The last round of SEC expansion re-established the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry, but conference realignment has taken more than it's given on the rivalry front. Not only that, but the SEC's elimination of divisions also will stop some rivalries from occurring annually. Both inside and outside of the SEC, games that were once part of the fabric of college football are no longer played every year.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams highlight eight rivalry games that they'd wish to save on an annual basis. These are games that have either already gone away or series that will be interrupted in the near future. Several of the rivalries have SEC ties, but they also dip into Big Ten and Big 12 terrain to restore some lost rivalries.

Also on this episode, Toppmeyer and Adams react to Joey Aguilar losing his bid for another season as Tennessee's quarterback. One host takes up for the NCAA's quest to enforce its eligibility rules, while the other host has less sympathy for the NCAA.

 

The last round of SEC expansion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2024/11/29/texas-am-texas-rivalry-renewed-sec-championship/76560257007/">re-established the Texas-Texas A&amp;M rivalry</a>, but <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/02/20/ncaa-college-conference-realignment-sec-nebraska-big-12-big-ten/88758988007/">conference realignment has taken more than it's given</a> on the rivalry front. Not only that, but the SEC's elimination of divisions also will stop some rivalries from occurring annually. Both inside and outside of the SEC, games that were once part of the fabric of college football are no longer played every year.
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> highlight eight rivalry games that they'd wish to save on an annual basis. These are games that have either already gone away or series that will be interrupted in the near future. Several of the rivalries have SEC ties, but they also dip into Big Ten and Big 12 terrain to restore some lost rivalries.
Also on this episode, Toppmeyer and Adams react to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/02/24/joey-aguilar-lawsuit-verdict-ncaa-rules-tennessee-qb-competition/88823477007/">Joey Aguilar losing his bid for another season as Tennessee's quarterback</a>. One host takes up for the NCAA's quest to enforce its eligibility rules, while the other host has less sympathy for the NCAA.
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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.