Since the College Football Playoff’s inception in2014, Alabama has never gone consecutive seasons without making the field. By missing the playoff in 2024, the Crimson Tide didn’t meet the program’s standard in Kalen DeBoer’s first season. He knows it.
Alabama retooled with effective offseason maneuvering, but is it enough to make the playoff in the face of a tough schedule, with a new starting quarterback?
On this edition of ‘SEC Football Unfiltered,’ a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams engage in a fact-or-fiction debate regarding several possible scenarios this SEC football season, such as whether Alabama will make the playoff, and whether Arch Manning will win the Heisman Trophy.
They also rate the top six games involving SEC teams in Week 1. And they weigh in on the fizzled bromance between the SEC and Big Ten.
Here’s a snippet of their fact-or-fiction debate:
Alabama will make the College Football Playoff …
Toppmeyer: Fact. Why: The Crimson Tide nearly made the playoff last season as a three-loss team. Its strength of schedule could be even stronger this year, nudging it across the finish line.
Adams: Fiction. Why: I don’t trust Alabama’s quarterback situation.
Arch Manning will win the Heisman Trophy …
Toppmeyer: Fiction; Adams: Fiction
Why: It’s not that we like another candidate better, but in a preseason Heisman offering, take the field.
Garrett Nussmeier will win the Heisman Trophy …
Toppmeyer: Fiction; Adams: Fiction
Why: Again, we’re taking the field. But, if we could package Manning and Nussmeier together, we might jump at that, over the field.
Four SEC teams will make the College Football Playoff …
Toppmeyer: Fact; Adams: Fact
Why: There’s no shortage of SEC playoff contenders, and the committee might feel buyer’s remorse after looking elsewhere for the last-teams-in in 2024.
At least three SEC coaches will be fired …
Toppmeyer: Fiction. Why: I’ll take two to be fired.
Adams: Fact. Why: You could increase the number to four, and I’d still say ‘fact.’ The hot seat is crowded.
The Big Ten will produce another national champion …
Toppmeyer: Fiction; Adams: Fiction
Why: By taking the field, we not only get the SEC’s front-runners, but also teams like Clemson and Notre Dame.-
Texas will win the SEC championship …
Toppmeyer: Fact. Why: Texas has the roster, plus the quarterback, to do it.
Adams: Fiction. Why: I’ve got LSU as my SEC frontrunner after its strong portal plunder.
Florida will win more games than Tennessee …
Toppmeyer: Fiction; Adams: Fiction
Why: The Vols might lose in The Swamp (like usual) but still finish with a better record than the rival Gators, thanks to Tennessee’s more favorable schedule.
Vanderbilt will make a bowl game for the second consecutive year …
Toppmeyer: Fact. Why: The Diego Pavia journey demands a bowl finish.
Adams: Fiction. Why: Vanderbilt can’t expect to sneak up on anyone this year after overachieving in 2024.
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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
