FCS Favorites in '25, Aiden Bouman on returning to USD, Pete Bercich previews Vikings-Rams

Happy Hour with John Gaskins

Who is the early national title favorite in 2025 now that the transfer portal has closed — NDSU, SDSU, USD, or another FCS squad? John breaks down the dust settling and smoke clearing on those programs' rosters after a wild portal period, especially at SDSU.

The only returning quarterback from those three teams, Aidan Bouman, joins for 43 minutes to discuss his surprise decision to come back to USD, what NFL scouts told him, why he didn't even enter the transfer portal for possible big bucks at FBS schools, being a newlywed, and the Coyotes' massive turnaround the last couple years. What did Bob Nielson and Josh Davis do to reverse the course of the program, and what is Bouman's assessment of the returning offensive players and Davis' replacements at offensive coordinator?

Which team may benefit more from Monday's NFC wild card game's move from L.A. to Phoenix due to the terrifying wildfires in Southern California? Does Minnesota's nightmare in Detroit actually benefit the Vikings one week later? What can or should we expect from Sam Darnold after his debacle in Detroit? The former Vikings linebacker (1994-2000), who has been the Vikings Radio Network's color analyst for about 15 years, answers those questions, plus the defensive keys to Minnesota reversing a Week 8 loss to the Rams in L.A.