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.

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

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.