Bussin’ With The Boys — January 6, 2026

Episode: Kevin Byard Previews Bears-Packers + Michigan's Kyle Whittingham Talks Transfer Portal & NIL

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off the new year with NFL player Kevin Byard breaking down the upcoming Bears-Packers clash and reflecting on Chicago’s season, followed by Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham discussing the realities of college football's transfer portal and NIL chaos. The Boys (Will Compton, Taylor Lewan, and crew) also open up about New Year's resolutions, community involvement, and the evolving landscape of football culture. The signature banter is on display, alongside interviews, locker-room wisdom, fun riffs on pop culture (Stranger Things included), and advice for fellow podcasters.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. New Year's Vibes, Resolutions & The Power of Small Habits

[04:45–24:38]

• The boys share their New Year's resolutions, focusing on self-improvement, intentionality, and community.
• Themes: Turning motivation into discipline, avoiding perfectionism, and embracing micro-goals over lofty, overwhelming resolutions.
• Notable resolutions:
  • Drink more water, say “no” to unhelpful plans.
  • Nurture social circles beyond work and family; plan regular friend gatherings (“reservation roulette” idea).
  • Focus on health to combat issues like gout; develop a holistic wellness relationship.
  • Increase charitable giving and community engagement.
  • Daily acts: journaling ("one line a day"), reading books, writing more, running a mile a week.
  • “Getting jacked” is the perennial, elusive but motivational goal.
  • Tackling realistic, incremental goals (“Tron perfection” reference: “perfection is always right in front of you but you can never fully achieve it” — JP, [09:51]).

Memorable Quotes:

• “This has to be the year where you stop talking about it and you start being about it.” — Host, [06:21]
• “I want to learn to say no to people without worrying if they’re going to be upset about it.” — Clump, [09:08]
• “Getting jacked is like in Tron, it’s like perfection. It’s always right in front of you, but you can never fully achieve it.” — JP, [09:51]

2. Shoutouts, Pet Peeves, & Team Banter

[42:37–56:16]

• The tradition of “Shout out, no free shout out” returns, with laughs about white elephant gifts and holiday routines.
• Pet peeves: Delivery apps charging “priority” without real results, keeping holiday decorations up too long, and miscommunications with UberEats.
• Housekeeping: Will moving to a new house; planning a murder mystery party or cold plunge.
• Life reflections on friendship, family, building a community, and the small joys of getting the house back to normal after the holidays.

3. Football Culture, College Chaos, & MrBeast the Football Mogul?

[34:31–41:01]

• The crew debates the viral idea of MrBeast funding a “small school” to become a CFB powerhouse:
  • Will: "Keep YouTubers out of football." [34:35]
  • Host: “Look how ridiculous … There needs to be more structure taking place.” [36:32]
• Lively talk about the lack of salary caps, NIL, roster imbalances, and the inevitability of a Netflix doc about these “wild west” years.
• Discussion on Nebraska’s brand, keeping things fun, and the reality-tv-ification of college sports.

4. Locker Room: Podcast Advice, NFL Scheduling, & Football Q&A

[56:39–63:55]

• Advice to new podcasters: Consistency above all, treating the audience like best friends, engaging in comments, and staying true to the original brand/community.
• Quick thoughts on Jets vs Giants merch pricing, NFL season oddities, and transfer portal impact on college teams.
• Pop culture riff: The Stranger Things series finale debate (nostalgia vs. expectations).

Featured Interviews

A. Kyle Whittingham (Michigan Head Coach) — Transfer Portal & NIL Realities

[79:05–96:51]

Main Points:

• Whittingham describes the frantic pace of being a new head coach at Michigan, recruiting both high school and roster players, adapting to 5,000+ portal players: “We’re just drinking from a firehose.” [80:17]
• Portal/nil system not sustainable — budgets are “crazy,” $5M QB offers, whole new teams every season.
• Key shift: “You gotta recruit your entire team, every single year.” [80:57]
• On retaining culture: “You will become us; we will not become you — that’s becoming more challenging every year.” [84:07]
• High academic focus among Michigan’s players.
• On leaving Utah: Needed “a new voice, new leadership.” Only a few top jobs could lure him; Michigan is on that list.
• Offensive transformation under Jason Beck: More unpredictability, quick-learning systems for high-turnover teams.
• Defensive coordinator Jay Hill joined, strong ties from Utah days.
• On motorcycles & balance: “I try to steer [players] away from motorcycles…that can wait 'til later in life…but went skiing with players all the time.” [95:21]
• Insane workout streak: “6,500 days…Not a miss since July 1st, 2008.” [96:26]

Notable Quotes:

• “It’s not sustainable…prices are going crazy.” [81:41]
• “Our motto at Utah for years: 'Incoming guys, you will become us; we will not become you.' That’s more challenging every year.” [84:07]
• “It was time for a new voice, new leadership.” [87:24]

B. Kevin Byard (Chicago Bears Safety) — Bears Turnaround & NFL Insight

[108:49–143:19]

Main Points:

• Bears’ Season: Started 0–2, “the sky is falling” feeling. “After that [Week 2 Detroit] game, we got destroyed…had a crazy film session…But we knew the schedule could set up a run.” [110:25]
• Defense’s identity: League-best at turnovers, snowballing success; “when we take the ball away, we win.” [111:03]
• The difference in Bears' fan/media pressure compared to Tennessee: “In Tennessee, you realize how light the media is…In Chicago, it's heavy.” [113:01]
• Pro Bowl voting: “I was the fifth highest voted player for the Pro Bowl overall. That just lets you know how dope our fans are.” [114:54]
• On being an alternate: “Anytime you have an opportunity to go down there…you’re going to go, bro.” [117:01]
• On Caleb Williams’ growth: “Ben Johnson came in, tore everything down to the studs…He’s took a huge step…It’s the little things, just checking the ball down, trusting the [talented] receivers…Caleb is special.” [136:06]
• Ben Johnson’s culture: Toughest camp Byard’s had, lots of live tackling, big expectations. “He just has a certain mentality…his first meeting: shouldn’t be 'Did we win?' but 'How much did we win by?'” [130:00]
• The “good, better, best” chant: “First time we did it…guys looking around…kind of corny. Now, after winning, it’s our rallying cry.” [133:53]

On Transfer Portal/NIL (from his perspective and his brothers'):

• “A lot of it’s money, for sure…opportunity too. It’s like free agency, every day.” [125:05]
• “If the portal was around when I was in college, I probably would have left after my freshman year.” [123:43]

Memorable Quotes:

• “You know how people say, 'ignore the noise?' It’s impossible. Everybody reads [social] stuff…especially this generation.” [113:54]
• “I would almost end my career if I could get a Super Bowl, bro. I’d take the Super Bowl over five more years.” [142:04]

Pop Culture & Locker Room Highlights

Stranger Things Finale: Debate and Takeaways

[67:22–77:56]

• Mitch: “The finale sucked...No one died.”
• Will: “I enjoyed it. Didn’t expect huge plot twists...All the callbacks were great...reminded you we grew up with this series.”
• Consensus: Finales are always polarizing, but the wholesome send-off struck a chord for many.
• Duffer Brothers spin-off teased, but “nothing will top what we already received.” — Clump [77:50]

Community & Show-Within-the-Show Talk

• Support for local Nashville talent (Jared Beeman’s stand-up debut, all proceeds to charity).
• Encouragement for audience engagement ("Hashtag Tear Talk" for show input, building community).
• Advice for new podcasters: Consistency and audience engagement are everything. [57:23]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “How do you turn motivation into discipline and keep this going for 365 days?” — Host, [06:21]
• “If you can get the first Pro Bowl under the belt, you gotta get there…it's gonna be on the wiki forever.” — Host, [116:04]
• “You will become us; we will not become you. That’s becoming more challenging every year.” — Kyle Whittingham, [84:07]
• “You know how people say, 'ignore the noise?' It’s impossible. Everybody reads [social] stuff…especially this generation.” — Kevin Byard, [113:54]
• “I would almost end my career if I could get a Super Bowl, bro.” — Kevin Byard, [142:04]
• “Portal opens, there’s no time to make good decisions. It’s just chaos, so you try to have organized chaos.” — Kyle Whittingham, [81:12]
• “Nebraska doesn’t need YouTube spectacle, Nebraska’s got a brand of its own.” — Will, [39:36]

Episode Flow & Takeaways

This is a classic, sprawling “Bussin’ With The Boys” — big laughs and friendly jabs, but also honest reflection about personal growth and the dire state of college football's transfer/financial system. The interviews with both Byard and Whittingham mix football wisdom with candid personal insight, providing a behind-the-scenes look at life in the pros and the upper echelon of CFB. From maintaining culture amidst chaos, to the joy of small-group get-togethers, to the value of grit and generosity, this is a new year’s launch worthy of the Boys’ bus: real, raw, and ready for another season of football and friendship.

For first-timers:
Expect a warm, irreverent tone punctuated by serious moments, inside NFL/CFB nuggets, practical life (and podcaster) advice, plus locker-room banter you can only get from the boys themselves.

Breakdown by Timestamps (Selected Highlights)

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 04:45 | New Year's Resolutions roundtable (motivation→discipline) | | 23:45 | Personal goals: running, reading, writing—micro-goals | | 34:31 | MrBeast “turning a G5 team into a powerhouse” debate | | 42:37 | “No free shout out” returns – team banter & gifts | | 56:39 | Locker-room: Podcast advice, audience building | | 79:05 | Kyle Whittingham interview (transfer, NIL, new Michigan culture) | | 108:49 | Kevin Byard on Bears turnaround, NFL culture, Pro Bowl voting, Transfer Portal insight | | 136:06 | Evaluating Caleb Williams’ growth, Ben Johnson’s culture | | 142:04 | “What would you do anything for?” Super Bowl confession | | 67:22 | Stranger Things finale debate |

Listen for:

• Real football insights but also how modern sports culture affects everyone — from the locker room to the living room.
• Balanced blend of comedy, honesty, and actionable lessons for self- and community-improvement, on and off the field.