104.5 The Zone | Cumulus Media Nashville

Big Orange Sunday

Sports EN ↓ 100 episodes

Former University of Tennessee coordinator Doug Mathews brings you the latest news and analysis every weekend on 104-5 The Zone. Find the show LIVE every Sunday morning at 8 AM and check out the full podcast right here every weekend.

Author

104.5 The Zone | Cumulus Media Nashville

Category

Sports

Podcast website

omny.fm

Latest episode

Jul 5, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Big Orange Sunday 07/05/26 05.07.2026

Welcome to another action packed episode of Big Orange Sunday Coach dives deep into the state of Tennessee Volunteers athletics as the fall camp approaches. The show opens by celebrating the upcoming induction of five Vol legends—including Monica Abbott, Reggie Cobb, and Jason Whitten—into the Hall of Fame. The discussion then shifts to the business of collegiate sports, highlight...

Big Orange Sunday Jimmy Hyams: Hall of Fame Legends, the Adidas Era, and a Deep Dive into the Vols' 2026 Gauntlet 05.07.2026

Coach and Jimmy Hyams kick things off by celebrating the 2026 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame induction class, shining a well-deserved spotlight on gridiron legends like Reggie Cobb and Jason Witten. The conversation then shifts to the business of college athletics, breaking down Tennessee’s seismic transition from Nike to Adidas as the university's official apparel provider—a strategic...

Coach Church Segment : Defensive Overhauls, Transfer Portal Vets, and the Dawn of the Adidas Era 05.07.2026

In this week’s edition of Big Orange Sunday , we kick off July by setting the stage for Tennessee’s upcoming fall camp and celebrating a historic week for the university. We highlight the latest Vol Hall of Fame inductees—including legends like Monica Abbott, Reggie Cobb, and Jason Witten—before diving into the massive business move that has everyone talking: Tennessee&rsqu...

Big Orange Sunday 06/28/26 28.06.2026

Coach recently unpacked the sweeping structural changes reshaping college football—ranging from the NCAA’s new July dead period providing vital staff downtime to revenue sharing, age limits, expanded playoffs, the recruiting split between high school and portal players, and the strain unlimited official visits place on smaller FCS programs—emphasizing that rapid adaptation is ess...

Big Orange Defense: A Deep Dive into Veteran Leadership 28.06.2026

In this segment of Big Orange Sunday , Coach breaks down the Tennessee defense's roster depth and experience heading into the season. Highlighting the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary, the host emphasizes that the defense's true strength lies in its veteran linebacker corps, led by a deep bench of seniors and physical run-stoppers. While the defensive line features talented freshmen, the...

Navigating the Edge: How Tennessee's Defense Will Adapt Without Chas Coleman 28.06.2026

In this segment,Coach addresses the news that Tennessee Edge rusher Chas Coleman is no longer with the program following a medical disqualification. He praises both the player and Head Coach Josh Heupel for handling the situation with professionalism. While Coleman's absence leaves a gap in speed, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has prepared for this likelihood since spring. To adapt, the team w...

The Evolving Landscape of College Football Recruiting With Scott Altizer 28.06.2026

COACH IS JOINED BY Scott Altizer, Director of Football Operations at Tennessee, to unpack the sweeping changes reshaping college football. Scott offers his perspective on the NCAA’s new July recruiting dead period, emphasizing how it provides crucial downtime for coaching staffs. The discussion navigates the ripple effects of the transfer portal, highlighting the trend of a balanced split be...

Father Figures and Football: Dissecting the Vols' Transfer Portal Strategy 06/21/26 21.06.2026

Welcome to todays Fathers day edition  of Big Orange Sunday , Coach  shares  heartfelt Father’s Day reflections, emphasizing the vital role coaches played as father figures during their upbringing. Transitioning to Tennessee Volunteers football, Matthews outlines the start of the six-week NCAA recruiting "dead period" and highlights the team's strong early commitments from hig...

Historic Home Schedule and High-Demand Tickets for Vols Football 21.06.2026

Coach  and Jimmy Hyams discuss what they consider the most impressive conference home football schedule in Tennessee's history, featuring major matchups against Texas, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Kentucky. They note that ticket prices reflect this unprecedented lineup, with secondary market admission for the Texas game starting over $400. The conversation also touches on Athletic Director Danny...

Knoxville Off-Season Buzz: Vols Football Expectations and Athletics Upgrades With Jimmy Hyams 21.06.2026

Coach and  Jimmy Hyams share personal reflections on Father's Day, emphasizing the vital role coaches often play as father figures for young athletes. The discussion then shifts to the Tennessee Volunteers' quiet but strategic off-season, highlighting the arrival of freshman recruits, the anticipated physical impact of the new strength and conditioning coach, and the football team's top-25 pr...

Tennessee Football: Father's Day Reflections and Heupel's Roster Strategy 21.06.2026

In this Father's Day edition of Big Orange Sunday , Coach shares personal memories before diving into the operational state of Tennessee Volunteers football. As the six-week recruiting dead period begins, the discussion shifts to Head Coach Josh Heupel's calculated roster management under the 105-scholarship limit. The segment highlights how Heupel navigates the modern transfer portal like a busin...

Big Orange Sunday 06-14-26 FULL SHOW 14.06.2026

With campus recruiting for Vol Football taking front and center, Coach Doug Mathews discusses the massive wave of official and unofficial visits happening right now. We break down the state of Tennessee's incredible high school talent pool and analyze why the program has already extended nearly 20 scholarship offers to in-state 2026 recruits. Doug is then joined by Jimmy Hyams to cover everything...

BOH- Jimmy Hyams 06-14-26 14.06.2026

Doug Matthews is joined by Jimmy Hyams to break down the biggest storylines dominating Tennessee athletics. From massive roster overhauls to eye-popping budget numbers, they cover it all. They dive deep into the changing philosophy of roster construction, debating whether traditional high school recruiting rankings even matter in the age of the immediate-impact transfer portal. Plus, they break do...

Mid-June Recruiting Surge, Transfer Portal Realities & Schedule Breakdown 14.06.2026

With campus recruiting for Vol Football taking front and center, Coach Doug Mathews dives into the massive wave of official and unofficial visits happening right now. We break down the state of Tennessee's incredible high school talent pool and analyze why the program has already extended nearly 20 scholarship offers to in-state 2026 recruits. We also take a hard look at the shifting landscape of...

Big Orange Sunday 06-7-26 FULL SHOW 07.06.2026

Welcome to another episode of Big Orange Sunday This episode features an in-depth discussion on Tennessee athletics, including recent performances, recruiting, NIL, and conference realignment. Guest expert Jimmy Hymes shares insights on the program's current state, future prospects, and the evolving landscape of college sports.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOH- Jimmy Hyams 06-7-26 07.06.2026

 Jimmy shares insights on Tennessee's athletic programs, NIL impact, conference realignment, and Hall of Fame prospects, providing a comprehensive view of college sports dynamics.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Summer Grind: Player Development and Coaching Evaluations for Tennessee Football 07.06.2026

Coach  focusing on the University of Tennessee football program during its off-season. He  emphasizes that the summer months are a critical period for both recruiting and current player development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Orange Sunday 05/31/26 31.05.2026

This episode of Big Orange Sunday , hosted by former Tennessee defensive coordinator Doug Mathews, kicks off with a focused look at the immediate priorities for the Tennessee Volunteers football program. Mathews highlights the conclusion of the players' brief time off and the crucial start of summer school and workouts, emphasizing how these summer academic hours are a vital component for redshirt...

BOS - Jimmy Hyams 5-31-26 31.05.2026

Coach and Jimmy discuss recent developments from the SEC spring meetings, followed by a comprehensive review of the current state and history of University of Tennessee (UT) athletics. Key Topics Discussed SEC Spring Meetings & Self-Governance: The hosts analyze SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey's position on playoff expansion and conference schedules, noting his desire to preserve the SEC Champion...

Vols Roster Updates, SEC Strategy, and the Majors-Fulmer Legacy 31.05.2026

Coach provides a comprehensive update on the University of Tennessee’s athletic programs, beginning with the football team's return to campus for summer workouts and classes. The host emphasizes the critical advantage of summer school for student-athletes looking to accumulate credits and graduate early before shifting to recent roster developments. Specifically, the segment notes the mutual...

Big Orange Sunday 05/24/26 24.05.2026

This episode of Big Orange Sunday Coach  delivers a comprehensive post-spring look-in at the 2026 Tennessee Volunteers football program, emphasizing the critical need to re-establish a dominant home-field advantage at Neyland Stadium. The host provides an in-depth analysis of the team's massive defensive overhaul under new Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles, who has hand-picked a mature, athle...

Coach Final Thoughts :Navigating the New Era of College Football Building: Revenue Sharing, NIL, and the Transfer Portal Balance 24.05.2026

In the final segment of Big Orange Sunday , Coach reflects on the shifting landscape of college football, focusing on the evolving strategies programs must adopt to remain competitive. He highlights the critical roles of revenue sharing and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funding, estimating that top-tier programs like the University of Tennessee command between $35 million and $40 million in comb...

Two Legends, Two Approaches: Comparing the Gridiron Philosophies of Majors and Fulmer 24.05.2026

Coach takes  a nostalgic look back at the 32-year coaching legacy of John Majors and Phillip Fulmer at the University of Tennessee, highlights their collective 268 victories, and reflects on a golden 14-season stretch from 1985 to 1998 that brought five SEC Championships and one National Championship to the Volunteers. The speaker, who coached for a decade with each man and even shared an off...

In Heupel We Trust: The Invaluable Hidden Weapon Behind Tennessee’s 2026 Offense 24.05.2026

Coach  highlights significant optimism for the University of Tennessee's upcoming 2026 football season, focusing heavily on the stability and experience of the offensive coaching staff. A major asset for the team is the complete return of the offensive staff, led by head coach Josh Heupel. Key position coaches—including the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach, the offensive line coa...

Coach gives Tennessee Volunteers Post-Spring Practice and Defensive Overhaul Analysis 24.05.2026

The Tennessee Volunteers football program is facing a crucial turning point as it enters the 2026 season, with a desperate need to reclaim their home-field advantage at Neyland Stadium. Reflecting on a disappointing 2025 campaign where the Vols dropped three of their four conference home games to Georgia, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas, the broadcast emphasized that defending home turf is the...

Listen to the Big Orange Sunday podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.