Dozen Trivia Szn 6 FULL Preview, Odds, & Predictions

It’s Super Bowl Week, yes, the biggest game of the year in America, but more importantly, Jeff D Lowe & The Dozen Trivia are BACK in our lives. Finally we have season 6 as it kicked off in San Fran with a live show tonight on Youtube starting 9PM ET/ 6PM PT. But before we dive into those matchups, season favorites, or predictions, we need to see who’s who. With over half the league featuring new faces or expansion teams, I’m here to sort it all out for you heading into the new year of The Dozen Trivia League. First, let’s look at the returners, ya know the ones you already know, then we’ll get into everything new around the league.

The Returners

The Experts: Brandon Walker, Fran, PFT

What else can we say about the champs? We all know they are solid across the board. Fran last years finals MVP is unflappable in celebrity mashup, while the boys Brandon Walker & PFT(who won the trophy with a back issue, is now fully healthy again) are complete trivia mutants. Now you just have to wonder, how did they handle an offseason as champs? Was there a slight downturn in training? Can they handle being the ones with the trophy?

Ceiling: A REPEAT! Of course, as they are the favorites coming into Season 6, with a chance to prove it right away in San Fran Thursday.

Floor: Just outside the Final Four. Though this still feels like a stretch, the league just seems to get deeper each season. With that, you have to wonder, can the OGs keep up, or will championship fatigue set in?

Booze Ponies: Will Compton, Feits, Dana Beers

After losing in a heartbreaker in Boston, the Booze gang looks strong as ever to get back into the hunt this summer. Willy C showed huge strides of improvement in 2025, which propelled this squad to a championship level. Now we’ll see if they can sustain this success. They’re expected to be among the favorites, not just this week, but for the whole thing.

Ceiling: The Booze Ponies come out hot, with Captain Willy C even more improved, making this team a three-headed monster en-route to a championship this summer.

Floor: Dana Beers takes a step back as he attempts to get the Yuggernauts a win and try as many new things as possible, leading to a first-round playoff exit.

Ziti: Dave Portnoy, Eddie, Clem

The former champs are back & hungry as ever after falling in the Final Four in Boston. The Snack Boys Eddie & Clem (which I miss too much, please bring it back) look to get their captain back to the pinnacle of the league. Eddie has been a top-5 player in the league for the past two seasons and will continue his reign in 2026. They love the live events, and they have a chance to kick off the year with a huge statement.

Ceiling: The Snack Boys eat up the league yet again as they become the first repeat champs with ease under the leadership of the captain of captains, the man, the myth, the legend, Dave Portnoy.

Floor: Dave’s focus lies with all of his sports teams fighting for championships, spreading himself too thin and leading to a light schedule and a team not playoff-ready for a run.

Minihane: Kirk, Robbie Fox, Chris Klemmer

In what is maybe the BIGGEST surprise of the offseason, Team Minihane has the same roster going into a 2nd straight season. Now, will it hold all year? That’s another hurdle we’ll look to cross when we get there, yes I said when not if. The last of the Final Four from Boston, they look to be solid contenders yet again in 2026. Chris Klemmer, though, looks to be the one on thin ice. His play will surely be monitored by Kirk throughout.

Ceiling: A Minihane championship is 100% in the cards. Klemmer revenge season from the jump as he contends for MVP while flirting with breaking the scoring record.

Floor: Klemmer chokes on his first question of the season, leading to his release. The revolving door of the 3rd seat results in a first-round exit in the big dance.

Ice Dogs: Marty Mush, Keith Yandle, David Andrews

Known early on as basement dwellers, the Dogs showed some fight last season, including a late-year surge. Now, with a little juice heading into 2026, they’ll look to compete for a playoff spot. In a league with lots of new faces and teams, they have the advantage of knowing what they have, and the chemistry others might not.

Ceiling: They are the new Booze Ponies, taking the league by storm with a laid-back attitude and blind luck to a Final Four run before falling short. David Andrews also lands a Domino’s, Dunkin’, and Buc-ee’s commercials gig.

Floor: They revert to their old ways of second-guessing and internet issues. Mush loses his captaincy midway through the year as they return to the league’s basement.

Ryders: KFC, Keegs, Rico Bosco

Last year’s surprise team of the season found themselves in the playoffs and even hunting for the Final Four. This year, though, there will be no sneaking up on anyone. They are a well-balanced squad in knowledge, so the expectation is for them to be near the top of the standings yet again. Also watch out for Keegs MVP campaign early on.

Ceiling: Keegs and Bosco become MVP-contending teammates as they ride (yeah, I did it) the momentum to a Final Four appearance and a legit shot at the whole damn thing.

Floor: Bosco can’t focus as his 11 tourney teams all exit before the Round of 32 in March, sending him into hiding until the heat settles down. This hurts team chemistry as they just miss the playoffs.

XYZ: Large, Vibbs, Big Ev

Last year, the usual spoilers took a step back, falling in the rankings. Still, they stayed with the same roster for 2026 and feel ready to get back into the mix. We know Large has the steadiness as captain to compete with anyone in the league. The question is whether Big Ev will help out enough with college sports in 2026.

Ceiling: Large becomes a top-5 scorer in the league as he helps the team get back into the playoffs and playing spoiler yet again on the titans, en-route to an Elite 8 appearance.

Floor: Large focuses too much on his game-time snacks as Vibbs and Big Ev struggle yet again, leading to a bottom-tier finish.

Coming Back with New Faces

Uptown Balls: Tommy Smokes, Glenny Balls, Rone

With the retirement of Big Cat, the bad boys of trivia...Team Yak, disbanded, sending free agency into a frenzy with two elite players hitting the market. Former champions Smokes & Balls didn’t hesitate for a second, grabbing Rone immediately. Sadly, this meant the release of Hannah Montoya, who remains unsigned, which all but ends the run of Art History and the tiny bit of culture it brought to The Dozen. As for Uptown Balls, after a disappointing finish last season, they’re looking to put themselves right back into the contender conversation.

Ceiling: Rone is the perfect mix to bring the swagger back, pushing this team into the Final Four and giving them another real shot at the title. Glenny and Smokes are All-Dozen candidates leading the way.

Floor: Glenny’s fall from MVP contention continues as his celebrity mashup ability falters. Rone’s bad-boy trivia antics scare the straight-edge Tommy Smokes, who gives up his captaincy, and the team misses the playoffs.

Chicago: Chief, White Sox Dave, Cheah

The other major free agent from the breakup of the bad boys of trivia was Steven Cheah, and just like Rone, he didn’t last long. Chicago scooped him up quickly to bolster their roster. His rare mind could be exactly what they need to escape mediocrity. They’ve hovered just outside true contention for years and finally decided to make a splash.

Ceiling: The addition of Cheah works for both sides as he finds his groove, leads the team in points, and pushes Chicago into the Elite 8, shocking some of the league’s best along the way.

Floor: White Sox Dave tires of Cheah’s mind three games in, leading to a trade and the addition of Danny Conrad. Unfortunately, the Comrades don’t like WSD’s treatment of their guy either, forcing Team Chicago to rebrand as Conrad’s Comrades to avoid the army taking WSD out.

The Grinders: Coach Gruden, Jake Malasek, Frank The Tank

In what may have been the other most shocking news of the offseason, Frank and the Frankettes officially ended their existence with the trading of Frank, ending two of the OG franchises in one offseason. After another loud early playoff exit, there was a mutual and positive split between Frank and the Frankettes (Nick & KB). Now Coach Gruden may face his toughest challenge yet, handling Frank The Tank. Yes, the man who won a Super Bowl and coached Hall of Famers now adds Frank to the long list of personalities in his career.

Ceiling: Coach becomes the Frank The Tank whisperer as Frank returns to early-career form. Combined with Jake Malasek’s pop culture knowledge, the Grinders become a title contender with a Final Four appearance.

Floor: Even the great Hall of Famer Gruden can’t work with Frank The Tank, leading to broken glasses, ripped shirts, and a headline-making split before the trade deadline. The Grinders never recover and miss the playoffs.

EXPANSION TEAMS EVERYWHERE!

Mark & The Markettes: Mark Titus, Nick Turani, Kyle Bauer

The first of six new teams, and maybe the most elite of them all. As mentioned earlier, the Frankettes are no more, but no worries: Mark Titus joins Nick and KB to form what many are calling a potential super team. They’ll make their debut live Thursday night. While it’ll be strange to see Nick & KB without Frank, you also have to wonder who takes the captain role with both Mark and Nick having leadership experience.

Ceiling: The Markettes unlock a new level of bits, psyching out opponents while answering questions at an elite rate. They secure the all-too-familiar one seed, except this time, they finish the job, winning Titus the championship he’s been chasing since the Yak Gauntlet banner of Fall 2025.

Floor: Mark can’t control his Markettes as they fall too deep into bits. KB mixes up world capitals with New Platson, Nick forgets which three cartoon characters had football-shaped heads, and it all snowballs into a missed playoff run.

Po’Boyz: Ben Mintz, T-Bob, Kenjac

Another blockbuster new squad featuring a brand-new Dozen player. T-Bob Hebert brings one of the most unique brains in Barstool, a nerd-loving yet sports-savvy mind, making him a prime candidate for top scorer and early Rookie of the Year favorite. Alongside him are two proven weapons in Kenjac and Mintzy. This team brings serious firepower.

Ceiling: T-Bob becomes an unstoppable machine, breaking rookie records and finding himself in MVP conversations. Mintzy shows up for his guy, Kenjac hits every movie question, and they hoist the trophy...yes nightmare fuel, Mintzy becomes a two-time Dozen champ, the undisputed leader of the South.

Floor: Mintzy forgets game times while chasing the Barstool Cruise Ship as it leaves the dock without him. A fed-up T-Bob trades him, but it’s too late, and the team misses the playoffs.

Red Team: Dante The Don, Jack Mac, Big T

The return of the Don! I asked Dante, the former runner-up (as he reminded me...my bad), how he felt about returning to the league.

“I’m wicked excited. I loved playing in The Dozen so much.”

He went on about how watching from the sidelines only made him itch to return even more.

“Jeff created something truly awesome, and I think our new team is well-rounded and can make some noise.”

Dante’s enthusiasm is shared by this reporter, as this squad could absolutely sneak up on the league with three proven players.

Ceiling: The tinfoil hats are fully tuned in as the Red Team becomes the league’s top spoilers in 2026, making the playoffs with Dante entering MVP talks and earning All-Star honors.

Floor: The Red Team focuses too much on preparing for IT to happen. Fear of IT arriving sooner rather than later causes a total lack of focus & a scramble to the bunker, leading to zero wins on the season.

Hoagies: Connor Griffin, TJ Hitchings, Gia Mariano

TJ’s ever-growing team list continues as we introduce the Hoagies. With TJ & Gia now veterans of The Dozen, they brought in full-content man Connor Griffin. This is where we start entering “more questions than answers” territory. We know TJ and Gia can hang, but what does Griffin bring to the table? The sports questions won’t just be Philly- and State-based.

Ceiling: Connor Griffin emerges as an immediate All-Star caliber player, turning the Hoagies into a playoff contender capable of playing spoiler in the big dance.

Floor: Griffin can’t settle on a game-day meal, bouncing from Portillo’s to Culver’s and even trying just a Slim Jim. The lack of focus leads to stackinglosses and eventually a release from the team.

Ice People: Elio, Mike “Mut” Mutnansky, Hogdale

Elio the Iceman brings in two rookies as he launches his own team. The Ice People, or "Nor’easters", enter the league with low expectations in Year One. We know Hogdale, much like Connor Griffin, knows his teams inside and out, but what about the rest of sports? Sometimes fandom runs so deep there’s no room for anything else. Still, expect them to be strong within their niches. Heres what new man Hogdale had to say on joining the Dozen:

“I am extremely excited & hoping that I can put together some good performances for the team”

Ceiling: Hogdale proves to be a savant, winning Rookie of the Year and pushing the Ice People into the playoff hunt.

Floor: Mut and Hogdale get caught up in the Red Sox’s lack of offseason moves, losses pile up, and they finish near the bottom of the league.

Sabre: Liam Blutman, Meek Phil, Mad Dog

With Liam & Mad Dog joining forces after being cast away from their former teams, they add a third with one hell of a sports & trolling mind...Meek Phil. While baseball is his bread and butter, Meek’s knowledge stretches far beyond that. This already feels like a potential surprise team of the year based on balance alone.

Ceiling: Meek Phil becomes a full-blown troll master, throwing opponents’ minds into a blender. Blutman goes on a tear, earning MVP votes, and Sabre makes a playoff run that shocks the league.

Floor: Meek Phil dives too deep into the trolling, forgetting his sports knowledge entirely, leaving Blutman and Mad Dog to carry the load, which isn’t quite enough to reach the playoffs.

That’s your 16 teams for the 2026 Season 6 of The Dozen Trivia. Now onto whose the favorites, playoff chances, and championship odds. Lets also not forget who can take home some individual hardware in 2026. We’re in store for a great one this year in The Dozen.

Power Rankings, MVP Races, Rookies Ladders, & Predictions

Right away, let’s take a look at the preseason power rankings. There is no doubt who sits at number one going into the season, and they’ll have a chance to solidify that spot immediately in San Fran as The Experts begin their title defense.

After that top spot come the true contenders heading into the season. Of course, surprises will emerge as the year heats up, but early on it feels like six to eight teams legitimately believe they have a shot at the crown. The Booze Ponies and Ziti look primed to dethrone the Experts, while Minihane, the Markettes, and the new kids on the block, the Po’Boyz, all feel really good about their rosters.

But team success isnt the only thing in this league, we also love to spotlight the individuals who drive their team’s success. Winning MVP is a big deal, no matter how much it can be downplayed. Yes, in this league it’s okay to admit we think about the me as well. We’ll also be updating this MVP race and the Rookie ladder throughout the season in our weekly updates. Here are the preseason editions of each.

For MVP, there are plenty of familiar names near the top, with Brandon Walker opening as the slight favorite. That said, Eddie and Dana will both be in action this week, looking to close that gap early with an upset in their sights. Just missing the preseason top five are names like Glenny Balls, Kelly Keegs, and maybe even Jake Malasek, who quietly put up some sneaky-strong numbers last season. The big question is whether he takes that next step this year.

As for the newcomers, there are exactly five rookies, with Connor Griffin retaining rookie status despite limited league experience. In my mind, there is a HEAVY favorite for Rookie of the Year in T-Bob. His brain feels built for this, his knowledge crosses deep pop culture with random sports guys, and honestly, this league may have been made for him. Of course, once the lights come on and Jeff D. Lowe starts the countdown, nerves can kick in fast. But the former LSU Tiger should be more than ready.

Now, it wouldn’t be the Dozen FULL preview without a prediction. I’ve given you every team’s ceiling and floor...but who makes that ever-elusive Final Four of the Dozen Trivia League Season 6? As I’ve said before, the league feels deeper than ever, with around eight teams having a legitimate title shot. That makes predicting a Final Four even tougher. Still, looking at the league as a whole, four teams stand out as balanced, proven, and led by elite captains.

As I close this preview, let’s give a hand to Jeff D. Lowe for this masterpiece entering its sixth season. We Stoolies are blessed to watch such high-level trivia every year. Yes we’ll miss some old faces and be shocked by others in new places, but in the end, it’s still great trivia. Well done, Jeff.

Alright… though it wasn’t easy, these four teams feel primed to go all the way. The Experts remain as hungry as ever to prove last year was no fluke and are ready to rewrite the history books as 1st repeat champs. Ziti will be steady as always, showing that Final Four appearances are simply the standard for this franchise.

The final two are where the storylines get truly cinematic: Mark & The Markettes, alongside The Grinders, led by Coach Gruden as he attempts to tame the anger of a man who couldn’t quite put it all together with the Frankettes. All while Frank’s former teammates find themselves on a crash course against their once-and-forever beloved leader.

A final showdown that feels like it was written for Hollywood.