SEC Football Unfiltered
151 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★ - 24 ratingsSEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.
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Episodes
When will LSU football contend for national title? Brian Kelly weighs in
July 11, 2023 11:23 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBAfter a banner year for LSU athletics, is Brian Kelly's football program next in line for a national championship? Hang on just a second. Kelly, in a recent interview with the USA TODAY Network, identified 2024 as the season his Tigers should be expected to seriously contend for a national championship. Nonetheless, hype builds for Kelly's second season after the Tigers won the SEC West in his debut. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams dissect Kelly's comments and wh...
What Missouri, Aggies will think of OU, Texas being in SEC; plus, which SEC QBs impressed at Manning camp?
June 27, 2023 10:24 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThe SEC is one year away from hosting something of a Big 12 reunion, but don’t expect Missouri and Texas A&M to offer any welcoming hugs for their old conference rivals, Oklahoma and Texas. The Longhorns were a polarizing presence in the Big 12, and their actions more than a decade ago (along with Oklahoma's maneuvers, to a lesser extent), contributed to Missouri and A&M leaving the conference in favor of the SEC. On today's episode, host Blake Toppmeyer is joined by PowerMizzou.com’s Ga...
Which four SEC teams will have toughest time making 12-team College Football Playoff?
June 22, 2023 09:00 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThis season marks the 10th and final year of the four-team College Football Playoff, a format the SEC has dominated. Alabama, Georgia and LSU combined for six national championships during the past nine years. But those three teams are also the only three SEC teams to qualify for the playoff. Although Tennessee, Florida and Auburn won at least one BCS national championship, they’ve been shut out of the CFP. Insert the 12-team playoff, which will debut in 2024 and will offer a broader pla...
Does the SEC need annual rivalries like Alabama-Vols or Auburn-Georgia? Depends who you ask
June 13, 2023 09:59 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBAfter the SEC went to a division structure in 1992, it made efforts to preserve longtime rivalries like Alabama-Tennessee and Auburn-Georgia on an annual basis via interdivision pairings. But this season is the final year for divisions, and eliminating divisions makes certain secondary and tertiary rivalries more of a challenge to preserve – especially if the SEC sticks with an eight-game conference schedule beyond 2024. Would it be some travesty if the Third Saturday in October or the D...
Why the SEC should be concerned about blowback to its 8-game conference schedule
June 06, 2023 09:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBThe SEC endured criticism after sticking with an eight-game conference schedule for 2024, even after the conference grows to 16 teams. Other conferences like the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 play nine conference games. Dissent from the peanut gallery can be ignored, but blowback from the College Football Playoff selection committee would be a stinging rebuke with real consequences. The CFP will expand to 12 teams in 2024, and the playoff selection committee will determine six at-large bids...
If the ACC splinters, here are four schools the SEC should snap up
May 24, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBCertain ACC members are unsatisfied with the conference’s third-fiddle media rights distribution and have examined the conference’s media rights agreement to explore available options. With schools like Clemson and Florida State exhibiting a wandering eye, there can be only two conferences on their dream destination list: the SEC or the Big Ten. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams highlight four ACC schools that should interest the SEC for further expansion, if those...
What USA TODAY got right – and wrong – about SEC football teams in latest preseason Top 25
May 10, 2023 09:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBTwo-time defending national champion Georgia is ranked No. 1 in USA TODAY's post-spring preseason Top 25. No surprise there, right? But, where's the love for LSU? The Tigers don't appear in these rankings until No. 15. That's too low for a team with College Football Playoff potential. Four SEC teams are ranked in USA TODAY's rankings. On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to their colleagues' latest rankings. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and J...
A closer look at Alabama's quarterback battle after Tyler Buchner joins crowded competition
May 02, 2023 09:00 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBAlabama’s newest addition to its quarterback competition threw for just 44 yards in Notre Dame’s spring game, so who says the grass is greener from the Irish side? The Crimson Tide increased the candidates in its hotly debated starting quarterback battle by adding Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner last week, but that shouldn’t eliminate Jalen Milroe’s candidacy or even catapult Buchner to the top of the heap. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams re-examine Alabama’s q...
Here are the 8 teams who are top threats to Georgia winning another national championship
April 26, 2023 09:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MBGeorgia is the betting favorite to win a third straight national championship. Big surprise, we know. The Bulldogs remain college football's overlord, but they'll be contested in 2023. Ohio State nearly toppled Georgia in a College Football Playoff semifinal last season, and the Buckeyes will remain among the top challengers to Georgia. A few inside the SEC also could interfere with Georgia's quest to become three-peat champions. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams h...
Why 2023 is end of college football as we know it and how we feel about that
April 19, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBThe 2023 college football season is the last before sweeping changes in conference alignment and postseason structure. The four-team playoff will give way to 12 teams in 2024, at which time Oklahoma and Texas will be in the SEC and USC and UCLA will be in the Big Ten. What do those changes mean for college football, on the whole? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Gentry Estes debate whether these changes are good, bad or otherwise for the sport. Stay connected on Twitter wi...
Suggesting some new nonconference rivalries for SEC football teams
April 12, 2023 09:57 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBFour SEC teams play a nonconference rivalry game with an ACC team each season, but the SEC's other members don't have a fixed non-league clash they play annually. We're here to make some suggestions. For Alabama, how about a matchup of blue bloods? There are multiple opportunities to reignite some old Southwest Conference clashes. Football-proud Nebraska and Penn State would make for good annual opponents for an SEC team, too. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams su...
If SEC football sticks with 8-game conference schedule, then CFP committee should hold it accountable
April 04, 2023 09:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBOklahoma and Texas will begin SEC competition in 2024. We still don't know what format the SEC's football schedule will take at that time. Divisions are going away, but as to whether the league's members will approve eight or nine conference games, that debate continues. A schedule format decision is expected within two months. On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the merits of the schedule formats still under view. They agree: SEC members need to see the light and a...
Jimbo Fisher's ego flares up again at Texas A&M. No surprise there, but what does it mean?
March 29, 2023 10:21 - 45 minutes - 42 MBCareful, Jimbo Fisher. Your ego is showing – again. The Texas A&M coach refused to admit that Bobby Petrino could implement schematic upgrades within an offense that ranked among the SEC’s worst last season. In fact, Fisher said scheme is irrelevant. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack potential reasons why Fisher dug in his heels rather than acknowledge that Petrino is his savvy hire brought in to accelerate the Aggies’ offense. Stay connected on Twitter wi...
How many SEC teams could make a 12-team playoff? We disagree on that
March 22, 2023 01:56 - 44 minutes - 41 MBPour one out for the four-team College Football Playoff. This is its final go before the playoff expands to 12 teams in 2024. A bigger playoff will bring more SEC teams into contention. In fact, in the past nine years, nine SEC teams would have made a 12-team playoff at least one time. How many SEC teams would make a 12-team field, if it were in place this year? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate that topic. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeye...
March Madness sleepers? Final Four locks? Here's the SEC teams poised to make noise
March 14, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBThe SEC tied its conference record by qualifying eight teams for the NCAA Tournament, and the conference boasts the No. 1 overall seed, Alabama. Otherwise, the conference didn't earn much respect in seeding. Fourth-seeded Tennessee is the SEC team with the second-highest seed. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams put football on the back burner for a week to dissect the SEC's chances for a strong showing in the Big Dance. They consider sleeper teams, offer their Fi...
Why Nick Saban is whining about Alabama's possible rivals; plus, who got snubbed in SEC hoops awards?
March 08, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBNick Saban is getting upset, and he wants you to know it. For years, Alabama's coach stumped for a nine-game SEC schedule. That change is likely coming in 2024, but now Saban is whining about the teams Alabama will have to play. Auburn, LSU and Tennessee are Alabama's assigned rivals in this proposed model. Saban thinks that's unfair. Surely, he can't expect the SEC to reverse course now. It would look like it is caving to Saban's demands. So, what's he up to? On today's episode, hosts...
Here are our top candidates to be SEC's dark horse, overrated teams in 2023
March 01, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBLSU is the SEC West's most well-rounded team, but don't expect the conference's preseason media poll to reflect that. Not since 2012 have sportswriters who cover the SEC picked a team other than Alabama to win the West. Usually, Alabama is a smart choice, but the Crimson Tide faces more questions than usual this offseason – including, who is the quarterback? Meanwhile, LSU has a proven quarterback and a coach coming off a win over Nick Saban. Not only should the Tigers be favored to win ...
Ranking SEC quarterbacks: Is Jayden Daniels, KJ Jefferson, Spencer Rattler or Joe Milton top choice?
February 22, 2023 10:28 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBEven as Bryce Young, Stetson Bennett and Hendon Hooker depart for the NFL, the SEC boasts a handful of proven veteran quarterbacks, as well as some highly touted but untested younger players. But who would you select first if you could build a depth chart around one of the SEC's quarterbacks? An established starter like LSU's Jayden Daniels or Arkansas' KJ Jefferson. A high-ceiling veteran like South Carolina's Spencer Rattler or Tennessee's Joe Milton? Or, maybe even a wild card like the...
We assign three rivals for each SEC football team to create a nine-game conference schedule
February 16, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBWhen Oklahoma and Texas join the SEC in 2024, a few rivalries will be restored, but a handful of others will reduce to being played once every two years. The SEC has not approved a scheduling model for its expanded alignment, but there’s momentum to move to a nine-game conference schedule. One popular model discussed is a 3-6 schedule model, in which team would be assigned three rivals to play annually. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Christina Long play matchmaker and deba...
Fact or fiction? Texas' Arch Manning will start before Vols' Nico Iamaleava
February 07, 2023 10:16 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBThe top quarterback recruit in the 2023 signing class is either Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava or Texas’ Arch Manning, depending on your ranking service of choice. But who is poised to break out first? September schedules and coaching pressure may have something to say about that. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the expectations for these five-star recruits and explain why they think Manning will earn his first start before Iamaleava. Their reasoning isn't ...
Who will win the SEC's most heated quarterback competitions? Here are our picks
February 01, 2023 10:14 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBThe SEC’s quarterback lineup will feature a new look in 2023, raising the question of whether the conference will maintain its blistering production at the sport’s most important position. Four of the SEC’s top five quarterbacks from last season departed. As many as half of the conference’s schools will feature legitimate QB1 competitions throughout the spring. Don’t expect many of the coaches who are evaluating competitions to declare a starter by April. Doing so would only encourage ba...
Which SEC team got the best transfer quarterback? And who still needs one?
January 24, 2023 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBNearly half of the SEC's teams signed a transfer quarterback this winter, and Ole Miss nabbed two. In at least a few of those instances, transfers are expected to be a strong contender or even the headliner for the starting job. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams review the SEC's quarterback transfer haul and point to a couple of programs that might hunt for a quarterback after spring practice. Adams awards Kentucky top marks for adding Devin Leary, and he believes ...
Here are our too-early SEC football power rankings for 2023 season
January 19, 2023 11:30 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBGeorgia reigns atop college football, but we're ready to turn the page to next season. And while we expect the Bulldogs to remain the SEC's fiercest bully, the competition gets spicy right behind them. Will LSU repeat in the SEC West? Can Alabama turn a No. 1 recruiting class into a trip to the SEC Championship? Will Texas A&M bounce back behind its young talent? On this episode of "SEC Football Unfiltered," hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their first SEC football power rankin...
As Georgia football eyes a three-peat, these teams could stand in its wayGeorgia’s Peach Bowl triumph over Ohio State became an instant classic. Now, how about a rematch in the national championship game next season? After the Bulldogs crushed TCU to repeat as national champions, the focus shifts to the potential for a rare three-peat. They've got the returning stars to do it, too, but the Buckeyes profile as a top challenger if they adequately replace C.J. Stroud. On this episode, hosts Blake
January 13, 2023 15:07 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBGeorgia’s Peach Bowl triumph over Ohio State became an instant classic. Now, how about a rematch in the national championship game next season? After the Bulldogs crushed TCU to repeat as national champions, the focus shifts to the potential for a rare three-peat. They've got the returning stars to do it, too, but the Buckeyes profile as a top challenger if they adequately replace C.J. Stroud. On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the top candidates who could prev...
After Georgia barely escaped Ohio State, is it vulnerable vs. TCU?
January 04, 2023 20:15 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBOhio State had multiple chances to land a knockout punch on Georgia in the Peach Bowl but couldn't connect. Kirby Smart outcoached Ryan Day in the fourth quarter, Stetson Bennett delivered in the clutch, and the Bulldogs rallied. But was Georgia's epic escape against the Buckeyes a case of the nation's two best teams squaring off in a CFP semifinal, or did it indicate cause for concern in the national championship against TCU? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams take...
Why we should (but probably won't) rewire our view of bowl games in opt-out era
December 28, 2022 14:28 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBBowl games don't mean what they used to, and there's no turning back now, especially with the College Football Playoff scheduled to expand to 12 teams in 2024. Even players who aren't projected to be early-round NFL Draft picks are opting out, making it a surprise that Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson are playing in the Sugar Bowl. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider the opt-out trend and how we may need to rewire our view of bowl games that aren'...
From Devin Leary to Grayson McCall, could these transfer portal QBs be SEC-bound?
December 13, 2022 11:01 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBAlabama, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee are among SEC teams that might covet a transfer quarterback, and a marquee name joined the portal party on Monday, when Coastal Carolina's Grayson McCall announced he will transfer. He joins a list of outbound quarterbacks headlined by North Carolina State's Devin Leary and Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson go head to head as they try to build the best four-deep lineup of quarterbacks by draf...
Why Hugh Freeze, Deion Sanders look like choice hires for Auburn and Colorado
December 06, 2022 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBAuburn didn't have to roll the dice on a coach with no FBS experience. The Tigers tapped a proven winner when they plucked Hugh Freeze from Liberty as their next coach. Freeze comes to AU with enough baggage to fill a church van, but no one questions his coaching acumen or his recruiting chops. He should quickly re-establish the Tigers as a player in the SEC. Meanwhile, Colorado made a bold move to hire Jackson State's Deion Sanders. Coach Prime should upgrade Colorado's talent, but he'l...
Why Georgia's biggest threat in the College Football Playoff is not Michigan
November 29, 2022 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBMichigan and TCU join Georgia as remaining undefeated teams, but we're unconvinced either of those schools is the top threat to the Bulldogs' throne. Beware of Southern Cal. On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack why the Trojans may be the top challenger in Georgia's path to a repeat, if USC wins the Pac-12 Championship to earn playoff qualification. They also debate whether Ohio State, Alabama or Tennessee should be in the playoff if USC stumbles, discuss Lane Ki...
After Vols' flop, can an SEC player still win the Heisman Trophy?
November 22, 2022 10:39 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBTennessee football is out of College Football Playoff contention after a blowout loss to South Carolina, and Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is no longer a Heisman Trophy frontrunner after he got outplayed by Spencer Rattler. Worse, Hooker suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the fourth quarter, ending his special season and his college career. With Hooker falling out of the Heisman debate, does the SEC still have a chance to produce a Heisman winner for the fourth straight season? On thi...
Who should be SEC football coach of the year? We examine the shortlist
November 15, 2022 10:00 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBKirby Smart successfully reloaded after losing 15 players to the NFL Draft off Georgia's national championship team. The Bulldogs are positioned to repeat as champs. Josh Heupel has Tennessee in playoff contention in his second year on the job. LSU won the SEC West in Brian Kelly's first season, a rapid ascent considering the Tigers had a makeshift roster as recently as January. These three coaches form the shortlist of candidates for SEC coach of the year. On this episode, hosts Blake T...
Nick Saban wouldn't go No. 1 in a draft of SEC coaches. Would he even be No. 2?
November 08, 2022 10:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBKirby Smart is college football's best coach. No, not of all time. That distinction remains with Nick Saban. But for now and the foreseeable future, Smart tops the chart. Once again, he's built and developed the nation's best team. Georgia is favored to repeat as national champions. If you're drafting a coach from the SEC to build and lead your program, Smart should be first off the board. But, would Saban go No. 2? The way Brian Kelly fast-tracked LSU's rebuild, including Saturday's u...
Love it, like it, or nah: We consider 6 candidates for Auburn football
November 03, 2022 10:18 - 40 minutes - 37 MBLane Kiffin says he's "extremely happy" at Ole Miss, where his Rebels "have something special going." That doesn't mean Auburn won't shoot its shot with Kiffin, after firing Bryan Harsin. But what if Kiffin says no? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider six names for the Auburn opening. Toppmeyer makes the sales pitch for the candidates, while Adams offers his verdict on whether he likes the hire or if Auburn should pass. They also react to the initial Col...
Inside the first CFP rankings: True or false, SEC will qualify two playoff teams?
November 01, 2022 09:00 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBThe SEC should be well-represented when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released Tuesday night. If the committee foremost values résumé, Tennessee and Georgia may form a 1-2 punch ahead of fellow undefeated teams like Ohio State and Michigan. Alabama would earn a playoff bid if it wins out, so don't get too caught up in its ranking. The Crimson Tide has no margin for error, but would be in if it wins the SEC Championship. Also, one-loss Ole Miss is on the fringe of the play...
Hot seat rankings: Bryan Harsin still tops list, but then Jimbo Fisher or Eli Drinkwitz?
October 25, 2022 09:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBBryan Harsin has been in possession of the hot seat for so long, he might have to pay property tax. Auburn's second-year coach is 9-11 at a school that fired the previous coach despite eight consecutive winning seasons. Plus, AU already has parted with Allen Greene, the athletics director who hired Harsin. Every game now feels like it could be Harsin's last, and his Tigers (3-4, 1-3 SEC) will host Arkansas (4-3, 1-3) on Saturday. After Harsin, though, who in the SEC sits on the hottest s...
College Football Playoff contender or pretender? We evaluate 4 SEC football teams
October 18, 2022 09:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBThree SEC football teams remain undefeated, while another is Alabama. Combined, the conference has four teams that have a path to the College Football Playoff. That doesn't mean each is a serious contender, though. No. 1 Georgia (7-0, 4-0) and No. 4 Tennessee (6-0, 3-0) are in a chase for the SEC East crown. No. 7 Ole Miss (7-0, 3-0) leads the SEC West, even though No. 6 Alabama (6-1, 3-1) is one spot ahead in the rankings. On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from t...
Beware, Nick Saban. Josh Heupel's Vols pack an offense Texas A&M didn't
October 11, 2022 22:08 - 1 hour - 55 MBJimbo Fisher talked a big game throughout the offseason, but he didn't have the offense to take down Alabama. Josh Heupel doesn't move the needle at news conferences, but the Tennessee coach possesses two things Jimbo didn't: a star quarterback in Hendon Hooker, and a cutting-edge offensive scheme that puts defenses into conflict. The Vols will challenge Alabama in a clash of unbeatens that should have Nick Saban's Tide on upset alert. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John...
Texas A&M is a fraud, so which team will threaten Alabama en route to Atlanta?
October 05, 2022 09:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBOne of the biggest games of the college football season was supposed to occur this Saturday, when Alabama hosts Texas A&M. It is the day of reckoning after Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher exchanged barbs in the offseason. When the season started, though, Fisher's peacocking faded, and A&M got unmasked as a fraud. This looks like a mismatch, despite Saban's "rat poison" warnings. So, if not A&M, which team can threaten the No. 1-ranked Tide en route to the SEC Championship in Atlanta? On th...
Why the SEC could supply a surprise playoff team not named Georgia or Alabama
September 27, 2022 08:45 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBLogic says Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State are playoff frontrunners, while the competition for the final bid could get wonky. But how’s this for a wild card? The winner of this week’s clash of No. 8 Kentucky at No. 11 Ole Miss should be viewed as a longshot playoff contender. Each team has a relatively manageable schedule, and the victor of this game may find a path to a backdoor playoff bid. On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider the prospects of a surprise playo...
Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee or Kentucky? Which is SEC's No. 3 team?
September 20, 2022 10:19 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBIt's Georgia's world, and everyone else is simply trying (and failing) to avoid getting crushed. Sound familiar? The defending champion Bulldogs remain the team to beat. And within the SEC, the best challenger for the throne continues to be Alabama, despite its Week 2 scare at Texas. After that, the conversation the conversation gets interesting. Which team deserves the No. 3 spot in SEC power rankings? Hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate that topic on this episode, weighing t...
Jimbo Fisher looks like a bozo after another Texas A&M flop
September 14, 2022 09:30 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBJimbo Fisher talked tough throughout the offseason after Texas A&M signed the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. When other SEC coaches raised an eyebrow at the Aggies' recruiting haul in the first year of NIL, Fisher fired back, calling them "clown acts." He described Nick Saban a false god. Now, Fisher wears the clown nose as the SEC's chief bozo after his Aggies lost 17-14 at home to Appalachian State. Through 50 games, Fisher's record at A&M is worse than Kevin Sumlin's was at the same j...
Hot take or smart take? We evaluate SEC narratives after one game; Plus, Week 2 picks
September 07, 2022 10:08 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBAnthony Richardson for Heisman? Georgia football is better than last year? LSU won't make a bowl? Knee-jerk reactions are en vogue after Week 1, but that doesn't mean those takes will prove off the mark. Georgia, for example, really might be better than last season, as Oregon can attest. On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to the early SEC narratives and evaluate whether they're smart takes or hasty takes. Also, they make Week 2 picks, including Kentucky-Flori...
Why a few SEC teams are ripe for quarterback controversies
September 01, 2022 09:55 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBThe SEC is not overwhelmed by quarterback controversies at the moment, but just wait. These things have a way of bubbling up. The SEC West, in particular, has multiple quarterback situations that likely will remain up for debate throughout the season's first month, especially if the starter falters. The starters at Texas A&M (Haynes King) and Auburn (T.J. Finley) are familiar faces, but each team has an experienced backup, setting the stage for drama. Plus, starting quarterbacks have not...
Our final rapid-fire SEC football predictions; plus, Tom Hart joins to preview season
August 25, 2022 09:30 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBWe're days away from the start of college football season, but that leaves time for some final rapid-fire predictions. The blitz is on, and hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer gut-reaction takes on this episode. Topics include: Which team is likeliest to upset Alabama? Who will win SEC Coach of the Year? Which team is a dark horse to reach Atlanta? Later in the episode, the SEC Network's Tom Hart joins to discuss conference realignment, his favorite SEC venues, dining recommendati...
Which SEC program has best claim to being an 'Everything School?'
August 17, 2022 09:30 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBIn the aftermath of Mark Stoops' erroneous suggestion that Kentucky is a football school, others in the SEC raced to position themselves as an 'Everything School.' In other words, being strong across all sports. While several SEC schools excel in multiple programs, only a few can reasonably contend for the head seat at the 'Everything School' table. On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the top candidates for the moniker. Florida and Tennessee are among their to...
Six bold SEC football predictions that go against the grain
August 10, 2022 09:21 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBSeems like everybody has a preseason poll these days, and by this point in the calendar, group-think tends to occur. It can be difficult to separate your own predictions from the amalgam of other picks floating around. But on this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams aim to do their own pontificating independent of any accepted preseason narrative. They each offer three SEC predictions that go against the grain. Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnA...
Which SEC football coach faces the biggest preseason challenge?
August 03, 2022 10:03 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBThe SEC features two first-year coaches (Billy Napier and Brian Kelly), one coach on the hot seat (Bryan Harsin) and several that must unite a big batch of transfers. Plus, multiple teams feature hotly contested quarterback battles. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss which SEC coach features the toughest preseason chore. Lane Kiffin's transfer-melding task at Ole Miss and Napier's rebuild at Florida stand out. Later, they debate whether Georgia's foothold i...
What's Jeremy Pruitt next move as he faces sweeping allegations of NCAA violations?
July 27, 2022 09:30 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBAn NCAA notice of allegations, issued Friday, zeroed in on former Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt. Tennessee faces allegations of 18 Level I violations, and Pruitt's name is littered throughout the report. It now seems likely that Pruitt is headed for a show-cause penalty, and the prospect of him coaching again in the college ranks is questionable. On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams ponder what's next for P...
Enough about Jimbo Fisher. The more important rivalry is Nick Saban-Kirby Smart
July 21, 2022 09:30 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBFor a guy whose team went 8-4 last season, Jimbo Fisher sure is receiving a bright spotlight. Fisher got a boost by signing the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class for Texas A&M. The headlines really poured in when Fisher called Nick Saban a narcissist and a false god after Saban’s unproven allegation that the Aggies bought every player on their roster. Focusing on the Fisher-Saban rivalry ignores the top clash brewing in the SEC: Saban vs. another former assistant, Kirby Smart. After A...
Is Greg Sankey naïve to downplay what Big Ten adding USC, UCLA means for the SEC?
July 19, 2022 09:30 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBGreg Sankey isn't shaken by the Big Ten's additions of Southern Cal and UCLA. In fact, he seemed somewhat dismissive about what Big Ten expansion means for the SEC. "We are a super-league," Sankey, the SEC commissioner, said of his conference. On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate whether Sankey is being too flippant about the Big Ten's growth. Ultimately, they approve of Sankey's approach: Don't panic. Be shrewd. Don't grow just to grow. But, keep the door open to s...