
We’re having some fun on InsideTexas tonight and letting our guest tell us the first word that comes to her mind for each SEC football program.
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Michelle Lynn
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Cord Samuels
Welcome to our Wednesday night identified Texas Live show with me, your host, Cord Samuels. That is Michelle Lynn. We're here to give you one word about every SEC program. Rather Michelle is going to do that and then we'll we'll share opinions. Would love for you guys in the chat to also share some opinions with us on each team as we kind of get into it. But of course, if you haven't done so yet, make sure you're hopping over to Inside Texas. You're spending your hard earned dollar. It's going to be worth it. Come on over. You got a lot content. Obviously. As Texas gets ready to kick off fall camp, you've got basketball. Sean Miller, some again love every time he talks. He had a press for yesterday. Plenty of different content. Justin Wells, Eric N. Ian Boyd, the good stuff. Michelle, just $1. You doing okay this evening?
Michelle Lynn
Doing great this evening. Sean Miller, he might be my favorite coach on the 40 acres at Media availabilities like he is just incredible.
Cord Samuels
Nash said he knows we should have Nash on the show but he'll be here tomorrow. So this would have been a really good Nash Nashagori if you will. You would have done this, but let's get to it. Michelle. This is going to be fun again. I only have a little over a half hour. This is 16 teams. This is a conference. Why it takes four days to do SEC media days. Personally, this is my cry to move to three days. If you're out there. If my vote counts at all. All right, let's get to it. One word to describe every SEC program in relation to football in 2026. We're going to start it hot, Michelle. We're going with Texas A L Michael Kozaggies 111 last year Loan loss to Texas. I didn't really put up an offensive, you know, showcase against the Horns or Miami at Kyle Field. Give us your word and then we'll talk about it.
Michelle Lynn
I use the word shadow. As much as they want to be in the spotlight, they want to be the main character. They are just the perennial 8 and 4 little guy, and they are just constantly in the shadow of big brother, no matter how hard they scream and cry. And, you know, I think that the SEC shorts clip at the end of the season when they lost to us and then they lost to Miami and they had the little ornament, it was like, feels like 8 and 4. I mean, it's. It's Aggies to a tea. So I hate to just call them in the shadow, but they. They truly are, you know, until they prove otherwise.
Cord Samuels
I mean, you know, it's gotta be tough for those guys because they're coming off a college football playoff appearance where they went 11:1, they return their starting quarterback, their head coach is a defensive mind, and so they. A lot of people feel good about that side of the ball for Texas A M, who's being talked about in state more than Texas A and M this offseason. Not just Texas, but Texas Tech as well. Yeah, you could definitely make a cry that they've had a lot more time. And maybe Michael prefers it that way. Maybe he wants A M to live in the shadow. Now Oklahoma. Oklahoma's I. I got again. There's a lot of Oklahoma hype right now, Michelle. If they are as good as a lot of people feel, myself included, that's just another shadow that A M thought they were escaping by leaving the patrol for the sec and short time later, we're looking up at those coattails again, not going to Oklahoma yet. We got to save something for later on down the line. But shadow is the word for A M for Michelle. Do y' all agree? They're always just. And you know, that could be in 20, 26. That could be any. Any year of college football. And it's. That's pretty, you know, pretty well. Applicable. Applicable. Applicable. Wow. Applicable and pretty well done there, Michelle. Alright, let's. Let's pivot to another fun one. Okay. Still packs a little punch. Give me one word to describe the LSU Tigers.
Michelle Lynn
Oh, okay. So I had a fun one, fun idea for this one. So I said Kardashians for lsu. I know that's not like a word, it's like a name in a reality show, but I genuinely feel like the LSU Tigers, they are the, you know, A and m is perennial. 8 and 4, they are the perennial reality TV show. And I'm like, thinking of them. You've got Coach Ed. Oh, he's like the Khloe Kardashian kind of says, you know, everything he wants. Kiffin, he's the new main character, the new pretty girl in town, Kim Kardashian. And then you got Ryan Kelly, Courtney Kardashian, the least favorite of all the sisters, of course. And I just think every. Every season, they kind of give us a kernel of craziness and chaos. So I just feel like I would tune in every day to a reality show like lsu. I mean, I don't even like the Kardashians, but I still was tuning in in high school on E. So that, to me, was like the perf. To summarize how they've been at least, like, the past decade or so, do
Cord Samuels
you think the people in Baton Rouge have ever watched, like, the Kardashians or what they watched Keeping Up With? Because that's just such a, you know, opposite end of the spectrum.
Michelle Lynn
It's. It's not because they live that way, per se. It's the Persona, the personality, the fact that, like, just beyond the football, there's always just something chaotic going on there, you know, never just like no storyline here. You know, Coacho, there was a little bit of some scandal, some shady things, you know, and then with Brian Kelly, I mean, it was just a disaster class the whole time. And then now with Kiffin, he has, you know, probably very smartly gotten rid of the social media. But, I mean, we know the Lane Kiffin show. So just to me, when I think of lsu, even though the culture of Louisiana and Baton Rouge is very different than the Kardashians, I just can't help but think that they're, like, trying to be that main character, but maybe they're not even necessarily the main character. Does that make sense?
Cord Samuels
No, that's. I mean, that's that's fair. And I mean, some similar to the Kardashians, really. Like nobody knew who they were before, you know, the mid-90s, late-90s. So, you know, I feel like Kardashians were probably relevant a little bit earlier than LSU football because they did nothing forever. But I will say this. I do think they are possibly there is as premier of a job destination as anybody else right now. But I definitely. I get it. Or drama. Had a lot of shirtless pictures of that.
Michelle Lynn
And I mean, as much as we want to say, like the Kardashians are nobody's. I mean, they're some of the richest women family in the world. Like LSU success, it kind of speaks for itself. You know, they have been in national championships consistently, and even though it's chaotic, they've figured out a way. And I think that's why the Brian Kelly area was particularly disappointing, because it's like, wait a second. Any coach who comes here, you know, the past few years has been able to get a national championship. What are you talking about? We're not even making the playoffs. So just to me, that was kind of like trying to think outside of the box here. Sort of what I came up with.
Cord Samuels
Hey, I like it. I didn't really know what to expect. You impressed? Two for two. Let's move on. Let's get a little bit less regional here. This conference takes up, you know, a third of the country. Let's go, South Carolina. Shane Beamer, one of my favorite coaches in college football. I just like the energy. I have an appreciation for it. Loved his dad. How do we feel about Shane Beamer in the Cox?
Michelle Lynn
You know, I feel really bad because this one, it's kind of mean. It's kind of one of the mean ones. I've got a few on here that are a little mean. I said irrelevant. I just think I don't really know where they fit in to the college football landscape. You know, I just. I kind of forget about them. I was making my list, you know, and just typing up, and I realized at the end, I was like, oh, my God, I totally, totally forgot about South Carolina, you know, because I was checking on Google, did I get them all? And I'm like, you know, so I just don't. I don't know what to think. It just feels like a team that is a little irrelevant. They've got this great quarterback, but do they have the pieces around him to be successful? I don't know. I think it's a really hard school to be relevant at Honestly.
Cord Samuels
Yeah. I mean, that's the thing is, like, what does their ceiling look like in comparison to, like, an Alabama, lsu, Texas, Georgia? You know, it just doesn't feel like, you know, Philip feels more of, like, an a M. And I don't mean I really not even trying to throw another jab. It just feels like they're always perpetually, you know, living in the shadows. What's up? Max says forgettable. Fair.
Michelle Lynn
Yeah.
Cord Samuels
Mr. Bennett here, as always, appreciate you showing love, my man. I love Lenora Sellers. I really hope they have a good team this year. I hope they find a way to. To at least be A M. Right. Do that. They went what one.
Michelle Lynn
If they went any game of the season, just win that one. Please redeem yourself.
Cord Samuels
You know, I can imagine South Carolina be pretty revved up for that one, considering how that game finished last year is back in Columbia. So that's good for them. Again, love, shape. Amber loves the energy. Love what he does with perhaps a limited ceiling, you know, at South Carolina. So I. I'm not gonna. No, no. Give you another point, Michelle. You're doing great so far. Let's see here. You know what? Summer all was one of my favorite guys I heard speak last week. Let's do the Florida Gators. What you thinking?
Michelle Lynn
This is a positive one. I. There's two words I kind of cheated. I have them as sleeping giant. Because I think if Florida can get everything together, get their Ducks in a row, I know they've got the potential nil and booster support. If they can just get everything kind of organized and they can give him some time to build a program, I think that they could really be a team that starts to get back into that tier of where I'd consider, you know, like Texas, Georgia, lsu, to sort of be, like, in that upper echelon of the sec. I think people have kind of forgotten about Florida, but I'm hoping that, you know, I really liked their coach. And I mean, it's not even necessarily that I'm hoping they're successful, but I just. I think they could be the program that sort of helps even further solidify the top half of the SEC to maybe sort of help strengthen the conference as a whole in terms of, like, sct, SEC versus Big Ten. So, yeah, I think they're just a sleeping giant that's waiting to wake up. You know, I'm curious to see what their quarterback will be like. I'm curious to see what it looks like in season. Season one. But I think, you know, I think that the. They have a really limitless pop possibilities.
Cord Samuels
I like Florida this year. I hate how much I like Florida. I have to talk myself out of locking liking Florida more. I posted voted them seventh on my SEC media day poll. Feels high to some. I had them at four for a long time Michelle. I wrestled with myself for two days. I like wow. I like the Florida Florida group. I like summer all. I think he, he is a gator. I think he's going to get in and wrestle with some big coaches and big programs this year. Schedule is not easy schedule for I feel like for Florida. So it hasn't been easy in a long time. It's always difficult. But yeah, no, I like that a lot. That's. That's fun. I will see about Florida again. I've hyped up Oklahoma. Gross. I piped up Florida a pretty good bit. I can't go over to if I am wrong clearly we know which one I prefer. Real quick guys. We're gonna hear from Lux Kitchen and Bath, our sponsor for tonight's show. Big shout out to Lu. We'll hear. We'll be right back.
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Cord Samuels
Alrighty guys. Keeping it rolling here on Inside Texas with Ms. Michelle. One word to describe all these SEC programs. Josh is in the chat. Nobody is safe. Look out. Moving on. So we've done am. We did Shadow for a M. We did LSU with the Kardashians. That was fun. We did Florida. That was sleeping Giants. Cheated the system a little. And that's okay. We're allowed one of those. Who else did we do? We did another one, South Carolina.
Michelle Lynn
And that was and that was irrelevant. Also, Nash suggested forgetful, which once again slip Slipping the mind.
Cord Samuels
Yep. Doing well. Doing well. Josh says animus. Booty cheeks. That is two words already. Not playing by the rules. And true Joshi manning favor fashion. Wow. Florida needs to start recruiting criminals again. We found Urban Myers burner in the chat. Yeah, Sam agrees. I. I just really like the sort of team. I think it'd be a really difficult opponent for Texas the second year in a row. Even though we get them at home, I don't love that we get on the week after Oklahoma. Joshi is on fire. Good lord. Stop, kid. Okay, we're going on Missouri. Eli drink. What's. What you think? One word.
Michelle Lynn
Oh, man, that program.
Cord Samuels
What comes to your head? Because I'm going to tell you mine. The first word that just comes to mind is dorky. I'm gonna be honest with you. And I like Missouri a little bit. I root for Missouri a little bit. Drink. Which is different. And that's not to offend any Mizzou fans out there.
Michelle Lynn
Yeah, I feel bad because my cousin, she's a die hard Missouri fan, but I put who question mark because again, it's just another like.
Cord Samuels
That's worse than dorky.
Michelle Lynn
Yeah, it's much worse. I feel bad. It might be the meanest one. Like I even put a question mark next to it. You know, I'm like just even more forgettable than South Carolina. I think when I was kind of going through the list, it felt like there are quite a few main characters in the SEC and there's a lot of bottom dwellers. And even though Missouri has had a pretty like okay record consistently year and year out, they've never like broken through, done anything significant. And so they just kind of are in that bottom tier of like. Who is that again? Oh, yeah, Missouri, you know.
Cord Samuels
Well, one thing they have done, I will say, Michelle, that, you know, they came into the conference the same time Texas A and M did, you know?
Michelle Lynn
Yeah.
Cord Samuels
One of those two teams has at least played in an SEC title game. I will say that. No defense, no defensive. Missouri more just a shot at somebody else. Yeah, I think that's fair though. I mean, again, you know, Mizzou plateau was at their plateau late 2000s, early 2010s. Gary Pinkle, he was great for that university. Used to love Brad Smith. And then of course, it's hard not to like booger picker, what's his name? This is going to drive me crazy, guys. On ESPN now South Lake Carroll quarterback. Just guys help me out. I am struggling with picking DKRs are down like 35.
Michelle Lynn
Chase. Daniel.
Cord Samuels
Thank you, Chase.
Michelle Lynn
Okay. He's not on ESP anymore. That's what threw me off.
Cord Samuels
There you go.
Michelle Lynn
They bounce around so much. I mean, I feel like these analysts are all in the transfer portal all the time going to different networks.
Cord Samuels
I get my. I get my football take from inside Texas. I leave that
Michelle Lynn
consistency.
Cord Samuels
Yeah, they did play into. It was back to back, if I'm not mistaken. This is. I think when they had Dorial Green, Beckham maybe was still around.
Michelle Lynn
My, my one pushback with that is. Isn't that when the SEC was still divided into like east and west and one side was clearly a juggernaut and the other one was a lot easier?
Cord Samuels
Yeah, big difference in the SEC east and the SEC west, especially before Kirby got Georgia rolling. That was a very wide open division year in, year out. That's how Missouri has won it twice. But yeah, moving on. Let's go Kentucky. There we go. My guy, Will Stein. Yes, sir. Sorry, guys, interruption. Will Stein taking over for Kentucky over there. They had a good transfer portal season. They recruiting pretty well. Well above Kentucky standards. Michelle, what's one word for the Wildcats?
Michelle Lynn
Kentucky is for game. Like, I don't think they're going to make a lot of noise, but they're a little, they're a little fun and flirty. You know, like, I could see them winning some unexpected games this year. And I also feel like even under stoops, they just would kind of put people in a blender sometimes and you'd leave and you're like, oh my gosh, what was in the water there? You know, how did, how was that game so close? Like, they gave Georgia fits. They gave us fits, obviously. So I think this year they're going to be a really frisky team. I really like kind of what you were saying, what they did in the transfer portal. They are a basketball school, but I, I have. You'll. You'll understand why. Let's do Arkansas next and then you understand why. So anyways, I've got Kentucky as frisky. Even though. Yes, they usually are school. I think they're. They're trying to have fun with football. I like it.
Cord Samuels
I love it, personally. I think Stein's a fun guy. I think he's a fun mind. I like his style of play on the offensive side of the ball. And then, yeah, they did. They do have a few ex Texas guys and so that's. That's a whole other thing. And yeah, Will sign has spent a little bit of time in Austin, Texas himself, obviously. So we'll see. We'll see how it goes for Kentucky. I'm rooting for him. It feels like almost no matter what the bottom three is some, like, combination of Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas. And I feel really good about Arkansas being the bottom. We'll see what Kentucky and Mississippi State look like. You know what? Let's do it. We haven't done it yet. Texas, 20, 26. Texas. What pops in your mind, Michelle? What's the one word?
Michelle Lynn
Okay, you gotta let me. You gotta hear me out on this one. Okay?
Cord Samuels
Okay.
Michelle Lynn
It's a little bit topical as well. I have us as Odysseus now. Hear me out.
Cord Samuels
Okay?
Michelle Lynn
We've been on a journey ever since we felt invincible in 2005, right? We won the Rose Bowl, National Championship. Like, most brilliant game ever. Just like most brilliant Trojan horse strategy ever, you know? And then we've just been on this long journey ever since. Kind of had an inflated ego for a little bit there. Kind of had. Things don't really go on our way. We were on a long journey. Okay. We are still on that journey. We are in the waters. We've had some times where we thought we've made it through to the other side. No, we didn't. And now I feel like we are so close to getting back home. And I just felt like it was very relevant. It's been, again, like, a huge, just adventure that we've been on for the past 20 years now, trying to make our way back to the national championship. And this year specifically, even more so than last year, even more so than some of the years with Quinn, feels like a culmination of so much hard work, strategy, humbling experiences, resiliency, that it's gonna all come together. We're gonna get the ship back into harbor and we're gonna make it home. We're gonna make it to the national championship. Like, I genuinely believe one of these days. Yes, they're with you. Yes. Right. I mean, aren't we, Odysseus? Where's the lie? Where. Where am I wrong?
Cord Samuels
I mean. No, you're right. I mean, I. You had such a fancier way of answering that that I did. The whole time, I'm just over here, like, what's another word that I can use that will make me seem half as smart as Michelle right now? No, that. That's perfect. I mean, generally, Yeah.
Michelle Lynn
I mean, I have to. I. I wanted to be a little creative with it. I didn't want to just go with the. The traditional, you know, what I mean, wanted to think outside the box. And I've been wanting to reread the Odyssey before I go see the movie, but it's like, I'm a mom, so I don't have time. But I was like, you know what? I'm gonna get my Odyssey fix in by saying Texas is Odysseus.
Cord Samuels
Love it.
Michelle Lynn
There we go.
Cord Samuels
The movie was great, by the way. Fantastic. I want to see it a second time. I was simply gonna say ready, Michelle?
Michelle Lynn
We are ready.
Cord Samuels
I mean, it's, it's, it's a much more direct path line answer than what you gave, but I think we're some somewhere in the same boat, if you will, because they have been tested. Sark's been into the college football playoffs a couple times with Texas. This is a different roster. Sure, you filled holes in the coaching staff. You filled holes with a roster. And that's not to disrespect anybody that, you know, feels disrespected already. From between transfers and potential coaches, I think it's ready. I think this is, this is their time again. A long way to go, Michelle. It's just a difficult schedule. You have to beat Ohio State. In my eyes, I don't think you. You can't leave anything on the table in that game. You set the tone for the season and just really, hey, there'd be a lot of fun words about our program if we find a way to be at Ohio State. But real quick, guys, we're going to do our second ad break of the night. We're going to hear from Mr. David McClellan, and we'll come back for another maybe five, ten minutes. All right? Appreciate it.
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Cord Samuels
All right, guys, keeping it going here. We got LFB in the house. Appreciate it. Nash says Texas is lost like Odyssey. I think our D line is going to be stout. I know it's a little bit of a curveball and change of direction where what we've been talking about, but, yeah, personally, I like. I love the defensive line. I'm really high on Alex January. I think it's going to be really good for Texas this year. You had to have a guy like Ian Jaffaard who's going to be able to play that nose position. It's very important and essential in a Wilmot's champ defense. So, yeah, I feel good. Michelle, how do you feel?
Michelle Lynn
I feel great. I feel great about the defense. I could see us also, you know, maybe at the beginning of the season. There's a little bit of kinks in. In the defense, but I think as the year goes on, it will just continue to improve. And it's also a huge reason why I'm so glad Ohio State game is week two this year because we could kind of do a little trial run in the Texas State game and then be like, okay, we want these guys here. So, yeah, I'm. I'm really excited for the defense. I think we needed that revitalized energy. And Colin Simmons said as much at SAC media days. Even so, I trust his judgment.
Cord Samuels
Yeah, shoot. I. I love the way that goofy talked about the offensive line. I like the way that Simmons talked about the defensive line. Again, I could sort of sat there and listen to those two guys talk. For Arch 2, of course, for forever. It was. It was. It was pretty cool, keeping it rolling. We got to get to some of these other SEC teams. There's some fun ones left. I'm a big hater. Not necessarily a big hater. I just don't have any belief, Michelle. There's no confidence. Definitely not anywhere. That confidence there was when Nick Saban roamed the sidelines of Tuscaloosa. Not a lot of faith in Kayla Deborah. Not a lot of faith in this offense. And I do think the defense will be good. What's one word you got for Bama in 2026?
Michelle Lynn
Denial. We were in denial for a long time as well, and I think they are just coming back to reality, and I don't think they're ready to accept that. So I am so curious to see what goes on there. I mean, I think Kailyn DeBoer is a good coach. But at the same time, it was very interesting to me, him sort of shying away from like, oh, your fans have championship expectations. And he's like, oh, we're not even thinking about that. You know, I can't remember exactly what he said, but I was like, whoa, dude, you can't say that to your fan base. Oh, my gosh. Do you know who you're talking to?
Cord Samuels
It's a weird relationship. You know what I mean? It just doesn't. It doesn't seem like it fits.
Michelle Lynn
Yeah, it is so weird. So, yeah, I think Alabama. I think just the whole. It's a bunch of denial everywhere. Everywhere.
Cord Samuels
Yeah, I just. Keelan Russell's a dog. Like, he's going to be awesome. It was cool to see Colin Simmons talk about Keelan. His face kind of lit up and he talked about all the things that Keelan Russell does really, really well. He did say put pressure on him, and I don't know if that meant, like, you know, I viewed that as a weakness or like, he would like the opportunity to do so, but it was pretty funny. Winning is hard. One of my favorite things ever. Next. Next, we'll talk about execution after we talk about how hard winning is. Sorry I had to get a M and Texas fans both riled up with that one. But, yeah, and again, if my. My thing isn't necessarily knock on the boar is, I don't think that the board can't hang in the sec. I just think it's. It's just weird timing. You take over for Nick Saban. You take over a program who's not ready to run the air raid that you want to run. You know, one year he didn't have Ryan grubb involved. Grub gets back involved. So it's just been weird. And then flirtations with other jobs. He's not ever gonna sit there and say like, hey, that happened. But we feel pretty confidently, you know, that. Yeah, maybe some talks have gone down at some point, but. So, yeah, we'll see. Let's move on. We'll stay over there. Deep in the heart of the sec country. Let's go. With the ole miss reps, Pete Golding taking over for Lane Kiffin. How we feeling, Michelle?
Michelle Lynn
Okay. This one. I don't know if it's cheating because I use hyphens. I said one and done because I thought of all of the brand new coaches that were speaking and that were at sec media days. Pete Golding kind of had the only one that the feeling of he could be a One and done coach. Depending on how this thing goes, I think that they have a really good roster. They were able to retain a lot of people, but I'm just not certain that I'm sold on him being the head coach. He kind of was put in a situation where if they were able to do, like, a proper head coaching search, would he have been the hire? I don't. I don't know that he would have necessarily. So he kind of was just placed in that role. I feel like there's a pretty long history of interim coaches being kind of grandfathered into being the head coach, and it not really working out well. I don't think he's gonna have a shrim. More scandal, but he's already had one slip up with the tampering allegations, you know, of just basic things that, like, come on, man, you can't be texting from your phone, that type of thing, to somebody in the transfer portal. So, like, there's just, to me, enough indicators that show, like, man, if this thing gets weird, it could be out. So that was kind of my word. Then again, oh, I don't know where Cord went, but then again, guys, I don't know. I mean, what. Who am I to say who's gonna be one and done? I don't know what his contract structure looks like, any of that. So that was just kind of the vibe I got from his presser was like, man, this guy got one and done written all over him. And it was all I could think about when given this assignment.
Cord Samuels
Y' all ever get, like, really, really conflicted about something? Like, I felt so strong about my opinion of Pete Golding and Ole Miss being motivated. That was. That was where I was at. I. I loved what they had to say to see me today's. I'm an impressionable individual. If you can't tell everything these guys are saying, I'm like, oh, that's one extra win.
Michelle Lynn
Writing that down, you're, like, eating it up.
Cord Samuels
2.5 extra wins. You see the look in his face? You see that suit? Absolutely. You're telling I. And you're talking, and I get it. I understand. I'm fully on the side that I'm about to counter what you're saying.
Michelle Lynn
All right, let's do it.
Cord Samuels
And then Joshi pops up with a big disagree on that one. And I'm like, well, hold on a second. Do I really want to be in that camp right now? It's not a super popular camp to be in. I love you, Joshua, with my whole heart. I disagree with you all. I think Pete Golding is going to kill it. I really do. I think it's going to be fantastic. I think they're going to be really motivated to show that it wasn't a one and done. I do think there's going to be a little bit of rope with Pete Golding if he can just beat lsu and I do. Like, that's going to be hell. LSU going into that game. It's gonna be a blast. Gonna be a blast. I think Pete is a top five defensive mind in college football. I think it's a better defensive mind than even like a Dan Lanning. Like, I love Goldie. I really, really do. Yeah, there you go. The Zeke meme. That's it right there. I just, I can't, I can't go against my guy. I sat here and talked with you about over under on win loss totals and I chose under for Ole Miss. I have flipped on the Rebels. I am not flipping again. I am team Pete Golding. I think that they get. Yeah, I don't know if that. I don't know what it means, Joshua, when you and I agree, it's absolutely terrifying because, you know, again, I think we have some of the same takes. I just make sure that they're never republic buried. But no, that is funny, man. I appreciate you having my back. I think, I think the room's gonna be okay. I really, really do. Let's move on. Let's go to Tennessee. Balls. Josh Hyple, very fun, imaginative offensive mind. They're gonna go fast. They're going to line up really, really wide and they're still going to be able to run the ball for your, you know, better than your typical like, you know, spread team. Fantastic hiring Jim Knowles on the defensive side of the ball. What you got on the Vols, Michelle?
Michelle Lynn
So this one I kind of cheated as well. I've got crazy uncle for the balls because they are a true wild card and I have a crazy uncle. Who is Tennessee fan. Die Hard went to school there, my cousins went there. Like, they are amazing people, right? I love watching college football games with them, but at the same time I also hate watching college football games with them. If you know any volunteer fan, you know what I'm talking about is a roller coaster of an experience. And I mean, I think that their offense and everything that they've got going on, I'm like, I have no idea what to expect. What's the quarterback situation? What is. I've been seeing, I think one of their players today just got suspended for A couple games that seemed weird. I saw Nico, little Nico, blast from the past. He's talking about his time at ucla. I'm like, that was a weird situation. Of course, that happened to Tennessee last year, you know, and they're still honestly feeling it in the quarterback room. Not that I thought Nico was, you know, all world, but definitely. I don't know who they got this year. So they are. They're such a wild card. They're the crazy uncle of the sec. They're all mustard. Like, just chaos.
Cord Samuels
I've got rebuilding for Tennessee because, like you said, quarterback situation. They. It's not Hypo's ideal situation. Again, Nico. That's. That whole thing put them in a little bit of a. A little bit of a mess. But real quick, sidebar. You grab the bluebell rainbow sherbet. Michelle, you like. You like the strawberry the most. You like the orange the most or lime sherbet? Which one of those. Which one are you going after?
Michelle Lynn
Sherbert.
Cord Samuels
Oh. The look in your face is. Is giving me not a good feeling.
Michelle Lynn
I'm just having traditional ice cream. I'm having cookies and cream ice cream. Don't give me any of this brew nonsense.
Cord Samuels
Everyone knows I'm a. I'm. I won't go foodie because my diet. My diet's not like a fun one, but, like, I eat all the crap and a lot of it. Yeah, I love Shepherd Blue Bell Lime sherbet's goated.
Michelle Lynn
Never had it.
Cord Samuels
I can't. I can't do the pink and the orange in there. I'm not. Not touching that. It's like when your. Your food touches your veggies touch. You know, there's some people who like, I can't eat lime sherbet if it's touched the nasty strawberry and orange, which is weird as I love strawberry and orange. Just not. Not ice cream. So here we go. We're moving on back to sec. We talked a little bit about Tennessee. We've done so many teams. Let's go to Mississippi State. Jeff Lebby. I think they might surprise a team or two. They almost surprised Texas last year until Texas three knockout. A very big knockout. Punch in the fourth quarter. Shout out. Ryan Niblett.
Michelle Lynn
Yeah. Mississippi State. I just put lost because I just don't know. I don't know what their path is it. They're a weird one. They're a very fun, quirky culture. Like, I love the cowbell, you know, thing that they do at the games. And, you know, they seem like a spirited bunch and kind of like you were saying, their offense. I mean, they definitely had an offense that was frisky. But yeah, I don't just. I feel confused by them. I don't know. I don't know their path. I don't even have anything to say about them. That's how like confused I am on them. I don't even know what's going on there.
Cord Samuels
Nash, Joshi, both. They. Nash took it first. Josh, you took a second. I. I was gonna say baseball. I was like, yeah, I mean, good luck and good luck on the gridiron. You know, you can be really, really good. Best season in school history, I think is when they lost in the egg bowl and didn't make a college football playoff. Tough. Tough on the road. So. Wow. They'd kill me for that. Tough on the Bulldogs, rather not the Revs. They would hate me. Always. Cookies and cream. No beef with cookies and cream. F. Fantastic. Fantastic job there. They really, they knew what they were doing. But we gotta venture off. Right? You know what I mean? It's like you always get the candy bar, the chocolate candy bar. Do you ever go in there and grab you a pack of Gushers or, you know, Starbursts? Well, anything. And I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm trying to make a point here. Mississippi State, almost. Yeah. Yeah. But I do love Camario Taylor. It's gonna be fantastic. They're gonna be a lot of fun. I'm just hope they can keep him upright and healthy for this for the length of the season. Who have we not done? We haven't done Vanderbilt. Speaking of potential 1.
Michelle Lynn
Oh, Vanderbilt. I said pumpkin. There his clock struck midnight. Pavia's gone. They're turning back into a pumpkin. Cinderella story's over. I know they got the five star quarterback, but I'm like, I'm so out on Vanderbilt this year. They are my pumpkin. Watch. It's over.
Cord Samuels
She says it's over. Many fans would tell you that, hey, it's not just Diego Pavia, but it was Clark Lee. I feel like I'm arguing Russ versus Kevin Durant again. I'm indecisive on Vanderbilt because there is a limited upside. They don't have the home field advantage. They don't have the type of athletes. I think if Vanderbilt won seven games, I should be real dang happy that they won seven games and just take that. So that's a lot of words. I don't have just one word for you, but that's Michelle's job. It's not my job. So Pumpkins.
Michelle Lynn
They are pumpkins.
Cord Samuels
Sandman checking in. Appreciate you saying hi. Make sure you're throwing a like on the video for us. I appreciate you being here. Yeah. Okay. So we. Feels like we've done almost everybody, but not quite everyone. Let's go, Razorbacks. Ryan Silverfield, that, you know. Let me start first, Michelle. It's really, really, really simple. I'm not going to go into a big time explanation. One word to describe Arkansas Razorbacks around Silverfield. That program right now. Cooked. They are cooked. That's barbecue chicken. As Chuck Barkley would like to say. I just don't see a way that they go better than 2 and 10. I really don't.
Michelle Lynn
Yep. Like Tyson Foods. It's. Yeah, it's over. It's a wrap. I put track because, I mean, you know, they're going to be good in track every year, but that's kind of the only sport. Like, I, I don't know what their path is and it's so confusing because they really do have a very strong, you know, strong brands associated with their school. Walmart, Tyson Foods, they're all right there and they just can't get a donor to help them out to save their life, I guess. I don't know why there hasn't been the investment in football. Yeah, they very, very much cooked. It's, it's, it's a wrap. I, I feel so bad for them. Like, I, I genuinely. There are some teams on here that we've already talked about. A couple we haven't yet that I'm like, I just don't. How do you compete in today's era? I don't know how they do it. You know.
Cord Samuels
That's a good bet.
Michelle Lynn
Yes. That's very good.
Cord Samuels
That's a good. Yeah, that's a good. I like that. You should look at that. Check out the market.
Michelle Lynn
I think that for Arkansas, like, they're honestly, their goal. Last year they were kind of fun to watch because their offense was so great. But you knew they were going to lose the games, but it was at least fun to watch. I almost feel like that's what they're going to try to do. They're going to be like, look, we're just going to try to score points. We know we're gonna lose, but at least people will watch, you know, I don't know what else, like what other path they can do, you know, Cherry
Cord Samuels
Jones, Tyson Chicken, Walmart. You can't do enough to impress any of the three to really get overly involved. Everybody has Cody Campbell's Guys, it's just a matter of getting them interested.
Michelle Lynn
Right?
Cord Samuels
Arkansas has plenty of funds, places to pull funds, places they could pass the hat. But at some point you got to show that something is happening with those funds. Return on investment is such a thing, not just for programs, but for the people investing in the programs as well. Of course. One more time. Arkansas under three and a half. I am just saying that's. That's a pretty good. Pretty good. Nash doesn't feel bad for him. I don't feel bad for Arkansas. I've been to Sayet now. I've seen how they treated Texas fans. Great rivalry. Don't feel bad for him whatsoever. Waltons don't care about football. That's all I can read from your comment, Joshi. But yeah, I mean, ribs, that's good. I do, I do like pork ribs, but I'm a beef rib guy. If I have to choose between the two. Yeah. Really, really interesting future for Arkansas the next three years. Josh said he made a genius decision. Just felt the most like a fish out of water at SEC media days. I will say that. All right. I know that we haven't done Oklahoma. We're gonna do them last. Is there anyone else that we haven't talked about, Michelle?
Michelle Lynn
Haven't done Auburn. I said basement for them. I mean, it's just like, what are you gonna do?
Cord Samuels
I'm excited for the Tigers. I really, really am. I think it was important that they kept D.J. durkin on the defensive side. I like Byron Brown a lot. You know what I don't like, Michelle? I don't like the fact that you and I might start for that offensive line tomorrow. That's what gives me pause and concern for Byron Brown, who also. I really, I mean, I, I hope he gets to play 12 healthy games because if he does, he is going to put up really fun numbers and a really fun highlight reel.
Michelle Lynn
Yeah, I think, I think long term, like, they'll be okay. But for. I guess I was thinking of this through the lens of like 20, 26, you know, this season I'm like,
Cord Samuels
I
Michelle Lynn
don't know how to get out of the basement this year.
Cord Samuels
There's going to be some times where they're really frustrated, but I also think they're going to be. Sometimes they're like, man, we might have the best quarterback in college football. That won't be true.
Michelle Lynn
Right?
Cord Samuels
He is fantastic. I think he makes some really, really, really good plays for the Tigers in that offense who have struggled to have any typ electricity out of the quarterback position in the Last couple of years. I think they'll be fun to watch, but, like, you know, LFB is saying they might not win too. Too many games there. There you go, Dre. Calling it out. We haven't done. Georgia. Kirby Smart. One word. Michelle. All you.
Michelle Lynn
I mean, boss, like, he's. He's the head honcho. He is the big kahuna right now. He is el jefe. Like, he. He's the top dog. Like, he. That's just what's going on until it changes, until somebody dethrones them. He is, like, kind of the face of the conference, you know? Daddy. Yeah. He is our daddy. He is everybody's daddy right now in the sec. Yeah. Like, I mean, I don't even know what to say. He definitely carried almost, like, an aura around him, just like from watching him at SEC media days. It's like, when he speaks, everybody listens. And I think Coach Sarkeesian carries a similar aura. But I think right now, Kirby Smart has a little bit more of a resume, obviously, with the national championships that it's like, there's. There's his aura, right? And then there's. And then there's Coach Sark's aura. And, I mean, it's just. It's undeniable. His. His reputation, it speaks for itself. And, you know, kind of like Sark was saying, man, what was the quote like to be the champion, you got to beat the champion. When he was talking about, you know, needing to be teams like Georgia. So, I mean, I think that says it all, honestly, about Kirby and Georgia. I don't even know how much I love their team this year, but I just always know Kirby Smart. He's going to figure it out. He's gonna pull some voodoo juju out of his butt.
Cord Samuels
Georgia's gonna be good. I just don't know, like, how good they're gonna be because the schedule. They're gonna be good enough to where I think they really handle their schedule well. I do think they have. Of the contenders in the SEC probably were the easiest of the schedules, but there's a reason that, like, the schedule seems easy, because they're really dang good, right? They're always good.
Michelle Lynn
Right?
Cord Samuels
They're going to be better than they were on defense a year ago. They're probably going to be better on offense than they were a year ago. My thing is, like, I'm gonna put a question mark because I don't know what type of upside Gunner Stockton has at the quarterback. He's obviously, like, improved through his time there. Is he good Enough to win a national championship and like that. That, to me, is something that I just. I don't think I can answer right now. I need to see a lot more out of old Gunner and that offense, just in general as far as in the passing game, so. We'll see. Time will tell. We obviously know they're going to be pretty dang good, borderline elite on the defensive side. That's the Kirby Smart trademark and call it card. So Georgia got knocked out. Auburn, we got knocked out. All right. This conference is huge. Is it just OU left?
Michelle Lynn
I think it's just ou.
Cord Samuels
Yeah, we've done it.
Michelle Lynn
I've been, like, marking them on my little list in italics when we've gone through them. So. Yeah. Oh, you is the only one left.
Cord Samuels
Let it rip.
Michelle Lynn
Y' all aren't gonna like it. Y'. All. You're not gonna like it for ou. I said respect. I have a lot of respect for them. And I was just reflecting on last season and also the season before and just how, you know, all of the talk was, how is OU going to handle joining the SEC conference? They are not as prepared as Texas. And while that definitely proved true in the first season, and yes, they caught a ton of breaks last season, you know, I. They. They've kind of earned my respect. Like, I. I can't overlook them. Do I think we're gonna go BTA again at Red River? I sure hope so, but I can't deny that I. We can't overlook that game. Like, we. We have to respect them as an opponent. They upgraded, you know, pretty much the entire offense. Was it enough? Because they were kind of bottom dwellers on offense last year, but, you know, you know, Venables is going to have a great defense. So I. Honestly, I. I feel like just in general as well, I have a lot of respect for. Oh, you. I think that them in Texas, even though we are main rivals, we do work really well together in terms of, like, transitioning to SEC together. Like, our legacies are intertwined in such a way because we have so much history. History with them. So for me, it's like, I respect them. I mean, I don't like them, but I. I can respect you. So that's kind of a. Probably too gentle on them, but I've been really cooking them on Twitter lately and I'm like, I'm putting some bad juju into the world. I need to reel it in.
Cord Samuels
I mean, this. This could be fun because, like, if you want to talk about feelings and like, all that, I could. I could Throw out a couple words for sure. But if it's talking about 20, 26 Oklahoma and you know, the program in particular as a non biased, you know, opinionator, if you will. I don't want to say that. I just, I just want to say good because. But I just don't know if that's enough. They're going to play in so many close games. Their schedule is going to be difficult. I do respect the defense. I respect what Venables has done. I've been one of the ones who for years now I said that the longer Venable stays, the more powerful Oklahoma gets under Venables. If they overreact, reacted to a couple of bad early seasons which ended up happening and got rid of film, that's when I thought so I think him and just in general, I think there's pressure on Venables. I mean that would probably be a better word. I think there's way more pressure on Brent Venables to repeat what he did last year than there is on Texas to go win a national championship.
Michelle Lynn
Right.
Cord Samuels
Because The Texas went 10 and 2 or 11 and 1. Texas fans will still want Steve Sarcasian around if you don't, please, like I don't know, come hang out on inside Texas and tell us why. But Oklahoma, man, the defense is a lot better through the time that he's been there. But they just miss on the offense so many times. Right. And so this is the year that where they, somebody mentioned they added Hayden Hansen, they've had rocky beards, they added jvd. They're going to help them be able to run the ball. Something that we want Texas to do a lot better. Oklahoma was even worse. It felt like the Texas was last year and clearly in Red river they were so somebody else. You know, I like Oklahoma. I've got them third in my SEC preseason poll. I hope that doesn't come true. Of course I don't want Oklahoma to be good. If that is true, you know they're going to have the better season of the two programs. I just trust the holes. There are less holes in Oklahoma starting 11 on both sides than there are a M's. I will, I will say that. So that's, that's why I feel that way. There you go. Sandman has this attain is a good player. Parker is a good fit for that offense. It's just a matter of like is he going to do anything against like the elite teams? What does Oklahoma look like after playing Georgia or Michigan? Georgia, Texas, you know, they could be out of the playoff race this season, the borderline be over, then BV is really going to feel the pressure. You know, you better go win some games down the season because if you do, if you go 7 to 5 again, what are they going to say? You know, you're kind of like a legend in that area because you've been part of the program for so long. You're part of the last national championship. I don't know. It'll be fun to watch.
Michelle Lynn
Michelle and another really interesting dynamic with ou.
Cord Samuels
That's pretty funny.
Michelle Lynn
Hey, I'm just trying to reverse some of my karma right now, okay. I've been real. I've been getting real snippy on the timeline, so. But I think that it's very interesting, the dynamic between their general manager Jim Nagy and Brent Venables. I feel almost bad for Brent Venables. It felt like the way that Nagy was talking about him was almost belittling of, oh, I let him, you know, do this during the day and then I'll call in my office and say, hey, let's, you know, it. It just felt kind of demeaning. And so to me, yeah, if the offense isn't clicking again and if they're out of the playoffs, they're not going to get rid of the man creating the roster. They're going to get rid of Brent Venables. And I don't really understand that power dynamic because I do think that Bibi's done a pretty solid job. He's at least improved. And I mean, I want the lifetime contract because it seems like Steve's Arkeshin hasn't figured out. But I don't know, it's just very interesting over there. I am really not a believer in John Matiere. I think I just am going based off of the fact that I do believe they improved things around him. But kind of like you were saying, I don't necessarily know that it's enough, but I do have to respect them as an opponent. I can't just say, oh, they, they suck. You know, that would just be doing even Texas a disservice. Like, we just can't overlook them.
Cord Samuels
Joe, you know, ball man. I mean, like, I agree with you, I agree with. Material cannot be the focal point of offense. If he is, it's going to be hard to keep him healthy. And I'm not talking about like where he can't play in games, but like nagging injury, things that can obviously affect the quarterback, affect their ability to run the ball and so can they run the ball without The John Mateer, you know, that's my big thing on here. Dre. I've been talking about does can they get away with him not having to carry the ball 10 to 12 times a week? Because I don't think you can line up and do that against SEC teams weekend and week out. Especially considering where the bi faults for Oklahoma you have Texas and you play seven straight more SEC games after that. Eight straight games of SEC play. Big question mark for me, you know, with their upside like Mater has to be, has to be, has to be healthy because they built that offense around him, but they still can't let everything be about him with that offense.
Sponsor/Ad Narrator
We'll see.
Cord Samuels
I'm. I'm excited for it, Michelle. Again, I think Oklahoma is going to be pretty good again. I think the schedule, you get past the middle part of that schedule, you give that defense and potential healthy offense more time to get used to that little air raid system under Ben Arbuckle. Hey, we'll see. Maybe Mater makes no growth at all whatsoever as a quarterback. He's got, you know, four touchdowns and eight interceptions coming into Red River. I would feel pretty good about that too. I don't need my prediction. I've got no pride, I promise you. Hey, make sure guys, if you haven't done it. I'm trying to be friends with all of you on Inside Texas and it only costs $1. And I'll be your friend regardless. But I'd like it if you'd hop over there, spend one buck, join the Inside Texas on Three Rivals community and then you get 50 off a year subscription after that runs out. Hey, we're about to get it rolling. It's football season. Nobody kills recruiting. Nobody knows ball like Inside Texas. Come over there and check it out. All the game plans. You want X's and O's, it's there. You want team news, it's there. Recruiting stuff, it's there. Come check it out. We're grateful you're here. Michelle and I had fun doing this. We'll be back. This might be my last Wednesday show. I gotta ask the boss man. New schedule for your guy. Might be our last Wednesday show. But regardless of whether it's Wednesday or Thursday, Michelle will be back and we'll be back soon. She knows that. We appreciate you watching, guys. Please make sure you throw on a like on the video. Have a great night and we'll see you soon on Inside Texas.
Inside Texas Football (July 30, 2026) | Host: Cord Samuels | Guest: Michelle Lynn
In this episode of Inside Texas Football, host Cord Samuels and guest Michelle Lynn challenge themselves to describe all 16 SEC football programs with just one word each (with occasional rule bending). The segment is a rapid-fire, insightful, and often humorous take on where each program stands in 2026, offering sharp, honest perspectives with plenty of banter and feedback from the live chat. For Longhorn fans—and anyone locked into the SEC arms race—it’s a whirlwind tour of narratives, perceptions, and bold takes on the new-look conference.
The episode is loose, witty, and unafraid of some friendly jabs. Michelle’s creativity with her word choices keeps the conversation engaging and often veers into unexpected and fun territory, while Cord brings balance with analysis and counterpoints. Both remain plugged into Texas fandom and SEC realities, providing granular observations and “original language” color throughout. The chat’s participation adds humor and a sense of community.
Skip the episode ads and jump right into the meat by referencing the detailed team-by-team breakdown above, complete with timestamps and the panel’s most memorable zingers and insights.