Since the College Football Playoff’s inception, Alabama has never gone consecutive seasons without making the field. By missing the playoff last season, the Crimson Tide missed the program’s standard in Kalen DeBoer’s debut. He knows it. Now, Alabama has retooled with effective offseason maneuvering, but is it enough to make the playoff in the face of a tough schedule, with a new starting quarterback?

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams engage in a fact-or-fiction debate regarding several possible scenarios this season, such as whether Alabama will make the playoff, and whether Arch Manning will win the Heisman Trophy.

They also rate the top six games involving SEC teams in Week 1. And they weigh in on the fizzled bromance between the SEC and Big Ten.

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

Since the College Football Playoff&rsquo;s inception, Alabama has never gone consecutive seasons without making the field. By missing the playoff last season, the Crimson Tide missed the program&rsquo;s standard in Kalen DeBoer&rsquo;s debut. He <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/05/08/kalen-deboer-alabama-football-quarterback-competition/83468753007/" aria-label="Link knows it">knows it</a>. Now, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/05/06/kalen-deboer-alabama-starting-quarterback-ty-simpson/83331852007/" aria-label="Link Alabama has retooled">Alabama has retooled</a> with effective offseason maneuvering, but is it enough to make the playoff in the face of a tough schedule, with a new starting quarterback?
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> engage in a fact-or-fiction debate regarding several possible scenarios this season, such as whether Alabama will make the playoff, and whether Arch Manning will win the Heisman Trophy.
They also rate the top six games involving SEC teams in Week 1. And they weigh in on the fizzled bromance between the SEC and Big Ten.
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

Fact or fiction?: Alabama will make the College Football Playoff