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- [00:00]
A
Hello everyone. I'm Chris Phillips. He's cold the Bear Thompson. He's Demetri Gabonis this is Chewing Clock SEC unfiltered bi weekly SEC football show. The best SEC football show on the Internet. Tons to get into talking. Season is officially here, gents. I welcome in Cole and Dimitri. Guys, what's going on? Appreciate you taking the time. Excited to talk all things SEC media days. It's the most fun time of year, isn't it?
- [00:25]
B
So I usually hate SEC or all conference media days, not just SEC media days. Like I think nothing gets accomplished. However, right before we went live today, Chris, I received an email from the ACC outlining what will be their tie breaking procedure going forward. And I just want to read you two things from here and you tell me like how thankful you are that we root for a conference that seems to have a plan versus the acc. No team will be overly rewarded or penalized based on the number of conference games it has played. Remember, not every ACC team is going to play nine games going forward because there aren't enough teams to make that happen. That's what the other when head to head competition cannot separate tied teams, the team with the strongest overall body of work will earn the opportunity to compete for the ACC championship in the conference's automatic qualifier to the College Football Playoff. They have codified. They will not make a choice. Basically right. Like they have they have put down in writing. We are not going to decide anything until we absolutely have to.
- [01:42]
A
How to say nothing while saying everything while.
- [01:45]
B
Exactly.
- [01:47]
C
I mean, congratulations. They're going to find a way to watch a 75 Duke team or this year we'll go 7 and 5 North Carolina State sneak their way into the playoff because of the addendum that's thrown out. And then we're gonna have to find another scenario on how Miami gets on in because they lose the acc.
- [02:03]
A
I mean we also say though, to your point, Demetri, thank goodness we don't. We don't live in a conference where something like that. Although I do believe the latest tiebreaker coming from the SEC was at worst will flip a coin. I think that was like the seventh thing down the list, which I hope they televise it. If we get to that one day, I really hope to see that live take place. I mean LSU and Ole Miss with a spot in Atlanta on the line waiting on a coin flip. Who flips the coin is my question. Is it somebody else?
- [02:30]
B
Yeah. If it happens, it's got to be Sanki and it's got to be at halftime or whatever ESPN showcase basketball game is that day.
- [02:38]
C
Yep, I get that.
- [02:41]
A
Right in the middle of feast week. We'll do it.
- [02:42]
C
Yeah, do it on Monday Night Football, why don't you? Come on, let it drag it on out in the middle of the week like you're. You're both practicing and then it's like 7:30 at night. Hey Pete, hate to do this to you, bud. You can send them on home. They're not necessarily needed this weekend. Why not? We're dragging out. As you already drag out the College Football Playoff shows every year, might as well add this into the mix.
- [03:05]
A
Well boys, instead of trying to solve the riddle that is other conferences problems, why don't we stick to this conference, the sec. Because again, we're going to talk SEC Media days happening next week in Tampa. Our predicted order of finish 16 1. Our SEC championship as we would submit on our ballots at SEC Media days. Also, it is Georgia Day. Like I mentioned, for those who were just tuning in, we'll preview the Georgia Bulldogs in the upcoming season and talk some news and notes. Take your questions, everything in between. So as it sounds and as it is, we got a lot to get into, fellas. So without further ado, let's talk SEC football media days down in Tampa, which a little bit of a sidebar here. I've made it very clear to people that I'm not going down to Tampa, Florida and going to SEC medias. We, we will have full coverage of this event top to bottom. I would argue even more extensive coverage than we've had in years past. Just because I will be at hq. We will be behind the desk watching on tv, taking it all in with you all. We'll be live, you'll see tons of content from us. But guys, little bit of a sidebar here. The closer we've gotten to the event, the more preposterous it has felt to me that the SEC put this event in Tampa, Florida. I can't wrap my brain around why this is a good idea when you just think about how far Tampa, Florida is. And I love Florida and I think Tampa's awesome. But for an event like this, how far it is from every single essentially SEC institution not named the Florida Gators. I've got a friend I was talking to this morning who's an old Ms. Beat writer who was telling me about the expenses for the plane ticket and he's going for a day and thought he was kind of crazy. What's the motivation? If you're an Oklahoma beat writer, Missouri beat writer Texas, beat writer, Kentucky, etc. Like, you know, Tennessee, even Vandy, what have you. I think it's absolutely insane that the league is having the event here. Have it in Nashville or Atlanta, have it back in Hoover for all I care and let's be done with it.
- [05:00]
B
Look, I, I think that if you're going down to Florida, first of all, I agree with everything you're saying. But if you're going down to Florida, this is why there should be a rotation. Just Atlanta, Orlando, there are always cheap flights to Atlanta and Orlando. Atlanta is obviously more centrally located for the rest of the conference. But put it somewhere where if you're going to be far away from everybody, let me find a seventy dollar flight down there. Right.
- [05:29]
A
I would agree.
- [05:30]
C
Why are we, why are we doing this? And we're not going to throw in the place that makes great chili because if it has no beans and it's chili, I mean, I'm just, I'm just saying Dallas is a hub. It's, it's right there. You can get cheap flights, you can get a cheap motel room. You got Frisco, you got Arlington, you got the Omni downtown, you got a bunch of different locations to where the Lone Star State should not be taken on out. You wanted the Lone Star State to be represented back when you added in Texas A and M and double down when you add it in Texas. We all know that there are no beans allowed in chile. And so to get great chili in the SEC you got to go down to Texas because that's the only place where they serve it right?
- [06:06]
A
Listen, I will die on the hill. It should be in Nashville. But what do I know, I might be biased seeing as I live five minutes down the road from the the Omni where they had it last time down here. Either way, guys, it is in Tampa, Florida. And again we got a full lineup of coaches. This is what the week looks like in case you have not seen it. On Monday, Will Stein from Kentucky. We'll get things going. Then Eli Drinkwood's from Mizzou, Brent Venables at OU and Josh Hyple at Tennessee. That is day one. On Tuesday we got Alex Golich it from Auburn, Kirby Smart from Georgia, Shane Beamer from South Carolina and Clark Lee from Vandy. That is day two. Wednesday we've got Caitlin aboard from Alabama, John Sumrall from Florida, Pete Golding from Ole Miss and Mike Elko from Texas A M on day three and finally on day four. And I commend the SEC for how they split this up and they're gonna make you stay all week if you want to hear the likes of Ryan Silverfield from Arkansas. But no, seriously, Lane Kiffin from lsu, Jeff Levy, Mississippi State and Steve Sarkeesian from Texas will be the last coach to go at SEC media day. So guys, with all that being said, I ask you all, what's the day we're most looking forward to from this list? Because I, I've got one in mind that jumped out to me. But I'm curious to hear from you guys the day you're most excited for or I guess as excited as you can be for SEC media days.
- [07:23]
B
For me, it's either Tuesday or Wednesday. I, I lean a little more towards Wednesday because I think Pete Golding's press conference is going to be more substantive and interesting than Lane Kiffin's in terms of the Ole Miss, LSU dynamic. I am very interested to hear what kind of questions get asked. Kaylin DeBoer, we know he won't. He's a master at saying nothing. So it's not like we're gonna get hard answers. But I think he's going to be asked some really pointed questions in that one. So I, I lean towards Wednesday.
- [07:57]
C
Wednesday is the right answer. I think the more intriguing answer is Tuesday though, because if you do have four different type of storylines to follow with every single coach and I think that from that standpoint that's what leans on out. You got Kirby. Kirby is the face of college football or at least the face the sec. He has gotten to Nick Saban esque lore, but he hasn't been able to win a playoff game. What are the storylines following this Georgia squad going into 2026 when really the only question is we don't care what you do in the regular season, we care about what you do when you get into January. Then you have Shane Beamer and Shane Beamer last offseason was very poignant on saying this time next year we expect to be in the College Football Playoff. And he put his money where his mouth is and spent money on building up, you know, a personnel group with coaches and going in the portal. But then the Jakaria's peak injury happens and the Josiah Thompson injury happens and you have a superstar quarterback still in the works. But do you feel good about everything surrounding Lenor Sellers and on the other side, Dylan Stewart to be a team that can live up to that promise? Clark Lee, first year without Diego Pavia to where you got to show that you can be successful. You got a five star quarterback in Jared Curtis You've done a good job in the portal, but are you going to be the old Vanderbilt or even a Vanderbilt that is Kirkland Brand as from what we're so accustomed to seeing over the last two years and then throw in Alex Golis at Auburn Auburn, year in and year out, we, we, we do this thing where we love the initial hire. We, we actually get the reason why they went down this pathway or you know, it's a name to where we say I can at least buy into it. But by the time that we get to the end of the first season, the pitchforks and the flames are out and they're already going up to Jur and Hare to go ahead and lighten tumors. Cooper's corner on fire. Is it more like that is going with the guy who's another G5 coach that could end up being really good or also the next few freeze that. The next Brian Harson, the next name of these laundry list of guys who Auburn swings and misses at. What's that narrative going to be like? So that to me is just so interesting because every single storyline for those coaches is completely different.
- [10:04]
A
I'm going to go Wednesday. I think this it immediately jumped out to me. Alabama day still Alabama day to me. So I'm excited to hear from Kaylan aboard. John Sumrall at Florida is a lightning rod. Super pumped to hear if he's gonna echo his sentiments and he'll jump off the stadium if they go 5 and 7 or worse. I mean, Pete Golding at Ole Miss, I, I think with everything that's happened over the offseason and now the latest that's happening with Ole Miss suing some guys that were there that they feel like owe them money. If you were where's my money? Where's my money? The Family Guy meme hearing Golding is going to be electric. And then Mike Elko, I will say I wonder if he follows up. He was really fun to listen to at SEC spring meetings when it came to the College Football Playoff expansion. And I think he was the, he was the most forthcoming and honest about the whole deal and the whole mess. So, yeah, I think Wednesday is the day I'm most looking forward to. But certainly I think there's interesting storylines each and every single day in Tampa. Guys, on that note, let's go around. We'll start with Dimitri, then Cole, you can go. And then I'll go. Finally, top storyline for you that you're following at SEC media. It could be anything on field related, off field related, anything in between. Top storyline for you at media days.
- [11:16]
B
Well, let's put LSU Ole Miss on the shelf because I think that is the thing. That's the cloud that's going to be hovering over everything. Right. So I'm going to go a little bit off the beaten path. I want to hear what Kaylin DeBoer has to say about his contract. It is a major commitment from the University of Alabama. We talked about this when we did our Bama preview last week. I think all three of us think that committing to this guy and, you know, if something has to change, it is the way they allocate resources in the portal, etc. Is the smart move. But that doesn't mean, especially now that we invite every fan blog, too. That doesn't mean that he's not going to face a lot of questions about this. That doesn't mean that he's not going to face a lot of questions about how he manages that wide receiver room, what the quarterback situation is going to be, what's the fallback plan if this team loses four games this year? So I'm that's a press conference. I'm very interested to not only hear what is said but see how he is greeted.
- [12:18]
C
I go with more of a legal side of things and it's the way that coaches react to the Protect College Football act or College Athletics act in general. I think that's important because there's been rumors and speculation that if this bylaw is to be passed, the sec, with Greg Sankey and Tony Batiti in the Big Ten, would call each other up and say, we'll take our bomb, we'll go elsewhere, we'll take the media rights, we'll take the contracts, we'll take all the revenue, we'll take all the marketing and we'll create our own super league. And we're one step closer to that with this going on through. But for teams like Alabama and LSU and Texas and Texas A M and Georgia, this isn't going to matter much. They can go play underneath the college Protect College Athletics Act. They could be in their own conference and do a super league. They're going to be fine. What does Comments from Ryan Silberfield at Arkansas or Clark Lee at Vanderbilt or Will Stein at Kentucky. What is that like because of Are you going with the norm to where? Yeah, we don't want to be left behind. If we were to do create the super league and now we don't know where we're going to go next because of we're not viewed in the same prominent Light as these other premier programs or are they willing to say, yeah, all contrarian. We completely disagree with what's going on. Governments should not be involved in college athletics. We need to be able to separate ourselves. That's what makes college athletics so great. Kind of protecting their ass to where if this ever does come into fruition, Greg Sankey's not gonna be like, all right, we're leaving you, you, you, you and you behind because you don't bring in enough revenue and media, media attributions. But instead, rather, no, you're being a part of the process. We'll figure out along the way how big we want to make the Super League guys.
- [13:53]
A
I think for me, the top storyline that I'll be keeping an eye on and this was something I was able to pick up on or just stood out to me, I guess, over the last couple years of attending the event is, I think if you listen closely because, I mean, listen, drawing conclusions from SEC media days is like drawing conclusions from a spring game. It's probably a fool's errand, right? Because most of these coaches, it's coach speak, they're sending smoke screens, whatever it is. But I think it's been very interesting and maybe it's top of mind for me because I actually had a. You know, they have memories on social media, things they'll show you from a year ago today you posted this. It was our guy shout out to him, Dave Shoemate, who was talking last year about Shane Beamer's SEC media days appearance and how he felt like he was tempering expectations by his verbiage and the things he was saying, whether he was doing that intentionally, unintentionally, but felt like he was sort of trying to temper expectations of the way he talked about the roster. And sure enough, the rest is history. We all know what happened with South Carolina versus what their preseason expectations were. So I'm always curious for me, who's leaning into the expectations? Who presents themselves as really confident about their football team? Who's maybe trying to temper expectations? Who, you know, which of the first year head coaches especially, I think that's another one that could be a storyline. Just hearing from all the new voices who's maybe calling for a little bit more patience. You know, I remember being there and I believe it was 20, 23, my first one. I remember Hugh Free specifically, I remember leaving that press conference thinking like he's telling people that they've got a ways to go with their football. Like, I remember specifically him asking for patience from the fan base so I'm always curious to see, and especially those first year guys, but just overall, who's leaning into expectations, who's tempering expectations, who's seeking a little bit more patience from their fan base? I mean, even like Elaine Kiffin, right, we heard him earlier this offseason, essentially say, like, this isn't going to happen overnight. And that goes completely against how the fan base feels and people in Baton Rouge feel with all the money they've invested and they've spent. So, like there's a guy like Lane Kiffin lean into the whole, like, hey, this is where we should be or you know, kind of echo the whole it's going to be a process thing. It's not going to happen overnight. It's, I think it's always just interesting, you can read between the lines a little bit of what these guys are saying as far as expectations, because so many of them have high expectations. Guys, let's get to the player or coach that you're most excited to hear speak this week. Dimitri, we'll start with you.
- [16:19]
B
I've waffled on this one. It's going to be someone in the middle of the whole LSU Ole Miss thing, right? And I am just, I'm just not interested in what Lane Kiffin has to say. I think Lane Kiffin is boring. I don't think he is ever going to answer a question in a way that is not really plotted out to get social media clicks. So my next thought was shredded AD Chambliss, but he's going to be media coach to hell and back. I want to see if this is where Pete Golding lets it rip because he hasn't shied away from questions. But he's been very respectful of Lane Kiffin. Like he's answered everything asked of him, but he always prefaces it with no hard feelings for lane, Love Lane, etc. Etc. Well, now we're down to brass tacks, right? Like this is the main event of talking season. You have this lawsuit now floated out there. I think if a question came about LSU tampering or testing the waters on Trinidad Chambliss, I think Golding is more likely to let it rip than Trinidad is. So I, I kind of can't wait to hear what he has to say.
- [17:29]
C
I'll go two. One coach, one player coach Z.Z. it's John Summerall. I. I just want to hear the loose cannon cop known as the pride of now the Swamp. Being able to stand in front of a bunch of media members and not be afraid to poke the Bear because of the way that he's been described to me by people at Tulane and true and Troy just brutally honest. And sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes that's such a negative because if you don't want to show your hand too early and like that's what makes John Summer I just think such an intrigu guy in general. How brutally honest is he going to be going into this year? And then this is kind of a a toss up. You can go either way with this one but I'm going to lean more so because if he's a quarterback down in the program that kind of lost the playoff game mainly in they in their eyes because of him, I go Marcel Reed. Marcel Reed being able to speak and be willing to kind of put himself out there and realize I made mistakes last season. But you got to you got to understand we got to 11:1 largely because of me and I'm feeling disrespected right now. I could see him dropping a bar or two that gets clipped and it's like the head of a headline because of it's going to be so poignant about A and M finally living out of the 8 and 4 mantra, finally getting out of their own way, making the playoffs and yet still there's just a slight negative connotation around them for no other reason than oh well, our quarterback didn't look good in two of the three biggest games he played last year, but he's back for another season. Are we disrespecting him a little bit too much at the national perspective? Okay, cool. Watch me. Go ahead and light up player.
- [19:07]
A
I'm most excited to hear from probably Sam Levitt. Oh wait, he's not going anyways. No, seriously, Coach, I'm most excited to hear from I would say and that's where I'm going to stick with is the coaches. I I think the players for the most part are pretty well media trained and their number one gold objective is a don't say something stupid. They can get clipped or bulletin board. I do miss the days though of for example, I know Demetri. I'll remember this vividly. Jadevion Clowney going to media days and saying, yeah, Aaron Murray's terrified of me. Taj Boyd is scared of me. I miss those days. Those were fun days at media days. No, I'd probably go Mike Elko with Texas A and M. I just am curious if he's gonna piggyback off of him. And again, he was really impressive at SEC spring meetings. Did not give A damn let his hair down if you will. Ironically enough.
- [19:55]
B
Yeah.
- [19:56]
A
I mean just one of my brother. Yeah, it was very candid about the expansion and the, you know, the playoff scenario and what have you. If it wasn't Mike Elko for me, guys, I go Eli Drinkwoods. He, he's always.
- [20:08]
C
He's an every year thing.
- [20:09]
A
It's a love hate thing though. He's like the closest to Spurrier we have as far as the zingers are concerned. He is, he is. But you know he's also going to nauseate you when he goes up on the podium and tells you why a 40 something team college football playoff is the answer. And we all know he's just positioning it because he wants Mizzou to get in every year. So is what it is. Guys, one thing that you hope to learn from SEC media days. This one's an interesting question because it's like I said, it's hard to learn things at this event, if you will. But one thing you hope to learn at SEC media days. Dimitri, starting with you, I be.
- [20:44]
B
Look, I'll piggyback on your Eli Drinkwitz comments. I will keep this short and sweet and let you guys have all the time in this segment. I, I just want to know when the Ahmad Hardy is going to be playing football. That's all I want to learn out of this. I don't know if we are going to get Eli Drinkwitz giving a very couched answer. Like an answer that is a lot of caveats. But if we walked out of SEC media days knowing, okay, week three, we expect Ahmad Hardy back on the field or Ahmad Hardy is going to start practicing at full speed the week before the kickoff game, I would feel like the whole endeavor was worthwhile. I think that's the biggest question hanging over the SEC right now on the field.
- [21:29]
C
Are we gonna hear Alex Golish do his best cue freeze impersonation about the wait and see mantra because of I really want to buy into Auburn this year. I, I do. I mean look, we can say that going with another G5 head coach is a safe pathway for Auburn instead of going with the corporate coordinator or trying to poach somebody. But like bottom line is that South Florida went into the swamp last season with the same roster and beat the Gators. They had a top five scoring offense. They took all their best assets from a season ago and dropped it off on the plains. They have a quarterback in Byron Brown that's the only returning player with over 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. All of his Top receivers are there. They kept Jeremiah Cobb, they kept the defense intact. Their schedule is pretty manageable. So it's like, are we going to hear that? Oh, because of its G5 competition, you don't want to put the wagon before the horse. We've heard that so many times in the past with Auburn coaches. I want to hear, hell yeah. We know that. We've already beaten SEC competition with this squad. We only got one shot at it last season. Let's do it 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 times while at it and be maybe a dark horse to make the playoff this year. I want to know is this feeling of Auburn going to be completely different than what we're so accustomed to with the previous regimes? Underneath Brian Harson and underneath you.
- [22:45]
A
Freeze Dimitri. Credit to you, my friend. I think that if I could only have one question answered at SEC media days, that would be the one, the Ahmad Hardy thing. Interestingly enough, they are bringing Jamal Roberts. Yeah. So read into that how you will to go different from you and cold though. One thing I'm hoping to learn at SEC media days, where do we stand when it comes to the quarterback battles around the league? Right. Again, are we going to get the answers of Hugh QB1 is. I'm not saying that. But who has an edge is something I'd like to know. I'm not necessarily, necessarily saying what I am going to learn. I'm saying what I'd like to learn if I could give all these coaches truth serum. So is it going to be Keylon Russell or Austin Mack at Alabama? Is it K.J. jackson or the Memphis transfer at Arkansas? Is it, Is it Jared Curtis or is it Blake Berlowitz at Vandy, which some people. There's some momentum that maybe it's going to be Blake Berlowitz, which feels crazy. But there's momentum gaining with that. Is it Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr. At Florida? That's what I'm most intrigued with is who are going to be those starting signal callers. Where are we at when it comes to Is it Faison brand or George McIntyre? Tennessee, let me not forget that one. Where do we stand when it comes to who those starting signal callers are at each of those respective schools? Like I said, I. I highly doubt.
- [24:00]
B
But you never know.
- [24:01]
A
Maybe some of them come out there and show their cards and say hey, this guy has a lead or this guy today, you know, coaches love to say this. Well, today this guy would be starter you. They love to say that kind of stuff. So you know Coaches use the media in very interesting, strategic ways to create competition or create a narrative. Maybe we see that happen. I'd love to know more about the quarterback position. So, guys, for the most part, that is our media days preview. We're going to move into the meat and potatoes of this, the main course, if you will, because at the end of SEC media days, you all know what takes place. Media all submits their predicted order of finish ballots all the way from 16 to number one. With an SEC champion selected, we figured, why wait? We're going to do that right now on today's show. So without further ado, this is SEC unfiltered chewing clocks. Predicted order of finish from Demetrius, Colabeart, Thompson and myself. We're gonna run through each of these graphics, guys. So we're gonna go through 16 for one, for Dimitri, for Cole, for myself, and then we can have a big round table discussion and pick apart each other and ask our questions to each other. So we're gonna go around the room like we normally do. Demetri, I will start. We will start with your picks. 16 through 1. Predicted order of finish from Demetri. Gabonis at number 16. Arkansas 15, Mississippi State 14. Dandy 13 Kentucky 12 Auburn 11 Tennessee 10 South Carolina 9 Mizzou 8 Ole Miss 7 Florida 6 LSU 5 Oklahoma 4 Alabama 3 Texas A&M 2 Texas 1 Georgia. So Georgia Texas in the SEC title game and Texas Texas winning the SEC championship. Colder Bear Thompson's looks like this. And again, these will be posted all over social media, guys. So you will be seeing these very, very soon. Number 16. Arkansas 15 Kentucky 14 Mississippi State 13 Vandy 12 Auburn 11 Tennessee 10 Mizzou 9 South Carolina 8 Florida 7 Texas A&M 6 LSU 5 Alabama 4 Ole Miss 3 Oklahoma 2 Texas. Number 1 Georgia. So Georgia, Texas and Atlanta and Georgia winning the SEC title. And finally, my predicted order of finish, 16 Arkansas 15 Kentucky 14 Mississippi State 13 Mizzou 12 Vandy 11. South Carolina 10 Auburn 9 LSU 8 Tennessee 7 Oklahoma 6 Florida 5 A&M 4. Ole Miss 3. Alabama 2 Texas 1 Georgia. So Georgia, Texas. We all three have that and I've got Georgia winning the SEC title. And like I mentioned, guys, those graphics will be on social media certainly by the time you are hearing this. So guys, let's discuss. And you've all got the graphics obviously. And I don't know, maybe Demetri doesn't have them because he's not in our slack, I guess. But either way, go off the dome. Dimitri, let's start with the Very top. All three of us have Georgia and Texas in the SEC title game. Cole and I have Georgia winning it. Dimitri, you have Texas. But the bottom line is this. I think we all agree it's Georgia and Texas and then everybody else.
- [27:17]
B
Yeah, I mean, we'll get into this more as we preview Georgia here in a bit. I just, I don't see a team in the SEC that can control a game in all three phases the way Georgia can. I think this is where Kirby kind of ends his regular season losing streak to Kaylin DeBoer. And it is all going to be downhill from there for the Bulldogs. I will say that the pick of Texas to win the championship is kind of motivated by like, if not now, then win for this team because they've got all of the talent in the world and like the. The door is wide open for them. They don't have George on the regular season schedule. It is literally going to be about can they take care of business to get to that one game.
- [28:10]
C
Yeah, but where I fight back is I actually think Texas on paper is the team that can control everything simply because of what the roster is. I mean, you upgrade the running back room. You have Cam Coleman as your number one wide receiver when you already had Ryan Wingo. I think Arch is going to be much more fluid and comfortable going into his third season of the offense. What you need to fix on the defensive side, you did. So I have few questions about the offensive line outside of continuity. Here's the problem. I don't know if Cian can beat Kirby Smart. And so if you're giving me an opportunity to put Georgia and Texas in the same title game, I have history saying Kirby Smart loses to Kayin De Bore. And yet still he was able to go ahead and beat him in Atlanta. He beats everybody else. And by the way, he's already beaten Steve Sarkeesian twice. So it's like if you give me that dialogue and you give me that show me that I show me something to believe it. Otherwise, if I have those two going toe to toe with each other. As much as I think that Texas may be the more promising roster, the bigger upside has more potential. They may go deeper in the playoffs. We've seen teams do this all the time. It's Georgia versus Texas. So far, Texas is 0 and 2 against Georgia.
- [29:21]
B
Do you not have any faith that the addition of Will Muschamp to that staff changes up Kirby's ability to surprise Texas at all?
- [29:32]
C
To a degree, yes. But at the same time, I wonder about this offensive line Going up against what I believe is going to be a slept on once again. But probably the better. The best Georgia defensive line. The best defensive line Georgia has had since 2021. I love their depth. I think that they have guys who feel more comfortable in their positions. I feel like that everybody kind of has taken that next jump forward. So as much as we can counteract everything where, hey, Gunnar Stockton's throwing into double coverage and a Grayson Littleton's able to pick him on off. I look at it the other side and go, well, now you're going to have probably Glenn Schumann and company be able to run stunts. That puts Trevor Goosby in a blender, puts the right tackle on a blender, makes the interior offensive line obsolete, takes away the run game and forces Arch Main to win through the air where you got Ellis Robinson, KJ Bolden and Khil Barnes downfield ready to go ahead and do the exact same thing.
- [30:23]
A
I just trust Kirby smart guys. That's what it comes down to. I, I'd love to be different and you know, or I, I, I'll say this, not be different because I think a lot of people are going to be t picking Texas and I don't think it's a bad pick, but I'd love to get ahead of it and be like, yep, it's gonna, it's gonna happen at some point. Texas is going to beat Georgia at some point. I just almost feel like I have to see it and we'll get into Georgia here in a little bit. But this Georgia team's stacked. I mean, they are and I know Texas is too, and they're extremely talented. And I agree with you, Dimitri. The, the addition of Will Muschamp like we talked about before, he was added for one reason. It was to be Georgia. You know, when they cross pass, if they cross pass, it feels like they are going to. I, I do think it's these two and then everybody else and I do want to by the way, switching gears just a little bit because we gotta. We've got a bunch of comments. As you can imagine, our guy Cole Satterfield says the more Chris hates on ou, the better they do. I do want to make this point. Four through seven for me. Yeah, four through seven for me all had the same record. So I, I went ahead and did game by. We're gonna start dropping I'm gonna start dropping game by game predictions next week. 4 through 7 all had the same record for me.
- [31:33]
C
So 4 through 7 had the same record for me.
- [31:36]
B
That's I, I'm I'm pretty close. I've deleted my, my notes on how I came up with it, but I, I think I'm about right. Like it might be a game separating four through eight for me, honestly, actually
- [31:48]
C
switch that one team at number three to me was higher than everyone else and that was Oklahoma. But everyone. But, but, but four through seven all were the same record.
- [31:57]
A
Guys, switching gears to the bottom, we're all in agreement that Arkansas is the worst team in the sec.
- [32:03]
B
I have them winning one conference game this year.
- [32:06]
A
I do too.
- [32:08]
C
I don't even know if I have that.
- [32:10]
B
Yeah, I mean, and look, I'm. I feel the same way about Mississippi State. I don't think Mississippi State is going to be very good this year. But there is just, there is nothing. Whereas with Mississippi State you can talk about the quarterback, you could talk about the secondary. There are things to intrigue you. There is nothing to intrigue you about Arkansas.
- [32:31]
C
No, but that's why honestly, I put Mississippi State at the third spot versus the second because of Camario Taylor, I think single handedly will win them one game. And that might be enough to say you're better than Kentucky and you're better than Mississippi. I mean you're better than Arkansas because of that like good Camaro Taylor. It's going to be really interesting to see Camaro Taylor and his journey this year will be one of the more interesting case studies that I watch for in college football because of if Mississippi State doesn't look good, but he looks freaking electric. Are we getting like Darian Mensah 2.0 where they sign him to a new deal and then here comes Florida, here comes Georgia, here comes Oklahoma, last second and they give him a 10 million dollar buy. See him and I'm.
- [33:16]
B
Well, here comes Miami, right? Like their first choice for a graduation for a quarterback was, was Ty Simpson. They love to mine the SEC for their guy.
- [33:25]
C
Again.
- [33:26]
A
Yeah, go ahead, Cole.
- [33:27]
C
No, just again, like, like that's, that's Camarill Taylor this year. That's gonna be one of my favorite things to watch is, is he's so good. But Mississippi State is so far behind that even if he wants to stick around and be loyal to the program, he wants to win. And it doesn't feel like that you've done enough to build around him, to feel, to be supported.
- [33:47]
A
Guys, I want to get to this comment really quickly. Our guy, Nice. Will says he almost unsubscribed when he saw Ole Miss at number eight. He says having Ole Miss at eight tells me Dimitri doesn't get football. He's putting way too much on a coaching chain. Just nonsense. Dimitri, would you like to defend yourself with the Ole Miss pick at number eight?
- [34:04]
B
Yeah. Could you put up that second comment again real quick just so I can. I can look at it? Not that one. The. The.
- [34:10]
A
Oh, the other one. The other one.
- [34:11]
B
Okay. My brother. There are a lot of ways to spell.
- [34:15]
A
That is not what that is.
- [34:18]
C
That is not what.
- [34:19]
A
I might start typing your name in our notes like that.
- [34:23]
B
Yeah. Now look, to.
- [34:25]
A
To.
- [34:26]
B
To Will's credit, there literally are a lot of ways to spell Dimitri. Yeah, I mean, look, I am putting a lot on a coaching change. I think that what Pete Golding did in the playoff is a one of one situation where the environment that team was playing in is something that could lift just about any collection of talent not to the levels they did. There's a lot of talented Ole Miss. I'm not denying that at all. We have seen who Pete Golding is though, as a strategist at a play caller, and it ain't that. I. Yeah, I just. I don't believe in Ole Miss. I just don't.
- [35:01]
C
I think that I would be more on board with Dimitri's way of thinking if you didn't have the best quarterback returning in college football.
- [35:08]
B
Totally get that.
- [35:09]
C
That's me.
- [35:10]
B
Yeah. No, no, listen. As I was going back over my selections because I did a game by game to figure out the record kind of thing, I. I did try to account for Trinidad Chambliss, but I don't think that Trinidad Chambliss is going to be enough in some of the games I have them losing. They've got a tough schedule, man.
- [35:32]
A
And I want to. I want to point this out to the nice wheels because let me get this straight. Florida's got a coaching change, don't know the quarterback is. But they're ahead of us.
- [35:39]
B
So again, I'll point out, everybody had the same record.
- [35:44]
A
That's what I was gonna say is like, when you do these and I. It'll fall on deaf ears when you do these predicted order of finishes. I think the thing that jumps out to you, it's easy to, you know, you could sit there, say, this team's gonna. You pick 16 to 1. If you really sit down with the helmet schedule, which is what I do, and you start going through schedules, it is. And I, I kind of want to segue into this. As we continue this conversation, it really jumps out to. You're like, wow, I had this team doing a lot worse than I expected. Or I had this team doing a lot better than I expected because of the way the schedule works out on a week by week basis. And you can finish seventh or eighth in this league and still have a pretty good record. Like again, right. Four through seven for me all went nine and three. Those aren't bad seasons by any stretch. Right? So like you, you. Because the league is, is so jammed up, if you will. I mean, you can finish eighth or ninth in the league and go 8 and 4. I know not everybody's shooting for 8 and 4, obviously, but like, it's not like you're saying they're gonna go 5 and 7. So on that note, guys, I do want to get into that.
- [36:48]
B
I also would point out to Will, and this is just the, the last thing I'll point out here. Had Lane Kiffin not drugged the process out so long, Ole Miss would have hired John Summerall. That's. I mean, let's just be real here. Pete golden or John Summerall. Most football people are taking John Summerall 10 times out of 10.
- [37:07]
A
It's fair to have doubts. I don't, I don't think it is. I mean, I think it is very much so. It's very fair to have doubts. Ole Miss going to be one of the most fascinating teams obviously in college football this season. I want to go to this. Demetri and Cole, when you were doing this exercise to what I just pointed out, because I know this occurred for me. Team that you were even surprised yourself you were higher on than you expected and team you were lower on than you expected.
- [37:36]
B
The one that I was a little surprised by how high I had them actually was Alabama because I, you know, freshman quarterback that's gonna show up at some point. And just to look at the schedule, I had them at 10 and 2. I, I don't think that's. That's gonna be how this shakes out in the end. The team that I was most surprised by how low I had them was Vanderbilt. Not because I think Vanderbilt like Cole or I'm sorry, Chris, I, I don't see them getting to your high water mark that you would put out. What's the best case and worst case scenario? But I just kept looking at that schedule and being shocked that it was hard to find any wins without talking myself into it.
- [38:23]
A
I mean, Demetri, I've got Vandy missing a bowl game.
- [38:26]
B
Yeah, I do too.
- [38:26]
A
That surprised me. That's like I, I felt like at minimum that they were going to get to. And they very well might but in my predictions, you're right. As you go through that schedule, you're like, man, like it's, it's more difficult. The one that really jumped out to me that I felt worse about was Mizzou.
- [38:43]
B
I, I, yeah, I think I have
- [38:46]
A
the losses started piling up for me when I looked at Mizzou's schedule and I got him getting off to a good start. But brother, this ain't last year's schedule or the year prior this, I mean if they get to eight wins this year, that's a hell have earned every bit of it.
- [39:01]
C
I, I was extremely high and it's more so because of how much of a negative connotation I think we all have, but me specifically have given on John Mateer, how high I am on Oklahoma. I, I don't know if it's just blind faith in this defense, what Brent Vetables is able to do year in and year out, but the offensive line started playing really well down the stretch last year and they have four returning starters. I love the portal additions. I think Xavier Robinson needs a good offensive line which could be there by the time you get to mid season. And the fact that there's just so much staff continuity, it felt weird. Like in every single game I didn't believe in John Mateer. Like John Mateer may make make a blundering mistake here. He may be the reason why you cough up another turnover. Yeah, I still had Oklahoma winning and I have them going 10 and 2 and making the playoff as of right now. So I thought that was interesting. The team that I was lower on is because of, I think that they're going to transition well to the college, I mean to the SEC level. Is Auburn like, like I think Auburn defensively is there. They have some studs. I think Xavier Atkins could end up being the best linebacker in college football this season. I like their secondary. I, I don't mind their offensive line. It's a bunch of G5 guys that are coming on in, but still, Cole Best is a freaking awesome center. What they got in the interior is, is really, really good. And Byron Brown, even though I think that there are some limitations to his game at quarterback, still as mobile as all hell. And he's a guy that came on in with over a thousand rushing yards. That's got to attribute to something. But I think I've just been burnt so many times in the past looking at Auburn and saying, okay, I can see 8 and 4. I can maybe see them sneaking their way past and getting to a 9 and 3 campaign. And I'm like, yeah, do I really want to fall for this bit again? Especially because of when it looks too good to be true. 90% of the time it is. Yeah.
- [40:52]
A
The team that I. Or teams that I found myself being higher on than even I expected, I would agree with Demetri Alabama, that was one that, you know, you. It's easy to doubt them and the way they ended last season, but you're still looking at the schedule and you're like, still Bama. They still have lots of talent and if the quarterback and I feel confident with grubbing deboer that they are going to get competent quarterback play. And it's like, it can't be as bad as it was last year on the offensive line in the run game. So they were one and then the Florida Gators. I. I feel I'm like, here I go again with myself drinking the kool Aid, guys. I. I nearly had Florida making the College Football playoff and winning 10 games.
- [41:30]
B
So I.
- [41:32]
A
And I. I'm probably way off. It's.
- [41:34]
B
It's. So.
- [41:35]
A
I think it's easy to fall in love with like the Florida Gator, like, logo bias exists. It's easy to fall in love with the Gator logo and the brand and the roster. I mean, we've already previewed Florida. It's easy to fall in love with the roster. I mean, they've got a really talented roster. And if you believe in John Sumrall, I think the pieces are there to make it click.
- [41:52]
B
So.
- [41:54]
A
Final thoughts, final takeaways, gents? We won't. We're gonna obviously deep dive over the next couple weeks, over the next month and a half or so as we get close to the season. But anything. Any. Any parting comments before we close it up?
- [42:05]
C
Yeah. Who is your. Who is your least confident picking right now of all them, good or bad, who is your least confidence?
- [42:12]
B
Oh, I. I'll own that. Ole Miss is one of. Is mine.
- [42:15]
A
Absolutely. Go ahead, Cole.
- [42:19]
C
Oklahoma. And it's weird again. Like, I. I just. I got to see it with the office, but, like, it's blind faith. And I don't know why I have such blind faith, but I do. Like, I get. I. I could see Oklahoma once again finishing 6 and 6 because the path. The path is you go 6 and 6 and then you go 10 and 2 and they're coming off a 10 and 2 finish. So what's next in line? I could see that, but it's like, I don't think that happens. I think Oklahoma is a playoff team, but I could look really, really dumb by the time we get there.
- [42:50]
A
Yeah, the team I probably racked my brain over the most and I'm least confident about and feel on them. I'd probably either go Tennessee OR LSU at 8 and 9 because for different reasons am I way too high on Tennessee and am I way too low on LSU? And I want to make it very clear at 9 for LSU is where I had them. Which the meltdown from LSU people when this drops is going to be absolutely electric. But it's not like I had them falling off a cliff. But I don't think 8 and 4 is what they're looking for in year one. Elaine Kiffin, even though they say that, oh, it'd be. No, I don't think they think it'd be be a fine year, you know, and I, I just, it's hard to get a read on them. I know there's lots of talent, but year one of Lane Kiffin, a lot of moving pieces there. And then Tennessee, obviously I've been higher than most. That's one that it feels very volatile as well. Those are the two I kind of racked my brain over the most. But like I said, I, I was just surprised going through this exercise of I couldn't believe how low I was on, on Vandy and Mizzou and I'm, I'm sure I'm going to hear it. So anyways, yeah, I'm a little bit
- [43:51]
B
low on Kentucky too. However, the difference with them versus Vandy, Mississippi State and Arkansas is. I can see the plan with Kentucky and I think this is going to end up being a throw it out as we get the money in place to do what we really want to do kind of year with lsu just real fast. The one thing that I think is worth everybody thinking about is yes, there's a ton of talent and Lane is a better coach than he was when I'm about to reference. But this is the first time he has come to a program with expectations since 2010. Keep that in mind.
- [44:33]
A
Gonna be an interesting year one. No doubt. Again, our predicted order of finish. There it is. Do you agree with us? Do you disagree? And which one of us who did the best? We'd love to know in the comments. Grade our predicted order to finish.
- [44:43]
C
We all sucked.
- [44:44]
A
We all suck. We're all right.
- [44:46]
C
We all sucked. Everyone was bad.
- [44:48]
A
Guys, before we go any further, really quickly shout out to our friends over at game time. Best place to get your tickets down on the game time map. He's from a code SCCU20 off your first purchase. Again, great for last minute ticket buying. They'll tell you exactly what you're getting, where you're sitting, how much you're paying. They're the best in the business. It doesn't have to be sports, concerts, comedy club events, any event or function. They got you covered. So again, our friends at game time, promo code SCCU $20 off your first purchase. All right, on that note, guys, let's keep it moving. It is Georgia day. You don't refrain from barking. It's fine. We're talking Georgia Bulldogs heading into the 2026 season. Kirby Smart and company looking to get back to the top of college football. Before we look ahead, let's look back on how we got here, guys. Georgia goes 12. 2 overall, 7. 1 in conference play. They win the SEC championship and for 99.9% of teams in the country, they would have what we would call a successful season. But unfortunately, when you're Georgia and you go to the Sugar bowl and you lose again, notably to Pete Golding and the old Miss Rebels, Georgia fans left scratching their heads and disappointed once again. It feels almost national title or bust in Athens. Really quickly, guys, before we talk 2026, just thoughts on how 2025 unfolded, the way it ended and how it sets up and again just creates highly competitive expectations for 2026. That feeling of is this the year we get over the hump again?
- [46:18]
B
Boy, is it national title or bust? Is such a tough question to answer because I don't think it should be. I don't think they are going to end up being one of the three or four best teams in college football. But I don't blame Georgia fans for feeling this way. I think there are certainly ones that have gone overboard wondering why we don't talk about Kirby the way we talk about Dabo right now. I know they've got a lot in common, but dabo can't even sniff the stratosphere that Kirby is in. That's. That's the big difference, right? I think national championship or bust is too big of an expectation, but I get get why Georgia fans are there. They looked very good last year, right up until they needed to.
- [47:04]
C
They looked good, but there were also a lot of games that you were kind of on the brink of. We don't know what's going to happen. I thought that was really interesting for Georgia. Go back to the Tennessee game. They have to fight their way back in Knoxville. Go down to the game against Florida in the world's largest outdoor cocktail party. You make that catch, you end up losing that game, potentially. The Alabama game is a loss where if you just find Cash Jones out of the backfield and that's a win. You talk about the Ole Miss game, it went back and forth. The Auburn game, you had a call go against you. I mean, go against Auburn. That eventually helped catapult you back into the game. So, yeah, I really love the way that Kirby has been able to build this roster. And I thought last season with a weaker version of what was Georgia football in a lot of key positions that are so strong in the rich history underneath. Kirby Smart, I thought that still going 11:1 in the regular season, winning the SEC title, that kind of tells you all you need to know about who Georgia is as a program and what their expectations are. It's wrong to say national title or bus because of you are. There's only one team that can never win it. It just is that bottom line. I don't think it's wrong, however, to say it's time for you to start winning some playoff games and we got to avoid New Orleans as much as humanly possible because we can't go down.
- [48:19]
A
Yeah, I think Georgia fans would do anything they need to at this point to avoid New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl. I mean, Heck, Cole, you and I and Dimitri, we were talking about this last season. You, you know, you're in a. I don't know if privileged place is the right word, but you're in a very interesting place where, I mean, Georgia fans were telling me, like, you know, I don't mind if. I'd rather not go to the SEC title game and just have a home playoff game. I don't really want to win the sec. Although we know that's not the way Kirby Smart and that program thing, it was just interesting to hear fans say that. On that note, Kirby Smart, guys, believe it or not, he's entering his 11th season in Athens. Certainly we're not going to spend any time talking about Kirby Smart and his job security, if you will, like we do with some others, because he is more than safe, does everything. So my question to y' all is this. There's been a lot of off season conversation about this after what Kurt Signetti in Indiana did. Is Kirby Smart still the best head coach in college football? Football, or has he been dethroned?
- [49:20]
B
Well, he's got two and Kurt has one. I mean, that's, that's something to consider. I, gosh, I, I almost don't even know how we measure that in the age of all of this roster movement. Right, right.
- [49:36]
C
It's. It's so hard. Here's the way that I view it. If you want to put Kirk Signetti at number one, I'm not going to argue with you. You. The guy took the. Losing his college football program in league history and brought them to two playoff appearances and won a national title in the second season. And he did that with a bunch of scrap tape, a couple of little pieces of metal and, and sheer dumb luck. And he made it work and he built it into a, into a tirade. I mean he did that. That's elite coaching. But I look at the grand scheme of history, I look at the consistency, I look at everything that you. That goes into building a program. Sustainability, coaching metrics, coaching tree. On top of that, you go with roster retention, the ability to recruit. Still killing it in the south. Using the transfer portal for what it's supposed to be as an added bonus, not as a, as a pathway to just build a roster overnight. And Kirby still does that better than anybody else in the sport. And then you throw in the fact that he is one of two coaches that can say, I have multiple national titles in college football right now. That is why I still have him at number one. I won't fight back. But I, I get it.
- [50:39]
B
To your point about the, about the way they use the portal, this is something doing some work down in South Carolina I hear a lot about with the comparison to Dabo. You know, Kirby's taking nine transfers this year. That is not a lot, certainly by SEC standards. When you look at, you know, what Lane Kiffin has done first at Ole Miss and now at lsu, what Auburn is doing this year. But he is going out and finding top tier guys at positions of need. And he's, you know, speaking of Clemson, he's bringing in a dude like Khalil Barnes that's going to add a lot of talent, but may not have enough to start necessarily at at Georgia. Added Dowdle, the running back from Kentucky, who at best is going to be the number three guy on the depth chart. He is not a afraid to go into the portal at all. He's just very selective about the way he does.
- [51:35]
A
Yeah, they're gonna add the guys they want. They're not going to overspend. I think that's the big thing with Georgia.
- [51:40]
C
What he does is he handpicks players that fit exactly what are the necessary needs for right now for a one year rental and, and he kills it at it. And that's, that's the Beneficiary of what you use the portal for. And he does that at an elite level.
- [51:53]
A
Yeah, for my money's worth, I think he's the best head coach still in college football. To your point. Dimitri, two beats one. I know it's a what have you done for me lately? Business. But if I had to take one coach in the country to lead my program, I'm going Kirby Smart every single time, guys.
- [52:05]
B
That being said, you need a coach to build you a program. I'll take Kurt Signetti. If I have a coach to win me a game, I will take Kirby Smart.
- [52:13]
C
I don't think there's a wrong answer either way.
- [52:16]
A
Fair.
- [52:17]
C
Very fair.
- [52:18]
A
Guys, let's talk this 2026 Georgia Bulldogs football team because this could be the one on that note that gets Georgia back to the top and winning a national championship. Let's start with the offense. Everybody rejoice in Athens. Mike Bobo is officially back as offensive coordinator. Gunner Stockton's also back as QB1. You've got Nate Frazier, Chauncey Bowens who are spearheading the rushing attack. Lawson Lucky back at tight end. Three starters returning on the offensive line. A lot of young talent emerging. You guys might recall there were a lot of youngsters that were thrust into action last year, but they're all back. And you guys might recall a couple years ago when we were talking about have you seen the Georgia offensive line recruiting class? All these guys are 6, 7, 3 6. Well, they're all on campus now when they're all contributing. So Georgia should be stacked on the offensive front. London Humphreys brings experience back to the wide receiver room. Of course they're leaning on Isaiah Canyon out of Georgia Tech, the transfer and young players like Taylor. Taylor who they're really high on land. Enrolled in Tyler J. Williams. It's a Kobe White Helton. Guys, thoughts and expectations for this Georgia offense. I will start it off by saying I don't think Gunner Stockton gets nearly the amount of love that he deserves for what he did last season. And I think the player he'll be this year, Georgia. I think it's going to be a typical Georgia offense again. They're going to set the tone with a rushing attack. Who replaces a Zach Branch on the outside is big. Obviously we've talked about the receiver position, but with Gunner Stockton at QB1, that big physical offensive line, this Georgia offense should be ready to have a big 2026.
- [53:52]
B
Yeah, to your point about Stockton not getting the love that he deserves. Like, I don't think Georgia and this is just Bobo's offense and what Kirby kind of dictates. You're very rarely going to ask the quarterback and in this case Gunner Stockton to go out and win you games. Right. But Stockton had a consistently good season. If you look at throw QBR out right. Go by quarterback rating that's a little bit more of a scientific like this number means this kind of of stat. He only had one game last year where his quarterback rating was under 110. I, I think that even though you're not gonna see him ask to win a lot of games. When did he go off? He went off against the top five old Miss team in the regular season and he went off against Texas. He went off when they needed him to go off. That being said Chris, you're right, this is going to go through the run game and I think the three headed monster is going to be really hard to stop. Do you realize as much as Nate Frazier broke out last year.
- [54:56]
C
Yeah.
- [54:57]
B
Do you realize that Chauncey Bowens like spelled him to the tune of like 160 to 103. Like they, they rest Frazier a lot and that is why he is able to deliver the home runs he can so consistently.
- [55:13]
C
Yeah. So it's interesting. It was 103 versus 173. So there was a 60 carry differential between Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens which makes them deadly. And then you throw in another guy who's been a starter in the past and Dante Dowell who's taking over that Josh McCray from Illinois type role. A third down back just chain mover inside the red zone. Their run game I think could be once again one of the more dangerous units in the sec. But it starts with the big boys up front. Like the big question he has like last season you saw Nate Frazier who was awesome and I still think is kind of slept on Average over 5.7 yards of play and he was doing that behind one of the weaker offensive lines we have seen underneath Kirby Smart in the last five years. Like, like he was. He was doing it at such an efficient rate when offensive line play was in my opinion less than stellar. And now everyone is a year older. Everyone is a little bit more adapted. Juan Gadsden has a full year of reps underneath his belt. Drew Bobo is going to be the full time center. Dontre Glover has been in the system even if he wasn't a full time starter. He's been around the block. Ernest Green, left tackle is a year older and they've had continuity working together as a unit which to me means there's going to be very few question marks of understanding your assignments, understanding where the attack points and how you go about preparing for every single rep that then takes pressure off of your quarterback, take pressure off of your running back. All we have to do is make sure that we zip, zap and zap and hit these corners and they're off to the races. The wide receiver room is always going to be a question mark with me. Outside of what we have seen from Lad McConkey in the last few years, has there been an elite receiver. George Pickens is probably pretty close, but he also dealt with an injury when they won the national championship that year. So bygones be bygones with that ad. Mitchell had his like couple moments here and there, but never really came into his own. At this point, though, if the offensive line looks as advertised and it feels cohesive and it feels like that it is trending towards being back to the level of the standard at Georgia, who really cares what your passing attack looks like? Just run the football. Because you got a mobile quarterback in Stockton that also isn't afraid of tuck it and pick up the hard yards with his legs.
- [57:23]
A
Yeah, Georgia is going to bully people, guys, in my opinion. I mean, there's no team in this conference that loves to get in a street fight and get their nose bloodied more than Georgia. And I think that's what they're going to do. That's how they're going to set the tone. They want to be the more physical team. They want to be the aggressor. And they've got those dudes in the front, they've got those dudes in the back that are doing obviously Gunner Stockton is showing. I think he's the toughest quarterback in the league. He is certainly not scared to take a lick. And if they've got anything and I think they will obviously be able to work off the play action. I think there's some young guys in the receiver room that are going to step up. We had some, some Georgia folks that are friends of mine that were very vocal about letting us know about some young receivers that we didn't talk about maybe a couple days ago with a guy like Taylor Taylor, they're really high on. They were very loud in the comments. But you know, Georgia's got talent. I think it's going to be again, one of the most lethal offenses in the sec led by that physicality guys switching to the defensive side of the football. Speaking of physicality, you could argue this is really where the excitement is with Georgia. Glenn Schumann, of course, is back at D.C. kirby Smart and he calling all the shots. 21 defenders who played meaningful snaps at Georgia or elsewhere return this season are on that dog's defense. They're led by Gabe Harris Jr. Xavier McLeod, Elijah Griffin, Jordan hall. They're all back up front. Quintavious Johnson's back at outside linebacker. He's looking to make an impact in the pass rush. I'd probably say the big question for Georgia, will they get to the quarterback more consistently than they did a season ago? That was something shockingly enough, that Georgia was not able to do effectively. Raylan Wilson, Chris Cole, Justin Williams, all manning the inside linebacker spots. Linebacker, you. I mean, Georgia's got just a slew of NFL talented linebackers on their roster. Ellis Robinson, the fourth, K.J. bolden, Kyren Jones all back in the secondary. Demelo Jones looks to be at the other corner spot. Demetri mentioned it. Khalil Barnes from Clemson is fighting for the spot at star. Guys, your thoughts on this Georgia defense? There's a lot of veteran talent here. There's just a lot of talent across the board. I mean, they've got to answer the question of the pass rush. Kirby Smart has shown in years past. When there's a question from a year ago, he seems to address it. This Georgia defense looks like it's going to be lethal.
- [59:37]
B
Yeah. Kirby and Georgia have absolutely been the beneficiaries of the top tier SEC jobs wanting the headlines of going out and poaching a coach. Right. Because Glenn Schumann is more than ready to lead a top tier team in this conference. You, you talk about getting to the quarterback. I will tell you the guy that I've been high on on this defense for two years that I think is going to factor into that more than people may think is K.J. bolden. I mean, that dude is just a headhunter and you can move him all around that defense. Disguise how he is coming at you. I think he's going to be a big part of Georgia upping the pressure numbers this year.
- [60:20]
C
I just look at that front seven and feel like that even though the stats aren't there, it's built like old vintage Georgia defenses. Like remember the days of you had Jarvis Jones and you had, you had Aziz, Aziza Jalari, like you had that type of tag talent coming off of the edge, learning Floyd being one of those guys. And it felt like the last two years it wasn't that way. Now, no fault of their own. Jalen Carter's been was a Stud. You talk about what you got with Jordan Davis, you talk about with Trayvon Walker, I mean the laundry list of names, whether it be a linebacker, safety, defensive line, they're there. But it didn't feel that way last season. Maybe it's just because of the continuity, maybe it's just because the veteranship, the experience, more growth, the size metrics. And I look at this team and I say, yep, this is vintage Georgia defense. Elijah Griffin is a vintage defensive end. That's going to a defensive tackle that's going to put pressure on the interior and make them an obsolete one dimensional type of offense. Getting a guy like Gabe Harris, that's a guy that's going to be able to change the run game. Getting a guy like Jordan Hall, Xavier McLeod which got the linebacker spot with Raylon Wilson, what you got with Chris Cole at the money back position. All those guys are gonna make teams very one dimensional type of offensive Personas. That kind of puts you in a lot of three and out situations. Gets the ball back to your offense and even if you aren't explosive, you'll be able to run the clock down and put more pressure on the opposing team to have to go back out there and kind of duel it up a little bit faster because they know the clock is against them. It's now an enemy. And that is where I think that we have seen Georgia come full circle this past off season. You know that you have faith that this defensive line is damn good.
- [62:03]
A
Yeah, Georgia is the poster child for the buckets award. I mean they just, they spit them out man, every single year. And this, I mean I would, I would make the prediction that a Buckus award winner is going to come from this Georgia defense yet again. They are just loaded at the linebacker spot. So guys, let's talk a little bit of special teams. We don't spend a ton of time here but Peyton Woodring is back for his fourth quarter, fourth season as kicker Drew Miller takes over his punter. So Kobe White, Helton Taylor, Taylor looked to replace Zach Branch in the return game. Do we have any thoughts on Georgia's specialist?
- [62:36]
B
Yeah, this is the, this is the only team in the country that replacing the punter might actually hurt them a little bit going into, into this season. But look more seriously the, the place kicking situation. Peyton Woodring is as close to automatic as Georgia has had in, in years. Do you real year over 40 yards. He was asked to kick 11 of those field goals. No, I'm sorry, 10 of those field goals and he connected on eight of them. I mean he is pretty consistently gotten better year after year on the long field goals. And when you get into those matchups where Georgia, you know, he could be the difference for Georgia when they are playing the top tier of their schedule
- [63:22]
C
this year you want to have a stable kicker not because of necessity, but just in case of anything where everyone else lets you down, you know you need a game, you know, you know you don't need, you know you need a game winning kick, you know you got a guy that can come on out there, deliver an easy clutch field goal. Peyton Woodring does that. No complaints there.
- [63:40]
B
Yeah, if you're going to Norman, to Tuscaloosa and to Oxford, I would feel a lot more confident with that dude in my back pocket.
- [63:48]
A
Yeah, yeah, they're going to be solid in the specialist game, no question. Guys, on that note, let's keep it moving. Our overall outlook for the Georgia Bulldogs. What are our friends over at Kalshee say? Well, they say Georgia's got a 78 chance to win nine or more games this season. Then it goes 64 chance to win 10 or more, 39 to win 11 or more and 17 to win 12 games. So it kind of breaks right at that 10 and 11 mark over, under probably about 10 and a half, which is a pretty good spot to be. I think some other books might have George at nine and a half, which I know. Demetri, you wanted a couple shows. Give me the over on that all day long. As far as qualifying with the College Football Playoff, Georgia via Calci has a 66 chance to make the College Football Playoff. So really good chances and a 7% chance to win the national championship, which is actually 4% less than the Texas Longhorns, interestingly enough. Whether you agree or disagree, that's something you can let us know. Guys, 14 starters are back on this Georgia team. Six on offense, eight on defense. Let's take a look at the schedule because the schedule is an important part of the conversation, an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to Georgia. Guys, the ESPN FBI and granted your schedule in the SEC is always tough from a national perspective. But not all SEC schedules are BU equally because the ESPN FBI rank Georgia's schedule the easiest in the sec. And this is what it looks like. They open up in non con Tennessee State and Western Kentucky at home. Ho hum. They open SEC play at Arkansas. Oklahoma is their SEC home opener. They then have Vandy at Alabama, of course, right there in the middle of October. Auburn at home. Bye week. Florida in Atlanta. Georgia of course, in the World's largest outdoor cocktail party at Old Miss.
- [65:41]
B
Well, not this year.
- [65:42]
A
Yeah, true, very true. At Old Miss. Mizzou at home at South Carolina and then Georgia Tech at home. Guys, thoughts on this schedule, the way it sets up, is it as easy, quote, unquote easy as the ESPN FBI makes it out to be?
- [66:01]
B
Yes and no.
- [66:02]
A
Right.
- [66:02]
B
They miss some of the headliners, they miss both of the Texas schools. So that ended up. And by the way, this is something that Alabama dealt with under Nick Saban. When you are the monster, of course your schedule is going to be easier than everyone else's because you can't play the monster. One thing that stands out to me here or two things that stand out to me, number one, the idea that this schedule is easy based on last year. I don't think that carries over the way it used to. Like, I think that Florida and Auburn are both going to be considerably improved this year. The other thing, speaking of those two teams, the bye week does not seem very strategic for Georgia. That, that stands out to me in a time when the conference tends to take care of the top level teams. I, I know it's tradition, but it stands out to be that there is no real strategy to this thing.
- [66:59]
C
I think it's because of the way we just view Georgia from a national perspective. Georgia, regardless of if they have a tough schedule, an easy schedule, they should be a playoff contender. I think until further notice, they should be viewed as a team that every single year, like it's at 66 playoff rate. Until Kirby Smart decides to go ahead and hang up the whistle and go enjoy life in Athens as an individual. And it should be 99%. It just should. Because that's what the expectation is there. That's the way the rosters, rosters are constructed. They have some trap games or they have some games to where you pique interest in for sure. Going to Alabama, going to Oxford, going to Norman. Those are games that you look at and say they're not cakewalks. But this is still Georgia. And Georgia makes all these moves in the offseason meticulously because they know where their roster is built to be successful, successful and where it struggles. So it's like hard for me to say. Even if you do think that Georgia may be taking a step back in one spot, you gotta ask, did they get better in another spot that was a weak point last year. Because if it was a weak point last year and they still got to 11:1, why am I thinking that they won't get to 11:1 or in that same range this year.
- [68:09]
A
Yeah, I think Georgia's schedule is quote unquote easy because they can't play Georgia and I understand they don't have Texas on this schedule, but any other team in this conference. If I told you you play Oklahoma at Bama, Florida at Ole Miss, trap game at South Carolina, you'd still be like, hey, that's a pretty difficult slate. But when it's Georgia's schedule, you're like, well they're Georgia so that's not as hard for them. So it is a schedule conducive to success in a big year. Certainly wouldn't call it easy, but conducive to a big year, no doubt. Guys, I know we got a scoot final thing. I will pose this question to you both. We all agree Georgia it'd be more of a surprise if they're not in Atlanta than anything whether you think they're going to win the SEC title title or not. Georgia is going to be a factor in the national title race. If the Dogs are going to get over the hump, I'll ask both of you biggest question they need to answer to make that happen.
- [68:59]
B
Oh, I would think it is probably going to be does somebody step up enough as that outside receiver to make that offense a little more unpredictable than it looks like? As we talk on July 15, do
- [69:12]
C
you still have questions surrounding the offensive line that may be a reason to where you have to trust your passing game a little bit more. Because if you're lucky enough to be able to be the type of team that you are expected to be, you should be able to run it with Chauncey Bowens, Dante Dow, Nate Frazier and then use the passing game as a as an extra added bonus. The other thing is how do we avoid any opportunity of playing in New Orleans this upcoming year?
- [69:35]
A
I agree with you. Dimitri. Answering the question added the wrinkle that is the outside passing game, the deep vertical passing game. Having that outside threat is big. Also the pass rush. You got to be more effective getting after the quarterback this year on a consistent basis. If you can do that, do those two things. I think Georgia is going to be right in the thick of it and they are going to be in the national title race very well could end the SEC's drought of no national title. So guys, we to hear from you your thoughts on Georgia 2026 season right around the corner for the Dogs. Guys, we'll save the Ole Miss LSU stuff for another day. We got to get out of here. Again, we appreciate each and every single one of you tuning in. As always, make sure you hit that like and subscribe button on YouTube. Check us out. We'll get your podcast all across your favorite social media platforms as well as our website, secunfilter.com make sure you follow Demetri Ivanas and Cole the Bear Thompson and myself, of course. And stay tuned. A lot of content, content bleeding out of the eyeballs once again. For Cola Bear Thompson and Demetri Ivanas, I'm Chris Phillips. This is Chewing Clock. We're we appreciate each and every single one of you tuning in. Catch you all on the other side.
- [70:37]
B
Cheers.
- [70:58]
C
Sa.