Synopsis
What does it mean to be human? How do we find our most authentic path? Why do we chase our dreams? Join award-winning storyteller, broadcaster/host and explorer Yogi Roth as he speaks with storytellers, fellow adventure-preneurs, athletes, coaches, global speakers, agents of change, and just plain ordinary humans. Season 4 of The Yogi Roth Show focuses on the humanity in college football. Its a rare chance for you to hear from the most influential figures in the sport, and find out what makes them tick. Learn why they challenge themselves, what they desire vs what they fear, and how football is so much more than just a game in their eyes.
Episodes
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Wonderment in the Big Ten: Dave Revsine’s Story
01/10/2025 Duration: 33minAs a sophomore at Pitt, I met Dave Revsine and if anyone told me that we would be colleagues 20 years later I would have signed up for it. Today, that is our reality at the Big Ten Network.As a host, Dave has always been impressive. Sharp questions, elite awareness and always seeking humanity. This week on Y-Option, presented by 76 keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, welcomed Dave Revsine so get to know the story behind one of the core voices of Big Ten Network.For Dave, it all began in Chicago. A kid turning down the TV volume, writing out the White Sox lineup, and calling the games into a tape recorder. It detoured through a year on Wall Street (his most miserable), then on to Texas, where he ran his own camera to cover the Cowboys of Aikman, Irvin, and Smith. Eventually, ESPN came calling. Then, in 2007, the Big Ten Network.On launch night, BTN handed Dave 45 seconds of live airtime. No one edited his script. No one vetted his words. They just trusted him. Two days later, BTN aired Appala
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"White Out" Energy with Todd Blackledge
25/09/2025 Duration: 22minThere are certain Saturdays that feel like they were built for college football: the lights, the noise, the choreography of a crowd that feels like it’s part of the playbook. This week’s conversation at Y-Option, presented by 76–keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, welcomes back Todd Blackledge. On Saturday night, Todd will have the best seat in the house as he broadcasts the Oregon v Penn State game in Happy Valley during the Nittany Lions annual White Out.We dive into what it is like to broadcast a White Out, the match-ups he is looking forward to seeing play out and analyze both Drew Allar and Dante Moore.Todd shared the origin of his own career and how there is a unique connection between the start of his illustrious career and the famed White Out. He also shared how he prepares for a game like this, as he has known for months that NBC and his crew would be on the call.He also shared his truth on what Drew Allar needs to do in this environment and what this top 6 match-up will come down t
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The Obstacle is the Way: Scott Barnes
16/09/2025 Duration: 01h02minIt’s Rivalry Week…kind of.Two of the West Coast’s fiercest rivalries take center stage: Washington–Washington State in the Apple Cup, and Oregon–Oregon State to kick off this Saturday in college football.So this week at Y-Option, we welcome Oregon State Athletics Director Scott Barnes, on behalf of our presenting sponsor, 76®, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.I’ve known Scott for over a decade. He’s present, connected, and deeply committed to student-athletes. And what he’s navigated the past few years around the near collapse and rebuild of the Pac-12 is a masterclass in leadership.A few things that stood out from our conversation were:* The Obstacle is the Way: In April 2023, Scott was supposed to receive an award in Fresno. Instead, he found himself in the ER with a blood clot. Months later, the Pac-12 as we knew it dramatically changed shape. Two obstacles that could have stopped him in his tracks instead became catalysts. He leaned on a favorite book of both of ours, The Obstacle is t
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Peyton Manning: A Masterclass in Process, Preparation & Leadership
08/09/2025 Duration: 31minToday on THE PROCESS, a limited series within Y-Option, Rhett Lewis and Yogi Roth welcome one of the greatest players, and minds, football has ever known: Peyton Manning.Fueled by our founding sponsor 76®, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, today’s conversation with a Hall of Fame quarterback will impact your life. When we created THE PROCESS, Peyton Manning was one of the first names that came to mind. While he admittedly rarely outran defenders or had the strongest arm, he had an edge that all of us can learn from and apply to our lives–his process around preparation.From the yellow notepads he filled as a freshman at Tennessee to the way he elevated teammates in Indianapolis and Denver, Peyton has always been defined by the unseen hours–the tape study, the details, the conversations that made Sunday’s look effortless.Highlights from Our Conversation* Preparation as a competitive advantage: Peyton shares how film study became his weapon at Tennessee and why counting your hours of preparat
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The Most Interesting Coach in College Football
04/09/2025 Duration: 01h04minLuke Del Rio is the most interesting coach in college football.And today’s conversation at Y-Option, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, is one that will inspire, enlighten and may get you on the next flight to Paris.Every quarterback has a story. Few are as layered and compelling as Luke Del Rio’s. I’ve known Luke since he was 16 years old and watching his path as a signal caller, friend and coach has been fascinating.Luke is currently on Jedd Fisch’s staff at the University of Washington and his last year in football may one day be a part of a best-selling book. Luke grew up in NFL locker rooms, learning from his father, Jack, a long time NFL head coach. As a player, Luke would spin the ball in Tuscaloosa, Corvallis and complete his playing career as the starting quarterback at Florida.This past summer his journey took an unexpected turn, where he was the offensive coordinator for the Paris Musketeers in the European League of Football.We re-traced tha
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Texas is getting one of the most intriguing QBs in the nation
29/08/2025 Duration: 15minEvery once in a while, a conversation reminds you that greatness isn’t just about stats, stars, or accolades--it’s about clarity.In this week’s episode of Y-Option, I sat down with one of the most intriguing young quarterbacks in the country, Dia Bell, inside the Threads Lounge during the Elite 11 Finals. What unfolded was less an interview and more a workshop as Dia began the long journey toward mapping out his mission, vision, and values as both an athlete and a human being.The 2025 Elite 11 MVP and I had an intimate conversation which was fueled by a partnership with Threads and Y-Option’s founding sponsor, 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Dia opened up about what truly matters to him:* Integrity: staying grounded in who he is and how he was raised.* Leadership: not just on the field, but as the oldest sibling and a role model for those around him.* Community: giving back to the place and people who shaped him.* Lonely Work: the willingness to do the boring, unglamorous things longe
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Chris Fowler: The Process Behind the Voice of College Football
26/08/2025 Duration: 44minThere are voices in our game that instantly transport you to a moment.A Saturday night. A top-ten clash. A National Championship. The chaos of a rivalry. The afterglow of a season.For so many of us—that voice is Chris Fowler.While broadcasting some of the most iconic moments in sports may not seem relatable to many of us, the process that Chris utilizes as a professional, husband, mentor and friend is extremely relatable. Most importantly, it’s one we can all learn from.In the latest episode of THE PROCESS, presented by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, Rhett Lewis and I sat down with Chris Fowler not just to talk about games, but about how he prepares, how he sustains, and how he’s evolved into one of the most trusted voices in our sport.We explored many facets in his life and among the many principles he shared, 10 stood out around The Process of Chris Fowler:* Balance Ego & Humility: Confidence fuels you, humility keeps you learning.* “I believe in direction
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From Camp to Kickoff, life on the road
22/08/2025 Duration: 01h01minTraining camp is winding down, and game week is almost here (with Week Zero kicking off Saturday!). That means it’s time for a recap from the road.On the latest episode of Y-Option, presented by our founding partner 76 — keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat — Jim Thornby and I sit down to unpack everything learned while traveling coast to coast.What stood out:* Penn State: The Nittany Lions have earned the right to be in the national title conversation. I’m a big believer in Drew Allar, as QBs need scars and every Penn State fan knows he has them. I think his maturity and work off the field will lead him to his most successful season in Happy Valley and I would bet in January he will say he played with the most joy in his young career. * Oregon: Despite losing a ton of production, their competitive depth is elite. Dante Moore (not yet named the starter) looked like one of the most impressive QBs I’ve seen in years. His ability to layer the ball, locate his wideouts and throw a catchable ball i
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Old Friends, New Seasons: Mike Yam on Belichick, Stanford, and the Pac-12
14/08/2025 Duration: 01h14minOld Friends, New SeasonsWhen Mike Yam and I sit down together, it never feels like an interview. It feels like slipping back into a rhythm we’ve had for over a decade — back when we were in the Pac-12 Network studio, swapping stories between segments, wondering where the game might take us next or driving through the country roads in Oregon on the way to training camp.Today’s conversation, presented by our founding sponsor, 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, dives into the Bill Belichick experience, Oregon State, Washington State, USC’s former QB Miller Moss and a theory about Stanford and Andrew Luck. We also talk about the recent news around ESPN acquiring NFL Network. Overall, it is a conversation that will take you down memory lane, leave you laughing and always rooting for Mike Yam.Mike’s journey since those days has been something to watch. NFL Network host. CW studio anchor for Pac-12 and ACC football. Author of a children’s book, Fried Rice and Marinara. TEDx speaker. And one of
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From Heisman to Head Coach: Eddie George Talks NIL, Money, and Mindset
07/08/2025 Duration: 49minWe’ve all heard the term student-athlete, but in today’s college football landscape, you’d better be a financial-athlete too.This week’s Y-Option episode is a special one—recorded LIVE at the Elite 11 Finals, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76®, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Joining me on stage:* Dane Burkholder, founder of The Financial-Athlete, is also one of Barron’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisor’s and a former football player.* Eddie George—yes, that Eddie George—is a Heisman Trophy winner, Ohio State legend, licensed financial advisor and now head coach at Bowling Green.This past summer Dane, who I trust more than anyone in finance with advice, wisdom and integrity, invited me and Eddie to have an intimate and honest conversation at the Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles.The audience? The parents of the top quarterbacks in the nation.The conversation? Raw, educational, and real.The takeaway? What it means to truly manage your money in the NIL era—how athletes are now their own
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“No Plan B” – Inside Minnesota OC Greg Harbaugh’s Grind to the Top
31/07/2025 Duration: 43minIt’s Monday morning. The sun isn’t up yet. Coffee’s barely hot. But there I am, watching tape of Minnesota and texting my broadcast partners.That became a weekly ritual last season.Why? Because Greg Harbaugh Jr's offense caught my eye. Every red zone call. Every third down plan. Every subtle shift in the run game—it all felt intentional. It felt like the Gophers were winning games before they even kicked off.So I had to get to know the guy behind it. And in this episode of Y-Option, presented by our founding sponsor 76, Greg Harbaugh Jr dives into it all.How he builds his offense, how he develops quarterbacks, how he’s chasing a dream and how he's helping P.J. Fleck and Minnesota become one of the most situationally sharp teams in the Big Ten.Here’s what stood out:
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How He Went From Blue Collar Kid to Big Ten Athletic Director | The Process With Northwestern AD Mark Jackson
25/07/2025 Duration: 37minIt was 2001.I still remember the email: mj@usc.edu. It came from Mark Jackson—someone I knew from working summer camps at USC that summer.“Give me a call,” it read.That call changed my life.It opened a door—not just professionally, but personally. It gave me a glimpse of what a grounded, intentional, meaningful family life could look like.Since that moment, Mark has been a friend, a mentor, and now, with both of us in the Big Ten Conference, a kind of colleague. Back in the early 2000s, we’d spend hours in Pete Carroll’s office—absorbing his leadership philosophy and, just as importantly, reflecting on our own lives.Then came the summer of 2008.Coach Carroll challenged us to write down our life philosophy. Like a class assignment, we each returned with a typed-up document that felt like a book report. I was single and 25. Mark was married with four kids.His response?Family. Faith. Friendship. Fun.Those “Four F’s” became his compass and they still are.From interning with the Patriots to working on staff under
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A New Era for the Pac-12 Begins — With CBS at the Helm
23/06/2025 Duration: 30minThis morning, the Pac-12 officially announced a historic partnership with CBS Sports — marking a bold new chapter for a conference on the rise. And today on Y-Option, presented by our founding partner 76, we welcomed back Commissioner Teresa Gould for her first full-length conversation since the deal was made public.Make no mistake — this is a monumental move. Starting July 1, 2026, when the new league officially launches, CBS becomes the anchor partner of the new-look Pac-12. That means college football and basketball — including the conference title games — will air across CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, joining the same lineup that once featured the SEC and now hosts Big Ten games. And soon, the Pac-12.“This wasn’t just about a TV deal,” Commissioner Gould told me. “It was about exposure, economics, and transformation — and CBS checks all three boxes.”Inside the CBS Deal:From our exclusive conversation, here’s what stood out:✅ Broadcast + Cable CoverageCBS will carry premier Pac-12 football and men
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A Night with Cougar Athletics & Jimmy Rogers
13/05/2025 Duration: 01h15minThis past weekend, I found myself back in Seattle for the 10th straight year, hosting A Night with Cougar Athletics. While every year has its own unique vibe, this one stood out - it was truly unlike any of the previous 9.Welcome to this week’s episode of the Y-Option Podcast, presented by our founding partner, 76. We're thrilled to welcome new Washington State head football coach Jimmy Rogers, who joins the show to share his coaching philosophy, stories from his Arizona upbringing, and why he believes the Cougs have a real shot at the College Football Playoff.Coach Rogers and I sat on stage in front of 400 loyal Cougs, where he echoed a powerful message shared earlier in the evening by Athletics Director Anne McCoy and new university president Dr. Elizabeth Cantwell - this is the Next Chapter for Washington State.No longer just the underdog with a chip on its shoulder, WSU is now a face of the new Pac-12. Alongside Oregon State, Pullman is stepping boldly into this next era - guided by a clear vision and the
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The Humanity Behind the Headset: Lincoln Riley’s Journey
06/05/2025 Duration: 30minWe all know Lincoln Riley: the head coach, the play-caller, the quarterback developer. But do you know how his work ethic was formed? How his father taught him that no detail is too small? Or why he’s savoring the small wins as he rebuilds USC?If not, today’s episode of the Y-Option Podcast, presented by our founding partner 76, is the perfect listen.I’ve been around college football for 25 years. As pressure mounts, revenue grows, and realignment dominates headlines, it’s easy to forget the human beings behind the programs - those who lead, call plays, and develop young athletes.And when it comes to head coaches and quarterbacks, it’s easy to focus on salary, job title, or recruiting rankings. But the truth is always deeper.Today’s conversation brings you into the “why” behind Lincoln Riley’s leadership - his upbringing in Muleshoe, Texas, the influence of Mike Leach, the lasting impact of his dear friend Dave Nichol and much more.As a fellow small-town transplant drawn to the big-city lights, Lincoln and I
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NFL Draft Recap & the Dawgs After Dark
01/05/2025 Duration: 50minAs spring football heads to the final weekend, today’s episode of the Y-Option podcast - presented by our founding partner 76 - takes a deep dive into the 2025 NFL Draft plus a preview of the Washington Huskies' Spring Game.While Shedeur Sanders’ slide to the 5th round dominated headlines, we celebrate Cam Ward’s rise from the FCS to the #1 pick, breakdown Quinn Ewers’ journey from a “can’t-miss” high school prospect to the final QB selected, and weigh in on the dynamics in the Browns’ quarterback room.Also in this episode, Jim Thornby and I discuss:* Oregon’s school-record 10 draft picks and why after doing the Ducks’ Spring Game, I think Dan Lanning is just getting started when it comes to producing NFL talent* Ashton Jeanty’s fit in Las Vegas, why the Raiders are our new favorite NFL team, and why I was hoping Arizona Wildcat Jonah Savaiinaea would end up there too.* Tight end battle: Colston Loveland vs. Tyler Warren - who ya got?* The “Servite to the Top 10” pipeline, featuring now Browns DL Mason Graham
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Betting on Himself: Will Stein’s Rise from Walk-On to Elite Play Caller
24/04/2025 Duration: 01h16minImagine growing up dreaming of playing quarterback in college football, betting on yourself, and then turning that dream into reality. Fast forward a decade, and you're calling plays for one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, wearing the colors of one of the most iconic brands in all of sports and coaching two of the most experienced quarterbacks in the history of college football. That’s the 30,000-foot view of Will Stein’s football journey.Today on the Y-Option podcast, presented by our founding partner 76, Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein joins us to share the insights and lessons learned throughout his remarkable path in the game, as well as a breakdown on the 2025 Oregon Ducks offense.As someone who also walked-on in college football, I’ve always been drawn to others who’ve taken that same leap. Will’s story of walking-on at Louisville has become legend in Kentucky. His father was a walk-on too, and that grit and relentless work ethic clearly runs in the fam
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Mastering the Mental Game with Dr. Michael Gervais
23/04/2025 Duration: 01h06min"How much of the game is mental... and how much are you training it?"That simple question from Dr. Michael Gervais, the world’s leading high performance psychologist, rang in my ears back in 2011. Its impact has echoed through my life ever since.Today, Best Coast Media is proud to welcome back Dr. Gervais to the Y-Option podcast, presented by our founding partner 76.In a wide-ranging conversation, we dive into the heart of college football. From navigating the transfer portal to becoming a millionaire at 19, from what Athletic Directors should prioritize when hiring a head coach, to mastering the pressures of high performance as the stage gets bigger. We also have a powerful, heartfelt exchange about youth sports.Put simply: this episode is fire.If you believe in the mental game - or even if you're just curious - pull out your journal. There are gems worth capturing.Back in 2009, I met Dr. Michael Gervais. As the son of two therapists, I’ve always believed in the power of mindset and mental skills. Two years
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From Elite 11 to the Horseshoe: Tavien St. Clair
09/04/2025 Duration: 39minIt’s Game Week!Okay, not a real game, but a spring game. And I’m on a flight to Columbus, Ohio to call my first ever game at The Horseshoe for Big Ten Network.Spring football always brings excitement. It’s a time of hope, opportunity, and fresh beginnings for every player on the roster.For the Ohio State Buckeyes, this spring is about the 2025 team beginning to write their own story following a thrilling College Football Playoff championship run. The energy around the program is electric, and this weekend gives us a first glimpse of what’s to come.On today’s Y-Option podcast, presented by our founding partner 76, we dive into a full preview of the Buckeyes. I break down critical position battles and explain why I believe Ryan Day’s squad is primed for another CFP run. And here’s a spoiler: it’s not just because of their talent-rich roster - it’s the competitive culture Day has built that could be the difference maker.One of the young men immersed in that environment is freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair, a
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Maalik Murphy, Oregon State & the QB Journey
03/04/2025 Duration: 35minIn my 20 years living in Los Angeles, I’ve noticed a pattern. If you grow up on the West Coast, there’s always a pull to return to the Pacific time zone. For Oregon State quarterback Maalik Murphy, coming back West wasn’t what he initially envisioned as one of the top quarterbacks in the Class of 2022 out of Serra High School in Gardena, California. But after stops at Texas and Duke, the gifted QB has found his way back, now leading the Oregon State Beavers.With spring ball in full swing across the country, we’re excited to welcome Maalik to the Y-Option podcast for the first time, presented by our founding partner 76.Oregon State football has always been built on successful quarterback play complimenting a strong run game with a tough defense and an incredible fan base. Now, in Year 2 under Trent Bray, the Beavers are in position to make some serious noise out West.I still remember my first trip to Corvallis. It was 2006, my 2nd year coaching at USC. We rolled into Reser Stadium as the No. 3 team in the co