The SEC is mired in a national championship drought, but the conference still claims to have unmatched depth. That argument will gain steam after the release of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the Top 25, more than any other conference. That includes six teams in the top 11.

So, were Big Ten coaches in the wrong last week when they took a victory lap at the SEC's expense during the Big Ten's media days? As one Big Ten coach put it, the SEC would like to pretend it's still 2005. Ouch!

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss the Big Ten's chest-thumping and explain why they're OK with it. They also react to the coaches poll and offer a few SEC teams that could be overrated and underrated.

Toppmeyer says one Big Ten team in particular got snubbed in the rankings, and Adams reveals who he'd have ranked No. 1. (Hint: It's an SEC team.)

The SEC is mired in a national championship drought, but the conference still claims to have unmatched depth. That argument will gain steam after the release of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the Top 25, more than any other conference. That includes six teams in the top 11.
So, were Big Ten coaches in the wrong last week when <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/07/30/big-ten-football-cfp-record-sec-nick-saban-best-conference/91097653007/" aria-label="Link they took a victory lap at the SEC's expense">they took a victory lap at the SEC's expense</a> during the Big Ten's media days? As one Big Ten coach put it, the SEC would like to pretend it's still 2005. Ouch!
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 the Big Ten's chest-thumping and explain why they're OK with it. They also react to the <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/ncaaf/coaches-poll" aria-label="Link coaches poll">coaches poll</a> and offer a few SEC teams that could be overrated and underrated.
Toppmeyer says one Big Ten team in particular got snubbed in the rankings, and Adams reveals who he'd have ranked No. 1. (Hint: It's an SEC team.)

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 SEC is mired in a national championship drought, but the conference still claims to have unmatched depth. That argument will gain steam after the release of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the Top 25, more than any other conference. That includes six teams in the top 11. So, were Big Ten coaches in the wrong last week when they took a victory lap at the SEC's expense during the Big Ten's media days? As one Big Ten coach put it, the SEC would like to pretend it's still 2005. Ouch! On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss the Big Ten's chest-thumping and explain why they're OK with it. They also react to the coaches poll and offer a few SEC teams that could be overrated and underrated. Toppmeyer says one Big Ten team in particular got snubbed in the rankings, and Adams reveals who he'd have ranked No. 1. (Hint: It's an SEC team.)

The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll is out! Did the SEC get too much love (or not enough)?

Nearly 70 media members voted in the preseason AP Poll. None of them voted for an SEC team as No. 1. What gives? Why are the media out on the SEC?

There's probably no conspiracy here, and this is a byproduct of the Big Ten producing three straight national champions. The B1G has reloaded, and Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana sparkle with national championship potential this season.

Still, is it not odd that Georgia or Texas did not receive a single first-place vote?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams break down the AP Poll and debate why the SEC got shut out of first-place votes. Adams makes his case for why Texas should be worthy of a first-place vote, while Toppmeyer outlines a theory as to why nobody voted Texas No. 1.

Later in the episode, the hosts debate whether Alabama got snubbed in the AP Poll. The Tide are ranked No. 13, two spots lower than the US LBM Coaches Poll. Toppmeyer argues that the AP ranking might be an overreaction to the Saban dynasty being finished.

Finally, Toppmeyer and Adams sound off on Jayden Daniels sending a cease and desist to LSU, his alma mater. Fair, or foul?

Nearly 70 media members voted in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/08/17/college-rankings-ap-top-25-coaches-poll-football/91335863007/">the preseason AP Poll</a>. None of them voted for an SEC team as No. 1. What gives? Why are the media out on the SEC? There's probably no conspiracy here, and this is a byproduct of the Big Ten producing three straight national champions. The B1G has reloaded, and Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana sparkle with national championship potential this season. Still, is it not odd that Georgia or Texas did not receive a single first-place vote? On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2647548001/john-adams/">John Adams</a> break down the AP Poll and debate why the SEC got shut out of first-place votes. Adams makes his case for why Texas should be worthy of a first-place vote, while Toppmeyer outlines a theory as to why nobody voted Texas No. 1. Later in the episode, the hosts debate whether Alabama got snubbed in the AP Poll. The Tide are ranked No. 13, two spots lower than <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/ncaaf/coaches-poll">the US LBM Coaches Poll</a>. Toppmeyer argues that the AP ranking might be an overreaction to the Saban dynasty being finished.
Finally, Toppmeyer and Adams sound off on Jayden Daniels sending a cease and desist to LSU, his alma mater. Fair, or foul?

Have the media turned against the SEC? And, did Alabama get snubbed?

If a bipartisan bill becomes federal law, then Congress will limit conferences like the SEC to no more than 19 members, in a bid to prevent mega-conferences.

Such a law wouldn't force the SEC to pursue further expansion, but it might spur another round of realignment as conferences race to 19. If the SEC did decide to add three more members, which schools should it consider?

That's the subject of debate on today's episode, as hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams each make their case for which three schools would suit SEC expansion.

They agree on one school from the ACC to top the SEC's wish list. From there, Adams heads southwest for additional expansion, while Toppmeyer stays on the east coast and builds a case to further solidify the SEC's basketball bona fides.

Interestingly, neither host makes a case for the SEC to add either Florida State or Clemson, which profile as good cultural fits, but their football programs are losing ground in this pay-for-play landscape.

If <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2026/08/08/protect-college-sports-act-congress-no-vote-cruz-cantwell-ncaa/91205678007/" aria-label="Link a bipartisan bill">a bipartisan bill</a> becomes federal law, then Congress will limit conferences like the SEC to no more than 19 members, in a bid to prevent mega-conferences.
Such a law wouldn't force the SEC to pursue further expansion, but it might spur another round of realignment as conferences race to 19. If the SEC did decide to add three more members, which schools should it consider?
That's the subject of debate on today's episode, as 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> each make their case for which three schools would suit SEC expansion.
They agree on one school from the ACC to top the SEC's wish list. From there, Adams heads southwest for additional expansion, while Toppmeyer stays on the east coast and builds a case to further solidify the SEC's basketball bona fides.
Interestingly, neither host makes a case for the SEC to add either Florida State or Clemson, which profile as good cultural fits, but their football programs are losing ground in this pay-for-play landscape.

If a bipartisan bill becomes federal law, then Congress will limit conferences like the SEC to no more than 19 members, in a bid to prevent mega-conferences. Such a law wouldn't force the SEC to pursue further expansion, but it might spur another round of realignment as conferences race to 19. If the SEC did decide to add three more members, which schools should it consider? That's the subject of debate on today's episode, as hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams each make their case for which three schools would suit SEC expansion. They agree on one school from the ACC to top the SEC's wish list. From there, Adams heads southwest for additional expansion, while Toppmeyer stays on the east coast and builds a case to further solidify the SEC's basketball bona fides. Interestingly, neither host makes a case for the SEC to add either Florida State or Clemson, which profile as good cultural fits, but their football programs are losing ground in this pay-for-play landscape.

If SEC expands to 19 members, which schools should the conference pursue?

The media must be skeptical of Lane Kiffin's ability to make Year 1 a smashing success at LSU. Also, Auburn is flying under the radar as a sleeper team.

That's our reaction here at "SEC Football Unfiltered" to the conference's predicted order of finish that came out last week. LSU ranked No. 5 in the pecking order, and Auburn was No. 12.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the reasons why the media poll is so hesitant toward LSU, and they make the case for Auburn being underrated, too.

They also offer a pair of overrated teams.

Toppmeyer and Adams disagree on which team is the SEC's frontrunner. Is it Georgia or Texas?

Toppmeyer also asks Adams an interesting question: If the Big Ten has three national championship contenders (Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon), does the SEC also have three?

The media must be skeptical of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/05/21/lane-kiffin-hero-villain-lsu-football-ole-miss-exit/90141946007/" aria-label="Link Lane Kiffin's ability">Lane Kiffin's ability</a> to make Year 1 a smashing success at LSU. Also, Auburn is flying under the radar as a sleeper team.
That's our reaction here at "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sec-football-unfiltered/id1574375094" aria-label="Link SEC Football Unfiltered">SEC Football Unfiltered</a>" to the conference's predicted order of finish that came out last week. LSU ranked No. 5 in the pecking order, and Auburn was No. 12.
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> debate the reasons why the media poll is so hesitant toward LSU, and they make the case for Auburn being underrated, too.
They also offer a pair of overrated teams.
Toppmeyer and Adams disagree on which team is the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/07/24/arch-manning-texas-football-predictions-lane-kiffin-sec/90980658007/" aria-label="Link SEC's frontrunner">SEC's frontrunner</a>. Is it Georgia or Texas?
Toppmeyer also asks Adams an interesting question: If the Big Ten has three national championship contenders (Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon), does the SEC also have three?

The media must be skeptical of Lane Kiffin's ability to make Year 1 a smashing success at LSU. Also, Auburn is flying under the radar as a sleeper team. That's our reaction here at "SEC Football Unfiltered" to the conference's predicted order of finish that came out last week. LSU ranked No. 5 in the pecking order, and Auburn was No. 12. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the reasons why the media poll is so hesitant toward LSU, and they make the case for Auburn being underrated, too. They also offer a pair of overrated teams. Toppmeyer and Adams disagree on which team is the SEC's frontrunner. Is it Georgia or Texas? Toppmeyer also asks Adams an interesting question: If the Big Ten has three national championship contenders (Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon), does the SEC also have three?

The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll is out! Did the SEC get too much love (or not enough)?

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