March 2 The Pod

Signing Day, Softball Expectations, and a Big Hoops Weekend

Season 3, Episode 23 of March 2 The Pod (presented by Eternal Roofing) covers National Signing Day and Phil Longo’s press conference, including what Sam Houston’s 2026 class means for the roster—especially the young QB room. Then Cory and Ben dive into a full Bearkat softball preview: an elite pitching staff returning every inning, key defensive pieces, portal additions, and why the expectation is to compete for a championship. The episode wraps with women’s and men’s basketball standings, injury/storyline notes, and game predictions—plus a Kat Fund update after the Champions Dinner and golf auction supporting Bearkat golf.

Bearkat Hoops Picks: Liberty/Delaware + Portal Talk

March 2 The Pod returns for Season 3, Episode 21, presented by Eternal Roofing. Cory and Ben catch up after the break (including Cory’s hacked Twitter situation), then dive into Sam Houston football portal movement — departures, early additions, and why offensive line + quarterback depth are the biggest flashing concerns.On the hardwood, Bearkat WBB is off to a strong CUSA start and faces a tough road swing at Liberty and Delaware. We run through national/conference stat comparisons, matchup keys (turnovers vs rebounding), and make picks using ChatGPT lines.We also check in with Ben’s Kat Fund update, including details on the Sam Houston Golf Champions Dinner (Jan. 30), then close with Bearkat MBB: what the 0-3 CUSA start really means, why home games matter, and picks for Delaware and Liberty.Follow/subscribe: march2thepod.substack.com and find us everywhere @March2ThePod.

Sam Houston Football Report Card & 2026 Fix List

Sam Houston just crawled through a 2–10 football season, so it’s time for the annual March 2 The Pod report card. Ben and Cory go position by position and hand out honest grades for the 2025 Bearkats — quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, defensive backs, special teams, and yes, head coach Phil Longo. We talk about where things completely fell apart, who actually earned passing marks, and what absolutely has to change in 2026 if Longo wants to quiet the noise in Huntsville.
Before we dive into the carnage, we start with something a little more fun: Bearkat hoops. The men are fresh off a win over Wyoming and a tough nonconference slate against Texas Tech, Utah, and Oklahoma State, and they still haven’t lost against the spread. We break down why this group is built for March in C-USA, touch on the women’s impressive start, and then close the show with our made-up betting line and score predictions for Sam Houston at Texas Southern.
If you want the full written report card with position-by-position notes, check out the Substack post (March2ThePod.Substack.com) for this episode.

Kats Survive Delaware, Hunt Blue Raiders Next

Sam Houston finally turned “almost” into another win, and now the question is whether the momentum makes it to Murfreesboro.
In Season 3, Episode 19 of March 2 The Pod, presented by Eternal Roofing, Cory Hogue and Ben Sorrells open with a loaded Bearkats Weekly ReKap: historic men’s basketball signings, a key frontcourt addition for the women, a near-upset at Utah, and what’s ahead against Wyoming, Schreiner, and at the Idaho Classic. On the women’s side, we talk about a defense doing exactly what we expected – and an offense that’s finally catching up.
Then we dive deep into the 26–23 win over Delaware at Shell Energy. We walk through the turning-point fumble from Antavious Fish and A.J. Sargent, Coco Brown’s absurd 62-yard hurdle touchdown, and Christian Pavon’s 4-for-4 night that earned him CUSA Player of the Week. The defense racked up eight sacks and three takeaways, and we sort out what was sustainable and what wasn’t.
We hit Phil Longo’s comments on “ugly wins,” the offensive line, and the run game, give a tough update on Hunter Watson’s season-ending surgery, and talk about what’s next for the quarterback room with Landyn Locke stepping into a bigger role.
From there, it’s all Middle Tennessee State: series history (including the 2023 kerfuffle), MTSU’s 1–9 mark, the revolving offensive line, veteran safeties in the “Get a Damn Job” program, and why this one has full Sickos Bowl energy. We compare national and CUSA stats, break down Longo’s view of the Blue Raiders on both sides of the ball, share a Kat Fund update, and close with Vegas numbers, ChatGPT’s “coin-flippy and ugly” projection, and our picks for Saturday.
Eat ’Em Up Kats.

Kats Konquer Corvallis: Check Kashed, Eyes on Delaware

Kats Konquer Corvallis: Check Kashed, Eyes on DelawareSam Houston finally breaks through—98-yard Tim Burns kickoff return, Lyric Smith’s blocked punt TD, and takeaways from Wilson/Bailey fuel a 21–17 win at Oregon State and a $1.2M payday. We unpack the turning points, the “3rd-and-Longo” moment, and what the film says about the offense. Then we preview Delaware (Saturday, 6 p.m. CT, Shell Energy Stadium, ESPN+): QB Nick Minicucci, WR Kyre Duplessis, LB Gavin Moul, Carty-era tendencies, and the keys for SHSU with Mabrey Mettauer starting and Landyn Locke in the mix while Hunter Watson is out. Plus: Kat Fund update and our ATS/total picks.Presented by Eternal Roofing.Follow: @March2ThePod @CoryHogueSports @SportsofSHSU

Beavers, Beatdowns, and Bearkats: LA Tech Recap and Oregon State Preview

We keep it real after a 55–14 thud at Louisiana Tech. The run game flashed (hello, Elijah Green), but red-zone choices and tackling told the story. We talk availability reports, injuries up front, and why context matters when you give up chunk plays all night. Then it’s on to Corvallis: Oregon State is stabilizing under an interim and toggling two different QBs; here’s how that stresses a defense that’s thin at DT. If Mabry Matoyer starts while Hunter Watson mends, expect a different menu.
Also on deck: women’s soccer’s penalty-kick thriller (Bond’s saves, Murray’s winner) and a semifinal exit to Liberty; women’s hoops locking up but searching for efficiency; men’s hoops cruising as Damon Nicholas looks the part. We wrap with lines, ranges, and our pick: Beavers cover unless the Bearkats finish drives.

Ruston Reckoning: Kats vs. LA Tech (S3E16)

0:02 Opening — “Tell me something positive, Ben!”0:05 WSOC: No. 3 seed; Delaware first; Liberty likely in semi; keys: defend, win midfield, create chancesWBB: Monday 4 p.m. vs Southwestern Christian; want offensive step forwardMBB: After WBB vs LeTourneau; takeaways from SFA scrimmage—guards legit, bigs need touches, defense must firm up0:25 LA Tech Preview: Halloween uniforms; series notes; Friday records; best defense in CUSA; turnover margin edgeLongo soundbites: “get-better week,” outside noise, recruiting/portal approachPersonnel: Hunter Watson cleared; CJ Brown likely out; Tech QB Blake Baker0:46 Kat Fund Update: membership & giveaway tease0:48 Predictions: Ben 30–20 Tech (Cats cover); Cory 38–17 Tech (cover + over)Presented by Eternal Roofing This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit march2thepod.substack.com

Goals, Grit, and Growing Frustrations

Presented by Eternal Roofing — roofing you can trust with your home.Follow us on Twitter/X: @CoryHogueSports and @SportsofSHSUSubscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit march2thepod.substack.com

Cushions, Chaos, and Coaching Calls

📋 Episode Notes:Opening thoughts: Searching for something positiveReviewing the Jacksonville State heartbreakWhy the late-game cushion coverage matteredPhil Longo’s reverse-pass calls explained — and debatedDefensive improvement and turnover highlightsPreviewing UTEP’s elite CUSA defense and what the Kats must fixKat Fund update and how fans can helpPredictions and prop-style game projectionPresented by Eternal Roofing — Roofing you can trust with your home, just like you trust us with Bearkat sports This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit march2thepod.substack.com

Sam Houston’s Fifth-Round Knockout: Kicker Chaos, Locker Room Cracks, and Jacksonville State Preview

Breaking down the New Mexico State lossField goal confusion: Lopez vs. PavonLocker room and leadership questionsOffensive line strugglesDefensive progress reportJacksonville State preview and score predictionsListener comments and live chat reactions This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit march2thepod.substack.com