College football’s 2025 season has become a fraud fest, and Texas auditioned for a starring role during a loss to Florida at The Swamp.
Was that enough to get Billy Napier off the hot seat? (No.)
But, the result pushed Texas closer to the brink of elimination from College Football Playoff contention, and it raised more questions about Arch Manning.
On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate who’s taken up the mantle as the SEC’s top national championship contender, with Texas underwater.
That’s difficult to answer. The SEC remains loaded with playoff contenders, but are any of them elite? One host points to Ole Miss as the SEC’s top national championship contender, while the other gives the nod to Alabama.
Also, a hot seat temperature reading, and Week 7 picks against the spread!

College football&rsquo;s 2025 season has become <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/10/06/college-football-preseason-rankings-wrong-on-texas-clemson-penn-state-arch-manning/86541193007/" aria-label="Link a fraud fest">a fraud fest</a>, and Texas auditioned for a starring role during <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/10/04/florida-beats-texas-arch-manning-upends-wild-sec-race-billy-napier-dj-lagway-dallas-wilson/86527548007/" aria-label="Link a loss to Florida">a loss to Florida</a> at The Swamp. Was that enough to get Billy Napier off the hot seat? (No.) But, the result pushed Texas closer to the brink of elimination from College Football Playoff contention, and it raised <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/10/05/texas-needs-nico-iamaleava-transfer-ucla-arch-manning-struggles/86414695007/" aria-label="Link more questions about Arch Manning">more questions about Arch Manning</a>. 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> debate who&rsquo;s taken up the mantle as the SEC&rsquo;s top national championship contender, with Texas underwater. That&rsquo;s difficult to answer. The SEC remains loaded with playoff contenders, but are any of them elite? One host points to Ole Miss as the SEC&rsquo;s top national championship contender, while the other gives the nod to Alabama. Also, a hot seat temperature reading, and Week 7 picks against the spread!

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

College football’s 2025 season has become a fraud fest, and Texas auditioned for a starring role during a loss to Florida at The Swamp. Was that enough to get Billy Napier off the hot seat? (No.) But, the result pushed Texas closer to the brink of elimination from College Football Playoff contention, and it raised more questions about Arch Manning. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate who’s taken up the mantle as the SEC’s top national championship contender, with Texas underwater. That’s difficult to answer. The SEC remains loaded with playoff contenders, but are any of them elite? One host points to Ole Miss as the SEC’s top national championship contender, while the other gives the nod to Alabama. Also, a hot seat temperature reading, and Week 7 picks against the spread!