Hour 2: Blake Toppmeyer, USA Today

Summary

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The Paul Finebaum Show Podcast: Hour 2 with Blake Topmeyer (July 28, 2026)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Paul Finebaum welcomes USA Today's Blake Topmeyer for an in-depth discussion of the major changes in college football—most notably, the SEC's move to a nine-game conference schedule and the impact on playoff selection and conference hierarchy. Blake shares insights on SEC coaches’ reactions, the effect on top and lower-tier programs, Lane Kiffin’s evolving media strategy at LSU, and offers a forward-looking view of pivotal season matchups. The hour also features lively fan commentary and classic Finebaum analysis on shifting power dynamics between the SEC and Big Ten.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

SEC Coaches & the Nine-Game Schedule

• Widespread Coach Discontent

  • Blake underscores that SEC coaches are “fairly aligned that they don't like the nine game schedule,” noting it makes their slates tougher and they're unconvinced the CFP selection committee will reward strength of schedule (02:03).
  • Quote: “The coaches have not even experienced the nine game conference schedule yet and they've already decided they don't like it.” (Blake Topmeyer, 02:03)

• Implications for Conference Hierarchy

  • Blake argues that, despite complaints, the expanded schedule promotes fairness and clarity: “The more teams that you play within your conference, I think the fairer the standings are in terms of reflecting the true hierarchy of the league.” (Blake Topmeyer, 02:55)
  • Promotes more “relevant games” for both teams and committee, reducing non-competitive “cupcake games.” (03:40)

• Coaches’ Main Gripe: Playoff Stagnation

  • Coaches believed a larger playoff field would accompany the schedule change. With the playoff still at 12 teams (not 16), “they feel like, hey, we toughened up our schedule but the playoff didn't get any bigger. So what are we really gaining from this?” (Blake Topmeyer, 05:39)

Winners and Losers of the New SEC Format

• Top Teams Benefit

  • “The real winners...are the four best teams in the conference. Whoever those four best teams end up being.” (Blake Topmeyer, 07:12)
  • The larger schedule gives contenders more chances to prove themselves, making selection more accurate.

• Middle/Lower Tiers Exposed

  • Middle and bottom teams face greater difficulty reaching the playoff: “You're going to be more exposed now by playing fewer cupcake games and an extra big boy opponent, an extra conference game.” (Blake Topmeyer, 08:35)
  • Example: Vanderbilt could "masquerade" as a playoff team under the old system, but no longer.

• No Big Change in SEC Bid Numbers

  • “Through two years of the 12-team playoff, the SEC has averaged four bids...as long as this 12-team playoff is in place.” (Blake Topmeyer, 07:52)

Lane Kiffin, LSU, and Media Strategy

• Recent Media Days Approach
  • Kiffin & LSU intentionally “boring” at SEC media days after a chaotic May, aiming to avoid headlines: “I thought at SEC media days there was almost an intentional attempt by Lane and company to be sort of boring, which wasn’t a hard ask for him. He’s usually boring at media days.” (Blake Topmeyer, 10:22)
  • Notable moment: Kiffin dodges tough questions by referencing Hulk Hogan—“a meandering take about the meaning of life and facing his own mortality.” (Blake Topmeyer, 11:15)
  • Main takeaway: “This was perhaps a strategic effort from Lane and LSU to try to not create any crazy Vanity Fair esque headlines coming out of media days. And at least on that front, I would say they succeeded.” (Blake Topmeyer, 11:40)

Key Early-Season Matchups for LSU & Lane Kiffin

• September: Pivotal for LSU
  • LSU faces Clemson (season opener), Ole Miss (Week 3), Texas A&M (Week 4)—all crucial games.
  • “LSU could exit September as either number one in the country or...with their playoff hopes on life support.” (Blake Topmeyer, 14:16)
  • Kiffin likely fixated on Ole Miss: “I think the next several weeks Lane will tell himself he's not thinking about Ole Miss, when in reality he is thinking about Ole Miss.” (Blake Topmeyer, 12:48)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “All the rhetoric and excuses that we will most certainly hear…” (Paul, 04:15)
• “As much as the coaches want to gripe…their biggest gripe is that the playoff still remains at 12 teams and it is not bigger to at least 16 teams.” (Blake, 04:50)
• “You can't really masquerade as being a playoff team when you're really not.” (Blake, 08:35)
• Kiffin at media days: “He gets asked a question about his diversity comments to Vanity Fair and he starts talking about Hulk Hogan.” (Blake, 11:13)
• “LSU could exit September as either number one in the country or...with their playoff hopes on life support.” (Blake, 14:16)

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Call-In Highlights & Fan Perspectives

On SEC Coaches and Playoff Expansion

• Caller Marilyn (16:03): Comments on feisty show debates; compares Alabama’s new coach Kalen DeBoer to a mismatched NBA coach: “Kaylen DeBoer is to Alabama football what Phil Robertson was to LA Lakers basketball. It's just not a good fit.” (16:46)

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Fan Bets & SEC Passion

• Caller Sarge (18:04): Discusses leadership qualities, Kentucky coaches, and his personal SEC championship picks: “I picked Texas, Georgia, LSU and Oklahoma at 3300, which is a pretty daggone good bet.” (19:57)

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SEC vs. Big Ten Dynamics

• Caller Jim (20:54): Draws parallels between 2005 Texas-USC showdown and current Big Ten-SEC competition.
• Caller Matt (22:22): Asks about Michigan’s prospects post-Harbaugh. Paul credits new coach Whittingham: “I think he’s a phenomenal hire…Michigan will be a factor in every game.” (23:13)
• Vance & Paul (25:32): Discuss Michigan’s record vs Ohio State, conference realignment, and lament the demise of the Pac-12.

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Future of College Football Scheduling

• Rob (29:28): “Let’s bury the hatchet…Let’s have more of those games,” advocating for more SEC/Big Ten matchups and suggesting an eventual super-conference.
• Paul (30:17): Warns of “danger…because of collusion…but…if [the system] blows up, then the Big Ten and SEC have to figure out a path forward.”

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Dabo Swinney, Adaptation, and Historical Perspective

• Tim (33:07): Praises Blake’s analysis, references Topmeyer’s article on Dabo Swinney’s inability to adapt. Paul reviews Dabo’s stunning rise at Clemson and recent struggles to adjust (35:05).

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:45 – Paul welcomes Blake, raises SEC playoff/schedule issues.
• 02:03 – Blake on SEC coach resistance to nine-game schedule.
• 04:41 – Sankey’s push for schedule/playoff alignment; coaches’ real complaint.
• 07:12 – Winners/losers under new schedule; impact on playoff bids.
• 10:05 – Kiffin & LSU at summer media days; intentional “boring” approach.
• 12:21 – September “make-or-break” for LSU and Lane Kiffin’s mindset.
• 14:55–33:07 – Callers debate coach fits, scheduling, conference future, and playoff expansion.
• 33:07–34:42 – Tim lauds Blake’s takes, focus on Kiffin and Dabo Swinney adaptation.
• 35:18–36:34 – Paul recounts Dabo Swinney’s backstory at Clemson.
• 37:00–38:58 – Quarterback battles at Alabama and bold Kentucky prediction.

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Tone and Style

• The conversation is candid, opinionated, and laced with classic college football banter.
• Finebaum’s facilitation is both sharp and self-deprecating; Blake’s takes are analytical yet accessible.
• Frequent caller participation keeps the show lively and rooted in SEC culture.

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Summary

This hour offers a thorough exploration of how the SEC’s schedule change is reshaping the league’s internal dynamics, competitiveness, and national standing—both in the eyes of coaches and the playoff committee. Blake Topmeyer’s measured insights on the playoff implications, conference hierarchy, and media management strategies provide clarity amid the sport’s ongoing transformation. The episode is punctuated by spirited fan calls, humorous analogies, and sharp commentary on the ever-evolving rivalry between the SEC and the Big Ten.

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For listeners seeking a substantive look at college football’s organizational shifts—and their fallout for programs, fans, and coaches—this episode encapsulates the big themes driving the 2026 season.

Transcript

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[Paul Finebaum]

The pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum Show. Our two podcasts.

This might be College football. Yeah. The second hour is live. Welcome back. As we continue here, a lot happening and more of your phone calls. We always love to talk to Blake Topmeyer. SEC coaches united. Not about much, but certainly about the 12 team, excuse me, the 19 I've added three. The nine game playoff. Blake. Certainly much to discuss. Also dabos, by the way, you do not want that dabo Sweeney starting to sound like Q Faris. You know, I don't know, Blake. I've heard a lot of, a lot of shots in my time, but to call a two time national champion coach and compare him to a middle level handicapped golfer at the Auburn Country Club is pretty embarrassing. Blake, good afternoon. Thanks so much for the time. We'll get to, we'll get back to the dabo Hugh freeze comparison in a minute. But let's get into all the complaining we heard in Tampa about this new nine game playoff. Hello, Blake.

[Blake Topmeyer]

Hey, Paul. Yeah, the coaches, the SEC coaches have not even experienced the nine game conference schedule yet and they've already decided they don't like it. They're, you know, there's not many things in college football that has a united opinion, but at least within the sec, the coaches are fairly aligned that they don't like the nine game schedule. They know that it's going to make their schedule tougher, which is. Which is true. They don't believe that they're going to get the reward that they desire from the CFP selection committee, which we don't know whether is true or not. We can speculate that the juice may not be worth the squeeze when it comes to the beefed up strength of schedule, but we don't know yet that we haven't seen how the committee will react to the SEC adding a ninth conference game. But the one thing that you don't hear from coaches is that what this nine game schedule will do is it will help determine a more of a true hierarchy within the conference standings. You know, one of my critiques with the eight game conference schedule was that once the SEC went to 16 teams, you were only playing half your league peers. So the conference standings were based, in no small part based on your schedule draw. Now, there's no way, of course, to play everybody in your, in your conference when you have a league of this size. But the more teams that you play within your conference, I think the fairer the standings are in terms of reflecting the true hierarchy of the league. And what's that do? That helps the selection committee do its job. That helps the committee realize, hey, this team is better than that team because we saw them play each other and we know this team won. So as much as the coaches like to complain about the committee and they complain about the schedule, to me, there is an upside to adding an extra conference game. And that is it helps separate the wheat from the chaff because you're playing more relevant games, more relevant data points for the committee to consider and fewer cupcake games that really do nothing to help the committee determine who the actual best teams are.

[Paul Finebaum]

All the rhetoric and excuses that we will most certainly hear. What, what else do you expect from it? Because Sankey wanted a lot. He clearly, he wanted more money, he wanted better standing. It seems like a long time ago when that decision was made, but I mean, I realize it's all speculation, but what are you most interested in seeing in terms of the residual?

[Blake Topmeyer]

Well, I think the biggest beef the coaches have is not so much with the nine game schedule. They don't love that. But I think their big beef is that they believed that if a nine game schedule went into effect, which it is this year, it was going to be accompanied by a bigger playoff. You know, the coaches, I think, feel like they were sold a little bit of a bill of goods. Oh, if the conference membership gets on board with Greg Sankey's wish for nine conference games, he would be able to deliver a larger playoff. And we know that up to this point he's been unable to deliver a larger playoff because the SEC and the Big Ten of course have not been able to to get aligned on their preferred playoff plan. You know, as much as the coaches want to gripe about this conference schedule or they love pointing the finger at the committee and saying that strength of schedule is not honored. I really think their biggest gripe is that the playoff still remains at 12 teams and it is not bigger to at least 16 teams. Because if the playoff were at 16 teams, I think this nine game schedule would actually be an asset for the SEC. It would help ensure that Anytime the committee was, was debating among nine and three teams, which they would probably be doing if we had a 16 team playoff. Not so much in a smaller 12 team team playoff, but in a 16 team playoff, I think you'd see, you know, two or three or four nine and three teams selected. And I think usually those teams would come from the sec. I think coaches know that. I think that's really what they don't like about this bigger conference schedule is they thought it would go hand in hand with a bigger playoff. And now the coaches feel like, hey, we toughened up our schedule but the playoff didn't get any bigger. So what are we really gaining from this? You know, the SEC has already been well regarded in terms of its strength of schedule. No more bids came out of this. I think the coaches feel like the reward is not going to be there from playing the extra conference game.

[Paul Finebaum]

Talking to Blake Todmeyer. Blake, easier question maybe in late November than late July. But what and who do you think will be the winners and the losers of this? Is it? Or considering there's a top, a middle and a bottom, Any best guesses? Now that we know how this looks and the schedule is in cement and we have a pretty good idea of who's going to be good and not.

[Blake Topmeyer]

I think the real winners, Paul, are the four best teams in the conference. Whoever those four best teams end up being, I think they're the, they're the winners. And it goes back to what I was saying earlier. The smaller your conference schedule is, the harder time you have determining who's the third best team in the league versus the sixth best team in the league. The bigger your conference schedule is, the easier time you have determining between who's the third best team and who's the sixth best team. So if you truly are one of those four best teams in the sec, I think you shouldn't be scared of this nine game conference schedule. Because what this does then is it helps the committee see that you are one of the four best teams in the conference. Because I don't think we're going to see a noticeable difference in the number of bids that the SEC gets from going to eight to nine conference games. Through two years of the 12 team playoff, the SEC has averaged four bids. They got three bids the first year, they got five bids, last year, eight bids total. That's more than any other conference through two years. I would say that the SEC is going to continue to average in the ballpark of about four bids per year as long as this 12 team playoff is in place. And again, if you think you're one of the four best teams in the league, I think this bigger conference schedule helps you. The teams that it hurts I think are your middle tier and your, your lower tier teams. You're going to be more exposed now by playing fewer cupcake games and an extra big boy opponent, an extra conference game. Again, you can't really masquerade as being a playoff team when you're really not. Vanderbilt was a good team last year. It was not a playoff team. I think we saw that when it played Iowa in a bowl game. But Vanderbilt was able to masquerade as a playoff team throughout the course of the season. The bigger the conference schedule is, the less teams like 2025 Vanderbilt are able to sort of put together playoff credentials because they're going to be exposed more, you know, with the bigger conference schedule. But again, if you're Georgia or Texas or Texas A and M or I think even lsu, which I think is a top four or five team in the SEC this year, I don't think you should be scared of this nine game schedule. I think this gives you more opportunities to prove to the committee, hey, we're one of the four best teams in the sec. And if you are one of the four best teams in the sec, you should be in the college football playoffs

[Paul Finebaum]

talking to Blake Topmire. Blake, we didn't get a chance to catch up with you after Kiffin zipped into town on Thursday morning. But having spent so much time with him, helping or trying, having him lean on you to help clean up the mess that he made with the Vanity Fair article, what was your takeaway? After Kiffin does Tampa.

[Blake Topmeyer]

Yeah, after Kiffin does Tampa. I think it was that they didn't really want a repeat of the month of May, you know, in May, Vanity Fair's piece came out. I rolled into town to do a multi part series on Lane. A couple other national reporters were in town doing their big sync pieces on Lane. And I think LSU probably thought going into that, that's good, right? You got Lane Kiffin, you want to brag about that, you want to put him out front and center. But I think the spotlight and the no almost became too much that you asked yourself, is that really what you want for the next three months leading up to the season? And so I thought at SEC media days there was almost an intentional attempt by Lane and company to be sort of boring, which wasn't a hard ask for him. He's usually boring at media days. That is not. That's not where Lane is at his best. I think we both know Lane is usually better a via text message or voice memo or at the very least in one on one conversations, Lane is better than he is in these big group settings. He's not the big gregarious personality that some people would assume just by following along with him on social media, which anymore he's not on social media apparently, so you don't even get that impression from him there. So. But no, I mean, you start with the 16 minute filibuster on the main stage and then he gets asked a question about his diversity comments to Vanity Fair and he starts talking about Hulk Hogan. I mean, that seemed like an intentional dodge, just a meandering take about the meaning of life and facing his own mortality question about Vanity Fair. I don't know what one had to do with the other, but my general take was this was perhaps a strategic effort from Lane and LSU to try to not create any crazy Vanity Fair esque headlines coming out of media days. And at least on that front, I would say they succeeded. I mean, the biggest take out of media days was that Lane Kiffin is not. Has not been tweeting the last couple months, which we already knew going into media days that he hadn't been tweeting for a couple months. So I think all was pretty quiet on the LSU front at media days, which I think is probably how they wanted it.

[Caller (Michigan fan)]

Yeah.

[Paul Finebaum]

And finally, Blake, we know we have the Clemson game. I don't want to act like that game does not exist. There's not a lot else that weekend but you know, seven weeks away from the game that everybody is turning into the end of the world. I don't want to disappoint anyone, but you know the Kiffin show better than anyone. How do you think the next seven weeks are going to play out, especially as we get into the season and get ready for Ole Miss?

[Blake Topmeyer]

I think the next several weeks Lane will tell himself he's not thinking about Ole Miss, when in reality he is thinking about Ole Miss. I mean, until that game comes and goes, I think it's going to loom very large on his mind. It's going to loom very large on the minds of every single Ole Miss fan. But the thing of it is, for, for LSU in particular, you look at that schedule and you know, right after they play Ole Miss, they have Texas A and M at home the following week. So in terms of narrative, in terms of spotlight, in terms of revenge game, all that type of stuff, the Ole Miss game is front and center as it should be. I understand all of that, but in terms of making the playoff in Lane's first season, the following week at home against Texas A and M is just as important as that Week 3 game against Ole Miss. And so I think that's sort of the thing that's left out of of LSU's September schedule is we all tend to focus on that Ole Miss game. But you look at it, they got Clemson out of the gates. Clemson we all know, not what they used to be, but it's a tougher season opener than most teams in the SEC will face. And then they have Ole Miss in Week three, and then they have Texas A and M, another playoff contender, in Week four. So there are certain teams in the SEC where I feel like we're going to learn very, very little about them in the first three or four weeks of the season. LSU is quite the opposite. I mean, LSU could exit September as either number one in the country or LSU could exit September with their with their playoff hopes on life support in two months of the season still still to go. So I think for ls, September will be as telling for them as it is for any team in this conference.

[Paul Finebaum]

Great stuff, Blake. Thank you. Blake Topmire joining us, talking about Kiffin and the season and the schedules and we will take a short break. Plenty of time for you to react to all of that at 855-242-7285.

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[Paul Finebaum]

You're listening to the Paul Finebaum show podcast.

Welcome back and let's check out Marilyn, who is up next in Mississippi. Hello, Marilyn.

[Marilyn (Caller from Mississippi)]

Good afternoon, Paul.

[Blake Topmeyer]

How are you?

[Paul Finebaum]

We are great. Thank you so much.

[Marilyn (Caller from Mississippi)]

Good. And you were missed. Oh, were you missed? And I wanted to ask. I just have a question and a comment question. What was in the water the week before you went on vacation? I had not heard callers ripping into each other like that since before Tammy died, rest her soul.

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, no, I know what you're talking about. It got pretty vicious. I'm just guessing. It's. It's. It's summertime.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

Okay.

[Marilyn (Caller from Mississippi)]

Okay. And then my observation and I wanted to see what you thought. It seems to me that Kaylen DeBoer is to Alabama football what Phil Robertson was to LA Lakers basketball. It's just not a good fit.

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah, I mean, I get a little fatigue sometimes, Marilyn, when people start citing his record. His record is not the issue. The record is what gets you the job. And we all know what his record is. Now, the question I hear from random fans is what you are talking about. How does he fit into Alabama? And as soon as you say that, some Alabama, somebody else says, well, Alabama, it's 20, 20, 26. I get that. But it is a unique fan base. I feel like we both know a little bit about that. And at some point you, if you don't win all your games, you better be able to mix with the people in terms of getting your message across. Thank you very much for your call. Sarge is up next in Lexington. Hello, Sarge. Good afternoon, all.

[Sarge (Caller from Lexington)]

Welcome back. So good to see you. Happy birthday.

[Paul Finebaum]

Thank you.

[Sarge (Caller from Lexington)]

I've got a full. I've got a full agenda to rifle through this here. Real quick, Will Stein's comments about why we're going to win at Kentucky is because of him did not sit well with me. So I wanted to point out we ran off John Calipari, but, you know, he was very quick to accept blame for when Kentucky lost in basketball and he was very quick to be demure and redirect praise to the players. And to me, that's the mark of an excellent leader. And so I'd like to see and look if Wilson wins and he goes, you know, 10 and 2 or something like that. It doesn't matter what he says. I mean, we know Kurt Signetti is not winning awards for being a nice guy or anything like that, but we'll see. You know, it just one comment, so we can't read too far into it, but I want to share my thoughts on that comment. This past weekend, I saw coach Rich Brooks at the Coaches for Kids, which is a fundraiser for Children's cancer here in Lexington. He was all smiles. You know, I was in the army when he coached here for six years, and he took us to four consecutive bowl games and we won three, so we're still appreciative. And that kind of cements the Oregon connection between Stein and Brooks. And so that was just kind of cool to see him come and support. Tomorrow is the next meeting of my book club, the Virtual Veteran Book Club Binding Vets. I want to say congrats to Dylan from Jasper, the newest black beanie. You know, shout out to old school. I think he abdicated, but I just want him to know that I still count him as a close friend. As a regulator. I wanted to mention Joe and Brad and I have conferred and we want to start giving out honorific regulator positions. And so Elvis Presley is our first official honorary regulator. And I think that's going to be a little bit inconvenient for the way that legend closes his calls, because that's a quote from a regulator. I do a fun bet every summer and I wanted to share this with you and get your thoughts, but. And I think you know this, Paul, I've mentioned this before. I'm really a conference fan. First in Kentucky is my team. Now basketball, I'm a little different. I'm UK basketball all the way. I care about SEC basketball, but I really love the SEC as a whole and Kentucky is my team. And so every year I pick four teams to win the championship. And so I wanted to tell you which four I picked and get your thoughts. I picked Texas, Georgia, LSU and Oklahoma at 3300, which is a pretty daggone good bet. So good to see you, man. Welcome back. We really missed you.

[Blake Topmeyer]

You know,

[Paul Finebaum]

Sarge, what a pleasure to hear from you. It's great that we'll talk soon. Thanks very much, Sarge. Jumping in here with some questions. Great, great comments. Let me check in with Jim up next in Dallas. So. Hello, Jim.

[Jim (Caller from Dallas)]

Hey, good afternoon, Paul. Thanks for taking my call. And a little shout out there for Sarge. He's always bringing his really good call. I enjoy him. So Patini, I guess he made that comment about 2005. Paul and I, for one, I'm really excited about 2025 reference because, you know, in 2005, Texas was coming into that year off of a Rose Ball victory against Michigan. You had a defending champion UFC who is now in the Big Ten, and they were everybody's pick. They were the greatest team ever, right? Going into the 2005 season, just, just like the Big Ten is the greatest conference ever coming into this year, so. And we all know that in 2005, Texas went undefeated, beat USC. So I for one, actually think that Patini might have a little 40 and slip there. Right. Thinking that this year was going to be like 2005 with Texas beating a big tennis school for the national championship. So just a different, A different thought on, on Pattini's comments.

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah. You know, even, even I wouldn't claim that for the sec. Even though some probably would. Hey, thanks for the call. Really do appreciate you jumping in here. And Matt is up next in Michigan. Hello, Matt.

[Caller (Michigan fan)]

Hey, Paul. How you doing today?

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, thank you.

[Caller (Michigan fan)]

Hey, huge fan. Just, you know, we talk about SEC and big tent and the conference and who's better and who's not. Obviously, Big Ten is overtaken the SEC over the last couple years as we continuously talk about. I guess now that Harbaugh's gone. I know you, you weren't a big fan. Paul, let's face it, let you know where. What you know, Ohio State still dominates. Let's face that. But where do you see Michigan landing this year? And I'm a huge Michigan, go blue guy, but I respect your opinion.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, number one, Matt, I've always been a big fan of Kyle Whittingham and, you know, I don't know all the nuances of what happened in Utah, but Michigan ended up winning the off season with that hire. I think he's a phenomenal hire. He's still at a point in his career where I think he has some, some, some tread left. I think, you know, from an organizational standpoint, just a mechanical standpoint, this program will be so much better than it was under Sharon Moore. I think with Underwood, Michigan will be a factor in every game. I think the, the Oklahoma game, this state, the obvious is a chance to launch and lift off the season. And I think if the Wolverines get that game at home, I think they have a fighting shot at making the playoffs. I think they're on that cut line right now. I don't think they're quite in Ohio State's league, but it's just a matter of negotiating the schedule. That's really the difference between 8, 4, 9, 3 and 10 and 2. Thanks for the call. Appreciate it. We're up against the break, busy 90 minutes. Blake Topmeier, fantastic entry here. A minute ago. More guests later on, more of your phone calls as well.

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[Paul Finebaum]

You're listening to the Paul Finebaum show podcast.

Hey, welcome back. Great to have you here. Some fantastic guests already with Wetzel and Blake Topmeyer. Blake's always amazing. How about Vance up next in Georgia? Hey, Vance.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

Hey, Paul. I just. You and I had discussed this several. When it first, not first happened, but after, you know, they made new hires around the country and to the Michigan fan, there was so to. To. To somebody in North Georgia that doesn't know crap. There was so much kind of scuttlebutt going on about so much upheaval at Michigan. Not just, not because of what harbor. I mean what college, what national champion winning coach has to be suspended six games of the season. That I think that might be a record, maybe never done. But I think Michigan won the lottery just like she said to him. And I really believe. And by the way, I don't believe they're in Ohio State's league, but there's something odd here. Haven't they won four of the last five meetings with Ohio State?

[Paul Finebaum]

I think that is true.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

So you know they're doing something right, Paul. And real quick, this gentleman. Sarge.

[Marilyn (Caller from Mississippi)]

Paul.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

I don't ever think. Think I've seen a caller present himself like this man. And, and since I've been listening since 2014, he's unique. What do you think?

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, no, I mean. And listen, he's got a very military air and I say that in a complimentary way. Sometimes you can come off a little, a little too much. But he's likable. He's a good looking guy. I liked his pilot, his drone pilot outfit. I mean any, any he's with, he just doesn't come on and. And do a filibuster. I mean he gets right to the point.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

It's just got a different agenda. It's very buttoned up, which I guess I should as soon as I saw the drone pilot, I knew he'd been in the army because that's who operates our drones, to my knowledge. And anyway, the sound, not critical, no way, no how, but the gentleman that called up and talking, he was happy about the reference from Brett Bielema to 2005 because of how proud he was of the Texas Longhorns. I get that. But Texas did not beat a Big Ten team that year and Texas was light years away from being an SEC team that year. And what I got a caller raspy at me last week, but I wasn't talking about individuals in California. It's. What really appalls me is number one, they don't have a conference anymore. And number two, USC has had some of the most iconic players in the history of football and as tough as nails teams and a great conference out there with other teams. And that's what appalls me. And yes, that was a. That was as good a national championship as you could wish for. But dad Gum, I don't understand for the life of me how they cannot support a conference out there and why in the hell they're in the Big Ten. That's all I meant by that, Paul, and I'm curious about your opinion. Why don't they have a conference? It's because nobody supports them. I don't understand.

[Paul Finebaum]

No, Vance, I think you're right. I have no idea. Hey, thanks for calling. Yeah, no, I agree with him. Thank you, Vance. I. I started choking there. I didn't mean to hang up on you. Rob is up next in Rochester. Hello, Rob.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

Hi, Paul. Thanks for taking my call. I just want to talk to you about. I'm a big SEC Homer or Big Ten homer? Michigan Homer. But let's bury the hatchet here. I respect the SEC all the time. I. I'm a big Michigan fan. But guess what? Oklahoma is a great team. Texas OSU this year. Let's have more of those games. It's. It's just so. I think they're going to break off eventually together. Sanki, Pititi. Let's do it. I just think it's. It's going to happen and it's going to happen.

[Paul Finebaum]

Hey, Rob, let me address something. I agree with you. I mean, I have a lot of friends in the Big Ten and Sankey and Petiti are close friends. They have different constituencies. But I tell you what we could live without, and that's bottom dwellers like Brett Bielema, you know, bumping his gums when he walks into big, Big Ten media day. He does it every year. And the reason why he does it every year, it's the only time all season that Illinois is relevant. So he's got to get his shots in. But he. But it's a dad. It doesn't make any sense.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

No, I agree. And it's like, I mean, why can't we have more of these matchups between these two great conferences? What's nine conference games for both? Let's schedule would be better for TV ratings. It'd be better for the game. I mean, what are we doing here? This is a great thing that we could do in do I.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, Rob, I tell you what. There's. There's some danger in what you're suggesting because of collusion and. But all the same criticism, but on board, too. Yeah, it could happen. I mean, I think. I think right now the situation with Congress is at an inflection point. If it blows up, then the big 10 sec have to figure out a path forward. Of course it will. Thank you for the call. Appreciate it. Heading to the break. Been a busy show. We're almost two hours in. More of your phone calls right after this.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

Close your eyes. Exhale. Feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today.

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[Paul Finebaum]

And breathe.

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[Blake Topmeyer]

1-800-contacts contacts.

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[Paul Finebaum]

you're listening to the Paul Fine Bomb show podcast back

here on a Tuesday afternoon. Big ten media days underway. A lot of shots fired up there. We'll talk more about that later. Tim in Louisiana is up next. Hello, Tim.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

Good afternoon, Paul and Hotty Toddy. First thing I want to say is what a great, great conversation you had with Blake Thorpe Meyer. I mean, he touched on so many fluent points about playoff expansion and the importance of the regular season. And I thought you just did a great job with him.

[Paul Finebaum]

Thank you. I think it's pretty obvious to the audience I have so much respect for Blake. I don't know if there's a sports writer who covers the SEC who. Who gets right to the point, information wise. He's just so articulate. Yeah, he's not one of these. Yeah, he gives you a lot of just useless verbiage.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

True. And I love his comments on Quentin Kiffin. And I wonder if his media strategy is now to lay low and not stir the pot.

[Goldbelly Announcer]

Well, that.

[Paul Finebaum]

That is the strategy. And I don't know. You know what. Which one down there in Baton Rouge came up with it? But, you know, a lot of people say that Kiffin can't do it, but I think he can. I mean, he. You know, Lane Kiffin is a smart guy. You don't need to tell him what's at stake here. And, you know, I think. I think all the. All the social media is just a game. I don't think he needs it. I don't think he. It's just part of a perception that has created.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

And the last thing I want to comment on is Blake Topelmire's USA Today article about Gabo Sweeney and his inability to adapt.

[Paul Finebaum]

Yeah. You know what's funny? I didn't even get a chance to get into that because I was so intrigued by what he said.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

It's a great, great, great article.

[Paul Finebaum]

I will, I will.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

And if I remember my Clemson history right, I mean, it was Tommy West Ham Hetfield and Danny Ford before Tommy Bowden and Dabo's ascension.

[Sarge (Caller from Lexington)]

Yeah.

[Paul Finebaum]

I mean, the Dabo Sweeney backstory, Tim, is fascinating. I think it was the 08 season. Alabama and Clemson played in the opener, and Clemson lost. And a couple weeks later, Dabo came in. Nobody thought he had any chance of getting the job full time. He had never been a head coach. He had been at Alabama and lost his job there. So it was a shock. And it took him about three or four years to finally get it going. And some people at Clemson were very patient. And then about 2015, 2016, all the way through about 21, you know, he had one of the two or three best programs in the country. But since then, it's.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

Yes, it's pretty much one more comment before we go. I had to spend some time at University of South Carolina in the early 80s, 81 to 83. And there was one of my favorite local hangouts and there was a graffiti written in the bathroom. It said, I'd rather be on probation than to get beat by Wofford.

[Paul Finebaum]

That's great. That is fantastic.

[Tim (Caller from Louisiana)]

Thank you, Paul.

[Paul Finebaum]

Hey, thanks, Tim. You bet. Appreciate it very, very much. Let me check in with Paul, who was out in California. Hey, Paul. Good afternoon.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

Good. How are you?

[Paul Finebaum]

Great, thank you.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

How you doing? Hey, where's Alabama gonna end up? I think five. Paul.

[Paul Finebaum]

I think the tug of war right now is. I mean, I think the media poll seemed to be pointing toward about a 9 and 3 record, which wouldn't be enough. It's a fine line between 8 and 3 and 10 and 2. Last year they. They were able to get out a run. I really like their schedule. I think it's manageable. They could win 10 games if they got the quarterback situation sorted out pretty quickly. Maybe caught a break with some other question.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

That's my other question. Quarterback. It's all about the quarterback. I got Dante Moore, my guy, Oregon. But who do they have? They got two guys. Who's the best?

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, here's what I'll tell you. The fact that they haven't. They don't know yet would tell me that Austin Mack is probably, maybe have. You know, has a slight edge. Because with a guy like Keelan Russell, you. You're. If when you're ascending and you're coming from behind, the other guy's been in the program four years, you either take that job over or you don't. There's obviously some reasons why he has not. The good news for Alabama, they have. They have four games to figure it out. They have a pretty manageable, I dare say, easy opening stretch. Okay, I don't see. I think the first four games, I frankly, I think the toughest game of the first four, the first five, is at Mississippi State.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

I will disagree, sir. Kentucky. Will Stein, he was a.

[Paul Finebaum]

Listen, I'm a big fan of Will Stein, but I promise you, Jeff Levy's got a better program in his third year than Will Stein doesn't. His first.

[Vance (Caller from Georgia)]

Well, here's my deal. I'll bet you a thousand bucks cash money Kentucky beats Alabama. Yawn with that one.

[Paul Finebaum]

Well, first of all, I don't have $1,000 to bet, but we'll just. We'll have a play bet. Okay? We'll just, you know, whatever. We'll just do it for bragging rights. But I don't. I don't know where you're coming from. The fact that you think Kentucky is going to beat Alabama in the second week of the season. That's, that's absurd. Michael Casagrande is up next. We're coming right back.

Thank you for listening to the Best of the Paul Feinbaum show podcast. Watch the Paul Feinbaum show weekdays from 3 to 7 Eastern on the SEC Network. Plus, you can listen and watch on the ESPN app.

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