Longhorn legend Rod Babers takes us inside the mindset of a championship-caliber football team. Rod reflects on Texas' historic comeback against Ohio State, explains why the Longhorns must establish the running game moving forward, and describes how Steve Sarkisian can put Arch Manning in "controlled chaos" situations that maximize his talent while keeping the offense efficient. Rod also shares insights from a player's perspective on leadership, locker room culture, and what it takes to stay focused when the spotlight is brightest.

Sean Fox of 97.7 Fox Sports joins The Morning Kickoff with Mike "Hardball" Hardge & Mark Henry to discuss the buzz surrounding Lane Kiffin and his LSU program as they prepare for a massive matchup against Ole Miss.

On this episode of The Morning Kickoff with Mike "Hardball" Hardge & Mark Henry, the Longhorns remain one of the biggest stories in college football, but Steve Sarkisian's message is simple: block out the noise and stay focused on the task at hand. Hardge and Mark discuss how Texas has handled adversity early in the season, the continued development of Arch Manning, key injury updates, and what the Longhorns need to accomplish as they prepare for UTSA. The guys also break down the culture Sark continues to build inside the program, the importance of leadership during challenging moments, and why Texas has remained resilient despite the outside distractions. Plus, a look at the lessons learned through the first few weeks of the season and how the Longhorns can continue building momentum heading into the heart of their schedule.

On this edition of The Morning Kickoff, we break down the proposed Protect College Sports Act and debate which rule could have the biggest impact on college football, from transfer portal restrictions to NIL regulations and coaching movement. We also preview a busy football weekend as Texas prepares for UTSA, discuss the Cowboys' need to respond against Washington, and examine whether the Texans can handle business against Cincinnati. Plus:

• Sark's latest message on what it means to represent Texas
• Hardge Knocks Life: The applause are over, now comes the work
• The Battle of Ole Miss
• NFL Winners and Losers
• MLB Pennant Chase
• Mike Leach's legendary Pac-12 mascot fight breakdown

All that and more on Sports Radio 1300 The Zone's Morning Kickoff

Daily Texan Sports Editor Meaghan English joins The Morning Kickoff to preview Texas' upcoming matchup with UTSA and discuss what she's seeing from the Longhorns heading into another important week. Meaghan also reflects on one of her most memorable assignments, making the grueling 15-hour trip to Florida last season to cover Texas on the road, and shares what it's like traveling with and reporting on one of college football's biggest programs.

Former Texas Longhorn and current UTSA defensive line coach Chris Nelson joins The Morning Kickoff to discuss this week's matchup against Texas and what it's like returning to Austin. Nelson shares lessons learned from his playing days, his philosophy for developing young athletes, and the importance of building relationships inside the locker room. He also breaks down how he approaches coaching the trenches and highlights several Roadrunner defensive linemen who could make a major impact against the Longhorns. A conversation filled with football knowledge, coaching insight, and appreciation for the game from one of the most respected figures around the program.

Fantasy football expert Michael Fabiano joins the show to break down everything you need to know after an exciting Week 1 of the NFL season! We discuss the biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 1, players who may be headed for disappointing performances in Week 2, and the under-the-radar sleepers who could help win your matchup. Michael also shares his insight on trending waiver wire pickups, breakout candidates, and which players fantasy managers should keep a close eye on moving forward.

Austin American-Statesman reporter Danny Davis joins The Morning Kickoff to break down Texas' impressive comeback victory over Ohio State. Danny discusses what the win revealed about Steve Sarkisian's team, the resilience shown in crunch time, and why the Longhorns continue to prove they can handle the biggest stages. Plus, what the victory means moving forward as Texas prepares for UTSA and the challenges ahead.

JJ Perez of Inside Runner Sports joins The Morning Kickoff to preview UTSA's matchup with Texas. JJ discusses the Roadrunners' early-season struggles, the challenges they've faced through the first part of the schedule, and the players who could make an impact against the Longhorns. He also reflects on how far the UTSA program has come in recent years and what success looks like as the Roadrunners continue to build their identity on the national stage.