When the Big Ten refused to compromise on the 16-team playoff that the SEC desired, that left the SEC with a choice: Go to 24 teams, or stay at 12? The SEC chose 12.

Did it make the right call?

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack the inability for the SEC and Big Ten to reach a compromise on playoff expansion.

Also, a debate of whether the SEC erred by adding a ninth conference game, in light of the playoff not expanding. Stiffening the schedule will make it more difficult for SEC teams to reach at least 10 victories, which appears to be a key number toward at-large playoff qualification.

Finally, the hosts consider this question: Will a team from the ACC or Big 12 win a national championship before the SEC gets its next one?

When the Big Ten refused to compromise on the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/15/cfp-expansion-16-teams-sec-big-ten-new-college-football-playoff-format-greg-sankey/88142047007/" aria-label="Link 16-team playoff that the SEC desired">16-team playoff that the SEC desired</a>, that left the SEC with a choice: Go to 24 teams, or stay at 12? The SEC chose 12.
Did it make the right call?
On today&rsquo;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> unpack the inability for the SEC and Big Ten to reach a compromise on playoff expansion.
Also, a debate of whether the SEC erred by adding a ninth conference game, in light of the playoff not expanding. Stiffening the schedule will make it more difficult for SEC teams to reach at least 10 victories, which appears to be a key number toward at-large playoff qualification.
Finally, the hosts consider this question: Will a team from the ACC or Big 12 win a national championship before the SEC gets its next one?

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

When the Big Ten refused to compromise on the 16-team playoff that the SEC desired, that left the SEC with a choice: Go to 24 teams, or stay at 12? The SEC chose 12. Did it make the right call? On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack the inability for the SEC and Big Ten to reach a compromise on playoff expansion. Also, a debate of whether the SEC erred by adding a ninth conference game, in light of the playoff not expanding. Stiffening the schedule will make it more difficult for SEC teams to reach at least 10 victories, which appears to be a key number toward at-large playoff qualification. Finally, the hosts consider this question: Will a team from the ACC or Big 12 win a national championship before the SEC gets its next one?

Why the SEC might regret adding a ninth conference game

Say this for the Big Ten’s quest to expand the College Football Playoff: It doesn’t become fixated with any particular idea.
While the SEC remains stuck on a 5+11 playoff plan the Big Ten refuses to accept, the B1G’s playoff think tank has devised yet another proposal.
This one centers on 24 teams.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams play a round of fact or fiction and debate whether the SEC should embrace the Big Ten’s plan for a five-round, 24-team playoff.
They also weigh in on Trinidad Chambliss getting another season of eligibility and whether he’s the Heisman Trophy frontrunner — or is it Arch Manning?
Finally, they make a surprising prediction about Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Say this for the Big Ten&rsquo;s quest to expand the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/17/cfp-bracket-college-football-playoff-expansion-16-teams-big-ten-plan-tony-petitti/87774804007/" aria-label="Link College Football Playoff">College Football Playoff</a>: It doesn&rsquo;t become fixated with any particular idea. While the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college-sports/sec" aria-label="Link SEC">SEC</a> remains stuck on a 5+11 playoff plan the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college-sports/big-ten" aria-label="Link Big Ten">Big Ten</a> refuses to accept, the B1G&rsquo;s playoff think tank has devised yet another proposal. This one centers on 24 teams. 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> play a round of fact or fiction and debate whether the SEC should embrace the Big Ten&rsquo;s plan for a five-round, 24-team playoff. They also weigh in on Trinidad Chambliss getting another season of eligibility and whether he&rsquo;s the Heisman Trophy frontrunner &mdash; or is it Arch Manning? Finally, they make a surprising prediction about Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Say this for the Big Ten’s quest to expand the College Football Playoff: It doesn’t become fixated with any particular idea. While the SEC remains stuck on a 5+11 playoff plan the Big Ten refuses to accept, the B1G’s playoff think tank has devised yet another proposal. This one centers on 24 teams. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams play a round of fact or fiction and debate whether the SEC should embrace the Big Ten’s plan for a five-round, 24-team playoff. They also weigh in on Trinidad Chambliss getting another season of eligibility and whether he’s the Heisman Trophy frontrunner — or is it Arch Manning? Finally, they make a surprising prediction about Kirby Smart and Georgia.

Fact or fiction: SEC should embrace 24-team playoff

Can the SEC put an end to the Big Ten's national championship streak? That quest begins with four SEC teams, although one ACC team might be the most dangerous threat to the Big Ten's string of dominance in 2026.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams go head-to-head drafting their top six national championship contenders.

Adams, with the first pick in the draft, plucks a frontrunner from the SEC, but Toppmeyer ventures outside the SEC for his first two picks. Adams stealthily steals one team that Toppmeyer badly wanted on his lineup of national championship contenders.

In the end, they each select two SEC teams among their six-pack of national championship contenders.

Can the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college-sports/sec" aria-label="Link SEC">SEC</a> put an end to the Big Ten's national championship streak? That quest begins with four SEC teams, although one ACC team might be the most dangerous threat to the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/02/05/nfl-mock-draft-first-round-sec-football-dominance-slips-big-ten/88474260007/" aria-label="Link Big Ten's string of dominance">Big Ten's string of dominance</a> in 2026.
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> go head-to-head drafting their top six national championship contenders.
Adams, with the first pick in the draft, plucks a frontrunner from the SEC, but Toppmeyer ventures outside the SEC for his first two picks. Adams stealthily steals one team that Toppmeyer badly wanted on his lineup of national championship contenders.
In the end, they each select two SEC teams among their six-pack of national championship contenders.

Can the SEC put an end to the Big Ten's national championship streak? That quest begins with four SEC teams, although one ACC team might be the most dangerous threat to the Big Ten's string of dominance in 2026. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams go head-to-head drafting their top six national championship contenders. Adams, with the first pick in the draft, plucks a frontrunner from the SEC, but Toppmeyer ventures outside the SEC for his first two picks. Adams stealthily steals one team that Toppmeyer badly wanted on his lineup of national championship contenders. In the end, they each select two SEC teams among their six-pack of national championship contenders.

Our first 2026 national champion predictions: Drafting top contenders

Dabo Swinney named names. The Clemson coach is blowing the whistle with allegations of tampering by an SEC school. 

Swinney says he's decided to sic the feeble NCAA on Mississippi coach Pete Golding, after Swinney accused the Rebels coach of tampering to plunder a player off Clemson's roster.

Oh, boy.

On the one hand, kudos to Swinney for actually naming names. Many coaches bellyache of tampering, but few come with any evidence or firm accusations. Swinney broke the mold.

On the other hand, big whoop. Someone might need to inform Swinney that he'd have better luck getting justice from the Keystone Cops than NCAA enforcement.

While it's hard to fault Swinney for being frustrated, especially if it all went down like he claims, he better not get his hopes up. In case Swinney hadn't noticed, the NCAA hasn't effectively enforced its rules for many years now.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to Swinney blowing the whistle on Ole Miss and what they expect to come of it. (Hint: Not much.)

Before they get to Swinney, the hosts weigh in on USA TODAY's "too early" top 25 rankings for the 2026 season. They highlight some SEC teams that are overrated and a couple that might be underrated.

Adams gets sucked into the hype machine for one SEC team, in particular. Toppmeyer is tempted to buy stock in an unranked SEC team with a new coach that's making noise in the transfer portal.

Dabo Swinney named names. The Clemson coach is blowing the whistle with allegations of tampering by an SEC school.&nbsp;
Swinney says he's <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/acc/2026/01/23/dabo-swinney-calls-out-pete-golding-ole-miss-football-tampering-luke-ferrelli-transfer-clemson/88325042007/" aria-label="Link decided to sic the feeble NCAA">decided to sic the feeble NCAA</a> on Mississippi coach Pete Golding, after Swinney accused the Rebels coach of tampering to plunder a player off Clemson's roster.
Oh, boy.
On the one hand, kudos to Swinney for actually naming names. Many coaches bellyache of tampering, but few come with any evidence or firm accusations. Swinney broke the mold.
On the other hand, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/26/dabo-swinney-says-ole-miss-tampered-exposes-clemsons-own-flaws-pete-golding-luke-ferrelli/88368934007/" aria-label="Link big whoop">big whoop</a>. Someone might need to inform Swinney that he'd have better luck getting justice from the Keystone Cops than NCAA enforcement.
While it's hard to fault Swinney for being frustrated, especially if it all went down like he claims, he better not get his hopes up. In case Swinney hadn't noticed, the NCAA hasn't effectively enforced its rules for many years now.
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> react to Swinney blowing the whistle on Ole Miss and what they expect to come of it. (Hint: Not much.)
Before they get to Swinney, the hosts weigh in on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/19/college-football-too-early-top-25-rankings-2026-season/88159056007/" aria-label="Link USA TODAY's &quot;too early&quot; top 25 rankings">USA TODAY's "too early" top 25 rankings</a> for the 2026 season. They highlight some SEC teams that are overrated and a couple that might be underrated.
Adams gets sucked into the hype machine for one SEC team, in particular. Toppmeyer is tempted to buy stock in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/22/to-find-next-indiana-football-see-kentucky-and-ucla-basketball-schools/88269764007/" aria-label="Link an unranked SEC team with a new coach">an unranked SEC team with a new coach</a> that's making noise in the transfer portal.

Dabo Swinney named names. The Clemson coach is blowing the whistle with allegations of tampering by an SEC school.  Swinney says he's decided to sic the feeble NCAA on Mississippi coach Pete Golding, after Swinney accused the Rebels coach of tampering to plunder a player off Clemson's roster. Oh, boy. On the one hand, kudos to Swinney for actually naming names. Many coaches bellyache of tampering, but few come with any evidence or firm accusations. Swinney broke the mold. On the other hand, big whoop. Someone might need to inform Swinney that he'd have better luck getting justice from the Keystone Cops than NCAA enforcement. While it's hard to fault Swinney for being frustrated, especially if it all went down like he claims, he better not get his hopes up. In case Swinney hadn't noticed, the NCAA hasn't effectively enforced its rules for many years now. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to Swinney blowing the whistle on Ole Miss and what they expect to come of it. (Hint: Not much.) Before they get to Swinney, the hosts weigh in on USA TODAY's "too early" top 25 rankings for the 2026 season. They highlight some SEC teams that are overrated and a couple that might be underrated. Adams gets sucked into the hype machine for one SEC team, in particular. Toppmeyer is tempted to buy stock in an unranked SEC team with a new coach that's making noise in the transfer portal.

Why the SEC might regret adding a ninth conference game

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