97.9 The Hill’s Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, Jan. 23 about one of the top sports stories of the week: quarterback Darian Mensah being sued by Duke University for entering the transfer portal and potentially breaking his contract with the football program. As Duke tries to prevent Mensah from reportedly jumping to an ACC rival, Stroman shares her thoughts on how the case could set a precedent for both schools’ and players’ future negotiations and navigation of roster construction. Debby also shares her thoughts on the increasing trend of basketball players with professional experience using their remaining college eligibility to join college programs mid-season.
Dr. Deborah Stroman — who is a consulting professor for UNC and Virginia, sports businesswoman, former basketball player, and columnist — chats with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell each week about headlines from the world of sports. Covering both local and national stories, Stroman specializes in connecting the on-field product to the impact of sports on business, culture and society. Listen to their past conversations on Chapelboro, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Storylines We're Following in the College Football Championship Game — Stroman On Sports (Jan. 16, 2026)Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, Jan. 16 and preview the 2026 College Football Playoff national championship game.

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