Bowl games don't mean what they used to, and there's no turning back now, especially with the College Football Playoff scheduled to expand to 12 teams in 2024.

Even players who aren't projected to be early-round NFL Draft picks are opting out, making it a surprise that Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson are playing in the Sugar Bowl.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider the opt-out trend and how we may need to rewire our view of bowl games that aren't part of the CFP.

Instead of viewing bowls as a postseason conclusion to the season that was, why not see them as an early exhibition for the year ahead? Don't sweat opt-outs, because they afford more developmental opportunities to returning players.

It's not that simple, though. Bowls still matter to many fans, who are unlikely to award a free pass for getting trounced amid a wave of opt-outs.

Later in the episode, we offer our bowl game picks against the spread.

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.

 Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee are among SEC teams that might covet a transfer quarterback, and a marquee name joined the portal party on Monday, when Coastal Carolina's Grayson McCall announced he will transfer. He joins a list of outbound quarterbacks headlined by North Carolina State's Devin Leary and Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson go head to head as they try to build the best four-deep lineup of quarterbacks by drafting from players in the transfer portal.

They construct their dueling quarterback depth charts with a mix of proven veterans, Group of Five standouts and former Power Five backups.

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.

Auburn didn't have to roll the dice on a coach with no FBS experience. The Tigers tapped a proven winner when they plucked Hugh Freeze from Liberty as their next coach.

Freeze comes to AU with enough baggage to fill a church van, but no one questions his coaching acumen or his recruiting chops. He should quickly re-establish the Tigers as a player in the SEC.

Meanwhile, Colorado made a bold move to hire Jackson State's Deion Sanders. Coach Prime should upgrade Colorado's talent, but he'll have to prove he can win at the Power Five level.

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams explain why they award Auburn and Colorado the highest grades for schools that have hired coaches in this coaching carousel.

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 and TCU join Georgia as remaining undefeated teams, but we're unconvinced either of those schools is the top threat to the Bulldogs' throne.

Beware of Southern Cal.

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams unpack why the Trojans may be the top challenger in Georgia's path to a repeat, if USC wins the Pac-12 Championship to earn playoff qualification.

They also debate whether Ohio State, Alabama or Tennessee should be in the playoff if USC stumbles, discuss Lane Kiffin's staying at Ole Miss and offer conference championship picks against the spread.

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.

Tennessee football is out of College Football Playoff contention after a blowout loss to South Carolina, and Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is no longer a Heisman Trophy frontrunner after he got outplayed by Spencer Rattler. Worse, Hooker suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the fourth quarter, ending his special season and his college career.

With Hooker falling out of the Heisman debate, does the SEC still have a chance to produce a Heisman winner for the fourth straight season?

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reflect on the Gamecocks' stunning upset of Tennessee, and they reset the Heisman field.

Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Southern Cal's Caleb Williams are Heisman frontrunners. That's subject to change based on the outcomes of rivalry week and conference championship games. TCU's Max Duggan is in the mix, too.

LSU's Jayden Daniels may be the SEC's best hope. He doesn't have the passing stats to match Stroud, Hooker or Williams, but if the Tigers upset Georgia in the SEC Championship, Daniels could make a mad dash to New York.

Later, we offer rivalry week picks against the spread.

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.

Tennessee football is out of College Football Playoff contention after a blowout loss to South Carolina, and Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is no longer a Heisman Trophy frontrunner after he got outplayed by Spencer Rattler. Worse, Hooker suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the fourth quarter, ending his special season and his college career.

With Hooker falling out of the Heisman debate, does the SEC still have a chance to produce a Heisman winner for the fourth straight season?

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reflect on the Gamecocks' stunning upset of Tennessee, and they reset the Heisman field.

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.

Kirby Smart successfully reloaded after losing 15 players to the NFL Draft off Georgia's national championship team. The Bulldogs are positioned to repeat as champs. Josh Heupel has Tennessee in playoff contention in his second year on the job. LSU won the SEC West in Brian Kelly's first season, a rapid ascent considering the Tigers had a makeshift roster as recently as January.

These three coaches form the shortlist of candidates for SEC coach of the year.

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the merits of each before making a selection that's subject to change based on how the next few weeks unfold.

Later, they supply a couple of names for consideration for SEC "Turkey of the Year," and they re-examine the debate of whether Lane Kiffin should job-hop from Ole Miss to Auburn.

Finally, they deliver their Week 12 picks against the spread!

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.

Kirby Smart is college football's best coach. No, not of all time. That distinction remains with Nick Saban.

But for now and the foreseeable future, Smart tops the chart. Once again, he's built and developed the nation's best team. Georgia is favored to repeat as national champions.

If you're drafting a coach from the SEC to build and lead your program, Smart should be first off the board. But, would Saban go No. 2?

The way Brian Kelly fast-tracked LSU's rebuild, including Saturday's upset of the Tide, offers an interesting debate for second choice in the SEC behind Smart.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider that topic.

Saban's dynasty has been declared dead before and rose from the grave. Don't count out the GOAT.

Later in the episode, is Jimbo Fisher's buyout the only reason he remains employed? And, why the heck did Missouri award Eliah Drinkwitz a two-year contract extension?

Plus, Week 10 picks, with Toppmeyer clinging to a narrow lead!

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 says he's "extremely happy" at Ole Miss, where his Rebels "have something special going."

That doesn't mean Auburn won't shoot its shot with Kiffin, after firing Bryan Harsin. But what if Kiffin says no?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider six names for the Auburn opening.

Toppmeyer makes the sales pitch for the candidates, while Adams offers his verdict on whether he likes the hire or if Auburn should pass.

They also react to the initial College Football Playoff 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.

The SEC should be well-represented when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released Tuesday night. If the committee foremost values résumé, Tennessee and Georgia may form a 1-2 punch ahead of fellow undefeated teams like Ohio State and Michigan.

Alabama would earn a playoff bid if it wins out, so don't get too caught up in its ranking. The Crimson Tide has no margin for error, but would be in if it wins the SEC Championship. Also, one-loss Ole Miss is on the fringe of the playoff hunt.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate whether the Vols or Georgia should be No. 1, whether the SEC will qualify two playoff teams, and how Alabama should be viewed compared to TCU and Clemson, which are undefeated.

Also, Alabama-LSU is the second-fiddle game to Georgia-Tennessee this week. Is that an aberration or the start of a trend? Plus, Week 10 picks against the spread!

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.