Everyone’s cooking up their final College Football Playoff predictions before the season kicks off, but here on “SEC Football Unfiltered,” we’re serving something unique.

Why not put two heads together to create the ultimate playoff projection?

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams team up to create a single bracket. Each host gets to select six teams to create the 12-team field, while adhering to the playoff parameters that five conferences must be represented.

The selections begin in a chalky manner, before Toppmeyer surprises Adams with one of his ACC selections. Then, Adams leaves Toppmeyer speechless with his sleeper pick from the Big Ten.

Later in the episode, they make their Week 1 picks against the spread.

For more from Toppmeyer and Adams, sign up for the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered free to your email inbox.

Everyone&rsquo;s cooking up their final <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2025/08/27/college-football-playoff-criteria-record-sec/85833511007/" aria-label="Link College Football Playoff predictions">College Football Playoff predictions</a> before the season kicks off, but here on &ldquo;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sec-football-unfiltered/id1574375094" aria-label="Link SEC Football Unfiltered">SEC Football Unfiltered</a>,&rdquo; we&rsquo;re serving something unique.
Why not put two heads together to create the ultimate playoff projection?
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> team up to create a single bracket. Each host gets to select six teams to create the 12-team field, while adhering to the playoff parameters that five conferences must be represented.
The selections begin in a chalky manner, before Toppmeyer surprises Adams with one of his ACC selections. Then, Adams leaves Toppmeyer speechless with his sleeper pick from the Big Ten.
Later in the episode, they make their Week 1 picks against the spread.
For more from Toppmeyer and Adams, <a href="https://profile.tennessean.com/newsletters/sec-unfiltered/" aria-label="Link sign up for the SEC Unfiltered newsletter">sign up for the SEC Unfiltered newsletter</a>, delivered free to your email inbox.

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

Our College Football Playoff predictions, and a sleeper team to leave you speechless