College Football Unfiltered

The “Power 2” are super buddies all of a sudden after last week’s announcement that the Big Ten and SEC are forming an advisory group aimed at solving some issues facing college sports.

Will this alliance produce a breakaway, at least in football, of the NCAA’s two richest and most powerful conferences? Could the Big Ten and SEC say farewell to the College Football Playoff in a few years and launch their own postseason exclusive to the “Power 2?”

Sure, it's possible. Likely? Probably not. At least not in the short-term.

If it happened, though, what would be the upside and downside to an SEC/B1G playoff?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss the idea of a “Power 2” postseason and debate what they like about the possibility and what they dislike.

Later in the episode, they unveil their top five SEC quarterbacks for 2024. Their lists feature the same quarterbacks, but in a different order. Finally, a look at the Tennessee vs. NCAA court case.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

If you couldn't have Kirby Smart coaching your team, which SEC coach would you want?

As of a month ago, the answer should have been obvious: Nick Saban. But, the retired GOAT is out of the equation, leaving Smart all alone on the top tier of college football coaches.

Within the SEC, who forms the second tier?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams draft SEC coaches in an attempt to collect the best group of coaching talent.

It’s no mystery who’s going off the board first: Smart, the Georgia boss with two national championships to his name. Then, the debate gets interesting.

Later in the episode, a discussion of the NCAA investigations of Tennessee and Florida. Should either school be worried about the NCAA's wrath?

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

The SEC Championship Game stands to acquire some new flavor in 2024.

Three times in the past six years, the December clash in Atlanta featured Alabama vs. Georgia. And if Nick Saban had returned as coach in 2024, that theme may well have repeated.

But now, after Saban's retirement and the transfer of several prominent players? Eight or nine wins suddenly looks more realistic for Alabama in Kalen DeBoer's debut season than a return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and another date with Kirby Smart.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams highlight the teams best positioned to threaten Georgia for the SEC's top spot in 2024. Hint: The conversation doesn't begin with the Crimson Tide.

They also look toward the bottom of the conference, where Vanderbilt is camped out and showing no signs of vacating the basement. But, can a handful of woebegone SEC teams challenge the Commodores for the cellar?

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

New coach, meet the old coach – the one who’s not leaving, just changing duties.

Alabama introduced Kalen DeBoer on Saturday as Nick Saban’s successor, and during his introductory remarks, DeBoer addressed the GOAT in the room (seated in the front row) when he said Saban would retain “100% access” to the Alabama program.

Saban, after six national championship’s as the Crimson Tide’s coach, will remain employed by Alabama athletics in an advisory role. 

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss this uncommon situation and whether Saban’s continuing presence will be an asset or a hindrance for DeBoer.

That’s the first of several fact-or-fiction topics they discuss for Alabama’s new coach. They also project whether he'll win a national title with Alabama, and whether Alabama or Texas is better positioned for the future. Also, Saban's retirement calls for a revision of the 2024 SEC power rankings.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Who gets to be the man to replace The Man? Who even wants that assignment?

The greatest of all time has retired. Nick Saban announced Wednesday that he’s handing off the reins of Alabama football after six national championships with the Crimson Tide and seven overall.

Alabama fans mourned the news. Elsewhere in the SEC, there were probably grins. For nearly two decades, Saban and Alabama crushed everyone in their path. Who can continue such dominance?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reflect on Saban’s legacy, remember their favorite moments from the coach and handicap potential candidates for the job.

The hosts rate each suggested candidate as either love it, like it, or nah, don’t like it.

To be sure, some of the nine names considered here are more realistic than others, and the first name on the list – Oregon’s Dan Lanning – already announced Thursday that he’s staying with the Ducks.

The search continues. Let’s get to the names!

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Michigan won the national championship without having to face Georgia, but would that have mattered?

The Wolverines rattled off wins against Ohio State, Alabama and Washington. Cheating allegations aside, they’re deserving champs.

And yet … we can’t help but wonder how a Michigan-Georgia national championship would have gone. 

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider who would have won a matchup of those teams.

And, while we’re on the subject of hypotheticals, would the Wolverines have beaten a healthy Florida State, if Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis had not gotten hurt?

Later in the episode, a look at Alabama's defensive coordinator vacancy and some 'too-early' 2024 Top 25 chatter.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Michigan is one victory away from winning a national championship while under separate NCAA investigations into allegations of recruiting violations and impermissible sign-stealing.

Hardly the scandals of the century, but enough to cast the Wolverines into the black-hat role. They remain unfazed.

The investigations, though, have some wondering whether a Michigan national championship would be deemed illegitimate. Nonsense.

The way we see it, if Michigan beats No. 2 Washington on Monday, then the Wolverines are the champs. No need for an asterisk.

The College Football Playoff and the AP determine college football’s national champion, not the NCAA.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reject the idea of Michigan being an illegitimate champion.

They also unpack Alabama’s failed final play in its 27-20 loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl and examine the Crimson Tide’s path forward.

If there’s any asterisk necessary on a potential Michigan national championship, it’s that the Wolverines didn’t have to face Georgia. We’re supposed to believe that Georgia, winners of 30 of its last 31 games, isn’t one of the nation’s four-best teams? 

Later in the episode, a look at the fork in the road facing LSU’s Brian Kelly, who must hire new coordinators and reload on offense, and Nico Mania takes shape at Tennessee.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Lane Kiffin is making us reconsider how we think about recruiting classes.

Entering Wednesday, the first day of the December signing period, Ole Miss’ 2024 recruiting class ranks No. 21 nationally. Not bad. Not great. And not all that relevant.

That’s because Kiffin’s roster-assembly strategy features a strong focus on transfers, which are not factored into recruiting rankings. 

Ole Miss’ transfer haul ranks No. 1 in the nation. Give the “Portal King” his crown and scepter. He’s done it again.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the dividends of Kiffin’s transfer-focused strategy and what it means for the Rebels.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Joe Burrow and Billy Cannon, you have company. Jayden Daniels became the third player in LSU history to win the Heisman Trophy. The senior quarterback claimed college football's top honor Saturday by a comfortable margin.

Ask us, and we say voters got this right. As the nation's best player, Daniels was a deserving winner.

Now, we turn the page to 2024.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams offer eight players to watch for the 2024 Heisman. Of course, quarterbacks dominate the list, including a few from the SEC, and they serve up a few sleeper candidates, too.

Later in the episode, they preview the College Football Playoff semifinals and unpack the possibility of an Alabama-Texas rematch in the national championship.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

These aren’t the ‘four best teams.' Not by our count.

The College Football Playoff selection committee explained its decision to swap out Florida State, the undefeated ACC champion, from the playoff field in favor of Alabama, the SEC’s one-loss champion, as a mission to insert the “four best teams” into the field.

The committee also conjured up some other previously unheard of reasoning as justification for making the unprecedented move of rejecting an undefeated Power Five champion from the playoff.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams opine that the committee erred in its field of No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Alabama.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.