The Big Ten is thriving so far this postseason. With a couple of exceptions, the SEC is wilting.

And what of the coaching carousel? Did the Big Ten club the SEC there, too? You could make that case.

LSU scored the big fish by securing Lane Kiffin. Mostly, though, SEC schools hired promising but largely unproven up and comers, while Big Ten schools like Michigan and Penn State landed veteran winners with solid resumes.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate which conference did it better in this hiring cycle. They also debate which conference has the more complete roster of coaches. And they discuss which SEC schools would have been well-served by hiring Kyle Whittingham, who wound up at Michigan.

Later in the episode, the hosts unpack the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups, including what's at stake for Kalen DeBoer in Alabama-Indiana and whether Mississippi plays with house money in a rematch with Georgia.

The <a href="https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/college/football/2025/12/30/illinois-tennessee-live-score-updates-music-city-bowl-game/87881618007/" aria-label="Link Big Ten is thriving">Big Ten is thriving</a> so far this postseason. With a couple of exceptions, the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2025/12/30/tennessee-football-illinois-music-city-josh-heupel-joey-aguilar/87881394007/" aria-label="Link SEC is wilting">SEC is wilting</a>.
And what of the coaching carousel? Did the Big Ten club the SEC there, too? You could make that case.
LSU scored the big fish by securing <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/12/29/ole-miss-revenge-lane-kiffin-national-championship-mississippi-georgia-sugar-bowl-cfp-playoff/87884824007/" aria-label="Link Lane Kiffin">Lane Kiffin</a>. Mostly, though, SEC schools hired promising but largely unproven up and comers, while Big Ten schools like Michigan and Penn State landed veteran winners with solid resumes.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2647548001/john-adams/" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> evaluate which conference did it better in this hiring cycle. They also debate which conference has the more complete roster of coaches. And they discuss which SEC schools would have been well-served by hiring <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2025/12/26/michigan-football-hiring-kyle-whittingham-grading-hire/87922862007/" aria-label="Link Kyle Whittingham">Kyle Whittingham</a>, who wound up at Michigan.
Later in the episode, the hosts unpack the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups, including what's at stake for Kalen DeBoer in Alabama-Indiana and whether <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/12/29/ole-miss-revenge-lane-kiffin-national-championship-mississippi-georgia-sugar-bowl-cfp-playoff/87884824007/" aria-label="Link Mississippi plays with house money">Mississippi plays with house money</a> in a rematch with Georgia.

SEC 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.

SEC 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.

SEC Football Unfiltered

The Big Ten is thriving so far this postseason. With a couple of exceptions, the SEC is wilting. And what of the coaching carousel? Did the Big Ten club the SEC there, too? You could make that case. LSU scored the big fish by securing Lane Kiffin. Mostly, though, SEC schools hired promising but largely unproven up and comers, while Big Ten schools like Michigan and Penn State landed veteran winners with solid resumes. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate which conference did it better in this hiring cycle. They also debate which conference has the more complete roster of coaches. And they discuss which SEC schools would have been well-served by hiring Kyle Whittingham, who wound up at Michigan. Later in the episode, the hosts unpack the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups, including what's at stake for Kalen DeBoer in Alabama-Indiana and whether Mississippi plays with house money in a rematch with Georgia.

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