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.

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 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.

Why Auburn was not the biggest March Madness snub; plus, Final Four picks!

If Indiana can be a football school, then why can’t Florida be a basketball school? Todd Golden is looking to emulate Billy Donovan and coach the Gators to back-to-back national championships. As the SEC Tournament arrives, Florida has won 11 straight and is making a beeline for a No. 1 seed in March Madness.

In the meantime, can anyone stop Florida in Nashville?

On today’s basketball-themed episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss top threats to Florida in the SEC Tournament and debate whether it’s hyperbolic to claim Florida is a basketball school, for the moment.

Later in the episode, they weigh in on Bruce Pearl’s vendetta against Miami (Ohio). To wrap up the upside, the hosts discuss the latest on March Madness expansion talk, and Adams explains why he likes the idea of a 76-team NCAA Tournament even less than he likes the idea of a 24-team playoff.

If Indiana can be a football school, then why can&rsquo;t Florida be a basketball school? Todd Golden is looking to emulate Billy Donovan and coach the Gators to back-to-back national championships. As the SEC Tournament arrives, Florida has won 11 straight and is making a beeline for a No. 1 seed in March Madness.
In the meantime, can anyone stop Florida in Nashville?
On today&rsquo;s basketball-themed 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 top threats to Florida in the SEC Tournament and debate whether it&rsquo;s hyperbolic to claim Florida is a basketball school, for the moment.
Later in the episode, they weigh in on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2026/03/06/bruce-pearl-lies-auburn-basketball-miami-ohio-march-madness-ncaa/89001954007/" aria-label="Link Bruce Pearl&rsquo;s vendetta against Miami (Ohio)">Bruce Pearl&rsquo;s vendetta against Miami (Ohio)</a>. To wrap up the upside, the hosts discuss the latest on March Madness expansion talk, and Adams explains why he likes the idea of a 76-team NCAA Tournament even less than he likes the idea of a 24-team playoff.

Is Florida a basketball school now? Plus, why we dislike March Madness expansion talk

By now, you're quite familiar with the big names. Arch. Trinidad. Gunner.

The SEC is stocked with an impressive collection of quarterbacks for 2026. But, even as the headline stars suck up a lot of oxygen, we detect a handful of quarterbacks flying below the radar who could be poised for big seasons.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams highlight four SEC quarterbacks who are not being talked about enough. Allow us to generate some hype.

The list includes three transfers, plus a young quarterback who became a starter toward the end of last season.

Later in the episode, the hosts react to Tennessee's Josh Heupel saying he'd support at 24-team playoff. Is that really a champion's mentality, or do coaches who like a 24-team playoff just crave extra job security?

By now, you're quite familiar with the big names. Arch. Trinidad. Gunner.
The SEC is stocked with an impressive collection of quarterbacks for 2026. But, even as the headline stars suck up a lot of oxygen, we detect a handful of quarterbacks flying below the radar who could be poised for big seasons.
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> highlight four SEC quarterbacks who are not being talked about enough. Allow us to generate some hype.
The list includes three transfers, plus a young quarterback who became a starter toward the end of last season.
Later in the episode, the hosts react to Tennessee's Josh Heupel saying he'd support at 24-team playoff. Is that really a champion's mentality, or do coaches who like a 24-team playoff just crave extra job security?

The four SEC quarterbacks we're not talking about enough

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.
&nbsp;

Why Auburn was not the biggest March Madness snub; plus, Final Four picks!

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