Oklahoma State associate wrestling coach Zack Esposito. (Photo courtesy of Zack Esposito)
THIS IS THE TABLE FORTY PODCAST
WITH MATT AND LESLEE HOLLIDAY
Zack Esposito is in his sixth season as the associate wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University, where he was also a star wrestler from 2002-2006. He compiled a 120-12 record during his time in Stillwater, helping lead the Cowboys to the NCAA national championship every year from 2003-2006.
In his 13 years on staff at Oklahoma State, he has helped coached OSU to 11 Big 12 Conference championships and 64 individual conference championships.
He joins “Table Forty” this week to talk about cultivating a winning mindset, his faith and just showing up — both in the athletic arena and in our walk with Jesus.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans smiles during an NFL wild-card playoff game, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Defense travels.
That was certainly the case Monday night, as the AFC’s No. 5 seed — the Houston Texans — traveled to Pittsburgh and defeated the No. 4-seeded Steelers in decisive fashion, 30-6, to complete the final piece of the NFL divisional-round playoff puzzle. It was the Texans’ first road playoff win in the franchise’s 24-year history. Previously, they were 0-6.
Leaning on the league’s stingiest defense built by third-year head coach (and former Texans defensive star) DeMeco Ryans, Houston had built a white-hot nine-game winning streak to finish the regular season. It extended the streak to 10 by doing the exact same thing on Monday.
Houston clung to a tight 7-6 lead entering the fourth quarter, and then came alive. Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 51-yard field goal with 13:07 left. Then on the ensuing Pittsburgh possession, Texans defensive end Will Anderson hit Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who fumbled. Fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked up the loose ball and ran it back for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Texans’ defense forced Pittsburgh to punt and the offense then responded with an 11-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Woody Marks. But it was the defense, again, which put the finishing touches on Houston’s historic victory.
With less than three minutes remaining, Rodgers launched a pass deep downfield that was intercepted by Houston safety Calen Bullock Jr. at the 50 yard-line. Bullock returned it down the left sideline for the Texans’ second defensive touchdown of the game and their final points in the 30-6 win.
It was a dominant defensive performance indeed, but one that was by no means surprising. The Texans boasted the NFL’s No. 1 defense in 2025-26, leading the way with the fewest yards allowed per game (277.2) during the regular season. They also forced the third-most turnovers (29) and allowed the second-fewest points per game (17.4).
“First and foremost for me,” Ryans said to begin his press conference, “I just want to give all praise, honor and glory to our God, who’s been gracious to us, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“What a game. What a performance by our guys. Guys just continue to let their light shine through how they’re playing.”
On the back of his great defense that shined once again on Monday, Ryans led his team to an incredible mid-season turnaround to reach the playoffs for the third time in his three seasons at the helm. The Texans began this season with three straight losses but finished 12-5, becoming only the fifth team since 1990 to start a season 0-3 and reach the playoffs. Houston is now the first franchise to do it twice, having accomplished the feat in 2018 as well.
Houston’s players and coaches have seemed to rally around the Biblical concept from Matthew 5:16 of letting their light shine as they’ve compiled their impressive winning streak. Ryans expanded a bit about it after a Dec. 27 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“The light is shining bright on the Texans, but that light is really reflective of our guys’ belief in the Lord and Savior — our Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ,” he told the media that day. “That’s what’s driven our team, and I’m so proud of our guys and thankful to the Lord for allowing us to allow our lights to shine through Him.
“Just all praise and honor goes to Him.”
Anderson alluded to Matthew 5:16 in the aftermath of Monday’s game.
“First, I gotta give all glory to God,” Anderson told ESPN. “Thank You, Jesus Christ. We have a Scripture saying, ‘Let our light shine before You, God,’ that when people see us play, they glorify Your name. Just a shoutout to Jesus Christ.”
Ryans made it clear from his introductory press conference as head coach that, as he sought to lead his beloved Texans to greatness, he’d never forget to praise God or thank Him for the gift it is to have the opportunity.
“I’m thankful to God that He’s just paved the way for me through everything that I’ve been through in life,” Ryans said in February 2023.
Before the Super Bowl in 2020, when he was a San Francisco 49ers’ defensive assistant, Ryans revealed to Sports Spectrum his deepest motivations as a coach.
“You’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s why we’re all here — and that’s by the grace of God,” Ryans said. “Why are we in the position that we’re in? Why are we able to do what we do? That’s by God blessing us with this awesome opportunity to reach back and teach these young men, help these young men, but we have to stay grounded in the Word.
“We can get caught up in our work, a lot of long hours, a lot of long days, but you can’t forget what sustains us, and that’s Jesus Christ.”
Ryans will lead the Texans on the road again in their divisional-round matchup against the No. 2-seeded New England Patriots, hoping for a repeat performance from his defense to earn Houston’s first AFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history. Yet all the while, he will continue to seek to integrate Biblical principles into his coaching, knowing that a win would be in vain if it doesn’t bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Kickoff from Foxborough is set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
With 2025 coming to a close, Sports Spectrum is highlighting our most-viewed stories of the year.
More than two years ago, the WWE legend known as Hulk Hogan made the most important decision of his life — he professed his faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Florida.
“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life,” Hogan wrote on X on Dec. 20, 2023. “No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love!”
Sports Spectrum published a story the following day to detail the momentous occasion — but more than 580 days later, that story saw a huge surge of traffic. On July 24, 2025, Hogan died of a heart attack at 71 years old. As folks learned of his death, they came across our story of his baptism.
Due to his brazen persona, flowing blond hair, distinctive mustache, memorable catchphrases, unprecedented in-ring success, and numerous movie and television appearances, Hogan’s character was emblazoned on the American psyche as he became a WWE Hall of Famer. While he said he accepted Christ at the age of 14, he became more vocal about his faith in recent years.
In August 2023, Hogan shared with podcast host Joe Rogan that he was raised in church but strayed from faith as a young adult. Only in the last few years had God worked in his heart to show him the vanity of fame and to bring him back to Himself.
“As the years went by, I started seeing how things went,” Hogan said after quoting John 3:16 and claiming Jesus as his Lord and Savior. “It’s got me to the point now where I’m locked back in. … Everything else is a distant second to what happens around me.”
Due to the news of Hogan’s death, views of our story from 2023 made July 24 the second-highest-trafficked day of 2025, following only Super Bowl Sunday. But overall, the story on Hogan’s 2023 baptism ends the year as our No. 1 most-viewed story in 2025:
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING EDDIE GEORGE
Eddie George played nine seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996-2003) and Dallas Cowboys (2004). He was selected 14th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Oilers after a stellar collegiate career at Ohio State, where he won the 1995 Heisman Trophy.
In 2011, George was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and in 2019 his number 27 was retired by the Titans.
Currently, George is in his first season as the head coach at Bowling Green State University, after spending four years as Tennessee State’s head coach (2021-24).
Today on the podcast, fellow Pro Bowl running backs Matt Forte and Eddie George discuss George’s strong faith in Jesus Christ, rededicating his life to the Lord, why ballet is something that helped him as a running back, and lessons he learned in college at Ohio State.
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Scott Cochran is the head football coach at the University of West Alabama and an eight-time national championship-winning strength and conditioning coach with LSU, Alabama and Georgia. His new book, “Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life,” is out now.
Today on the podcast, Scott Cochran shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery and coaching. He discusses his struggles with addiction, the pivotal moments that led to his recovery, and how his faith played a crucial role in his transformation. He emphasizes the importance of living one day at a time, building strong relationships with athletes, and redefining success beyond accolades.
