Hour 1:Live from SEC Media Days

Summary

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The Paul Finebaum Show: Live from SEC Media Days

Episode Date: July 23, 2026 | Hour 1 Podcast
Host: Paul Finebaum
Main Theme: College football’s landscape as the SEC convenes in Tampa for Media Days, with deep dives into Arkansas' rebuild, Lane Kiffin’s newsworthy appearance, Mississippi State’s expectations, and Texas’ high-stakes ambitions.

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Episode Overview

Broadcasting live from SEC Media Days in Tampa, Paul Finebaum delivers incisive takes and engaging interviews, digging into the pulse of college football’s most competitive conference. This hour features analysis of Arkansas’ uncertain status, a comedic review of Lane Kiffin’s quips, Mississippi State’s optimistic reset, and a thorough breakdown of Texas’ title hopes. Finebaum is joined by respected local reporters and analysts who bring insider context to the preseason buzz, coaching drama, and program trajectories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Arkansas Razorbacks Under the Microscope

Guest: Alyssa Orange, ESPN Arkansas Radio (01:40–11:31)

• Ryan Silverfield’s SEC Media Days Debut:

  • Alyssa Orange credits first-year Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield for authenticity, though not the showman like Lane Kiffin or Eli Drinkwitz.
  • Quote: "He's not going to be brash like Brett Bielema... but I think I'd give him an A. He answered questions and was real about his answers." (01:40)

• Controversial “Aura” Comments:

  • Silverfield’s viral answer to questions about his aura: "Well, I have a hot wife, so there's that. And I can recite Notorious B.I.G lyrics, so I've got enough aura to win football games." (02:23)
  • Paul and Alyssa lightly critique the reliance on "coach tropes" and joke about the pattern of referencing a wife or pop culture as proof of coolness.
  • Quote: “I would have stuck with just, hey, you know, I can sit here and do Notorious B.I.G. with the best of them…” – Alyssa Orange (03:05)

• Football State of the Program:

  • Defensive uncertainty: Quincy Rhodes Jr. is the lone clear starter. The rest of the defense is up for grabs.
  • Offense: Returnees like C.J. Brown (WR) and hype around Courtney Crutchfield, but quarterback remains unsettled between K.J. Jackson and A.J. Hill.
  • Alyssa worries: "Why has [K.J. Jackson] not been able to separate himself from A.J. Hill? That's a big problem for me." (04:39)
  • Prediction from co-host Matt Jones: Season’s fate hinges on a tough September stretch, especially the Utah road game.

• Scheduling Concerns:

  • Arkansas opens at Utah with a 9:15pm kick, then faces Georgia at home on a short turnaround.
  • Alyssa highlights the challenge: "If I'm Arkansas... we better learn how to run the football or it is going to be another long season." (05:45)

• Long-term Issues:

  • Recruiting lags, failure to keep up with NIL. Ex-coach Sam Pittman’s reduced public engagement alienated donors and fans.
  • Quote: "Arkansas as a program was just too late to the NIL game. ... They are much more reactive than proactive." – Alyssa Orange (06:32)
  • Financial commitment and accountability for AD Hunter Jurczyk questioned. Alyssa emphasizes that football's decline tarnishes other athletic successes.
  • Quote: "Football is king, and everybody knows that. ... It feels like this is a very big next eight months for Hunter Jurczyk." (11:00)

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2. Lane Kiffin’s (and Hulk Hogan’s) Moment

Guest: Chris Marler, College Football Analyst (11:49–17:54)

• SEC Media Days Lane Kiffin Recap:

  • Kiffin gave a calculated, less controversial, and even existential presser.
  • Quote (Kiffin via Marler): "I watched the Hulk Hogan documentary. We're all gonna die." (13:29)
  • Paul and Chris riff on the seriousness and awkward levity—Paul notes, "He did it in a sneaky way because he brought his dad into it…" (13:34)

• Kiffin Press Conference Structure:

  • Only answered four questions, avoiding controversy. Chris calls it “pretty planned.” (14:42)
  • Relief among reporters that no new off–field dramas emerged.

• SEC Media Days Vibes:

  • Lighthearted banter about wedding plans, Nick Saban’s daughter as a guest, and Taylor Swift fandom.

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3. Mississippi State: Hopeful Fresh Start

Guest: Colin Dam, Maroon and White Daily (20:39–28:58)

• Program Mood & Offensive Identity:

  • Optimism with new-look squad after a rocky previous year.
  • QB Kamario Taylor drawing excitement: "He's a big dude… had opportunities to showcase... with arm strength, escapability." (21:34)

• Offensive Weapons:

  • Anthony Evans (WR) and additions like Marquise Johnson and Zion Ragans fit a "gadget, speedster" archetype fitting Jeff Lebby’s offense. (22:18)

• Lessons & Leadership from Missing Breakthroughs:

  • Missed opportunities against Texas, Tennessee, and Florida last season; hope is that experience breeds winning mentality.
  • Focus on returning upperclassmen and improvements in trenches.

• Defensive Emphasis & Zach Arnett’s Role:

  • Defense led by "aggression"; move away from a "bend but don't break" approach.
  • “Every time we talk about the defense... the word that has been going around... is aggression.” – Colin Dam (26:49)
  • Emphasis on retooled front seven.

• Path Back to Relevance:

  • Kamario Taylor viewed as a potential NFL-caliber QB who, with offensive line protection, could lead to an 8–10 win season.
  • Tough early road schedule; home games against Alabama, Oklahoma, Mizzou highlighted as possible upsets.

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4. Texas Longhorns: Playoff or Bust?

Guest: CJ Vogel, On Texas (29:49–40:09)

• Arch Manning’s Comfort and Growth:

  • Year two for Manning as clear leader; more acclimated to system and weapons.
  • Quote: "Now does that equate to better play on the field? ... I think he feels more comfortable with the weapons around him..." – CJ Vogel (30:28)

• Early Hype, The Realities:

  • Last season, media crowned Arch too soon. Now focus is on letting him play free.
  • Quote: "He was basically given the crown before going out and winning over favor from everybody." (31:09)

• Loaded Offense & New Weapons:

  • Cam Coleman, Raleek Brown, Hollywood Smothers add depth to RB room—run game should significantly improve.
  • WR Emmitt Moseley and Deandre Moore poised for bounce-back, with Cam Coleman as a vertical threat.
  • “How do you defend that offense with a quarterback that can make the throws? That's kind of how they wanted to design this offense.” (33:00)

• Defensive Depth & Emerging Star Colin Simmons:

  • Texas has an all-conference talent at every level, but depth at LB and safety is thin.
  • Colin Simmons (EDGE): “I thought he might be the best player in the SEC.” – Paul (34:14)
  • Quote: “My thing with Texas defensively is they have an all conference level player at every single level... But can Texas stop the run…?” (34:19)

• SEC Schedule & National Implications:

  • Challenging slate: Early test vs. Ohio State, rugged road November.
  • “If Texas isn't in that semifinal, it would be a failure. If Texas is in that national championship, I would think it would be disappointing given the expectations…” – CJ Vogel (38:27)

• Defining Game:

  • Second week vs. Ohio State viewed as "the most important game of Steve Sarkisian's tenure." Texas must defeat an elite coach/team; otherwise, national title hopes wane.
  • Quote: "At what point do you believe in yourself to go out and win a national championship if you don't win that game at home with the roster that you've assembled?" (39:28)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Arkansas Coach Silverfield’s “Aura”
  Alyssa Orange, 02:23:
  “Well, I have a hot wife, so there's that. And I can recite Notorious B.I.G lyrics, so I've got enough aura to win football games.”

• On Lane Kiffin’s Philosophical Turn
  Chris Marler recounting, 13:29:
  “I watched the Hulk Hogan documentary. We're all gonna die.”

• Texas Championship Pressure
  CJ Vogel, 38:27:
  “If Texas isn't in that semifinal, it would be a failure.”

• On Mississippi State’s Needed Mindset
  Colin Dam, 25:45:
  “If [Kamario Taylor] can live up to that... that's really their key forward. That’s where they've shown—even in bad years—they can produce and they can put up really big numbers.”

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Important Timestamps

• 01:40 – 11:31: Arkansas coaching discussion with Alyssa Orange
• 11:49 – 17:54: Lane Kiffin SEC Media Days takeaways with Chris Marler
• 20:39 – 28:58: Mississippi State preview/Jeff Lebby offense with Colin Dam
• 29:49 – 40:09: Texas optimism, Arch Manning, and stakes breakdown with CJ Vogel

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Conclusion

Paul Finebaum’s first hour from SEC Media Days sets the tone for the coming college football season with pointed interviews and lively banter, capturing candid coach moments, unpacking program challenges, and setting the stakes for the SEC’s biggest contenders in 2026. With the spotlight on Arkansas’ need for direction, Mississippi State’s reset, Lane Kiffin’s headlines, and Texas’ playoff-or-bust mentality, this is essential listening for any fan following the drama and dreams of SEC football.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[D]

This is the Paul Feinbaum show, our one podcast.

[B]

This might be college football of SEC media days in Tampa. We are still here. We are back and it should be a pretty wild day. Lane Kiffin has already been what? Lane Kiffin was here earlier, of course. Arch Manning and Steve Sarkeesian are here now. We'll talk to Sarkeesian in 90 minutes. We'll also have the SEC commissioner on certainly made probably the biggest splash of the week with his comments. On Monday we'll get that straightened out. A number of other fairly familiar guests will be coming and going as we try to dissect it all here. On this Thursday afternoon we begin talking about the Razorbacks, who are also here. Ryan Silverfield making his first appearance. Alyssa Orange from ESPN Radio in Arkansas joining us. And Alyssa, thank you for the time. It was fun to talk to you earlier. How did the coach do today?

[C]

You know, I think when you look at Ryan Silverfield being here on a Thursday with Lane Kiffin and with Sark, he had to just be authentic, just be yourself. You know, he's not going to come up there and he's not going to crack jokes like Eli Drinkwitz is going to do. And he's not going to be brash like Brett Bielema was going to be when he was here doing his rounds. But I think I'd give him an A. I think he came in here, he answered questions. He was real about his answers. And outside of some silly comments, I think people said, okay, we know who Ryan Silverfield is now.

[B]

Well, let me ask you about those silly comments because they have gotten a little bit of attention and I was not in the room and I'd rather not even repeat it. But I feel like you're very capable. Can you give us the context of what he said?

[C]

So if you go back to last week, Arkansas posted a couple headshots of the head coach of Ryan Silverfield and quite frankly, in my opinion, I don't think that they looked great. I'd have picked a different photo. He looked uncomfortable and so that started circulating this. Oh, he doesn't have any aura. He has no swagger. He's vanilla. And so someone asked him about his aura and he says, well, I have a hot wife, so there's that. And I can recite Notorious B.I.G lyrics, so I've got enough aura to win football games.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, according to Notorious B.I.G. is pretty funny. I don't know how many people outside of maybe a bar steel show thought saying you have a hot wife was a good idea.

[C]

Yeah, you know, it's funny that those are kind of the things every coach goes to. Oh, well, look, I can recruit. Look at my wife. You know, all the things that. It's almost kind of a tongue in cheek thing. It's like, okay, we get it. But that absolutely has nothing to do with football. I would have stuck with just, hey, you know, I can sit here and do Notorious B.I.G. with the best of them. And I think that would have been enough.

[B]

Well, we have a representative from the National Organization of Women on. I'm just kidding. Nobody run Gloria Steinem. Rest in peace. Let's talk about what Silverfield talk about from a football standpoint. What does this team look like?

[C]

Well, that's the biggest question because there's question marks everywhere. You bring Quincy Rhodes Jr. With you, who is really the only person we know for a fact is going to be a starter on this defense. And everything else is up in the air. And when you talk with Quincy and you ask him, I've got smart guys around him. He said that to us yesterday. Well, smart guys is great in the film room. What do they look like when they're going up against SEC offensive linemen? He's got to have a helper on that defensive line. And I think they start there trying to figure that out. From an offensive standpoint, they've got some guys back, like C.J. brown as a wide receiver. Can you get a guy like Courtney Crutchfield to live up to the hype that he was out of high school over at Missouri, now at Arkansas, but we don't even know who the quarterback is going to be. And I think that's my big concern is you have all these questions, and if you already know it's going to be K.J. jackson, who has been in the system at Arkansas for a handful of years now, and quite frankly, I think when we watched him practice, could throw the ball better than Taylor Green did in practices. Why has he not been able to separate himself from A.J. hill? That's a big problem for me. And so if I'm Arkansas. I look at Sutton Smith and I look at Braylon Russell and I say, we better learn how to run the football or it is going to be another long season. According to my co host on espn, Arkansas, former raceback Matt Jones. He says the season's over on September 13th after that Utah game.

[B]

Yeah, I have to talk to Matt today. I didn't hear that. But that game is in Utah, if I remember it is. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of that. Can you explain why Arkansas team that needs any kind of win it can get, it can get away with playing a much more suitable.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Opponent. Why are they going to Utah?

[C]

You know, it's. It's a good question. And, and I don't know how much Ryan Silverfield has played into what was scheduled prior to when he was. When he got here. I mean, they're gonna go to Notre Dame in 2028. That's gonna be an interesting game, too.

[B]

But going all the way, that's a payback game, though.

[C]

It is. It is going all the way to Utah. You went to BYU a handful years ago and I was there. Provo is beautiful. I really enjoyed my time out there and they won that game. But that game is also a 9:15pm kick. It's late. We're gonna have a lot of coffee. They are gonna have to go out there and at least play tough and physical and don't just roll over and make it look like the Notre Dame game from a season ago.

[B]

Yeah. If I remember Hunter Yurchicks complaining, the Georgia game is the next week at home. Right?

[C]

At home in an early morning kickoff.

[B]

Right.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Some good scheduling there from September's gonna be brutal. It wasn't that long ago. Won best athletic director in college football.

[C]

That's gonna be a tough one.

[B]

He may not win it this year. Why has Arkansas been down for so long?

[C]

I think. I think it started in twofold with recruiting. I mean, you go back to before NIL was here when Bielema was replacing guys like Sam Pittman or when Chris Ashe left on the defensive side of the ball, he never replaced his assistants with guys who equal or better. And then recruiting failed and especially on the offensive line. And by the time 2017 rolled around, that season really kind of reared its ugly head on how bad things were because they weren't living up to what they had kind of started to build under Bielema. And then we don't. We don't talk about Chad Morris. He's like Voldemort in Fayetteville. We don't mention his name. And then you look at Sam, and I think with recruiting and then with the money, I think Arkansas as a program was just too late to the nil game. And they kind of expected the NCAA for the higher ups to fix it before they did anything about it. And now you have a Razorback team and program that is much more reactive than proactive, and they're behind the eight ball in that area. You also look at the fact that Sam Pittman stopped doing radio or appearances at Razorback clubs. Now you're trying so you don't have to do Razorback clubs appearances around the state. But now you're asking those same people who don't have Razorback clubs anymore for money. Like, there's just so much going on on the outside.

[B]

Let me go back to that, because I didn't.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

How long before his departure did he stop doing.

[C]

He didn't have to do them.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

He just didn't have to. So, you know, outside of the Little Rock Touchdown Club and things like that, you know, you didn't have to make these appearances. And Arkansas is a prideful state. They just want to feel like one of the. One of you.

[B]

Right.

[C]

One of us. Like that's how Arkansas feels.

[B]

I went to that touchdown club two or three years ago. I mean, there were 600 people there, standing room only for me, and I was one of the worst speakers of the year. I mean, the schedule was amazing, and I just couldn't understand that day leaving there, how this program can't be successful.

[C]

Well, I know that you probably have heard that clip that Hunter Jurczyk said the last time where he looked at the Little Rock Touchdown Club crew and said, sam Pittman is not financially set up to win a national championship.

[E]

Well, who's.

[C]

Whose responsibility is it to make him successful and to put him in a place to have success? And we know right now that it all revolves around money and recruiting. But I also know being around the program and covering it since 2013, things are different. But Arkansas's best teams have always been the one where they've had guys in the system and developed them for two or three years, and now they're playing juniors and seniors and they've been developed in a program. I don't know if you have time to develop guys anymore.

[B]

This is a question from 38,000ft. And I know you're a Czech and he has always had a good reputation, but that statement went over terribly. What kind of accountability is there for him from higher ups.

[C]

There's a. I think a lot of people want to see accountability just from Hunter in general, but I don't know what's going on inside those, you know, board of trustee meetings, those closed door meetings. They clearly feel like he can do the job right now. Sometimes people wonder, and this is from Arkansas fans, does he even want to do the job? And so there's a big narrative right now on where he actually feels.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, it came out somewhere. He was trying to get a job. I can't remember where it was.

[C]

Well, there was the whole Texas A and M when that opened up. And then, of course, they got the ad from Nebraska and then South Carolina.

[B]

Right.

[C]

And there's the South Carolina job. And then there was. Okay, well, now, do you want an SEC job? Do you want to work, you know, in the league offices? There's been so many rumors and stories and conversations around Hunter. And again, I go back to Arkansas being such a prideful state. If they get a whiff of you maybe don't want to be here, that is a hard, hard hole for you to dig yourself out of.

[B]

I'll ask you the final question, and it's on the same subject. Assuming putting crumbs together about what we have been talking about, why is he still there?

[C]

Well, I think that if you were to look at every other sport, then football, he's done a pretty good job of, you know, giving gymnastics.

[B]

And that's other than the. Other than losing your husband. Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? I mean, come on. I mean, basketball is critically important, but football.

[C]

Basketball has had some help from some very influential people. It's why Cal's there. We've talked. We talked about that today, but, you know, you've done a good job with some other sports, but at the end of the day, football is king, and everybody knows that. I don't. It feels like this is a very big next eight months for Hunter Jurichek.

[B]

He gave Ryan Silverfield the job. It may be up to Ryan Silverfield to save his job. Those are my words as we say thank you to Alyssa Orange and look forward to chatting again. Thank you.

[C]

Thank you, Paul.

[B]

Back with more. We're just getting underway here in Tampa. You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show Podcast. He was so good, we brought him back. Actually, somebody just canceled.

[E]

I knew you didn't even let me have it.

[B]

How's everything?

[E]

It's good. I have to say this, Paul, because I feel like I do this every year, but from 2018, the first time we had you on the STS podcast. Very last day, Connor asked that dumb question about aliens coming down from space and from there to now twice in a week. This is a big deal for you.

[B]

Love you.

[E]

Love you more.

[B]

You did something. I don't. Even if you know this, you put out. I can't remember about this time last year, you put out something about the most famous alumni.

[E]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And I saw it, really liked it, showed it to my wife. It is now framed in my library.

[E]

That's not real. Is that real?

[B]

It's real. I'll take a picture of it and send it to you.

[E]

Please do. Please do.

[B]

People come over, see it. They think it's like, yeah, the New York Times.

[E]

That's right. Canva has really, really upped our game there. The Marjorie Taylor Greene thing, that got some pushback. I'll say that for Georgia.

[B]

It is so cool. And I've just. They said, do you know that. Do you know that guy said, no.

[E]

No, of course not.

[B]

Fan art at Marshall, 10 times a week. So he'll do it again. Kiffin. Today. Because everybody's trying to slice and dice it, and sometimes. You know what I hear? What you hear. There are different rooms here. But what's the vibe on lk?

[E]

I mean, you know what it reminded me of, Paul, was. Remember that 2018 National Championship between Bama and Clemson? Clemson got the ball back with 10 minutes left, and they just didn't do anything. They just kept. Just ran the clock out. It was pretty obvious that's what he was doing from the jump. And you get to 18 minutes into your thing, and then you have. I mean, at one point, he was talking about a Hulk Hogan documentary.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

I mean, which ended up being the best quote. I watched the Hulk Hogan documentary. We're all gonna die. That was an actual quote from.

[B]

He did it, though, in a sneaky way because he brought his dad into it. So you couldn't just, like, laugh.

[E]

Yeah. I don't want to weigh in on that part because I don't. I don't know. Like, I mean, it's gonna be hard losing a parent.

[B]

Yeah. But the Hulk Hogan dying is, like, Right? I mean, I. I bring it. I saw. You'll appreciate it. I saw Ric Flair the other night.

[E]

He's still kicking.

[B]

And. Yeah, if you. I shouldn't say this, but.

[E]

You got it. I'm here.

[B]

But, I mean, if we suddenly look down, Ric Flair is gone.

[A]

I don't mean to laugh.

[B]

No surprise.

[E]

His first loss at lsu. Ric Flair is going to pass away.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

And then we're going to have to hear about that instead of the press conference. That's what's going to happen.

[B]

I mean, Hulk Hogan, I mean, weren't there. I mean, he's been dying for a long time, hasn't he?

[E]

Emotionally, for sure. Yeah, that's true.

[B]

But he bothered me though when he said we're all gonna die because I haven't really ever thought of that.

[E]

No, you look great. I don't mean there's, you know, I don't.

[B]

No, I have people come up to me. Are you still here

[E]

dead behind the eyes for a while there, Chris.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

No, I thought it was, I thought it was interesting that he only answered four questions. It was, you know, because Levy goes up there after him, he talks for four minutes and then goes into it. But yeah, I mean, I think that was probably pretty planned.

[B]

And by the way.

[E]

Oh no, I gotta get that thing off the wall.

[B]

We, we knew he was gonna do that.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

This was not like, oh, I can't believe it.

[E]

No. Yeah. But let me spin it in a way that's positive. I'm so glad we didn't have another moment where he stepped in it and did something else that made it even worse. And like Golding gave him every opportunity to be out of that yesterday. And it's like, you know, we've all moved on. If you would have said this was you were going to trade this in, like, you would have loved it. And I just am glad that we hopefully don't have to talk about it again until maybe September 15th.

[B]

I don't, I don't want to ruin that event. Yeah, September 19th. I plan on being there. I mean, the funniest lot of the day I'm on was Stephen A. Smith. He goes, I told Trinidad Shambles I'm going to be there, scheduled permitting, of course.

[E]

What, what could you be doing then?

[B]

Well, LeBron might call.

[E]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

He was talking about being at the Travis Taylor wedding.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

Something could happen, but I don't think, I mean, yeah, it's going to get hyped and, but I just don't think it's going to be that big a deal. I think the Kiffin story is starting to. I'm selling my stock in it.

[E]

Yeah. I mean, and I think we're all like, as much as we love having off season content and fodder, it's nice that this one storyline has come to an end. And I thought he got pressed on one question. Deservingly so. And Mike Bratton asked it and it

[B]

was an inappropriate question. Mike Bratton asking that.

[E]

An inappropriate one?

[B]

Yeah. Why ask a legitimate question at an SEC media Day's press conference?

[E]

I did tell him, as soon as it was over, I was like, that was a long question, dude. That took up most of the press conference. He did not. That was funny.

[B]

I think he must be an attorney, because when he had me on, he gave me. Isn't it true that you. Come on. Yeah. Nobody swore me in here, Bretton.

[E]

Right. And it was also funny, too, because you only have four questions, so you don't know what's going to come up there. But one of the questions also is, like, lsu, Auburn, which is, like, on the list of priorities and things that people care about. This week, the lsu, Auburn game, I

[B]

didn't even know they were playing.

[E]

It's a day after my wedding. That's the only reason I got married. I'm getting married.

[B]

When?

[E]

To a girl.

[B]

Where?

[E]

October 23rd. You're invited. You're one of the groomsmen.

[B]

I would love to be there.

[E]

I would love to get you have. You have to give a speech.

[B]

What day of the week is it?

[E]

It's a Friday.

[B]

Where?

[E]

Baton Rouge.

[B]

I'll be there.

[E]

Okay. You gotta walk me down.

[B]

Here's what I'll do. I'll go to the airport. I'm Nick Saban.

[E]

His daughter will be there. She'll be invited. Yeah. She's one of my good friends, so she. She should be. At the very least, I'm gonna get another good gift out of her, so that's good. So.

[B]

Yeah, Sabin told me yesterday that she doesn't live that far from me.

[E]

Yeah, you better watch out.

[B]

Yeah. She's in the neighborhood.

[E]

Yeah. She'll send me texts sometimes about, like. About things that you say. And I'm like, you just say the word. Do you want me to bring it up on air? She's like, I know where he lives.

[B]

The funny thing about Kristen is that I was on. I think it was SportsCenter about a year ago, and Kelsey and Taylor got engaged, and they asked me something like, what's your favorite? I think it was Molly McGrath. She's a Swiftie. And I said, all too well. She said, which version? I said, the long version. Oh, my goodness.

[E]

How did you know that?

[B]

Well, because I'm actually a fan.

[E]

Yeah, that's fair.

[B]

And Kristen Sabin posted whatever she. On Instagram. She said, okay, the feud's over.

[E]

That's what Dennis.

[B]

It was a big deal to me because, I mean, we've been at it For a while.

[E]

Yeah. She did not like you for a while, if we're being honest. But, you know, she once said that,

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you know, all the things that her parents have done for me to treat her like that, I never meant anything. So can you. Are we still on the air, Danny? No,

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we haven't died yet. I do have to catch my Uber.

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You have to go ahead.

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Well, no, I got a couple more things I want to say to you. No, I'm just kidding. It's been great to be on here. I appreciate you having me on each and every week.

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Listen, I know you're on the Uber, but we've got kind of a. We don't have any other guests, so could you call us from the Uber?

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You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast. Welcome back. We are live at SEC Media Days, just about 30 minutes away from Greg Sankey and an hour away from Steve Sarkeesian. Colin Dam joining us from the Maroon and White Daily. Jeff Lebbey and his crew were here today. And, Colin, what was your takeaway?

[D]

I think that, you know, their appearance really reflected the, I guess, the, you know, fresh new day, you know, it's a new season and looking to put some of the, you know, shortcomings behind them. And there's a lot of confidence in the talent on this roster. Certainly with Kamario Taylor, there's a lot of excitement. But also on the defense, you know, they retain some key pieces and that's really where I think the leadership of the team has got to shine through. And, you know, they got to stop the run. That's where, you know, they were really struggling last year, I think, on the back end, where, you know, teams really were able to pound the rock and get past them in those last few games as they tried to shore up some bowl eligibility. So that's really where they're, you know, looking to improve from last year and move forward.

[B]

Colin, tell the audience about the quarterback situation. I know you've alluded to it. I mean, everywhere I turn, somebody is just gobsmacked by what the expectation is.

[D]

Yeah, I mean, he's a big dude, so I think that helps. And, you know, he's had, you know, some opportunities to showcase, whether it was the Egg bowl with that, you know, escapability and the scramble that he had for a touchdown that, you know, really, I guess, put him on the map in terms of a highlight reel player. But he's also got the arm strength. I think the Manning passing academy was another place where he showed that off with a 75 yard bomb. And he continues to grow. You know, he looks a little bit taller, he looks a little bit stronger, and he's somebody with a skill set that somebody like Jeff Levy, you know, would kill for.

[A]

That's.

[D]

That's the kind of, you know, offensive weapon that guys like that love. And there's a lot of excitement about what he can do.

[B]

What about the weapons around him? Pretty important factor.

[D]

Yeah. Anthony Evans comes back. That was a big retention piece for them. He kind of fits the Jeff Levy offensive mold of somebody who didn't have a lot of experience and was more of a gadget player elsewhere and, you know, had a big year, led the team in receptions, and they've kind of filled in around him with similar players. So Marquise Johnson, another speedster, gadget player from Mizzou, but was never really a wide receiver one. And then Zion Ragans, another speedster from Oklahoma who was recruited by Levy but didn't get an opportunity for the Sooners. So they're looking to really capitalize on players who are overlooked elsewhere but have, you know, the speed that can get him behind.

[B]

Talking to Colin Dams from Maroon and White Daily. Let's talk about Jeff Lebby because we all know what a. What an offensive wizard he is. And the narrative on next season is over. It has to end at some point. But it was about a lot of near misses. The season could have been so much better. What did you hear from him? Today, Yeah.

[D]

I think there's a confidence that the team can learn from those experiences. Like you alluded to with Texas and Tennessee. Those were huge missed opportunities at home that made the difference between being a 6 and 7 win team. And even on the road at Florida, which was a tough environment, but a very weird game because it was the last game with Billy Napier, and there was all the stories surrounding that, and it was an opportunity to get a win on the road in a tough environment, and they weren't able to get it done with, you know, the interception in the last minute there. So I think he looks at the. The leadership and the returning pieces as, you know, key to improving on last year. You have guys who live that experience, guys who can contribute to building a winning mentality, as well as, you know, bringing in guys in the trenches where they really needed to improve and they were able to find some new faces.

[B]

You could say this every year. Mississippi State has a tough schedule, because it does. But as you look at it, I mean, do you see a breakthrough, a couple of games that you got Alabama at home? Mississippi State's been a very good home team, evidenced by what we saw last year, where Tennessee and Texas. Where do you see the possibilities to turn a game around this year?

[D]

I think Alabama and Oklahoma are interesting ones to see, you know, whether they're going to be teams that take that next step from, you know, playoff appearances last year, but can they become contenders or are they going to drop off? That's also in the middle of the year where, you know, those teams really separate themselves. So it's kind of a flash point to play both of those games. They also get Mizzou at home. I think that's one of their few night games at home. So that'll be one where, you know, home fans will be really excited, the cowbells will be ringing. But really the key is to start off strong, and you've got to do that on the road twice. You got to do that at Minnesota, you've got to do it at South Carolina. And if you get into the thick of SEC play and you've already got two or three losses or you're one and three, it's going to be really hard to turn that momentum around. Where you've then got Alabama, lsu, Oklahoma, you know, that stretch of really, really tough games as well as going on

[B]

the road, there's a feeling that maybe it's not a level playing field between maybe the top schools and the bottom in terms of how they fared last year. But at Mississippi State, what is their path back to being a serious contender, at least for 8, 9, 10 wins, which they've been there before?

[D]

Yeah, I think the key is Kamario Taylor and that offense. They've shown even without Taylor, Blake Chapin, a very talented quarterback in his own right and inact passer and they were able to put up a lot of numbers if you can, you know, build on that with the kind of quarterback that has the potential to, you know, be an NFL type player, which is, I think everybody who has evaluated him sees that potential in him. If he can live up to that and if the offense around him can, you know, stabilize and they can protect him, you know, that's, that's really their key forward. That's where they've shown even in bad years that they can produce and they can put up really big numbers and they can get the ball downfield and, you know, score from far is what they like to say. And they've been really good at that.

[B]

So as you look forward at this, last year they went to a bowl game by they were somewhat grandfathered into it.

[D]

They had already started making some staff moves and stuff, so they definitely weren't expecting to be in a bowl game, but it kind of fell into their lap.

[B]

Speaking of that Zach Arnett move. Surprising. And what does it mean?

[D]

I think it's surprising in the sense that it's a little awkward because, you know, obviously he was the previous head coach and there's that whole narrative of, you know, what, what is the dynamic going to be like? But he's somebody who loves calling defense and, you know, was somebody who really enjoyed his time here in Starkville and the Mississippi State fans in particular love those defenses. And it's the word that has been going around in the offseason in Starkville is aggression. Every time we talk about the defense, whether it's been with the players or with Lebby and he brings that back after a couple of years of a little bit of bend. Don't break defense. For Mississippi State, partly out of necessity, there was a really big exodus of talent and they required a lot of young players to step into those shoes in 2024 when Levy got there. But now it's a group that has a lot of seniors and juniors and guys who played a lot of football with Isaac Smith, Kelly Jones and then a completely retooled front seven. That that's where Arnett needs to make a name for himself and that's where he has made a name for himself. You know, getting after the quarterback and Getting those sack numbers up after it's been a pretty slow in terms of production on that end.

[B]

Well, Colin, thanks for the report. Hopefully we will get over there this year and have you drop by our location and see how the dogs are doing.

[D]

Yeah, hopefully it's worthy of the presence of SEC network.

[E]

We like coming over there.

[B]

I mean, we were there last year for the Georgia game and. And I see a game or two in the first half that we might get there for because without a doubt, it's the best atmosphere we get every year. It's just so sensational. Especially we've been there a lot for those 11am kicks. And you look behind you and I realize that people are going into the stadium, but the audience at home doesn't know that.

[D]

Yeah, I mean, I was there as a student at the time with Texas A and m in that 2014 season with Dak Prescott and an 11am kickoff and then Auburn the next week T. And it's still just probably the loudest I'd heard the stadium to that point.

[B]

I think I was there for the A and M game that year. That was just a remarkable scene. Thanks so much. Great to see you, Cullen.

[D]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[B]

We'll take a short break.

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You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast. And welcome back SEC Media Days. We're about 15 minutes away from speaking to Greg Sankey. Just ran into him. And I'm really eager to get an update on some of the most critical things that are going on. Before we do that, let's finish recapping a number of schools. We've talked about all the schools that were here today. And we're now joined by CJ Vogel from on Texas. Cj, good to see you. Thanks so much. And just saw Arch Manning a minute ago. It was interesting. He said much different than last year Much different indeed.

[A]

And I think that's something for Arch as he's now had a full year under his belt as the starting quarterback at the University of Texas and everything that comes with it. Now, does that equate to better play on the field? Well, Paul, I think one of the big things for Arch is that I think he feels more comfortable with the weapons around him, the offensive line around him, and certainly that system that he's in.

[B]

And listen, everybody has some responsibility when a player like that is hyped to the degree that he is. But was it too much last year for everybody? Come to the pundits, no names included, who just declared him the Heisman winner already?

[A]

Well, I wasn't going to go that direction, but of course, you know, Sark certainly will tell anybody that will listen. I think the lights at points for Arch were probably a little too bright, but also, look, he was basically given the crown before going out and winning over favor from everybody. And I think what he needs to do this year is just play to who he has been, especially towards the back end of 2025, where I don't know how many quarterbacks there were in the country that played a better second half of the season than Arch Manning, but that's just playing loose, playing free, playing fun, and playing towards the strength that he's known to be. And that's the gamer that he is.

[B]

To me, what's so exciting about. It's not so much Arch, because we know what he's capable of, especially when you look at the last eight or nine games of the season, but just the wealth of riches around him. Go through some of the. What you think are the acquisitions that are going to make a difference.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, I think you have to start outside of Cam Coleman, the running back group, you add Raleigh Brown from Arizona State, Hollywood Smothers from NC State. That alone was something that Texas didn't have a year ago. Funny enough, that running game really only showed up in three games. It was Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas A and M. And you sit there and say, those are three good defenses. Why does it happen then? But not anywhere else, but. But Sark made a comment at some point last year, in the middle of the year, he said, running game? Yeah, the offensive line is going to receive a lot of scrutiny, but we need to also go back, watch the tape and see if our running backs are hitting the right hole, if they're understanding when to hit the right hole. And so far, everything that we've heard through the spring and into the off season, this running back room is much more explosive than what Texas possessed a year ago. And I think taking a little bit of the work off of Arch's shoulders is going to pay big dividends for the Longhorns.

[B]

And in relation to the wide receivers, I mean, is it hard? He's had. There were adequate wide receivers last year, but let's get into that room for a second because it's pretty remarkable.

[A]

Yeah, well, look, the injuries weren't friendly to Texas a year ago. Deandre Moore missed several games. Emmitt Moseley really didn't come on until the second half of the year, much like Arch Manning. And well, drops were an issue across the board. And that's been the big focus for Ryan wingo going into 2026 is just to be more sure handed, right, be more consistent. You don't need to make or hit a home run every single play. You know, doubles lead to runs. As long as you got guys behind you that can knock you in. And Texas feels like they have that. And of course, well, Cam Coleman, you've seen him for two years now, he's up there with anybody. When it comes to deep vertical playability, the big play is going to be there. And for Sarko, look, I think when all three levels of that offense are hitting the short, the intermediate and the deep, how do you defend that offense with a quarterback that can make the throws? That's kind of how they wanted to design this offense.

[B]

A lot of pretty remarkable players left the defensive side. What does that unit look like?

[A]

Well, headline by Colin Simmons. I think that's a good place to start.

[B]

I said the other day I thought he might be the best player in the sec. People looked at me like, who are you talking about? But he is.

[A]

He is. I totally agree with you as well. And look, my thing with Texas defensively is they have an all conference level player at every single level of the defense now. That's great. That's one player. Where's the depth, especially at safety, at linebacker? The two guys that you're expecting to trot out there right now around 220, 225 pounds. A bit of a change from the Anthony Hills that we've seen at 240 plus. So does that make a difference at the end of the day? Look, Colin Simmons is going to be Colin Simmons off the edge. But can Texas stop the run in which a year ago they were a

[B]

little leaky in terms of Simmons coming from the edge. I mean, is it just his first step? What is it that makes him so great.

[A]

Absolutely. The first step, the bgo, because he's not a guy that, you know, you look at walk by and say, oh, that's one of the most impressive physically looking kids I've ever seen. And then you see him move and then you see that twitch and then you see him bend around the corner. Well, there's not many guys in the country that can do that, even at 6 foot 3, right? Again, not the biggest edge rusher, but it's the combination of everything, the pass rush combos that he provides. I certainly, I mean, I'm no offensive tackle in the sec, Paul, but that's not a guy I would want to face every single play.

[B]

Continuing a couple more minutes with CJ Vogel from on Texas.

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[B]

Schedules get hashed out all during the off season and then we finally forget about them when the season begins. But there's some really weird games on Texas schedule. I think one of, I mean, they're all over the place. I guess I should say so. When you, when you, when you evaluate that schedule, compared to A and M and Oklahoma, who have just downright almost criminal schedules, how do you feel The Longhorns are looking other than the fact they're playing one of the best teams in the country on the second week. Yeah.

[A]

Well, you add Ohio State to a nine game SEC schedule and you know, it's pretty difficult for anybody. Texas certainly will be tested. One thing that is interesting for Texas and look, I know a lot of the conversation about Texas and their schedule this year has been. And it is a gauntlet. It's very difficult. It's been up there with the metrics of just how difficult any other schedule in the country will be. But look, they don't leave the state outside of that trip to Tennessee Week 4 for the first eight games of the year. Now the final half, those final four games, you Columbia, Texas A&M, LSU. So if Texas can start strong, something that they were not able to do a year ago with losses early to Ohio State and Florida, you at least lend yourself a little bit of a leash when you have to make three very tough, difficult road games towards the back end of 2026.

[B]

Couple more minutes. The predictions are mostly high. You know, some SEC champs, one or two maybe national. I mean, what's. I've been asked this all week, so I'll ask you, is it championship or bust for Texas? I can't believe I'm asking a Stephen A. Smith question, but I'm going to.

[A]

Well, look, I think it's fair, right? Texas has assembled a team with talent all over. Future first round picks at your key primary positions. There's reason to think that this is a year that anything short of a national championship appearance is going to be disappointing. And that's again, very difficult considering the length of the season, the difficulty of the SEC schedule going to nine games now. But you have the talent, you have the resources, you have the quarterback and one of the best edge rushers in all the court, all of college football. To me, if, if Texas isn't in that semifinal, it would be a failure. If Texas is in that national championship, I would think it would be disappointing given the expectations coming in.

[B]

So let's get to the second game. Last year, too much was probably made out of it. Texas survived even losing and probably could have made the playoff with a little bit of common sense. They didn't. How big is the game this year? Because if Texas wins, we know what the reaction is going to be. If they lose, it's going to make the rest of the schedule very tricky.

[A]

I don't want to be hyperbolic, but I think that's the most important game of Steve Sarkeesian's tenure at Texas. I think that is a game that makes or breaks the 2026 season.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Again, look at it. If you were in that locker room right now, if you've played for Steve Sarkeesian in this tenure, you're 07 against Ryan Day, Kirby Smart and Calyn DeBoer. At what point do you believe in yourself to go out and win a national championship if you don't win that game at home with the roster that you've assembled this offseason? That's my question. And I do think that Texas at home, they should be able to find a way to squeak that out. But they're gonna have to beat a team that a style of team and a talent level of team that they've not yet been able to beat in Sark's tenure. Basically.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And really Texas is on the same. You can debate who has more talent pretty even. They're the two most talented teams in the country. Except one coach has succeeded. The other one is still trying to Many thanks. Appreciate it. Fantastic way to wrap up our number one, C.J. vogel from Texas. We'll take a short break. The commissioner of the SEC coming up next.

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