Greg Sankey once mused about the SEC staging its own College Football Playoff. He didn’t follow through, but his conference has an outside shot of claiming half the spots in a 12-team playoff.

Not bad, eh?

The bubble’s getting awfully crowded, so what’s the most realistic outcome for the SEC?

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider the playoff fortunes of the SEC’s seven teams still in the hunt for a bid. They identify five SEC teams that will make the field, and the two playoff contenders that won’t.

Later in the episode, Toppmeyer declares Texas’ season a flop and questions whether Steve Sarkisian should be under more scrutiny. The hosts also sound off on the latest in the Lane Kiffin saga, and they grade Virginia Tech’s hire of James Franklin.

Finally, Week 13 picks against the spread!

Greg Sankey <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/SEC/2022/05/31/college-football-playoff-expansion-sec-only-greg-sankey-expansion/9968344002/" aria-label="Link once mused">once mused</a> about the SEC staging its own <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/11/17/cfp-rankings-prediction-top-12-college-football-playoff-who-is-on-bubble/87195683007/" aria-label="Link College Football Playoff">College Football Playoff</a>. He didn&rsquo;t follow through, but his conference has an outside shot of claiming half the spots in a 12-team playoff.
Not bad, eh?
The bubble&rsquo;s getting awfully crowded, so what&rsquo;s the most realistic outcome for the SEC?
On today&rsquo;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> consider the playoff fortunes of the SEC&rsquo;s seven teams still in the hunt for a bid. They identify five SEC teams that will make the field, and the two playoff contenders that won&rsquo;t.
Later in the episode, Toppmeyer declares <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/11/16/texas-cfp-college-football-playoff-chances-georgia-score-arch-manning-steve-sarkisian/87195656007/" aria-label="Link Texas&rsquo; season a flop">Texas&rsquo; season a flop</a> and questions whether Steve Sarkisian should be under more scrutiny. The hosts also sound off on the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/11/17/lane-kiffin-ole-miss-football-future-deadline/87326455007/" aria-label="Link latest in the Lane Kiffin saga">latest in the Lane Kiffin saga</a>, and they grade <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/11/17/james-franklin-to-virginia-tech-college-football-coaching-hires/87316950007/" aria-label="Link Virginia Tech&rsquo;s hire of James Franklin">Virginia Tech&rsquo;s hire of James Franklin</a>.
Finally, Week 13 picks against the spread!

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

Greg Sankey once mused about the SEC staging its own College Football Playoff. He didn’t follow through, but his conference has an outside shot of claiming half the spots in a 12-team playoff.  Not bad, eh?  The bubble’s getting awfully crowded, so what’s the most realistic outcome for the SEC?  On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider the playoff fortunes of the SEC’s seven teams still in the hunt for a bid. They identify five SEC teams that will make the field, and the two playoff contenders that won’t.  Later in the episode, Toppmeyer declares Texas’ season a flop and questions whether Steve Sarkisian should be under more scrutiny. The hosts also sound off on the latest in the Lane Kiffin saga, and they grade Virginia Tech’s hire of James Franklin.  Finally, Week 13 picks against the spread!

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