Barrett Media’s Top 20 series for Sports Radio starts with the Top 20 National Sports Radio Shows of 2025. Stay tuned to this website, our newsletters and X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and/or Instagram to learn of the results for Sports Radio’s Major and Mid Sized market winners. At the conclusion of the Top 20 series in March, I will record a video discussing the entire process. That video will be posted on the Barrett Media YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe so you’re notified once the video goes live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the voting. That explains why shows from the Infinity Sports Network, FOX Sports Radio, etc. are on the list despite no longer being on the air in 2026.
#2 – We ask our voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our executive panel consists of forty three (43) program directors and corporate executives from radio’s top broadcasting companies. They include Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, Bonneville, SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, Radio One, and a bunch of independently owned and operated radio stations. Our voting group is large because we want feedback from every part of the country. We also do that to assure the results don’t favor any one company.
#4 – The criteria for our voters included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 – A total of 90 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the National Sports Radio Shows category.
And the Winner Is…
For the third straight year and fourth time total since we started this series, our voters have selected The Dan Patrick Show as the Top National Sports Radio Show of 2025. DP finished ahead of The Herd with Colin Cowherd to earn the victory. DP and Colin have occupied the top 2 slots in this category for most of the past decade. Congrats to Dan, Paul, Todd, Seton, Marvin and all involved with Fox Sports Radio on the well earned recognition.
In addition, this was a big year for SiriusXM. Mad Dog Sports Radio snagged 4 of the top 9 slots this year. The company also had three other shows land on the Top 20. In what will go down as a first since we started this series, a wrestling radio program cracked the Top 20. Congrats to all involved with Busted Open. A highly popular and exceptional show, it was cool to see Dave and his partners be recognized for their performance.
Finally, Infinity Sports Network was replaced by Westwood One in late-December, but the network didn’t go out quietly. Two of their shows earned spots in the Top 20: Maggie & Perloff and The Zach Gelb Show. They may not air at this time on national sports radio but for Maggie, Andrew and Zach, it’s cool to know their work was valued by those in leadership positions.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 National Sports Radio Shows of 2025.
Additional Notes:
- The Dan Patrick Show cruised to a sixty seven (67) point victory over The Herd with Colin Cowherd thanks in part to a category best nineteen (19) first place votes.
- Spots 21-25 belonged to Moving the Chains, The Odd Couple, GameNight, Ben Maller and Amber & Ian.
- The closest contests saw D.A. and Babs and Full Ride slip by Unsportsmanlike and Moving the Chains by two (2) points each.
- Of the 90 shows eligible displayed on voter ballots, eight (8) received at least one 1st place vote.
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Jason Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media. The company launched in September 2015 and has provided consulting services to America’s top audio and video brands, while simultaneously covering the media industry at BarrettMedia.com, becoming a daily destination for media professionals. Prior to Barrett Media, Jason built and programmed 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which later became 97.5 The Fanatic. Barrett also led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and worked on-air and behind the scenes at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT producing ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ and ‘GameNight’. JB can be reached on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
DA & Babs should be higher. That show is fantastic and a ton of laughs in the morning.
Bart Winkler got robbed!