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One of the biggest games of the college football season was supposed to occur this Saturday, when Alabama hosts Texas A&M.

It is the day of reckoning after Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher exchanged barbs in the offseason. When the season started, though, Fisher's peacocking faded, and A&M got unmasked as a fraud. This looks like a mismatch, despite Saban's "rat poison" warnings.

So, if not A&M, which team can threaten the No. 1-ranked Tide en route to the SEC Championship in Atlanta?

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate three teams, in particular, that could challenge the Tide: Tennessee, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

One stands above the rest.

Also, what's wrong with Georgia? And, some Week 6 picks against the spread.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

One of the biggest games of the college football season was supposed to occur this Saturday, when <a href="https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/columns/2022/10/03/alabama-football-ol-bullied-arkansas-and-critics-have-been-silenced/69513955007/" aria-label="Link Alabama hosts Texas A&amp;M">Alabama hosts Texas A&amp;M</a>.
It is the day of reckoning after <a href="https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/2022/05/19/jimbo-fisher-nick-saban-alabama-football-recruiting-texas-am-nil-cheating-kirby-smart-georgia/9840558002/" aria-label="Link Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher exchanged barbs in the offseason">Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher exchanged barbs in the offseason</a>. When the season started, though, Fisher's peacocking faded, and A&amp;M got unmasked as a fraud. This looks like a mismatch, despite Saban's "rat poison" warnings.
So, if not A&amp;M, which team can threaten the No. 1-ranked Tide en route to the SEC Championship in Atlanta?
On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate three teams, in particular, that could challenge the Tide: Tennessee, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
One stands above the rest.
Also, what's wrong with Georgia? And, some Week 6 picks against the spread.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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

Texas A&M is a fraud, so which team will threaten Alabama en route to Atlanta?

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Georgia's backup quarterback is suing an SEC coach. Welcome to college football in 2024.

In a lawsuit filed this week, Jaden Rashada is suing a top Florida booster, a former recruiting staffer and Gators coach Billy Napier after Rashada's NIL deal with Florida unraveled while the quarterback was a blue-chip prospect.

Rashada's attorney says the quarterback was defrauded. He's seeking millions in damages. 

On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," host Blake Toppmeyer is joined by the Gainesville Sun's Kevin Brockway to unpack the lawsuit and what it means for Florida and Napier, its already embattled coach. 

This lawsuit might never see the inside of a courtroom, but, regardless, it's the latest blow for a coach who went 11-14 the past two seasons, and it's bad press for Napier's recruiting efforts. Already, Florida was off to a slow start to its 2025 recruiting class. The Gators also face a daunting schedule. Just how warm is the seat getting for Napier?

Later in the episode, Toppmeyer is joined by David Eckert of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger to preview a season of big expectations for Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin.

 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Georgia's backup quarterback is <a href="https://www.gatorsports.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/05/21/jaden-rashada-suing-florida-football-coach-billy-napier-due-to-botched-nil-deal/73785170007/" aria-label="Link suing an SEC coach">suing an SEC coach</a>. Welcome to college football in 2024.
In a lawsuit filed this week, Jaden Rashada is suing a top Florida booster, a former recruiting staffer and Gators coach Billy Napier after Rashada's NIL deal with Florida unraveled while the quarterback was a blue-chip prospect.
Rashada's attorney says the quarterback was defrauded. He's seeking millions in damages. 
On this edition of "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sec-football-unfiltered/id1574375094" aria-label="Link SEC Football Unfiltered">SEC Football Unfiltered</a>," host <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> is joined by the Gainesville Sun's <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinBrockwayG1" aria-label="Link Kevin Brockway">Kevin Brockway</a> to unpack the lawsuit and what it means for Florida and Napier, its <a href="https://www.gainesville.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/05/09/billy-napier-hot-seat-kalen-deboer-sec-football-florida-gators-contract-buyout-sam-pittman-clark-lea/73582318007/" aria-label="Link already embattled coach">already embattled coach</a>. 
This lawsuit might never see the inside of a courtroom, but, regardless, it's the latest blow for a coach who went 11-14 the past two seasons, and it's bad press for Napier's recruiting efforts. Already, Florida was off to a slow start to its 2025 recruiting class. The Gators also face a daunting schedule. Just how warm is the seat getting for Napier?
Later in the episode, Toppmeyer is joined by David Eckert of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger to preview a season of big expectations for Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin.
 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

What Jaden Rashada lawsuit means for Billy Napier and Florida Gators

Either Georgia or Ohio State will be preseason No. 1. But just how heavily are those teams favored to win the national championship?

The SEC will be even more of a juggernaut than usual, following the arrival of Texas and Oklahoma. Georgia's schedule will include games against Clemson, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee. That's a rugged road before the playoff arrives. Ohio State is loaded but will transition to a new starting quarterback.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider this question: If you were predicting the national champion and could either take Georgia and Ohio State or the field, which would you choose?

It's a tough question, because Georgia and Ohio State are deserving frontrunners, but navigating a 12-team playoff presents more potential pitfalls.

Later in the episode, an examination of John Calipari's unusual strategy he says he's considering for Arkansas basketball.

 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Either <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/SEC/2024/05/08/college-football-rankings-top-25-preseason-georgia-alabama-tennessee/73595817007/" aria-label="Link Georgia or Ohio State will be preseason No. 1">Georgia or Ohio State will be preseason No. 1</a>. But just how heavily are those teams favored to win the national championship?
The <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/columns/2024/05/08/texas-football-coach-steve-sarkisian-longhorns-2024-expectations-sounds-just-fine/73569012007/" aria-label="Link SEC will be even more of a juggernaut than usual">SEC will be even more of a juggernaut than usual</a>, following the arrival of Texas and Oklahoma. Georgia's schedule will include games against Clemson, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee. That's a rugged road before the playoff arrives. Ohio State is loaded but will transition to a new starting quarterback.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> consider this question: If you were predicting the national champion and could either take Georgia and Ohio State or the field, which would you choose?
It's a tough question, because Georgia and Ohio State are deserving frontrunners, but navigating a 12-team playoff presents more potential pitfalls.
Later in the episode, an examination of John Calipari's unusual strategy he says he's considering for Arkansas basketball.
 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Are Georgia football and Ohio State inevitable? Why you can't ignore a few underdogs

The SEC is as strong as ever. That’s what a preseason top 25 from 247Sports suggests, anyway. The website updated its rankings while spring practice concluded. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 25, including eight inside the top 15.

Those rankings indicate that about half of the conference enjoys realistic aspirations of contending for the College Football Playoff. The SEC and Big Ten account for each of the top nine spots in the rankings. It really is a Power Two world.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider these rankings and whether each SEC team is overrated, underrated or appropriately rated. They also discuss how many SEC teams realistically could qualify for the inaugural 12-team playoff.

 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

The <a href="https://profile.tennessean.com/newsletters/sec-unfiltered/" aria-label="Link SEC">SEC</a> is as strong as ever. That’s what <a href="https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-football-rankings-updated-post-spring-top-25-poll-for-2024-season-230791557/" aria-label="Link a preseason top 25 from 247Sports">a preseason top 25 from 247Sports</a> suggests, anyway. The website updated its rankings while spring practice concluded. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 25, including eight inside the top 15.
Those rankings indicate that about half of the conference enjoys realistic aspirations of contending for the College Football Playoff. The SEC and Big Ten account for each of the top nine spots in the rankings. It really is a Power Two world.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> consider these rankings and whether each SEC team is overrated, underrated or appropriately rated. They also discuss how many SEC teams realistically could qualify for the inaugural 12-team playoff.
 Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Texas A&M is a fraud, so which team will threaten Alabama en route to Atlanta?

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