SEC Football Unfiltered

Kirby Smart remains the No. 1 coach in the SEC. Any naysayers, consider the reigning SEC champion. It's Georgia. When ranking SEC coaches, 1 through 16, the debate becomes lively after Smart, the obvious starting point. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reveal their lists, from first to last. Auburn's Hugh Freeze becomes the subject of the biggest disagreement among the hosts. Adams also goes just a bit against the grain with his No. 2 pick.

Tennessee slapped a tire patch in the gaping hole in the rubber of its quarterback situation. UCLA’s disposable goods became the Vols’ prize. Tennessee is expected to add transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar from UCLA, after the Vols lost starter Nico Iamaleava to none other than UCLA. In other words, UCLA decided it would rather anoint Iamaleava as its starter than Aguilar, who transferred in December after two seasons starting for Appalachian State. That caused Aguilar to re-evaluate his options. The best opportunity available just so happened to be at Tennessee. He’ll compete with a pair of young in-house options for the starting job. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams assign the winners and losers of this whole saga, and they pinpoint where Vols coach Josh Heupel flawed in his execution. Iamaleava’s missteps were numerous and obvious, but Heupel’s handling of the situation was not flawless. They also identify the favorite in Tennessee’s starting quarterback competition. Later in the episode, they examine Oklahoma’s case for being a College Football Playoff sleeper on the heels of the Sooners’ marquee transfer acquisitions.

Nico Iamaleava reportedly wanted more money from Tennessee. The Vols wouldn’t meet his demands, so, Tennessee’s starting quarterback entered the transfer portal. Iamaleava now needs a new school to pay him to be its starting quarterback, while Tennessee needs a transfer to stay in the playoff contender column for this season. This public breakup between a quarterback and a school that had invested so much in him encapsulates the college football zeitgeist, as the April free agency period heats up. But, are there any winners in this situation? On today’s episode, host Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by GoVols247 senior writer Wes Rucker as they unpack how the Iamaleava-Tennessee union unraveled, and where each goes from here. Iamaleava remains a talented quarterback with upside, but he would have enjoyed a hotter market for his talents if he had transferred in December. Tennessee’s outlook becomes cloudy. A lot of starting quarterbacks might be wary of leaving their current situation, to have to learn a new offense with a new team in a short time period. Still, Vols coach Josh Heupel says his team will pursue a transfer. If they land a good one, the new arrival could polish Tennessee’s playoff prospects.

March Madness just does not miss. This year’s tournament served fewer upsets but made up for it with an epic Final Four. The 68-team tournament provided another reminder that this annually stands as one of the best postseason events in all of sports – not just college sports. In contrast, college football supplies maybe the best regular season in sports, but its postseason often falls flat. Even College Football Playoff expansion didn’t totally solve the lackluster postseason finish. Can college football’s postseason ever match the drama of March Madness? That’s up for debate on today's episode. Hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams argue that while college football will maintain an advantage on college basketball’s regular season, it’s unlikely to ever produce a postseason that mimics the March Madness thrills. Also in this episode, the hosts grade this March Madness, and each host offers the moment he won't forget from this year's tournament.

The nation's best basketball conference supplied half the teams in the Final Four. Bravo, SEC. The SEC lived up to the hype throughout March Madness, taking the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and now Final Four by storm. Even so, oddsmakers point to Duke as having the best team, and if you've watched the Blue Devils throughout the tournament, you know that's a fair projection. So, which SEC team is better positioned to upset Duke in the national championship, if it comes to that? Auburn, or Florida? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams assess the Final Four and make their final predictions. They agree that Florida would be slightly better positioned than Auburn to tackle Duke. Neither host picks Duke to win the national championship. Later in the episode, they dissect another Tennessee tournament run that ended before the Final Four. Have the Vols hit their ceiling under Rick Barnes?

Cinderella went home before curfew, and true madness never appeared this March. That’s fine by the SEC. The relative lack of chaos in this NCAA Tournament proved good for the conference that qualified the most teams. The SEC advanced a record seven teams into the Sweet 16, and the conference retains an opportunity to sweep the Final Four spots. In today’s basketball-themed episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams grade the SEC’s performance so far, and they project the winner of each region, plus refresh their national championship picks. Toppmeyer offers a theory as to why Cinderellas took a downturn this season, and the hosts debate whether Arkansas or Kentucky won the coaching carousel last spring. Finally, they revisit their initial Final Four picks and decide whether to buy or sell those holdings.

The SEC has taken March Madness by storm, and the conference enjoys a strong chance for multiple Final Four berths due to its sheer volume of qualifiers and the lofty seeding of several of its teams. It’s not all that far-fetched to consider the possibility of the SEC claiming every spot in the Final Four. Among the SEC’s top teams, which faces the toughest path to San Antonio? That might be Auburn. The No. 1 overall seed received a brutal bracket draw. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their bracket breakdown, including spotlighting a few SEC teams that might be in danger of suffering an early upset. They also provide their Final Four picks. Adams picks a championship game featuring two SEC teams, while Toppmeyer only puts one SEC team in his Final Four, with a Big 12 team capturing the championship.

The conversation of best active coaches without a national championship begins with Gonzaga's Mark Few. You won't get very far down that list, though, before arriving at Auburn's Bruce Pearl and Tennessee's Rick Barnes. They're career winners. They've been great for their respective universities. Each owns a Final Four appearance. But, they continually come up short of the top prize. This could be the year one of those two coaches gets off that list. On today's basketball-themed episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reveal their Mount Rushmore of best active coaches without a national championship. They also make their picks to win this week's SEC Tournament. Neither host picks a sleeper team, but they disagree on which favorite will win the conference crown in Nashville.

We’re doing this again. SEC brass are debating whether to go to a nine-game conference schedule, up from eight, for the 2026 season. The SEC has considered adding a ninth conference game for more than a dozen years but never before made the move. Commissioner Greg Sankey wants an additional conference game, but some within the league are hesitant, wondering if adding another tough game is worth the risk of a loss that could damage postseason hopes. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams go inside the debate and offer the upsides and downsides of an additional conference game. Toppmeyer offers a bold scheduling idea that involves the SEC staying at eight conference games. Later in the episode, a ranking of the SEC's top four national championship contenders in men's basketball.

Pressure’s on the football coaches in the state of Alabama, but for different reasons. Kalen DeBoer knows the Alabama standard creates a playoff-or-bust mentality. That means his debut season ranks as a bust and ratchets up the pressure on his second season. At Auburn, the Tigers last tasted a winning season when Gus Malzahn coached the team. Hugh Freeze’s buyout offers insufficient protection. He’ll be in win-or-be-fired mode in his third season on the Plains. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate which of the two coaches in the Iron Bowl rivalry faces more pressure, with the hosts offering diverging opinions. Toppmeyer has questions about each team’s quarterback situation, while Adams believes in Auburn transfer Jackson Arnold, but he’s not sold on Alabama’s trigger man. Earlier in the episode, the hosts examine the SEC’s basketball uprising, highlighted by Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. Toppmeyer lists two of those four among his favorites to win the national championship.

A great annual offseason debate hinges on whether college football would benefit from an overarching commissioner – and whether Nick Saban would be the prime choice for the job, if ever created. We agree that a college football commissioner could enact some meaningful, widely popular changes within the sport, but we're not ready to cede this responsibility to Saban, who likely would foremost look out for coaches. In fact, we're ready to accept the job ourselves. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams share the role of college football commissioner, enacting sweeping change that includes forcing Notre Dame into a conference, expanding the College Football Playoff but stripping away automatic bids and restoring some old rivalries.

As many as 10 or more SEC football teams might be ranked in the preseason top 25, but the playoff chances of those teams are far from equal. Take, for instance, Texas and South Carolina. While they might be about 10 spots apart in the rankings, their playoff outlooks are dramatically different. Some SEC teams enjoy schedules built for playoff qualification, while others face doomsday schedules. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate the playoff chance of each SEC team, putting the teams into one of four buckets: great chance, good chance, some chance or no chance. Only two teams earn "great chance" ratings, but many more are assigned some hope, while multiple teams that are expected to be ranked nonetheless fall into the "no chance" category. Also in this episode, now that Jalen Hurts is a Super Bowl champion, who gets to claim him? Alabama, or Oklahoma?

No SEC quarterback is more proven than Garrett Nussmeier, but if you're building a depth chart, would you go with the LSU quarterback first, or gamble on the upside of Texas' Arch Manning or Florida's DJ Lagway? Our annual SEC quarterback draft is back! On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams go head-to-head trying to build the best four-deep roster of SEC quarterbacks. Adams makes a safe choice with his No. 1 pick, then gambles with a couple of quarterbacks who haven't yet proven themselves in the SEC. Toppmeyer counters with a barrage of sophomore quarterbacks, headlined by a new starter with his top pick. Later in the episode, the hosts debate whether spring football games are on the verge of extinction.

The SEC endured a rough showing this season. Short-term problem? USA TODAY's too-early preseason top 25 suggests as much. The rankings are loaded with SEC teams, but is it too much love? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to the rankings and offer verdicts of overrated, underrated or just right for each SEC team. Mostly, they think SEC teams are being overrated, including teams like Alabama and Georgia that face quarterback transitions. But, they're especially bullish on a couple of SEC teams, and they identify two SEC teams that the rankings snubbed.

Kalen DeBoer needs a quarterback. Now, who's it going to be? Alabama took a turn for the worse in DeBoer's first season, despite him inheriting a proven starter in Jalen Milroe. The position heads toward an uncertain future. Ominous or opportunity? On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News to unpack Alabama's quarterback situation, one of the most interesting position battles of the SEC's offseason. Ty Simpson headlines the competition, but is that a good thing? Did DeBoer blunder by not securing a transfer? Later in the episode, the hosts highlight what they'd change about the expanded College Football Playoff.

Let Arch-a-palooza begin. The Quinn Ewers era at Texas sunsets after the Longhorns lost to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Arch Manning takes the keys to the Texas engine now, and the hype for Manning leaps off the charts. But, what are fair expectations for Manning in 2025? On today's episode, host Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by David Eckert of the Austin American-Statesman as they preview what we should expect from Manning. They also offer their top tier of SEC quarterbacks for next season and project where Manning fits into that mix. Later in the episode, Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald joins to discuss the impact of Carson Beck's transfer from Georgia to Miami and previews the Bulldogs' quarterback situation for next season.

The SEC helped engineer the 12-team playoff. The powerhouse conference ruled the BCS. It dominated the four-team playoff. And, it planned to rule this format. Four bids? Five bids? More? A mirage, the SEC's vision became. The SEC regressed this season. The conference ain't what it used to be. As the College Football Playoff semifinals arrive, Texas stands as the SEC's lone representative. The Longhorns joined the conference a mere six months ago. They're an underdog against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. For the second straight season, the SEC could produce no team in the national championship game. What gives? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the SEC's downfall and how extreme it is. They unpack the reasons for why it occurred – from Nick Saban's retirement to NIL to transfer movement – and they highlight a few teams that stand to fill the conference's power vacuum. Finally, CFP semifinals picks against the spread!

More teams, more drama, more bellyaching. The College Football Playoff's first round served a series of blowouts, resulting in blowback that the selection committee whiffed on its at-large picks. But, is the committee really to blame for the first-round drubbings, and if so, which teams would have been better qualifiers? Hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate that question on today's episode, offering diverging viewpoints. They also discuss which team impressed them most in the first round and highlight a frontrunner to win the national championship. Finally, they make their quarterfinal picks against the spread!

Georgia earned the bye, but which SEC team received the best College Football Playoff draw? That’s difficult to answer. The second-seeded Bulldogs are one step closer to the national championship game than either Texas (No. 5 seed) or Tennessee (No. 9 seed). However, Texas will open at home against 12th-seeded Clemson, the playoff’s only three-loss team, before a potential quarterfinal against Arizona State, which is seeded No. 4 but ranked No. 12. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate which SEC team received the best avenue to be the last team standing in the CFP. They agree Tennessee received the toughest draw, but disagree on whether Georgia or Texas landed the better bracket position. Later in the episode, they react to Oklahoma’s transfer exodus and weigh in on Auburn nabbing transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold. Finally, first-round CFP picks against the spread!

Missing the inaugural 12-team playoff leaves Alabama feeling out of sorts - and evaluating its schedule. In the wake of the College Football Playoff selection committee choosing SMU over Alabama for the final playoff bid, UA athletics director Greg Byrne indicated the football program will consider watering down its future non-conference schedules. Never mind that Alabama's three losses came against conference opponents. On today's episode, host Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News as they debate the committee's SMU selection and dissect whether Byrne's stance on scheduling makes sense. Later in the episode, they discuss whether Carson Beck's injury affects Georgia's playoff outlook, and Goodbread stumps for eliminating the SEC championship game.

Will the College Football Playoff committee have the gall to deny the Script A and the allure that comes with Alabama a spot in the 12-team bracket? More to the point, will the committee be more interested in Alabama's lofty strength of schedule, or its miserable showing in a blowout loss at Oklahoma? Miami's loss to Syracuse left a playoff spot up for grabs. Top contenders for the bid include a trio of three-loss SEC teams(Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina), plus Miami. Who gets the bid? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate the bubble and assess how the selection committee will make heads or tails of this messy web of teams. The committee tends to salivate over Alabama. Later, they preview the SEC championship game and make their picks against the spread!

In the SEC this season, it just means more losses, more parity, fewer elite teams and a struggle to qualify teams for the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss got swallowed up in The Swamp. Alabama suffered malice at The Palace. Kalen DeBoer and Lane Kiffin each possessed enough talent to field a playoff team, so why are they left needing more chaos to serve them up bids to their underachieving, three-loss teams? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate who endured a bigger faceplant this season, DeBoer or Kiffin? They also assess this glob of five SEC teams that are 8-3 and try to identify whether a playoff contender lurks within that bunch. Plus, Week 14 picks against the spread, as rivalry week takes hold!

Tennessee needs help. The Vols won't be in full control of their quest for the College Football Playoff after losing at Georgia, marking Tennessee's second loss. And while Tennessee retains multiple avenues to receive an assist into the playoff, the most interesting one might be this: Lincoln Riley and his USC Trojans revive and beat Notre Dame in the regular-season finale, thereby spoiling the Irish's playoff hopes. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams take stock of Tennessee's playoff chances. They also debate whether Texas should be a CFP qualifier if it suffers a second loss, and they consider whether Alabama should really want to play in the SEC championship game. They also take the temperature of Brian Kelly's warming seat at LSU. Finally, Week 13 picks against the spread!

The CFP picture gained no clarity Saturday. In fact, it became more opaque after No. 3 Georgia fell to Ole Miss and No. 4 Miami went down against unranked Georgia Tech. Miami and Georgia remain in the mix, but make room for Ole Miss. It's getting crowded on that playoff bubble, and you'd need a spreadsheet to tell you who's best in line to make the SEC championship game. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams engage with a few CFP hypothetical situations in which there are too many teams for too-few spots, and they determine who's in and out in each situation. The also explain why Kirby Smart will stick with struggling quarterback Carson Beck with Georgia's season on the line against Tennessee, and they unpack Florida's decision to retain Billy Napier,.

Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have a chance to offset a loss to Kentucky from earlier this season when the Rebels face Georgia on Saturday. Oddsmakers put this game on a razor's edge, and the Bulldogs suddenly look vulnerable. And if Ole Miss pulls it off, then what? The Rebels would re-enter the playoff picture and crowd the bubble, and Kiffin would remain a top choice for ravenous Florida fans who are ready to throw overboard floundering coach Billy Napier. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine this critical moment for Kiffin and Ole Miss. They discuss whether Florida could seriously pursue Kiffin if Ole Miss makes the playoff, and they weigh the candidacy of Indiana's Curt Cignetti for Florida. Also in this episode, a conversation on Alabama at LSU: Who needs this game more, Kalen DeBoer, or Brian Kelly? Plus, a surprising hot-seat candidate has emerged in recent weeks. Finally, Week 11 picks against the spread!

Florida's Billy Napier still owns the hottest seat in the SEC. The nation's most volatile conference had a quiet spin of the coaching carousel for two months. Arkansas' Sam Pittman inches his way off the hot seat. Auburn's Hugh Freeze bought himself a moment of calm by beating Kentucky. Even the long-embattled Napier marches on in his third season with the improving Gators. Napier's about to launch into the murderer's row portion of the schedule when Florida faces Georgia on Saturday. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams apply the true-or-false test to the SEC's hot seat before evaluating a few College Football Playoff scenarios. Also in this episode, what's the verdict: Was Texas A&M's Mike Elko casting shade at Jimbo Fisher (or Brian Kelly) or not? Finally, Week 10 picks against the spread!

The College Football Playoff bubble is becoming awfully crowded. As many as eight teams in the SEC could finish the regular season at 10-2. The Big Ten pushes for three or more bids. The ACC and Big 12 are shaping up as two-bid leagues. Notre Dame won't go away. How would the committee wade through that mess?  On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams update their 12-team playoff projections. Within the SEC, they differ on one key team, while Adams boldly picks a Big Ten sleeper to claim the final at-large bid. Also in this episode, an examination of Georgia's credentials to be labeled the "team to beat," plus an update on the race between Billy Napier and Hugh Freeze to be the first SEC coach fired. Finally, Week 9 picks against the spread!

They're starting to sweat in Tennessee. They're pulling their hair out in Alabama. They're wondering in Georgia when the mean machine broke down. And at Ole Miss? Oof. It's bleak. Robust Texas looks like a near-lock for the College Football Playoff. Elsewhere in the SEC, it's hold on tight. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams bust out the panic meter and take a reading of Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss, and they're pounding the panic button for one of those four programs. Later in the episode, a temperature check on Billy Napier's situation at Florida and a discussion of who could replace Napier, if not Lane Kiffin. And, of course, Week 8 picks against the spread!

Alabama football suffered one of its most humiliating moments in the proud history of its blue-blooded program on Saturday when Vanderbilt stunned, shocked and embarrassed the Tide. Tennessee, knowing misery loves company, provided rival Alabama a little comfort by losing to Arkansas. And Missouri got unmasked as a fraud in College Station. The SEC's playoff picture is topsy-turvy, and, on today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer a playoff reset for the conference. Only Texas looks safe, while Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and others may continue to sweat their playoff chances. Plus, Week 7 picks against the spread!

Georgia could get off the mat and win the national championship after losing to Alabama. The Bulldogs have that level of talent. Or, alternatively, Georgia could miss the College Football Playoff entirely, in what would be a stunning way to begin the 12-team playoff era. Meanwhile, Auburn's Hugh Freeze has elbowed his way onto the hot seat to give Florida's Billy Napier and Arkansas' Sam Pittman company. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams apply a true-or-false verdict to a number of situations unfolding around the conference. Among topics of discussion: Will Hugh Freeze be fired? Is Georgia going to miss the playoff? Will Lane Kiffin be the next Florida coach? Would Mark Stoops be a better choice for the Gators? Also, Week 6 picks against the spread!

It's not the “Game of the Century,” but it is the Game of September. No. 1 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama. This is Kirby Smart's latest opportunity to prove he rules college football in the absence of Nick Saban. It's Kalen DeBoer's chance to show that the Alabama job is not too big for him, that the Tide selected the proper heir to Saban. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams preview Saturday's clash of titans in Tuscaloosa and debate which coach needs a win in this game more. Later in the episode, a look at how Tennessee sizzles, and Hugh Freeze fizzles at Auburn. Finally, Week 5 picks against the spread!

It's not a college football coaching search if Urban Meyer's name doesn't appear atop a fan base's wish list. 'Hire Urb! Back up the Brinks truck. Make him say no!' Great plan, but what's idea No. 2 when Urb's Audi doesn't come roaring down University Avenue? Better yet, what's idea No. 3 if Lane Kiffin says no? Where would Florida football turn then when the time comes to replace Billy Napier? (Don't say Nick Saban. Not happening.) On today's episode, host Blake Toppmeyer serves up nine potential candidates whom the Gators might consider when they inevitably cut the check to move on from Napier. Co-host John Adams rejects most of Toppmeyer's ideas before offering a rebuttal candidate that might be the most intriguing option of all. Plus, Week 4 picks against the spread!

Our preseason College Football Playoff projections missed the mark.I mean, Iowa? Was that pick for real, or a bad dream?In any case, we're making revisions. At least we don't have to eliminate Notre Dame from the field. We never had the Irish in our projections.On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams admit their mistakes and revise their playoff projections.Later in the episode, they examine Texas' frontrunner credentials after the Longhorns smashed Michigan, and the bill comes due for Hugh Freeze's miscalculation at Auburn.Also, Week 3 picks against the spread!

If Dabo Swinney wants to stand on principle and refuse to take transfers at Clemson, then he should follow Nick Saban into retirement. Also, Billy Napier's Florida tenure is toast after the Gators' flop against Miami. Are those Week 1 overreactions, or smart takes? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack those ideas and more after a tumultuous opening week. The SEC's chance at five playoff teams took a hit after LSU and Texas A&M lost Top 25 nonconference clashes in their openers. Georgia deserves its frontrunner status, but did UGA show any vulnerability? Also, should Texas roll with Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning? Those are topics under debate in this overreaction-or-smart take edition of the pod. Also, Week 2 picks against the spread!

Week 1 is loaded with marquee matchups involving SEC teams, but do season openers mean what they used to in this era of a 12-team College Football Playoff? Florida State lost its opener against Georgia Tech, but the Seminoles retain a clear path to the playoff if they win the ACC Championship. However, that result still carried weight. It decreased the chances of the ACC qualifying multiple teams. For SEC teams, these nonconference games could be the difference between earning an at-large playoff bid or not. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss how the expanded playoff affects their perception of the regular season. They also weigh in on Billy Napier's job security and debate whether Georgia has earned “Alabama status.” The Bulldogs are heavily favored against Clemson. The hosts finish by making their Week 1 picks against the spread.

No more whimsical predictions. It's time to get serious and lock in our playoff picks before the season begins. Yes, we made previous predictions in the winter, spring and earlier this summer, but those were fanciful ideas that come when the season is months away. But, let the record show: These are our final playoff predictions of the preseason. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their 12 teams for the playoff. While they agree on some teams, they disagree on several. That includes multiple disagreements about SEC qualifiers. Adams offers a sleeper from the SEC among his playoff picks, and he pulls a wild card for one of his final spots that leaves Toppmeyer speechless. Meanwhile, Adams says one of Toppmeyer's playoff picks will be toast after Week 1.

Georgia is the runaway preseason No. 1 team, and it doesn't matter who's voting. The AP Poll matched the US LBM Coaches Poll in putting the Bulldogs atop the rankings, by a wide margin. Georgia isn't the only loaded team, though. Ohio State bursts with All-America talent, too. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine Georgia's credentials as preseason No. 1, and they unpack the idea of the SEC pushing for more than five playoff bids. Yes, more than five. So, why is Georgia No. 1 and not Ohio State? Two words: Kirby Smart. Georgia's coach is one of three active coaches who have won a national championship, and he's got two. That inspires confidence and expectations. Also, two more words: Carson Beck. Georgia returned its star quarterback, while Ohio State will rely on transfer Will Howard. Later in the episode, the hosts highlight a couple of SEC teams that might leave themselves on the playoff bubble even if they finish 10-2.

The SEC crowded out the competition in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Nine SEC teams are ranked. That's three more ranked teams than even the Big Ten. Who's overrated? Who's underrated? And does the SEC possess a playoff sleeper team lurking under the radar? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack the preseason Top 25 and what it means for the College Football Playoff. They consider only two teams to be threats to the SEC reclaiming the national championship: Ohio State and Oregon. They also discuss why the Big Ten might be closer in strength to the ACC or Big 12 than it is to the SEC. And they examine the preseason top 12 and rate each team as “IN” or “OUT” of the College Football Playoff. Adams boots five preseason top-12 teams from his list of playoff qualifiers, while Toppmeyer nixes three top-12 teams from his playoff field.

Georgia football navigates another offseason marred by player disciplinary issues. The latest: Wide receiver Rara Thomas faces a felony charge of child cruelty and multiple counts of family violence after his arrest last week. Thomas also got cited for three traffic incidents this offseason, adding to Georgia's string of dangerous driving. Georgia suspended Thomas from the team indefinitely. But, is Smart doing enough to slow Georgia's off-the-field incidents that keep piling up? And, could these disciplinary issues affect Georgia's on-field performance? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the situation at Georgia. The hosts say Smart should levy more discipline. Start by dismissing Thomas from the program. In reality, Smart probably won't do much. Coaches have little incentive to be heavy-handed with player discipline. If a coach dismisses an athlete, he can transfer to a conference rival in no time. Plus, there's no evidence that Georgia's off-field issues hamper the on-field product. Maybe college football would be better served by conferences handling player discipline, rather than coaches and institutions. Later in the episode, a look at Mark Stoops' blistering comments about Kentucky football's NIL efforts. To hear Stoops tell it, UK is a shoestring operation run by an exhausted coach.

The mercury is rising on the SEC's hot seat before the season even begins. Multiple SEC coaches face potential make-or-break seasons. Sam Pittman (Arkansas) and Billy Napier (Florida) are battling the most heat prior to their openers, but Clark Lea (Vanderbilt) and Shane Beamer (South Carolina) also will encounter critical seasons. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams take the temperature of those four jobs. Beamer is the only member of the quartet above .500 during his tenure, but the Gamecocks are coming off a season of regression. If Pittman's record doesn't rebound after last year's tailspin, he could trigger a performance clause in his contract that would allow Arkansas to fire him for a discount. Napier's Gators face one of the nation's toughest schedules. Lea's last SEC win came in 2022. The hosts predict three of these four coaches will be fired, but they disagree on which three and debate the timing of the firings.

Greg Sankey says the SEC is 16 strong today and will remain at 16 strong tomorrow. What about the day after that? How about next year? Sankey has less to say about that subject. Meanwhile, fissures linger in the ACC. Florida State wants out of the ACC. The Seminoles and Clemson are both suing the ACC. That's not the sign of a league in harmony. If FSU, Clemson and others defect, where would they go? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss the possibility of additional SEC expansion and whether the SEC's standing would be damaged if FSU and Clemson wound up in the Big Ten. The SEC might be content at 16, but the risk of standing on the sideline amid further realignment would be the Big Ten growing stronger and narrowing the competitive gap. Adding FSU and Clemson would bring the B1G closer to the SEC. And, for the first time, the Big Ten would penetrate the South. Later in the episode, Toppmeyer and Adams react to some of Nick Saban's spiciest quotes from SEC media days.

If Georgia is No. 1 in the SEC, then who's No. 2? The media who cover the SEC will vote to predict the standings next week. The elimination of divisions adds intrigue to the vote. The Bulldogs likely will be picked to win the conference. But, will the media go with newcomer Texas at No. 2? Or, maybe blue blood Alabama? Others like Ole Miss shouldn't be ignored, either. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on who they expect to be No. 2 in the media's vote. They also offer how they're predicting the top five spots in the SEC standings. They agree on Georgia at No. 1, but then the debate gets interesting. Alabama barely makes their top-five cut. Later in the episode, Toppmeyer shares insights from his recent interview with Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, who is embracing lofty Year 1 expectations.

The move that put the realignment carousel into motion three years ago finally is complete. Oklahoma and Texas are members of the SEC, and the nation's most powerful conference literally partied for days in celebration. The realignment of this conference and these brands was enough to shake up college sports. This marks the third SEC expansion in the past four decades. Oklahoma and Texas are the SEC's best-ever expansion prize. But, who's No. 1? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate which of these two powers is the top plunder for the SEC. On this, they agree: Oklahoma and Texas outweigh any of the SEC's past additions, but they disagree whether the Sooners or Longhorns rank as the signature prize. When the clock struck midnight on July 1, the SEC tweeted first to welcome Texas. Then, it welcomed Oklahoma. Also, the SEC Network visited Austin for a live broadcast before maneuvering to Norman a day later. Should we make anything of that? Is Texas the top add? Perhaps not.

As a 16-team conference with Oklahoma and Texas on board, the SEC is an undeniable super league. The SEC doesn't need to expand again. But, don't rule out the SEC wanting to, especially if the ACC fractures. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says the conference is focused on its current membership, but he didn't entirely shut down the idea of further expansion, when asked directly. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack Sankey's comments and why they might point toward the possibility of the SEC becoming interested in ACC members, if the ACC's media rights deal doesn't hold. Florida State and Clemson are suing the ACC, amid an ongoing battle with the ACC's contract that has, thus far, glued its membership in place. Toppmeyer and Adams offer differing opinions on which four ACC schools the SEC should target, should those schools become available. Later in the episode, an examination of the College Football Hall of Fame candidacies of Mike Leach and Les Miles.

You've heard of hot takes. You're probably familiar with cold takes. But, do you know of lukewarm takes? They might be the truest predictions of all, and hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams are serving a helping of those lukewarm SEC football takes on today's episode. What constitutes a lukewarm take? It's an against-the-grain prediction that doesn't rise to the piping-hot level of a hot take. A surprise SEC team will be ranked come October? Yep. We've got an idea about which one. How many coaches will be fired? Several. More than the number who are on the hot seat right now. A sleeper in the Heisman Trophy race? Certainly. Call your bookie with this bet. Also, are Missouri and Ole Miss actually playoff teams? Thoughts on that, too. Later in the episode, an examination of ESPN's Football Power Index and some peculiarities within the teams it projects to be top playoff contenders.

The first 12-team College Football Playoff projects to be an SEC party. Nine SEC teams profile as playoff hopefuls, but not all of them can qualify. Four playoff teams from the SEC seems reasonable. What about five? That's a stretch, but doable if the SEC catches a few breaks. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack the SEC's playoff outlook and handicap the hurdles standing in the way of the SEC qualifying as many as five teams. Start with the Big Ten, which is the only conference that could threaten to qualify as many teams as the SEC. But, three qualifiers seems more likely for the Big Ten than five. What about Notre Dame? The Irish snagging an at-large bid hurts the SEC's chances for five, but Texas A&M might wreck Notre Dame in Week 1. The Big 12 is the sleeper agent that could spoil the SEC's five-qualifier quest. Later in the episode, Toppmeyer and Adams highlight four sneaky-good nonconference games to watch this season. 

Georgia's backup quarterback is suing an SEC coach. Welcome to college football in 2024. In a lawsuit filed this week, Jaden Rashada is suing a top Florida booster, a former recruiting staffer and Gators coach Billy Napier after Rashada's NIL deal with Florida unraveled while the quarterback was a blue-chip prospect. Rashada's attorney says the quarterback was defrauded. He's seeking millions in damages.  On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," host Blake Toppmeyer is joined by the Gainesville Sun's Kevin Brockway to unpack the lawsuit and what it means for Florida and Napier, its already embattled coach.  This lawsuit might never see the inside of a courtroom, but, regardless, it's the latest blow for a coach who went 11-14 the past two seasons, and it's bad press for Napier's recruiting efforts. Already, Florida was off to a slow start to its 2025 recruiting class. The Gators also face a daunting schedule. Just how warm is the seat getting for Napier? Later in the episode, Toppmeyer is joined by David Eckert of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger to preview a season of big expectations for Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Either Georgia or Ohio State will be preseason No. 1. But just how heavily are those teams favored to win the national championship? The SEC will be even more of a juggernaut than usual, following the arrival of Texas and Oklahoma. Georgia's schedule will include games against Clemson, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee. That's a rugged road before the playoff arrives. Ohio State is loaded but will transition to a new starting quarterback. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider this question: If you were predicting the national champion and could either take Georgia and Ohio State or the field, which would you choose? It's a tough question, because Georgia and Ohio State are deserving frontrunners, but navigating a 12-team playoff presents more potential pitfalls. Later in the episode, an examination of John Calipari's unusual strategy he says he's considering for Arkansas basketball. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.  

The SEC is as strong as ever. That's what a preseason top 25 from 247Sports suggests, anyway. The website updated its rankings while spring practice concluded. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 25, including eight inside the top 15. Those rankings indicate that about half of the conference enjoys realistic aspirations of contending for the College Football Playoff. The SEC and Big Ten account for each of the top nine spots in the rankings. It really is a Power Two world. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider these rankings and whether each SEC team is overrated, underrated or appropriately rated. They also discuss how many SEC teams realistically could qualify for the inaugural 12-team playoff. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Brian Kelly says there's “no doubt” his 2024 LSU Tigers can contend for a national championship. Pardon us, but we have some doubts. Start with: How much better is LSU's defense? LSU led the nation last season in scoring while finishing 10-3, but it lost three offensive stars to the NFL Draft's first round, including quarterback Jayden Daniels. The offense is almost bound to regress. To become a true championship contender, the defense must not only be better, it must be substantially better. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss Kelly's comments about the direction of LSU's program during Toppmeyer's wide-ranging in interview with Kelly. Kelly's tenure started impressively enough, and he thinks LSU is better positioned than at any point since his arrival. That includes better depth, more veterans, and less reliance on youth and newcomers. So, when is that national championship coming? We take a closer look at the realistic timeline. Later in the episode, which SEC quarterback will be the first selected in the 2025 NFL Draft? We examine three candidates. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Arch Manning stole the show at Texas' spring game, while Quinn Ewers played sparingly. What does that mean? Well, for first up, let's slow the idea of any Texas quarterback controversy. Ewers didn't play much because he's got a grip on the starting job. This spring game became more focused on developing backup quarterbacks. Manning's 355 passing yards were a sign of abilities and his growth and evidence that Texas possesses more than one talented quarterback. What a luxury. Not even Georgia or Alabama have a backup quarterback like Manning. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams review Manning's spring game, what it means for Texas' season and whether the Longhorns are the top threat to Georgia in the SEC. They also highlight the performance of another backup quarterback, Florida freshman DJ Lagway, and project whether Lagway can help dial down the heat on embattled coach Billy Napier. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.