The buyout gods rested. The money cannon ran out of gunpowder. The firing squad took a weekend off.

Folks, we just got through a Sunday with no college football coaches fired. Do you believe in miracles?

Are the firings finished for this season? Well, about that ...

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss a few SEC coaches who might not be out of the woods yet. Kentucky's Mark Stoops and Oklahoma's Brent Venables are OK for now. There's work left to do. Also, with South Carolina imploding, should Shane Beamer consider an exit for Virginia Tech? And, what to make of Toppmeyer's idea that Tennessee's Josh Heupel turn his eye toward Penn State? Adams weighs in.

Later in the episode, the hosts disagree on how many SEC teams are national championship contenders. Is it two, or three? Finally, Week 12 picks against the spread!

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/10/12/james-franklin-fired-penn-state-wisconsin-football-luke-fickell-hot-seat-coach/86541737007/" aria-label="Link buyout">buyout</a>&nbsp;gods rested. The&nbsp;<a href="https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/aggies/football/2025/10/30/texas-aggies-football-coach-jimbo-fisher-most-expensive-buyouts/86996128007/" aria-label="Link money cannon">money cannon</a>&nbsp;ran out of gunpowder. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/11/04/auburn-coaching-candidates-urban-meyer-james-franklin-brent-key-rumors-best-fit/87064322007/" aria-label="Link firing squad">firing squad</a>&nbsp;took a weekend off.
Folks, we just got through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/11/09/indiana-football-cfp-college-football-playoff-ohio-state-win-streak/87064361007/" aria-label="Link a Sunday with no college football coaches fired">a Sunday with no college football coaches fired</a>. Do you believe in miracles?
Are the firings finished for this season? Well, about that ...
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> discuss a few SEC coaches who might not be out of the woods yet. Kentucky's Mark Stoops and Oklahoma's Brent Venables are OK for now. There's work left to do. Also, with South Carolina imploding, should Shane Beamer consider an exit for Virginia Tech? And, what to make of Toppmeyer's idea that <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/11/06/josh-heupel-hot-seat-tennessee-football-coach-penn-state-candidates/87063816007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee's Josh Heupel turn his eye toward Penn State">Tennessee's Josh Heupel turn his eye toward Penn State</a>? Adams weighs in.
Later in the episode, the hosts disagree on how many SEC teams are national championship contenders. Is it two, or three? Finally, Week 12 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

The buyout gods rested. The money cannon ran out of gunpowder. The firing squad took a weekend off. Folks, we just got through a Sunday with no college football coaches fired. Do you believe in miracles? Are the firings finished for this season? Well, about that ... On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss a few SEC coaches who might not be out of the woods yet. Kentucky's Mark Stoops and Oklahoma's Brent Venables are OK for now. There's work left to do. Also, with South Carolina imploding, should Shane Beamer consider an exit for Virginia Tech? And, what to make of Toppmeyer's idea that Tennessee's Josh Heupel turn his eye toward Penn State? Adams weighs in. Later in the episode, the hosts disagree on how many SEC teams are national championship contenders. Is it two, or three? Finally, Week 12 picks against the spread!

SEC firings take a pause. That doesn't mean they're finished

Diego Pavia reacted to his second-place Heisman Trophy finish as only he would.

"F all the voters," Vanderbilt's quarterback wrote on social media.

Hey, he's talking about us! We're the voters.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reveal their Heisman Trophy ballots and sound off on Pavia's response to not winning. 

We take no significant offense to Pavia criticizing sportswriters and their votes. After all, sportswriters are critics. We can handle the blowback (even if we voted for Pavia). But, Pavia's reaction took some of the spotlight away from Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. That's where he erred.

Also in this episode, a discussion of whether Kalen DeBoer is making the right move pledging allegiance to Alabamawhile the Michigan job sits open.

Finally, College Football Playoff picks against the spread!

<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/15/diego-pavia-negative-posts-after-losing-heisman-trophy-will-stick-with-him-f-the-voters/87773577007/" aria-label="Link Diego Pavia">Diego Pavia</a> reacted to his second-place Heisman Trophy finish as only he would.
"F all the voters," Vanderbilt's quarterback <a href="https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/columns/2025/12/14/heisman-finalist-diego-pavias-f-all-the-voters-remark-and-my-reply/87616926007/" aria-label="Link wrote on social media">wrote on social media</a>.
Hey, he's talking about us! We're the voters.
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> reveal their Heisman Trophy ballots and sound off on Pavia's response to not winning.&nbsp;
We take no significant offense to Pavia criticizing sportswriters and their votes. After all, sportswriters are critics. We can handle the blowback (even if we voted for Pavia). But, Pavia's reaction took some of the spotlight away from Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. That's where he erred.
Also in this episode, a discussion of whether <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/15/michigan-football-coach-candidates-kalen-deboer-staying-alabama-whos-is-next/87774775007/" aria-label="Link Kalen DeBoer is making the right move pledging allegiance to Alabama">Kalen DeBoer is making the right move pledging allegiance to Alabama</a>while the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2025/12/15/michigan-football-coaching-candidates-kalen-deboer-jeff-brohm-brian-kelly-jedd-fisch/87763779007/" aria-label="Link Michigan job sits open">Michigan job sits open</a>.
Finally, College Football Playoff picks against the spread!

Diego Pavia reacted to his second-place Heisman Trophy finish as only he would. "F all the voters," Vanderbilt's quarterback wrote on social media. Hey, he's talking about us! We're the voters. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reveal their Heisman Trophy ballots and sound off on Pavia's response to not winning.  We take no significant offense to Pavia criticizing sportswriters and their votes. After all, sportswriters are critics. We can handle the blowback (even if we voted for Pavia). But, Pavia's reaction took some of the spotlight away from Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. That's where he erred. Also in this episode, a discussion of whether Kalen DeBoer is making the right move pledging allegiance to Alabama while the Michigan job sits open. Finally, College Football Playoff picks against the spread!

Sounding off on Diego Pavia's Heisman reaction; plus, Kalen DeBoer and Michigan

Did the CFP committee get the playoff bracket right? Well, that depends on your perspective and your rooting interests. The bubble became awfully crowded, so not everyone was going to come away happy.

Overall, Alabama and Miami seem like fair choices, but the course the committee charted to reach that destination became an exercise of the absurd.

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their biggest grievances with this bracket – and with this committee – and propose a different way to approach the playoff.

Is this season cause for playoff expansion? Not necessarily. There’s an argument for 16 teams, but there’s also a case for staying at 12 and dumping automatic bids in favor of a bracket filled exclusively through at-large bids. Let’s reconsider who gets to be on the CFP committee.

Also in this episode, the hosts discuss potential playoff upsets, and they predict the national champion.

Did the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/09/cfp-bracket-committee-predictions-notre-dame-alabama-byu-miami/87664328007/" aria-label="Link CFP committee">CFP committee</a> get the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/08/cfp-decision-to-go-miami-for-notre-dame-is-just-process-was-flawed-college-football-playoff/87673554007/" aria-label="Link playoff bracket right">playoff bracket right</a>? Well, that depends on your perspective and your rooting interests. The bubble became awfully crowded, so not everyone was going to come away happy.
Overall, Alabama and Miami seem like fair choices, but the course the committee charted to reach that destination became an exercise of the absurd.
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> offer their biggest grievances with this bracket &ndash; and with this committee &ndash; and propose a different way to approach the playoff.
Is this season cause for playoff expansion? Not necessarily. There&rsquo;s an argument for 16 teams, but there&rsquo;s also a case for staying at 12 and dumping automatic bids in favor of a bracket filled exclusively through at-large bids. Let&rsquo;s reconsider who gets to be on the CFP committee.
Also in this episode, the hosts discuss <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/08/cfp-bracket-predictions-picks-ohio-state-indiana-miami-committee/87663052007/" aria-label="Link potential playoff upsets">potential playoff upsets</a>, and they predict the national champion.

Did the CFP committee get the playoff bracket right? Well, that depends on your perspective and your rooting interests. The bubble became awfully crowded, so not everyone was going to come away happy. Overall, Alabama and Miami seem like fair choices, but the course the committee charted to reach that destination became an exercise of the absurd. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their biggest grievances with this bracket – and with this committee – and propose a different way to approach the playoff. Is this season cause for playoff expansion? Not necessarily. There’s an argument for 16 teams, but there’s also a case for staying at 12 and dumping automatic bids in favor of a bracket filled exclusively through at-large bids. Let’s reconsider who gets to be on the CFP committee. Also in this episode, the hosts discuss potential playoff upsets, and they predict the national champion.

Nobody got ‘snubbed’ from CFP bracket, but committee flubbed anyway

If you’d formed a list of candidates LSU should pursue after it fired Brian Kelly, it might have looked like this:

1. Lane Kiffin

2. Revert to option 1 and get it done.

LSU got it done. Lane has landed in Baton Rouge. Now, what does it all mean?

For Kiffin, leaving Ole Miss on the doorstep of the playoff marks a sharp pivot in his redemption story and revives his renegade past. At LSU, he'll enjoy every advantage to win a national championship.

Ole Miss opted for stability in a moment of turmoil and promoted coordinator Pete Golding to coach. How will the transition affect the Rebels in the playoff?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams grade the hire for LSU and weigh in on whether Ole Miss made the right call in not allowing Kiffin to coach the playoff. Adams logs a prediction for whether Kiffin will win a national championship with LSU, while Toppmeyer shares thoughts on what Kiffin's career pivot will mean for his legacy.

Later in the episode, the hosts react to the other hires in the SEC in what's become a coaching carousel unlike any other. Finally, they predict national championship games against the spread.

If you&rsquo;d formed a list of candidates LSU should pursue after it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/10/26/lsu-football-fires-brian-kelly-buyout-contract-record/86918999007/" aria-label="Link fired Brian Kelly">fired Brian Kelly</a>, it might have looked like this:
1. Lane Kiffin
2. Revert to option 1 and get it done.
LSU got it done. Lane <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/01/lane-kiffin-lsu-football-press-conference-hired-ole-miss-coach-angry-rebels-fans/87546239007/" aria-label="Link has landed">has landed</a> in Baton Rouge. Now, what does it all mean?
For Kiffin, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/11/30/lane-kiffin-news-ole-miss-coach-leaves-for-lsu-football-will-it-work/87488935007/" aria-label="Link leaving Ole Miss on the doorstep of the playoff">leaving Ole Miss on the doorstep of the playoff</a> marks a sharp pivot in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/04/22/lane-kiffin-ole-miss-football-2025-playoff/83188254007/" aria-label="Link his redemption story">his redemption story</a> and revives his renegade past. At LSU, he'll enjoy every advantage to win a national championship.
Ole Miss opted for stability in a moment of turmoil and promoted coordinator Pete Golding to coach. How will the transition affect the Rebels in the playoff?
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> grade the hire for LSU and weigh in on whether Ole Miss made the right call in not allowing Kiffin to coach the playoff. Adams logs a prediction for whether Kiffin will win a national championship with LSU, while Toppmeyer shares thoughts on what Kiffin's career pivot will mean for his legacy.
Later in the episode, the hosts react to the other hires in the SEC in what's become a coaching carousel unlike any other. Finally, they predict national championship games against the spread.

If you’d formed a list of candidates LSU should pursue after it fired Brian Kelly, it might have looked like this:  1. Lane Kiffin  2. Revert to option 1 and get it done.  LSU got it done. Lane has landed in Baton Rouge. Now, what does it all mean?  For Kiffin, leaving Ole Miss on the doorstep of the playoff marks a sharp pivot in his redemption story and revives his renegade past. At LSU, he'll enjoy every advantage to win a national championship.  Ole Miss opted for stability in a moment of turmoil and promoted coordinator Pete Golding to coach. How will the transition affect the Rebels in the playoff?  On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams grade the hire for LSU and weigh in on whether Ole Miss made the right call in not allowing Kiffin to coach the playoff. Adams logs a prediction for whether Kiffin will win a national championship with LSU, while Toppmeyer shares thoughts on what Kiffin's career pivot will mean for his legacy.  Later in the episode, the hosts react to the other hires in the SEC in what's become a coaching carousel unlike any other. Finally, they predict national championship games against the spread.

SEC firings take a pause. That doesn't mean they're finished

In 1 playlist(s)

SEC Football Unfiltered

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips