SEC Football Unfiltered

We'd save 8 college football rivalries that are on the chopping block. Here's why.

The last round of SEC expansion re-established the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry, but conference realignment has taken more than it's given on the rivalry front. Not only that, but the SEC's elimination of divisions also will stop some rivalries from occurring annually. Both inside and outside of the SEC, games that were once part of the fabric of college football are no longer played every year. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams highlight eight rivalry games that they'd wish to save on an annual basis. These are games that have either already gone away or series that will be interrupted in the near future. Several of the rivalries have SEC ties, but they also dip into Big Ten and Big 12 terrain to restore some lost rivalries. Also on this episode, Toppmeyer and Adams react to Joey Aguilar losing his bid for another season as Tennessee's quarterback. One host takes up for the NCAA's quest to enforce its eligibility rules, while the other host has less sympathy for the NCAA.

Fact or fiction: SEC should embrace 24-team playoff

Say this for the Big Ten’s quest to expand the College Football Playoff: It doesn’t become fixated with any particular idea.While the SEC remains stuck on a 5+11 playoff plan the Big Ten refuses to accept, the B1G’s playoff think tank has devised yet another proposal.This one centers on 24 teams.On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams play a round of fact or fiction and debate whether the SEC should embrace the Big Ten’s plan for a five-round, 24-team playoff.They also weigh in on Trinidad Chambliss getting another season of eligibility and whether he’s the Heisman Trophy frontrunner — or is it Arch Manning?Finally, they make a surprising prediction about Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Our first 2026 national champion predictions: Drafting top contenders

Can the SEC put an end to the Big Ten's national championship streak? That quest begins with four SEC teams, although one ACC team might be the most dangerous threat to the Big Ten's string of dominance in 2026. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams go head-to-head drafting their top six national championship contenders. Adams, with the first pick in the draft, plucks a frontrunner from the SEC, but Toppmeyer ventures outside the SEC for his first two picks. Adams stealthily steals one team that Toppmeyer badly wanted on his lineup of national championship contenders. In the end, they each select two SEC teams among their six-pack of national championship contenders.

Why the SEC might regret adding a ninth conference game

When the Big Ten refused to compromise on the 16-team playoff that the SEC desired, that left the SEC with a choice: Go to 24 teams, or stay at 12? The SEC chose 12. Did it make the right call? On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack the inability for the SEC and Big Ten to reach a compromise on playoff expansion. Also, a debate of whether the SEC erred by adding a ninth conference game, in light of the playoff not expanding. Stiffening the schedule will make it more difficult for SEC teams to reach at least 10 victories, which appears to be a key number toward at-large playoff qualification. Finally, the hosts consider this question: Will a team from the ACC or Big 12 win a national championship before the SEC gets its next one?

Dabo Swinney tattles on Ole Miss football. Big whoop.

Dabo Swinney named names. The Clemson coach is blowing the whistle with allegations of tampering by an SEC school. Swinney says he's decided to sic the feeble NCAA on Mississippi coach Pete Golding, after Swinney accused the Rebels coach of tampering to plunder a player off Clemson's roster. Oh, boy. On the one hand, kudos to Swinney for actually naming names. Many coaches bellyache of tampering, but few come with any evidence or firm accusations. Swinney broke the mold. On the other hand, big whoop. Someone might need to inform Swinney that he'd have better luck getting justice from the Keystone Cops than NCAA enforcement. While it's hard to fault Swinney for being frustrated, especially if it all went down like he claims, he better not get his hopes up. In case Swinney hadn't noticed, the NCAA hasn't effectively enforced its rules for many years now. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to Swinney blowing the whistle on Ole Miss and what they expect to come of it. (Hint: Not much.) Before they get to Swinney, the hosts weigh in on USA TODAY's "too early" top 25 rankings for the 2026 season. They highlight some SEC teams that are overrated and a couple that might be underrated. Adams gets sucked into the hype machine for one SEC team, in particular. Toppmeyer is tempted to buy stock in an unranked SEC team with a new coach that's making noise in the transfer portal.