The SEC endured a rough showing this season. Short-term problem? USA TODAY's too-early preseason top 25 suggests as much. The rankings are loaded with SEC teams, but is it too much love?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams react to the rankings and offer verdicts of overrated, underrated or just right for each SEC team. 

Mostly, they think SEC teams are being overrated, including teams like Alabama and Georgia that face quarterback transitions. But, they're especially bullish on a couple of SEC teams, and they identify two SEC teams that the rankings snubbed.

Kalen DeBoer needs a quarterback. Now, who's it going to be?

Alabama took a turn for the worse in DeBoer's first season, despite him inheriting a proven starter in Jalen Milroe. The position heads toward an uncertain future. Ominous or opportunity?

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News to unpack Alabama's quarterback situation, one of the most interesting position battles of the SEC's offseason. Ty Simpson headlines the competition, but is that a good thing? Did DeBoer blunder by not securing a transfer?

Later in the episode, the hosts highlight what they'd change about the expanded College Football Playoff.

Let Arch-a-palooza begin. 

The Quinn Ewers era at Texas sunsets after the Longhorns lost to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Arch Manning takes the keys to the Texas engine now, and the hype for Manning leaps off the charts.

But, what are fair expectations for Manning in 2025?

On today's episode, host Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by David Eckert of the Austin American-Statesman as they preview what we should expect from Manning.

They also offer their top tier of SEC quarterbacks for next season and project where Manning fits into that mix.

Later in the episode, Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald joins to discuss the impact of Carson Beck's transfer from Georgia to Miami and previews the Bulldogs' quarterback situation for next season.

The SEC helped engineer the 12-team playoff. The powerhouse conference ruled the BCS. It dominated the four-team playoff. And, it planned to rule this format. Four bids? Five bids? More?

A mirage, the SEC's vision became.

The SEC regressed this season. The conference ain't what it used to be. As the College Football Playoff semifinals arrive, Texas stands as the SEC's lone representative. The Longhorns joined the conference a mere six months ago. They're an underdog against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

For the second straight season, the SEC could produce no team in the national championship game. What gives?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the SEC's downfall and how extreme it is. They unpack the reasons for why it occurred – from Nick Saban's retirement to NIL to transfer movement – and they highlight a few teams that stand to fill the conference's power vacuum.

Finally, CFP semifinals picks against the spread!

More teams, more drama, more bellyaching.

The College Football Playoff's first round served a series of blowouts, resulting in blowback that the selection committee whiffed on its at-large picks. 

But, is the committee really to blame for the first-round drubbings, and if so, which teams would have been better qualifiers?

Hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate that question on today's episode, offering diverging viewpoints.

They also discuss which team impressed them most in the first round and highlight a frontrunner to win the national championship.

Finally, they make their quarterfinal picks against the spread!

Georgia earned the bye, but which SEC team received the best College Football Playoff draw? That’s difficult to answer. The second-seeded Bulldogs are one step closer to the national championship game than either Texas (No. 5 seed) or Tennessee (No. 9 seed).

However, Texas will open at home against 12th-seeded Clemson, the playoff’s only three-loss team, before a potential quarterfinal against Arizona State, which is seeded No. 4 but ranked No. 12.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate which SEC team received the best avenue to be the last team standing in the CFP.

They agree Tennessee received the toughest draw, but disagree on whether Georgia or Texas landed the better bracket position.

Later in the episode, they react to Oklahoma’s transfer exodus and weigh in on Auburn nabbing transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Finally, first-round CFP picks against the spread!

Missing the inaugural 12-team playoff leaves Alabama feeling out of sorts - and evaluating its schedule.

In the wake of the College Football Playoff selection committee choosing SMU over Alabama for the final playoff bid, UA athletics director Greg Byrne indicated the football program will consider watering down its future non-conference schedules. 

Never mind that Alabama's three losses came against conference opponents.

On today's episode, host Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network is joined by Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News as they debate the committee's SMU selection and dissect whether Byrne's stance on scheduling makes sense.

Later in the episode, they discuss whether Carson Beck's injury affects Georgia's playoff outlook, and Goodbread stumps for eliminating the SEC championship game.

Will the College Football Playoff committee have the gall to deny the Script A and the allure that comes with Alabama a spot in the 12-team bracket?

More to the point, will the committee be more interested in Alabama’s lofty strength of schedule, or its miserable showing in a blowout loss at Oklahoma?

Miami’s loss to Syracuse left a playoff spot up for grabs. Top contenders for the bid include a trio of three-loss SEC teams(Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina), plus Miami.

Who gets the bid?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams evaluate the bubble and assess how the selection committee will make heads or tails of this messy web of teams. The committee tends to salivate over Alabama.

Later, they preview the SEC championship game and make their picks against the spread!

In the SEC this season, it just means more losses, more parity, fewer elite teams and a struggle to qualify teams for the College Football Playoff.

Ole Miss got swallowed up in The Swamp. Alabama suffered malice at The Palace.

Kalen DeBoer and Lane Kiffin each possessed enough talent to field a playoff team, so why are they left needing more chaos to serve them up bids to their underachieving, three-loss teams?

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate who endured a bigger faceplant this season, DeBoer or Kiffin?

They also assess this glob of five SEC teams that are 8-3 and try to identify whether a playoff contender lurks within that bunch.

Plus, Week 14 picks against the spread, as rivalry week takes hold!

Tennessee needs help. The Vols won't be in full control of their quest for the College Football Playoff after losing at Georgia, marking Tennessee's second loss.

And while Tennessee retains multiple avenues to receive an assist into the playoff, the most interesting one might be this: Lincoln Riley and his USC Trojans revive and beat Notre Dame in the regular-season finale, thereby spoiling the Irish's playoff hopes.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams take stock of Tennessee's playoff chances. They also debate whether Texas should be a CFP qualifier if it suffers a second loss, and they consider whether Alabama should really want to play in the SEC championship game.

They also take the temperature of Brian Kelly's warming seat at LSU.

Finally, Week 13 picks against the spread!