the biggest topics of discussion is the newly announced Union Jack Classic between Arizona State and Kansas in Ireland and what games like this mean for the Big 12’s continued push to grow its brand internationally. We also dive into Utah’s transition under its new head coach, discuss which programs generated the most buzz during Day 2, and examine the biggest storylines that could shape the upcoming Big 12 season. If you want insight from someone who spent the day inside the event talking with coaches, administrators and media members, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to Show Pony Media for free and never miss an episode, column or live show as we continue our coverage of Big 12 Media Days and everything happening across college football. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Big 12 Goes All-In with Monster Energy | Media Days Are Here

The offseason is officially over. Big 12 Media Days have arrived, and Commissioner Brett Yormark wasted no time making headlines. The conference unveiled its landmark partnership with Monster Energy, a deal that further blurs the line between college athletics and big business. Is this a smart, innovative revenue play? Or are we watching another step toward turning college sports into a corporate billboard? On today’s episode of Show Pony Live, I break down the Monster Energy deal, what it says about the future of the Big 12, and why conference commissioners are becoming as important to college football as the coaches themselves. Plus: * My biggest takeaways from Day 1 of Big 12 Media Days * Which programs have the most to prove entering 2026 * Players and coaches I’ll be watching this week * Why this media days season continues to evolve from a football event into a business summit Presented by AR’s Hot Honey. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out. Use promo code SHOWPONY15 to save 15% on the best hot honey on the market. 🎓 Show Pony University begins Wednesday! A few spots are still available for the July class. We’ll meet live once a week for four weeks as I teach the art of broadcasting, storytelling, interviewing, content creation, and building your own media brand. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, I’d love to have you in class. Click for information about Show Pony University [https://www.showponymedia.com/p/show-pony-university] Thanks for listening, subscribing, and supporting independent sports media. Be sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Substack so you never miss an episode. Get full access to Show Pony Media at www.showponymedia.com/subscribe [https://www.showponymedia.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]