No more whimsical predictions. It's time to get serious and lock in our playoff picks before the season begins.

Yes, we made previous predictions in the winter, spring and earlier this summer, but those were fanciful ideas that come when the season is months away. But, let the record show: These are our final playoff predictions of the preseason.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer their 12 teams for the playoff. While they agree on some teams, they disagree on several. That includes multiple disagreements about SEC qualifiers.

Adams offers a sleeper from the SEC among his playoff picks, and he pulls a wild card for one of his final spots that leaves Toppmeyer speechless.

Meanwhile, Adams says one of Toppmeyer's playoff picks will be toast after Week 1.

No more whimsical predictions. It's time to get serious and lock in our playoff picks before the season begins.
Yes, we made previous predictions in the winter, spring and earlier this summer, but those were fanciful ideas that come when the season is months away. But, let the record show: These are our final playoff predictions of the preseason.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> offer their 12 teams for the playoff. While they agree on some teams, they disagree on several. That includes multiple disagreements about <a href="https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/08/18/sec-football-predictions-georgia-kirby-smart/74764096007/" aria-label="Link SEC qualifiers.">SEC qualifiers.</a>
Adams offers a sleeper from the SEC among his playoff picks, and he pulls a wild card for one of his final spots that leaves Toppmeyer speechless.
Meanwhile, Adams says one of Toppmeyer's playoff picks will be toast after Week 1.

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

Which 12 teams will make College Football Playoff? We lock in our picks

The Big Ten rules college sports.

That's the brass tacks. The SEC no longer can hide from reality. 

The Big Ten won the last three college football championships. The SEC hasn't reached the national championship game since 2023 Georgia won it all. Now, as insult to injury, the Big Ten sent two teams to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, while the SEC sits at home.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams address the SEC's reality and just how dire the situation is. They also suggest a new motto for the SEC, now that the Big Ten is on top.

Also in this episode, the hosts react to Tennessee being the last SEC team standing in March Madness, and they weigh in on Will Wade's hire at LSU.

The Big Ten <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/nletter/2026/03/30/sec-cant-match-big-ten-at-top-ncaa-tournament-march-madness/89342857007/" aria-label="Link rules college sports">rules college sports</a>.
That's the brass tacks. The SEC no longer can hide from reality.&nbsp;
The Big Ten won the last three college football championships. The SEC hasn't reached the national championship game since 2023 Georgia won it all. Now, as insult to injury, the Big Ten sent two teams to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, while the SEC sits at home.
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> address the SEC's reality and just how dire the situation is. They also suggest a new motto for the SEC, now that the Big Ten is on top.
Also in this episode, the hosts react to <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2026/03/29/tennessee-basketball-michigan-elite-eight-disaster-rick-barnes-march-madness/89361134007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee being the last SEC team standing">Tennessee being the last SEC team standing</a> in March Madness, and they weigh in on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2026/03/27/lsu-basketball-hires-will-wade-ncaa-scandal-investigation-strong-ass-offer/89353041007/" aria-label="Link Will Wade's hire at LSU">Will Wade's hire at LSU</a>.

The Big Ten rules college sports. That's the brass tacks. The SEC no longer can hide from reality.  The Big Ten won the last three college football championships. The SEC hasn't reached the national championship game since 2023 Georgia won it all. Now, as insult to injury, the Big Ten sent two teams to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, while the SEC sits at home. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams address the SEC's reality and just how dire the situation is. They also suggest a new motto for the SEC, now that the Big Ten is on top. Also in this episode, the hosts react to Tennessee being the last SEC team standing in March Madness, and they weigh in on Will Wade's hire at LSU.

Big Ten is dominating college sports, and the SEC can't hide from it

Alabama's Nate Oats and Florida's Todd Golden established themselves as top-tier SEC basketball coaches. Oats has Alabama in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season. Golden's stock remains red hot despite Florida's surprising second-round loss to Iowa.

So, what happens if the North Carolina job opens? UNC's Hubert Davis is on the hot seat. Golden and Oats have proven they can win at the highest level. They enjoy ultimate job security and high favorability ratings at their current school. Would they trade that in for the chance to coach a blue blood, where basketball reigns supreme?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the merits of leaving a stable SEC job for a premier opportunity like North Carolina, where the pressure is high but so is the ceiling. Adams thinks a coach with Golden's swagger or Oats' appetite for a national championship might trade in a secure situation for the ego stroke of a blue blood, but both hosts outline multiple reasons to stay put.

If Golden is open to leaving Florida, Adams thinks he'd be better off waiting for another SEC job to open. 

Think Kentucky could use some of Golden's swagger if Mark Pope flames out in 2027?

Also in this episode, the hosts examine the four SEC teams remaining in March Madness and highlight one team they think could advance to the Elite Eight via an upset.

Alabama's Nate Oats and Florida's Todd Golden established themselves as top-tier SEC basketball coaches. Oats has <a href="https://rolltidewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/crimson-tide/mens-basketball/2026/03/23/march-madness-alabama-basketball-texas-tech-ncaa-tournament-reactions/89280357007/" aria-label="Link Alabama in the Sweet 16">Alabama in the Sweet 16</a> for the fourth straight season. Golden's <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2026/03/20/north-carolina-basketball-must-fire-hubert-davis-hire-todd-golden-unc-tar-heels/89247831007/" aria-label="Link stock remains red hot">stock remains red hot</a> despite Florida's surprising second-round loss to Iowa.
So, what happens <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2026/03/23/unc-basketball-coaching-candidates-if-north-carolina-fires-hubert-davis/89283254007/" aria-label="Link if the North Carolina job opens">if the North Carolina job opens</a>? UNC's Hubert Davis is on the hot seat. Golden and Oats have proven they can win at the highest level. They enjoy ultimate job security and high favorability ratings at their current school. Would they trade that in for the chance to coach a blue blood, where basketball reigns supreme?
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 merits of leaving a stable SEC job for a premier opportunity like North Carolina, where the pressure is high but so is the ceiling. Adams thinks a coach with Golden's swagger or Oats' appetite for a national championship might trade in a secure situation for the ego stroke of a blue blood, but both hosts outline multiple reasons to stay put.
If Golden is open to leaving Florida, Adams thinks he'd be better off waiting for another SEC job to open.&nbsp;
Think Kentucky could use some of Golden's swagger if Mark Pope flames out in 2027?
Also in this episode, the hosts examine the four SEC teams remaining in March Madness and <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2026/03/23/march-madness-predictions-sweet-16-picks-final-four-2026-ncaa/89277957007/" aria-label="Link highlight one team">highlight one team</a> they think could advance to the Elite Eight via an upset.

Alabama's Nate Oats and Florida's Todd Golden established themselves as top-tier SEC basketball coaches. Oats has Alabama in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season. Golden's stock remains red hot despite Florida's surprising second-round loss to Iowa.  So, what happens if the North Carolina job opens? UNC's Hubert Davis is on the hot seat. Golden and Oats have proven they can win at the highest level. They enjoy ultimate job security and high favorability ratings at their current school. Would they trade that in for the chance to coach a blue blood, where basketball reigns supreme?  On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the merits of leaving a stable SEC job for a premier opportunity like North Carolina, where the pressure is high but so is the ceiling. Adams thinks a coach with Golden's swagger or Oats' appetite for a national championship might trade in a secure situation for the ego stroke of a blue blood, but both hosts outline multiple reasons to stay put.  If Golden is open to leaving Florida, Adams thinks he'd be better off waiting for another SEC job to open.   Think Kentucky could use some of Golden's swagger if Mark Pope flames out in 2027?  Also in this episode, the hosts examine the four SEC teams remaining in March Madness and highlight one team they think could advance to the Elite Eight via an upset.

Why Nate Oats, Todd Golden should (and shouldn't) consider blue-blood basketball jobs

The SEC led all conferences with 10 NCAA Tournament bids. Perhaps, there was a case for 11 bids, although if any SEC team got snubbed, it wasn't Auburn — despite what you might have heard from Bruce Pearl. 

Oklahoma had a better NCAA case than Auburn.

As for the SEC teams that made the bracket, which one faces the most pressure, and which will be the last SEC team standing?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the bracket, offer first-round upset picks and highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight.

Plus, they offer their Final Four picks! 

In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.

The SEC led all conferences with 10 <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2026/03/16/march-madness-predictions-upset-picks-final-four-ncaa-tournament-bracket-2026/89064207007/" aria-label="Link NCAA Tournament">NCAA Tournament</a> bids. Perhaps, there was a case for 11 bids, although if any SEC team got snubbed, it wasn't Auburn &mdash; despite what you might have heard from Bruce Pearl.&nbsp;
Oklahoma had a better NCAA case than Auburn.
As for the SEC teams that made the bracket, which one faces the most pressure, and which will be the last SEC team standing?
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> weigh in on the bracket, offer first-round upset picks and highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight.
Plus, they offer their Final Four picks!&nbsp;
In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.

The SEC led all conferences with 10 NCAA Tournament bids. Perhaps, there was a case for 11 bids, although if any SEC team got snubbed, it wasn't Auburn — despite what you might have heard from Bruce Pearl.  Oklahoma had a better NCAA case than Auburn. As for the SEC teams that made the bracket, which one faces the most pressure, and which will be the last SEC team standing? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the bracket, offer first-round upset picks and highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight. Plus, they offer their Final Four picks!  In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.

Which 12 teams will make College Football Playoff? We lock in our picks

In 1 playlist(s)

SEC Football Unfiltered

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips