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The 2026 Awful Announcing sports podcast power list
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- The 2026 Awful Announcing sports podcast power list
Edit by Liam McGuire, Comeback Media
When we published our first sports podcast power list at Awful Announcing in 2024, we imagined capturing the energy around what we then called a "cottage industry."
Sports may be just a subset of the exploding podcast space, but its growth has been remarkable in that time . Though the nine-figure mega-deals from buyers like SiriusXM, Amazon, and Spotify slowed in 2026, this year was marked by consolidation around industry-defining hits.
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With fewer breakout podcasts or new star hosts, the best are in an arms race for distribution and business opportunities. That starts with streaming. The expected boon for podcasters from the Netflix-YouTube war may be weaker than we thought this time last year, but that standoff will still change the space. Beneficiaries like The Ringer and Barstool already have benefited . And based on Netflix's deal-making, we are learning which shows might work for a streamer and which will not. YouTube boosted its view counts, but it also pushed viewers more toward well-produced content and new, more sellable "shows." The creative deployment of podcast hosts and creators in traditional sports programming is already clear across ESPN and Prime Video's lineup. Past honorees from this list, such as Pat McAfee, Bussin' With the Boys , Josh Pate, and the crew behind the old JJ Redick podcast, are examples .
The windfall from sports gambling can no longer sustain entire podcast businesses. The big books — and smaller companies like Underdog — have cut their original programming. But recently, prediction markets and AI companies have begun throwing money at podcasting, and they could spark a similar wave of spending that propels other podcasts to new heights.
What looks like a maturing industry from one angle also threatens the creative excitement that led audiences to jump from radio or television to podcasts in the first place. A day still has just 24 hours, so existing hits prevent new ones. Fresh, exciting content will have to come from the established power players. So far, indicators suggest they are up for it. New "off the couch" formats from digital players like Playmaker and Wave, the embrace of "IRL" (in real life) live content and events, and continued experiments that blur the lines between television and podcasts could generate the next hit from within well-known IP.
Amid this curious moment in sports podcasting and digital video, here is the third annual Awful Announcing Sports Podcast Power List.
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Pablo Torre – Host, Meadowlark Media
Where else to start this list than with Torre, whose Pablo Torre Finds Out series on Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers not only won a Pulitzer Prize this year but also bore real fruit as the NBA brought down a historic hammer on the Clippers. A fierce advocate for his work and an eager troll toward his targets, Torre has re-popularized investigative sports reporting and reimagined what a podcast can be.
It will be difficult for Torre and his team to follow up on the Clippers story , but as an emboldened Torre probes further into politics and the American billionaire class and his loyal audience follows the paper trail with him from sports into broader society, PTFO is a minted hit with proven staying power.
Pablo Torre's prediction for the next five to ten years in sports podcasting: "I think the distinction between podcasts, television, documentaries, and digital video will become increasingly meaningless. Audiences will follow the people and stories they care about, regardless of format. The challenge for creators will be figuring out how to take advantage of that freedom without losing what makes their work distinctive."
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Ryan Clark & Alicia Zubikowski – Host & Executive Producer, The Pivot
The ESPN chapter of Clark's career ended with a bang over the summer, but the versatile host has responded with big moves on the podcast side. The Pivot , a popular interview show which Clark co-hosts with Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, became the latest to license its video episodes to Netflix. The team behind The Pivot also launched a weekly NFL recap show.
Clark's broader ambitions are now fueled by an investment from former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in Pivot25 Productions, which could expand the Pivot brand into a larger network and content studio.
Ilona Maher & Hannah Kyle Crichton – Host & Executive Producer, Power Hour
Maher is the most intriguing star of a new crop of reality TV-style digital sports shows with the Wave original series Power Hour , an interview show in which guests work out alongside the rugby star turned host. At the same time, Maher has kept up House of Maher , the talk show she co-hosts with her sisters . Maher rode the wave of the 2024 Olympics to build an audience and a name for herself, but what really sets her apart is her chops as an entertainer and her on-air charisma. Few can rotate between multiple podcast formats and more mainstream roles like a women's Final Four alt-cast as seamlessly as Maher did this year.
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What excites Crichton most about sports podcasting right now: "Shows [that have] the right personality and storytelling can introduce new audiences to sports they might not have paid attention to otherwise."
Gabe Spitzer, Brandon Riegg & Jackson Dell'Abate – Netflix
The team behind Netflix's sports podcast deals figures to be a player in the space for as long as it wants. The streamer's ambitions go beyond licensing shows. From wooing NFL insider Tom Pelissero to a collaborative deal with The Ringer to producing its own Michael Irvin-hosted sports show in partnership with All the Smoke, Netflix is already putting resources behind a broader strategy.
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Questions abound about whether the company might pull back on podcasts amid C-suite changes, but Netflix has the money, the platform, and the creativity to become a destination for podcasts beyond this first flurry of deals.
Matt Sandler & Angie More – Amazon Creator Services
Since folding its audio business into a new Creator Services division aimed at building 360-degree businesses around its "creators," Amazon has made several big moves in sports. And yes, because this is Amazon, it is aiming high. After signing LeBron James and the Kelce brothers as some of its first creator partners, the company has also brought Prime Video contributors Blake Griffin, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Andrew Whitworth into the fold .
Jesse Burton – Global Head of Shows, The Athletic
The Athletic continues to house some of the most cutting-edge content in the digital sports video space . The company has built on the success of its numerous national sport and team-specific talk shows to recently launch several new live watchalong formats and a weekly show for Amazon Fire TV.
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As it builds off the move into "shows" by its parent company, The New York Times, it is clear The Athletic sees itself as a production company and its journalists as on-air talent as much as some of the newer networks on this list.
Brandon Walker – Host, Barstool Sports
Walker is the unequivocal face of college football at Barstool Sports after taking over its college football podcast solo . The brash Mississippi State alum also stars on Barstool's FS1 morning show and got more airtime on Big Noon Kickoff before Fox ended the partnership. As college football grows in national relevance, Walker is also a go-to guest for other big-time hosts and has built a real following.
From a crowded pool of Barstool talent worthy of this list, Walker, who also stars on Mostly Sports and The Yak , stands out for his patient grind and for capitalizing on renewed attention for his favorite sport.
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Jeff Teague & Mike Harris – Host & Executive Producer, Club 520
One of the biggest recent success stories in sports podcasting, Club 520 has turned Teague's beloved NBA storytelling clips into a legit daily sports talk brand. Teague and Harris have recently added a live morning show to the mix, alongside their regular NBA reaction episodes. The show has also become a huge draw for advertisers and is among the first to cash in on prediction-market ad dollars with a presenting sponsorship from Kalshi.
The original appeal of athlete-hosted content was the personal stories and good vibes. On Club 520 , the crew balances NBA nerdery with out-of-pocket banter that is impossible not to be drawn into.
Mike Harris' sports podcasting pet peeve: "People will try to pit pods against each other and create narratives that just aren't true. We all cover the same sports and the same stories, just from a different perspective and with a different delivery. We think the fans should just tap into their favorite pods without having to say one is less than because they do it differently."
Bomani Jones & Ryan Brumley – Host & Executive Producer, The Right Time
Jones, a pioneer of early digital video and podcasting, has recently settled back in at the top of the pack with an expanded schedule and a compelling roster of recurring guests. Known most for his commentary on sports and society, Jones' long history covering college football stands out as the sport becomes more popular and complex year to year.
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A move to Playmaker has brought Jones back into the studio alongside Brumley, where their chemistry shines. Few hosts can reasonably claim to be doing a fairly similar version of the same show they have made for more than a decade — and still be just as, if not more, popular.
Ryan Brumley's sports podcasting pet peeve:"Discovery on the Audio platforms is not aligned with discovery on YouTube, leading to misaligned incentives for both audiences."
Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette & Keith Yandle – Hosts, Spittin' Chiclets
What other podcast can boast its own alcohol line and a Netflix deal? The long-running, reliably strong Spittin' Chiclets remains around the top ten of the podcast charts despite covering one of America's smaller pro leagues.
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Spittin' Chiclets has also spawned a television career for Bissonnette and added Yandle without missing a stride.
Andy Holloway, Jason Moore & Mike Wright – Hosts, The Fantasy Footballers
An under-the-radar juggernaut, The Fantasy Footballers has reliably topped the sports podcast charts for nearly its entire history and isn't slowing down. The show recently joined SiriusXM and partnered with the NFL, but the football media arguably underappreciates its rabid fanbase.
The 'Ballers, from their perch in the quiet West Valley of Phoenix, have built an empire that includes multiple side shows as well as a comedy podcast from the main hosts. They've already survived multiple evolutions of the sports gaming space and podcasting, and they're well-suited to navigate whatever comes next.
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Andy Holloway's predictions for 2026: "I think higher budgets and higher production value is on the way. Authenticity will win over major entities."
Clay Travis – Founder & Host, Sport & State
Travis is back on the sports scene in a major way after launching Sport & State , a new digital media company built largely around a slate of live sports talk shows on YouTube. While Travis continues to examine sports through the lens of right-wing social causes, he now relies on a roster of other hosts who do more straight sports talk. If the new lineup hits, we may be talking about Travis as a kingmaker in this wave of digital video content the same way we did when he was at the forefront of blogging and cable news.
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Ashleigh Arnim – Head of Content, Shay Shay Media
When Shannon Sharpe left FS1 in 2023 to build a podcast business, he plucked Arnim from the network and brought her with him. Arnim, a former producer on Undisputed , helped Sharpe craft the live sports reaction show Nightcap and take Club Shay Shay to new heights.
Both shows are going strong once again after Sharpe settled a lawsuit alleging sexual assault last year. Shay Shay Media partnered with Playmaker earlier this year to keep the shows growing, and launched a new podcast from former NFL defensive stalwarts James Harrison and Joe Haden. Nightcap added former NBA All-Star Joe Johnson as a full-time host. Reports suggested Sharpe could cash in at the same level as the Kelces and other stars in the podcast space before his legal battle last spring. The recent return to form could mean he and Shay Shay Media are back on track for that type of deal.
Ashleigh Arnim's view of the next five to ten years:"Live IRL content will become a major growth area as creators move beyond studios to capture sports, culture, and conversations as they happen. The real differentiator will be the ability to capture compelling moments, tell a story in real time, and hold an audience's attention. Only a select group of creators will do that exceptionally well."
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Richelle Markazene & Jamie Horowitz – Head of Audio & President, Omaha Productions
Each year, Omaha's podcast portfolio at ESPN grows. The company, helmed by Peyton Manning and former ESPN exec Horowitz, has clearly found a recipe that works for both the Worldwide Leader and its prominent talent.
This year, Omaha added new shows from Chiney Ogwumike, Brian Windhorst and Jeff Passan that have quickly become among ESPN's most successful.
Brian Dailey – COO, All The Smoke
As the core All the Smoke show stays strong, the production company that has grown around it is making even bigger strides . Founded by Dailey and host Matt Barnes after their Showtime partnership, ATS now operates combat sports and baseball verticals and multiple social brands. The company also produces original content for Netflix, including Irvin's The White House , and has multiple documentary projects in the works.
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Brian Dailey's view of the next five to ten years:"We're going to see more athletes and creators evolve beyond hosting shows or producing content into building fully realized media businesses."
Jessie Katz – Head, iHeart Women's Sports Network
Katz is the brain behind a growing women's sports vertical at iHeartMedia that this year signed a new Jemele Hill-Cari Champion vehicle and a star-studded show from the popular Togethxr brand. While Sarah Spain anchors the lineup with the daily women's sports news show Good Game , Katz has nurtured several complementary hits , including Flagrant & Funny with Hill and Champion and another podcast from WNBA star Azzi Fudd.
Jessie Katz's prediction for 2027: "More men will start hosting content about women's sports."
Dave Katzman – CEO, Playmaker
Katzman joined Playmaker earlier this year with a directive to expand, and the results are promising so far . The company has partnered with top talent like Sharpe and Gilbert Arenas while launching new projects with Mookie Betts, Jameis Winston and Joy Taylor. A live episode of The Roommates Show celebrating the New York Knicks paired Playmaker with ESPN and showed the continued potential of live events for podcasts hosted by active athletes.
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Dave Katzman's prediction for the sports podcasting space in 2027: "The line between traditional networks and independent podcasts is going to get even blurrier."
Mike Foss – ESPN
Known to Pat McAfee Show diehards and sports media nerds as McAfee's right-hand man at the Worldwide Leader, Foss was promoted this year to EVP and executive editor. Foss now oversees ESPN's daytime programming and news coverage, including its podcast offering . While much of that lineup is overseen by Omaha Productions, Foss makes the call on which talent can directly engage with their audience through podcasts — and how.
Daniel Maas – Vice President, AMP Sports
The local television conglomerate Sinclair has been aggressive in building AMP, its new digital media arm led by Maas. With AMP, Sinclair aims to leverage its existing sports relationships through local affiliate networks and produce podcasts for both national and local audiences. The national shows feature top broadcasting talent from across the industry, including Urban Meyer, Tracy McGrady, and Candace Parker. At the local level, AMP uses Sinclair's presence in fanatical college football markets to produce hyperlocal shows hosted by alumni from blue-blood programs.
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The model shows how traditional media companies can use their reach and production know-how to compete with newer upstarts in podcasting — and succeed.
Daniel Maas' prediction for 2027:"Women's sports podcasts will become a major growth opportunity for media companies, with the Women's World Cup serving as a key catalyst. We'll see more investment in athlete-led shows, bigger brand partnerships and a greater focus on building year-round audiences."
Jack Rose, Jen Simons & Jordan Bayroff – COO, CCO & Head of Revenue, Initial Digital
Among the growing crop of digital video production houses, Initial Digital (formerly Silver Tribe Media) is the clear gold standard. Rose, a cofounder; Simons, a former Barstool Sports content exec; and Bayroff, a FanDuel marketing whiz turned podcast sales guru, all report to the respected Michael Klein and offer clients a one-stop shop for all things digital video.
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Initial is part management firm, part production company, part sales team. They have worked with most of the biggest players in sports podcasting, including Colin Cowherd's The Volume, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Dirty Mo Media, Omaha Productions, and many more. The company also represents many of the other stars in the space directly, from Barstool's PFT Commenter to ESPN's Mina Kimes to Josh Pate. This year, Initial settled into new ownership by a private equity-backed management firm.
Jack Rose's prediction for 2027:"The most successful digital talent leverage all of their content and channels to create the biggest deals across all platforms. More and more deals will be shaped that way to encompass content across the internet, regardless of the specific show or platform is comes from."
The post The 2026 Awful Announcing sports podcast power list appeared first on Awful Announcing .
