​Kalen DeBoer’s second season at Alabama started and ended poorly, but the stretch in between featured several bright spots, including a first-round playoff win over Oklahoma. He earned a contract extension, securing his job, yet Year 3 comes with an ambitious mission: return Alabama to the playoff and push deeper than the quarterfinals. With a new starting quarterback, the question remains whether the Tide will reach that far. In this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a USA TODAY Network podcast hosted by Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams, the hosts play a round of fact or fiction, exploring eight SEC scenarios. They discuss Alabama’s playoff prospects and how they stack up against LSU, and they consider Georgia’s chances of a three-peat as SEC champion.
In the round of fact or fiction:
– Alabama making the playoff: Adams calls it fiction, arguing Alabama’s days of dominance may be fading as college football evolves, though Toppmeyer believes there’s a path depending on the schedule and the potential of redshirt freshman Keelon Russell, a five-star recruit.
– LSU making the playoff: Adams says fact, noting a tough schedule but a roster built to handle it; Toppmeyer also says fact, though he’s uncertain about transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt’s health.
– Texas A&M winning more games than Texas: Adams says fiction, favoring Texas’ roster; Toppmeyer says fact, liking A&M’s schedule more.
– At least three SEC coaches will be fired: Adams says fiction, predicting two firings; Toppmeyer also says fiction, expecting a slower carousel with two firings.
– Georgia winning the SEC title: Adams says fiction, choosing to take the field over the matchup; Toppmeyer says fact, believing Georgia’s schedule and program let them contend for a title.
– Arch Manning winning the Heisman Trophy: Adams says fiction, predicting a tougher path for him in 2026; Toppmeyer says fiction, noting the preseason Heisman landscape often favors the field over any single player.
– Four SEC teams in the playoff: Adams says fact, pointing to a history of multiple qualifiers in recent years; Toppmeyer says fiction, projecting five qualifiers with Georgia, LSU, and Alabama plus two more.
– Florida’s Jon Sumrall will be the most celebrated new coach