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In this week’s episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Bryan Curtis to talk about the end of college football’s regular season and the noncontroversial picks for the second-ever college football playoff. They also speak with soccer player Stephanie Cox about the U.S. women’s national team’s decision to postpone a game rather than play on a substandard field. Finally, they discuss the 12–0 Carolina Panthers, the least-beloved undefeated team in NFL history.
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
- Follow Bryan Curtis on Twitter.
- Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State, and Oklahoma were the unsurprising selections for the college football playoff.
- The selection committee’s “war room” looks like a cafeteria for old people.
- Alabama and Oklahoma are the Vegas favorites to win in the semifinals.
- Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says, “I think we have God’s favor at times.”
- SB Nation’s Rodger Sherman on the weird moments that helped set the field for the college football playoff.
- Stephanie Cox’s Wikipedia page.
- U.S. women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe tore her ACL on a practice field in Hawaii. U.S. Soccer then canceled its scheduled match due to poor field conditions.
- Alex Morgan vented her frustration at the playing conditions, and the fact that higher-ups didn’t step in to correct the situation.
- The U.S. women’s team wrote in the Players’ Tribune about why the game was canceled.
- The website the Equalizer reports that in 2016 the United States will host a women’s soccer tournament featuring England, Germany, and France.
- The Carolina Panthers beat the New Orleans Saints to move to 12–0 on the season.
- FiveThirtyEight called the Panthers the worst 11–0 team in NFL history.
- The MMQB’s Peter King on why the Panthers’ offense has improved.
- Cam Newton, not an accurate passer.
- Linebacker Luke Kuechly could be the league’s best defensive player.
- Josh Norman likes superheroes, is an off-brand Richard Sherman.
Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Sir Purrs:
Mike’s Sir Purr: The burning questions of college football bowl season: What is Zaxby’s? What is the AutoNation Cure Bowl trying to cure?
Stefan’s Sir Purr: In praise of Garry Brown’s sports column in the Springfield Republican, “Hitting to All Fields.”
Josh’s Sir Purr: The Warriors and Stephen Curry are too good. It’s time to give them some additional challenges.
On this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss crab-claw-laden stadium lounges like the Coaches Club at MetLife Stadium. Visit slate.com/hangupplus and try it free for two weeks.
Podcast production and edit by Zack Dinerstein.
You can email us at hangup@slate.com.
