College Football Unfiltered

LSU's Ed Orgeron is the only active SEC coach with a victory over Nick Saban.

But judging by No. 1 Alabama's 31-29 victory over Florida on Saturday, the Crimson Tide aren't invincible this season.

Alabama (3-0, 1-0) should enjoy a bit of a breather this week against Southern Miss before back-to-back showdowns with No. 13 Ole Miss (3-0) and No. 5 Texas A&M (3-0). Plus, the SEC Championship likely will feature either a clash with No. 2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0) or a rematch against No. 11 Florida (2-1, 0-1).

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate which team is the biggest threat to Alabama this season: Ole Miss, A&M, Georgia or Florida (assuming Alabama will face Georgia or Florida in Atlanta)?

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

There was a time, a time not that long ago, when the Southern Cal football job was the coaching job in America.

USC has the history, with 11 national championships, and a nationally recognized brand. It can recruit within a state that has a good talent base or recruit nationwide to its Los Angeles location. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is one of the most venerable stadiums in the country. 

But USC's mighty image has taken a hit in recent years, and the Trojans on Monday fired coach Clay Helton, launching a coaching search that will be one of the hot topics, from coast to coast, throughout the 2021 college football season.

How does the USC job compare to SEC jobs?

Just how hot is the seat under LSU coach Ed Orgeron?

That's the storyline the Tigers had hoped to avoid this season, but it's the storyline they face after a 38-27 loss to UCLA on Saturday.

LSU got whipped in the trenches, Max Johnson played flustered, a coordinator change didn't solve LSU's defense, and the Tigers need more playmakers than just Kayshon Boutte on offense.

LSU didn't play with a lot of fire, either, and now Orgeron's long-term future with the program is being questioned just 18 months after leading the Tigers to a national championship behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow.

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 has provided its members with the perfect cop-out to suffering a beatdown at the hands of No. 1 Alabama.

Claim a COVID-19 forfeit.

On Wednesday, the SEC announced that teams will be assessed a forfeit loss if they are unable to compete in a game this season because of roster limitations brought on by positive COVID-19 tests or quarantines.

Perfect.

USA TODAY Network hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams embrace using the COVID forfeit as a strategic move.

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

Is Texas A&M truly the biggest threat to Alabama in the SEC West?

Does Bryce Young, JT Daniels or Matt Corral have the best chance at winning the Heisman Trophy? Will Georgia enjoy a cakewalk en route to winning the SEC East?

Questions abound ahead of the 2021 SEC football season. As usual, a team likely will prove to be overrated (LSU and Auburn headed that camp last year) and while another is underrated (see Texas A&M in 2020).

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

Six SEC football teams are ranked in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll, while five are ranked in the AP Top 25.

The SEC is top heavy, with No. 1 Alabama, No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Texas A&M accounting for half of the top six spots in each poll.

And, as usual, the SEC West is expected to be the more powerful division.

John and Blake weigh in on the preseason polls, and they offer their one-sentence summary outlook for each SEC team.

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

Texas and Oklahoma wanted to join the SEC's party, and the nation's richest and most powerful conference was willing to admit entry.

Surely those two Big 12 schools aren't the only universities that would like a seat at the SEC's table.

So, who else should the SEC want?

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

Florida State is willing to flirt with other conferences.

That's the message outgoing FSU president John Thrasher delivered during a recent interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.

Should the SEC swipe right on the Seminoles?

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

Four SEC football coaches were fired last season amid a pandemic that ate away at athletic department earnings. 

That came after preseason speculation that coach firings would reduce during the pandemic as universities looked to avoid paying costly buyouts.

So much for that idea. 

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

It was SEC Media Days but two schools from out of the conference were the ones making news. Texas and Oklahoma reportedly want to join the SEC. Is there a place for them? And if so, what does the future of the SEC look like?