Hour 3: SEC Media Days

Summary

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The Paul Finebaum Show – Hour 3: SEC Media Days

Date: July 20, 2026
Host: Paul Finebaum
Guests: Aaron Murray, Natalie Jones, Cody Goodwin, Adam Sparks, Nick Roush, John Hale

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode is a deep-dive into Day 1 of SEC Media Days, with Paul Finebaum providing signature insight on quarterback battles, program expectations, and coaching stories across the league. He interviews former Georgia QB and new SEC Network analyst Aaron Murray, talks Missouri football with Natalie Jones and Cody Goodwin, analyzes Tennessee’s offseason with Adam Sparks, and wraps with a Kentucky preview featuring Nick Roush and John Hale. The tone is classic Finebaum: conversational, analytical, and occasionally irreverent.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quarterback Battles Across the SEC

Guest: Aaron Murray (SEC Network, former UGA QB)

• Tennessee QB Situation
  • Paul: “By now, if you're Josh Hypel, don't you know who your quarterback is?” (01:53)
  • Aaron: It’s not always clear by summer; coaches now have more access with players during offseason walkthroughs. The real tell comes in August: “The team lets you know who they feel most comfortable with under center.” (02:00–03:03)
• Alabama’s Dilemma: Experience vs. Upside
  • Alabama’s choice is between a steady veteran and a high-upside younger talent—decision comes down to system trust and minimizing mistakes:

    "If the young guy can show that he can run the offense efficiently along with that defense, I think you got to give him the (start)." (04:15–05:32)

• Georgia & Gunner Stockton's Development
  • Gunner Stockton is Murray’s #3 SEC QB; he’s praised, but needs to improve throwing over the middle and chemistry with tight ends.

    "If Gunner wants to take the next step, if he wants to lead Georgia to a national championship, he has to develop that comfort throwing between the hashes." (05:50–07:15)

2. SEC Power Rankings & The Texas Hype

• Paul posits Georgia may be overlooked amid Texas hype; Murray agrees both are top-tier along with LSU:

  “It’s Georgia and Texas I feel really good about. I really like LSU too.” (08:34)

• On Arch Manning:

  “I’m still not on the boat of Arch Manning as a top 10 NFL pick... I have not seen that yet. I have not seen the arm talent. I have not seen the consistency. I’ve seen a great athlete. I’ve seen a guy make some really good plays. But when I envision an NFL number one pick...he’s not there in my mind.” (09:51–10:03)

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3. Missouri’s Outlook & Offseason Developments

Guests: Natalie Jones, Cody Goodwin

• RB Ahmad Hardy’s Return
  • Big news: Hardy’s recovery is listed as 5–8 weeks from today, potentially impacting early season games. (12:11–12:55)
• QB Austin Simmons Named Starter
  • Early decision signals drinkwitz’s confidence: "It just shows me how much confidence he has in Austin Simmons." (14:01–14:26)
  • Simmons brings maturity, arm talent; joined by new OC Chip Lindsey, signaling a revamped Mizzou offense.
• Expectations and Pressure
  • This is viewed as a must-breakthrough year given the expanded playoff and recent near-misses.

    “Fan sentiment is this really needs to be the year...especially with [the playoff] expanding to 12 teams, fans are looking and hunting to see that.” (16:16)

• Coach Drinkwitz’s Offseason Presence
  • Highly involved in SEC and NCAA rule changes, unafraid to share opinions; a “coveted interviewer.” (17:05–17:50)
• Keys to Missouri’s Success
  • Natalie: Consistency in defense/run game, breakthrough in passing game. (18:39)
  • Cody: “I hate to boil it down to quarterback, but that to me is the biggest thing, especially this season.” (19:05)
• Importance of OC Chip Lindsey
  • Hired for QB development, both for Simmons and future prospects. (19:39)

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4. Tennessee: Quarterback Uncertainty and Program Trajectory

Guest: Adam Sparks (Tennessee beat writer)

• QB Carousel Continues
  • Tennessee is unique in not returning a starting QB to SEC Media Days three years running.

    “Tennessee is the only one that hasn’t. That’s strange because Josh Hoeple is a quarterback guru...” (21:24)

• Current QB Battle: McIntyre vs. Brandon
  • Slight edge to Faison Brandon due to physical stature and lack of clear winner, but it remains close:

    “It’s almost by default because George McIntyre hasn’t taken the job yet...I don’t think Josh Hypel knows who his starting quarterback is.” (23:13)

  • Hypel hints the opening-day starter may not finish as QB1, referencing the 2021 Milton/Hooker swap. (24:01)
• Arrival of DC Jim Knowles
  • Knowles’ new defensive scheme expected to accelerate with staff and player additions from Penn State, but tough early schedule offers little adjustment time. (25:18–26:46)
• Fan Perception of Hypel
  • Hypel is liked, but fans are anxious if the Vols have plateaued:

    “His floor is high...but where is the ceiling?” (27:28)

• Key Games & Schedule Concerns
  • Early game vs. Georgia Tech is pivotal, followed by clashes with Texas, Alabama, A&M: “If that game goes haywire, then it just feels like the tightening around Tennessee's neck this year becomes almost insurmountable.” (28:32)
• Lane Kiffin Rivalry
  • Kiffin remains a lightning rod in Knoxville, no matter how much time passes:

    “Every time I hear Tennessee fans just privately say, I kind of still like Lane Kiffin...he does something to completely wreck that.” (32:16–33:03)

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5. Kentucky: New Era with Will Stein

Guests: Nick Roush (KSR), John Hale

• Coaching Transition: Stoops to Stein
  • Paul notes: “You went from the dean of the SEC to the youngest coach.” Stoops was reserved; Stein is confident, eager to “sell Kentucky football.” (34:24–35:19)
• Media Day Buzz & Realistic Outlook
  • Will Stein seen as bold and media-savvy; quick to state nothing’s achieved yet (“he’s not undefeated right now”). Stoops became guarded after past media incidents. (35:26)
• Week 2 Showdown: Kentucky vs. Alabama
  • Nick: Suggests Kentucky could beat Alabama at home, citing Alabama’s new QB and Kentucky’s fresh, explosive offense.

    “Are they going to have a new starting quarterback for the first time this year? Yes. And they’re going to go against the defense...They’ve only gone down to Kentucky twice. Make it three times, Paul.” (36:07–36:47)

  • John is more skeptical, recalling Kentucky’s struggles with Alabama. (36:50)
• Culture & Practice Changes
  • Stein has transformed practice tempo and confidently named Kenny Minchie as QB1 for Media Days—a departure from Stoops’ approach. (37:49)
• Retaining Core Identity
  • Despite changes, Stein emphasizes hard-nosed, tough football: “He is not throwing out the baby with the bathwater...” (38:27–38:41)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Aaron Murray on QB selection:

  "I think your team will let you know too, during those 10 days, who they feel most comfortable with under center." (03:00)

• Aaron Murray on Arch Manning:

  "I’m still not on the boat of Arch Manning as a top 10 NFL pick...I have not seen the arm talent. I have not seen the consistency." (10:03)

• Paul Finebaum on Missouri-Kansas rivalry:

  “That’s nothing short of end of the world type of animosity.” (12:55)

• Natalie Jones on Mizzou’s must-have year:

  “This really needs to be the year. Right? You’re so close year after year.” (16:16)

• Adam Sparks on Tennessee QB issues:

  “The biggest question with this team is quarterback. I don’t even know if I could say what the second question is.” (22:51)

• Nick Roush’s Alabama upset call:

  “They’ve only gone down to Kentucky twice. Make it three times, Paul.” (36:47)

• Paul Finebaum on Lane Kiffin in Knoxville:

  “There’s a more professional word that people use, but I’m a talk show host, so I don’t want to...” (33:03)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Aaron Murray on QB battles: 01:14–10:38
• Missouri update with Natalie/Cody: 11:43–20:09
• Tennessee talk with Adam Sparks: 20:43–33:14
• Kentucky preview with Roush/Hale: 33:41–38:41

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Tone & Style

The episode is lively, opinionated, and packed with inside knowledge. Paul Finebaum brings sharp questioning and rapport; guests offer expert, first-hand perspectives. The mood is candid—never shying from the tough topics, while peppering in humor and historical context.

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Summary

Hour 3 of The Paul Finebaum Show expertly captures the pulse of SEC Media Days: the league-wide quarterback intrigue, the high expectations weighing on programs like Missouri and Tennessee, and the new optimism at Kentucky. Finebaum and guests blend sharp analysis with media-days color, producing essential listening—and now, essential reading—for anyone tracking the 2026 SEC football season.

Transcript

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[Paul Feinbaum]

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

[Aaron Murray]

This might be college football

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

we continue in Tampa. Day one of media days continues on here. The table straps in terms of the luminary. Coaches and players are gone, but we were thrilled to have some of the top media talent here, including Aaron Murray, the great quarterback from uga, who, it was announced the other day, is joining the SEC Network as an analyst. Congratulations.

[Aaron Murray]

Yeah, thank you. You know, I was part of SEC Network a few years ago and kind of moved around, bounced around ESPN, ESPN2, but always great to be back in on the network, covering SEC games, being in these stadiums. So when they called me, what, a month ago and said, hey, we're moving you to this role, I was pumped. My wife was pumped. Less travel, you know, closer proximities, but there's nothing better than calling a game, as you know, in these SEC stadiums. The energy just makes my job so much easier.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, we're so glad to have, have you and talk about it, Aaron. Of course, so many questions and we'll. We just had Hypo on talking about the quarterback situation there.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

by now, if you're Josh Hypo, don't you know who your quarterback is?

[Aaron Murray]

No, not really. I think a little bit. I think for. I always tell people you'll, you'll find out a little bit more after this, this summer months. And you look at it as a coach and you evaluate your talent. You know, obviously you've seen them in the spring, you know, a little bit different now than when I played. Coaches couldn't see us at all during these two months. They were on vacation, they were out recruiting. So now is their kind of their opportunity to, to evaluate a little bit more through walkthroughs. But when you get back and you know, the end of this month in August, you kind of look at your team a little bit too, Paul. You look at the, you know, your offensive line, you look at your, your receivers, your tight ends. Where are those guys gravitating towards or what player are they gravitating towards? Who's really taking command of the offense, who's working with the receivers? Post practice, who's meeting with the offensive lineman. So all these little things we talk about, the, the extra traits for a quarterback, that leadership, those are things they're going to take into account along with, hey, do they know the offense can execute? But, you know, I think it's pretty, I think it's pretty real. If it's a close battle, you want those guys going. You know, I always call it a little bit false when it's, you know, two weeks out before the first game, you're like, oh, I don't know who the quarterback is. I think you know pretty well after the first 10 days of practice who your QB one will be be.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

So what happens in those first 10 days that didn't happen? Assuming they're both quarterbacks have been around for a while, or at least for a couple of months, that that would trigger one way or the other?

[Aaron Murray]

Well, I think you get another doubt point most of the time with a scrimmage, you know, you go through a couple scrimmages in the spring, you go through obviously whatever your spring game is, then you give them some sort of routine of, hey, this is how you need to improve for the next two months. So you have, you know, those 10 practices, you got a scrimmage. I think from then you start to say, hey, we got to really build and tailor our game plan and our book to whatever quarterback's going to be eventually QB1. And you know, for Tennessee, for example, the game plan is not going to change a lot. They are who they are offensively, they call what they call. But still there's going to be minor tweaks and you want to have as much leeway, as much time as you can to really, for that quarterback to build the chemistry with, with their receivers, to build the chemistry with their offense. Coordinator or head coach, like Hype will call in the play. So I think that's enough time to really set your mind. And like I alluded to, I think your, your team will let you know too, during those 10 days who they feel most comfortable with under center.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Some of the other quarterback battles in the sec, you know, Alabama certainly has one. There's a few other ones. How are. I know you dig into quarterbacks all the time. What, what are you watching other than the one at Tennessee?

[Aaron Murray]

Yeah, obviously Alabama. Just because we know Alabama is talented. We know this defense for, for the Crimson Tide is going to be elite. The secondary is going to obviously be terrific. They are built for this era of college football, being able to stop the pass, they're fast on that side at all three levels, you know, they're going to be talented at offense too. But who's going to be the quarterback? Go with the guy that's more experienced with the system. Do you go with the younger guy who's maybe more talented? That's always the fine balance of, you know, do you slowly bring on the young guy and trust the defense and hope he doesn't make a lot of mistakes? Or do you play the veteran guy and understand he's not going to make a lot of mistakes, but if things get tight or we get into a shootout somehow and our defense is not having their day, can he lead us to 30, 40 points? So that's kind of the balance. And I tell a lot of these young guys too, at quarterback, just play within the system. You know, especially during these quarterback battles, you want to go out there and make the big play. You want to show off to your teammates, you want to show off to your coaches. But the more you talk with these coaches, the only thing they want to see is, can you run my offense? Can you take care of the football? Can you find the check down? Can you throw the ball away? I may give you five reps, three of those reps might be a check down, two of them, maybe you throw the ball away. But you show to me that I can trust you with the offense. So I think for Alabama, if the young guy can show that he can run the offense efficiently along with that defense, I think you got to give him the.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

There isn't any debate about the quarterback situation in Georgia, but you're extremely familiar with all of that, including Mike Bobo. So take us inside that because Gunner Stockton has slowly emerged as one of the quarterbacks in the SEC that people are looking at as one of the among the best.

[Aaron Murray]

Yeah, I mean, for me, I released yesterday my fun like top 10 quarterbacks in the SEC. I think Trinidad is majority of our number ones, I would say, you know, I got Arch as number two and then I got Gunner at three. And I think Gunner really improved a lot last season, you know, from that Tennessee game on. You know, at one point I had him as. Why is Gunner not in consideration for the Heisman? I thought he was playing that well, Paul. And you know, the physical traits of running the football. I think he's got a great arm. There are some things that I like to see improvement from and a lot of it's throwing over the middle of the field. You know, you talk to Georgia fans, you talk to the coaching staff. The one thing that they're going to really target this year is the tight end position. I feel like a lot of guys at that position, a lot of athletic guys, guys that you want to be able to utilize in matchups with linebackers and safeties over the middle of the field. So, you know, if Gunner wants to take the next step in his development, if he wants to, you know, be a guy that has a chance to lead Georgia to a national championship, someone that wants to be in New York, someone that wants to get recognition when it comes to the NFL and the NFL draft next season, possibly he has to develop that chemistry, that comfort throwing the ball kind of between the hashes. And that's difficult for a lot of quarterbacks. It's easier to throw the ball to the sideline. You can see everything. It's harder when there's linebackers or safeties in the box or offensive lines in front of you. So for him, if he can take that next step, we're talking about one of the best quarterbacks in this league running the football, throwing the football. I think he's got a lot of talent around him. I think they should be able to run the ball a little bit better this year as well. Paul so I'm looking for a big year from Gunner.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Certainly running is not the big issue, but how does he bring these young wide receivers along?

[Aaron Murray]

I give him chances. I think that's the biggest thing. Just you got to give them opportunities. I mean, those guys aren't going to build confidence if you don't throw them the football. And I think it's Gabby Harga's. I think for Bobo, it's, it's probably been a little bit frustrating because this has always been an offense. It touts us off as rbu. You know, even back when I remember watching Georgia for the first time, no shot Moreno, then I had Todd Gurling, Keith Marshall, then you got Chubb and Sony and Cook and all down the line, all these great running backs. And then it's been five, six years since Georgia's had a thousand yard rusher. Georgia's got to get back to first running the football. And how do you build chemistry and trust with receivers? You run the football first. You invite a safety in box, you get more one on one coverages and then from there you tell those guys, hey, you're a four or five star receiver. Go earn that scholarship, go win that one on one coverage. And now we got an experienced quarterback in Gunner Stockton that's going to give you an opportunity to make those plays.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

It seems like most of the hype talk, and that's all it is, is on Texas right now, and I know Georgia. I just feel like Georgia is being a little bit overlooked. Some of the reasons maybe we just explained. But where do you put Georgia in this conversation among the sec?

[Aaron Murray]

Well, I think it's. It's Georgia and Texas I feel really good about. I really like LSU too. You know, I've always been a big fan of Lane Kiffin. I love what he's got offensively or what he does outside the football. So I think lsu, along with their defense is. They're going to be in the conversation. If it's not for Atlanta, it's definitely going to be for the playoffs. But I think with the two top teams right now, talent wise, obviously coaching wise, it's got to be Sark in Texas. It's got to be Kirby in Georgia. I was not on the same page as you with Arch a year ago to start the season.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Nobody was. I mean, there was a lot of people.

[Aaron Murray]

There was a lot of people.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

You were objective on Arch Manning last year and you were right. Yeah, but he got.

[Aaron Murray]

You were just a little premature. Couple of months, I think. I think a few months premature. And I'll defend you on this, too. Arch was not the main issue for Texas. It was all. I mean, I saw them first, a group of five. They couldn't block a group of five defensive lines. I mean, he's getting his head knocked off. Group of five. That should never happen. If you're Texas offensive line one. I thought the receivers underperformed for the majority of the season. And then you get to Arch and the fundamentals and some of the mistakes that he made. But you know that offense has to get better around him.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Are those fundamentals. I mean, he certainly looked great in the Michigan game, but how do we. Were they good enough in your mind to translate to what we think he should be?

[Aaron Murray]

I think Arch has a chance to be a really, really good player this year. I think Arch has a chance to do everything that Texas fans want to want him to do. I'm still not going to be on the boat of Arch. Manning is a top 10 NFL pick.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Okay.

[Aaron Murray]

I have not seen that yet. I have not seen the arm talent. I have not seen the consistency. I've seen a great athlete. I've seen a guy make some really good plays. But when I envision an NFL number one pick in the NFL draft, he's not there in my mind. And once again, not saying that he's not going to get there this season. Because I was not on him the start of the year. I've grown to really appreciate his game. I think there's still a lot of steps, but he's a great kid. From everything I've heard, he's a hard worker. Obviously, he's very football savvy and he's going to be in his second year as a starting quarterback. You expect him to really take those strides in that right direction going forward this year for Texas.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Aaron, great to see you. Congratulations again.

[Aaron Murray]

Thank you.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Great to have you back on the sec. And we are going to take a break as we continue here. We're live in Tampa. We'll talk about the University of Missouri. They dropped in here today and there's a lot of news on the Tigers for the upcoming season.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

We're back here talking about the University of Missouri. Natalie Jones joins us as well as Cody Goodwin. And we're always excited to talk about the Tigers. And I told Natalie and Cody I was, I had to, we were away from the press conferences earlier for something for SEC Nation, so I didn't really get a chance to hear Natalie, what Coach Drink said. He's always entertaining. What did he say?

[Natalie Jones]

Yeah, he very much is. I mean, obviously a lot of big stuff storylines coming into this. I think the biggest thing that people were looking for, all of us was the update on running back Ahmad Hardy. He waited until the main podium in true Drinkwood's form to kind of have a big reveal on that. But obviously a positive update. I think that was the biggest thing I took away from Eli Drinkwood's.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah. And help me with this. I vaguely heard that he said it's very positive. Five to eight weeks. Is that from when is that from? Do we know? Is that now from the season?

[Cody Goodwin]

I took it to mean five to week. Five to eight weeks from today.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Okay.

[Natalie Jones]

Today was his first full day.

[Cody Goodwin]

Yes. So today, first full day toward recovery. Five to eight weeks still. I mean, that could be just before the season opener. That could be after the Kansas game. So still a little fuzzy on exactly when he'll fully return to football.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

But the road to recovery starts if you follow Missouri. That's an important distinction. I remember being in Como last year for the Kansas game. That's nothing short of end of the world type of animosity. So that was something that obviously is going to be a big story during camp.

[Cody Goodwin]

Yeah, that'll be something that we pay attention to, that we monitor with every. I mean, camp's going to start, what, early August. And all eyes are going to be on the running backs as well as the quarterback once we started get far once we get started with fall camp.

[Natalie Jones]

Well, I think it's important to note too, running back Jamal Roberts has been someone that Drinkwood has been so confident and I think that's another person that we'll be watching during fall camp as he's, you know, prepared to take on a bigger role if he needs to to this season. I talked with him today and he's feeling confident. He's feeling like he has the most maturity he's ever had entering this group.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And Natalie, you alluded, or I should say Cody alluded to Austin Simmons, and we're pretty familiar with him. He started last season as the starter, which makes you wonder about the evaluation situation at Ole Miss. But anyway, he lost a job to what now is considered the best quarterback in the sec. What, what can you tell us about his matriculation into the Mizzou program?

[Natalie Jones]

I think people are really excited about him. From what I understand Jamal Roberts said today, the kid can really rip it. He loves what he sees from Austin Simmons. I think it says a lot to me that Eli named him a starting quarterback this early. I feel like every time we come into SEC media days or we come into fall camp, we're always tracking a quarterback competition. He usually waits until right before the season. But it just shows me how much confidence he has in Austin Simmons that he was able to make that decision. Right when Fall camp or spring camping?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah, we talked to Josh Hyple a few minutes ago. Is a former Heisman winner. He doesn't know yet who is quarterback. He's going to be in camp starts in a week or two, so I think that is interesting. So what does he bring to the table here?

[Cody Goodwin]

Yeah, I think he brings just the maturity. Right. Because like you said, he was here last year repping Ole Miss. He was named the starter of Ole Miss when last season started. Obviously he got hurt. Trinidad Chambliss took Over. We saw what happened after that. But there is that maturity. I mean, he's incredibly smart, right. He graduated high school early in order to enroll early at Ole Miss. And also wicked arm talent, right? Like he's a lefty. So it's a little different, I think for Mizzou staff. Not a lot of those guys have a lot of experience with left handed quarterbacks, but insanely strong. He can throw to all levels of the field and he's got a confidence about him that sometimes might get him in trouble during games. Right. Because he thinks he can make a few throws that maybe he's not quite fully there yet, but he has picked up the offense, he has meshed really well with the coaches. And Mizzou has a new offensive brain trust with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, new quarterback coach Garrett Riley. Now you add in a new quarterback to the mix. I mean, they really did a good job overhauling that position in every which way to try to make it a position of strength coming into this season.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And by the way, Hypo led OU to a national championship. I think I gave him too many trophies there. He won a lot of awards, but not the one I mentioned. Let me get to a couple other things, Natalie, because last year there was so much optimism with Mizzou. I remember being there for the Kansas game and for the Alabama game. Everybody okay, is this the moment? It wasn't. Missouri is in good shape, great shape under Eli Drinkwitz. But is this possibly the year that they break through and get to where they were a couple years ago when they beat Ohio State in that bowl game and maybe get close or in the playoffs?

[Natalie Jones]

From what I see, the fan sentiment is this really needs to be the year. Right? You're so close year after year. You kind of keep in this conversation for a little while, but you just don't break through into getting that college football playoff spot. I think especially with it expanding to 12 teams, fans are looking and hunting to see that. And I think a big thing Eli Drink was told me today was if he feels like in those big games they didn't have the ability to get the ball down the field, it was a passing game that was such a concern for him. The defense has been there, the run game has been there. I think he feels like this year they really need to dial up that passing game in order to to break through in those games that you mentioned.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And Cody, so many things are changing in college football, but we've heard a lot about what from Missouri fans about some of the most obvious Changes. Talk a little bit about the off season with the modicum of controversy.

[Cody Goodwin]

Where should we begin? Right. When it comes to what this offseason was like. No, I think there's, you know, Drinkwood has been very outspoken. I think there was a stat today where he's one of the most, if not, I don't think he's the most senior coach in the sec, but he's been at Missouri for, I mean, this is coming up on his seventh year. You look around the league, there's how many first year coaches, there's not many that have been in the roles that they've been. And so Drinkwoods has kind of taken it upon himself to be a little bit more of that veteran voice in the room. I mean he's on the SEC rules committee. He's very much engaged in a lot of these conversations. He pays, he's paying attention to, you know, whether what's going on in Congress, how college football is changing, whether it's playoff expansion, going from eight games to nine games in the sec. Like he is very much on top of all of these things and he's also not afraid to share his opinions on all of these things. He did that today and he's done that really throughout the offseason.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

No, he, I mean I, we, and I say we are all in the same business. In theory. He's a coveted interviewer because he'll say something. I mean, I was, I remember talking to him once and he started the interview. I said, I'm not, I'm not saying anything today. But he did because he just, I mean, I think the last time we talked may have been in Destin. I joked with him. I said, man, you would make a great analyst. He said, if I keep going 8 and 5, I'll be an analyst pretty soon. But it doesn't seem like he's anywhere near that because it just does feel. I know I'm going back to where I was a minute ago. This program is just on the cusp. So what will it take for Missouri not to winning eight games, that will be winning 10 games and be playing in January in the CFP?

[Natalie Jones]

I think for me it's consistency. Consistency in the areas that have really helped them. Right. Defense in the run game have been really great. I think if you can break through in the passing game, that's been the missing piece. I feel like for years now just not being able to get the ball down the field, that's going to be the major step Missouri needs to take. I think you've seen progression in a lot of areas. That's the one area that's felt stagnant for quite a few years now. So I think if they can start making those steps, that's, that's the thing for me that seems like they're going

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

to break through same.

[Cody Goodwin]

I hate to boil it down to quarterback, but that to me is the biggest thing, especially this season. I mean, in two years with Cory Batun as the defensive coordinator, Mizzou's had a top 30 defense in the country. Right. The offensive line is really good this year. When you look at how you know who they have returning as well as who they picked up in the portal. They retooled the receiver room, brought in Caden Lee and Caleb Goody to go along with Donovan Aloude. Obviously, there's good news about Ahmad Hardy. Jamal Roberts is another very good running back. There's a lot to like about this Missouri team, but what are they going to do at quarterback? How good is Austin Simmons going to be? If you can tell me the answer to that, I think that would give us a better idea of how good this Missouri team.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

You mentioned Chip Lindsay earlier. He's a name well known around SEC circles. What does he bring to the table? Natalie?

[Natalie Jones]

I think he brings the ability to develop a quarterback just like Drinkwood has been wanting. You look at what he's done with quarterbacks in the past. That's exactly what Mizzou needs at this point, point in time. And I think, you know, they talk about obviously leaning on the run game still, and that's an obvious when you have a Jamal Roberts and you have a mod Hardy. But I think the big thing they're looking at him to do right now is develop their quarterbacks. I'm talking even Matt Zollers and obviously going up to Austin Simmons as well.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Natalie Cody, thank you. It's great talking about Missouri football. We appreciate it very much. We'll take a short break and then we head back to conversations about Rocky Top with Adam Sparks. We are live from SEC media days.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And welcome back. We are here another 90 minutes in Tampa. Pretty city. Although media days early, you don't quite get the advantage of seeing what's around town, although that's a big arena you're looking at if you're watching us on tv. Adam Sparks has joined us often and covers the Tennessee Vols. Things were seemingly quiet today with Josh Hyple, unlike some years when there are fireworks. How would you characterize the day for the Tennessee Crew.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Yeah, I saw in one of the other rooms here down the hall that Josh Happel made a, a mustard golf ball joke about Lane Kiffin. So he is loosening up.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Wow.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

That's it.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

That's, that's late night humor.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

It's good for him. Josh has most of the questions that he got. He sort of addressed the elephant in the room with this team, which is a quarterback. You even saw him at the, at the podium mention it in his opening statement that he sort of promised to bring back a returning starter next year at quarterback. Paul, give you an SEC media day stat here. The last three years, there have been 32 quarterbacks that have come to this event. Fifteen of the 16 teams have brought at least one quarterback. Tennessee is the only one that hasn't. Now that's, that's strange because Josh Hoeple is a quarterback guru. That's the guy that should be bringing back, you know, the most experienced quarterback, you would think, any given year, but he just keeps churning out new ones and new ones. And Nico leaving early, you know, a year ago obviously threw Tennessee off schedule with its quarterbacks, but they've got to figure out some stability at that position. And it's, it's by far the biggest question. I don't even know if I could say what the second question is. The biggest question with this team is quarterback. Because if George McIntyre or Faison Brandon, if they can find one of those two guys that plays well and works out, you know, this is a, this is a potential playoff contender. If they don't have one of those guys pan out, it's a, it's a team that could easily be, you know, in the Music City bowl or a game like that this season.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

So from what, you know, and Hypo was here about 45 minutes ago and I mean, I read not much into his comments, but feel like Faison is certainly maybe a hair ahead. What's the capability of these two? Because we've been hearing about McIntyre forever.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Yeah, I mean, I would say if you polled people in Knoxville, they assume that it's Faison Brandon for good reason. I mean, he's a five star recruit, but he's sort of the new toy. You know, he's the new flavor. A year ago, that new flavor was George McIntyre. And I think the. I won't say that Faison is. It is necessarily ahead because he's just the better player right now. I would say it's almost by default because George McIntyre hasn't taken the job yet. So people assume that that means Faison Brandon is going to. And that may be true. I mean you find these little macro storylines in the quarterback, in the quarterback topic overall in the off season like this this past week a few days ago the weights and heights came out of the roster and George McIntyre is 6, 6, 208 pounds, skinny kid and he has been since he got here. Faison Brandon, the freshman is 64225. He, he looks like T. Martin did as a senior. Just a thick. Not, not a guy that you would think was in high school a few months ago. So people look at that, they know the talent and so they assume that he's going to be ahead. It's, it's. I don't know if it's 50, 50 but it's pretty close to that. I think the important thing to know is I don't think Josh Hypel knows who his starting quarterback is. And when I asked him today, you know, is there would he prefer to have one guy win the job and just have it for the rest of the way? He hedged a little bit and he said well you know, we've had it different ways. Sometimes it can be this guy but he's got to play well to hold the job. It was a little bit of, a little bit of a change with Josh Apple. He was sort of acknowledging that the guy that starts the opener may not be the guy all the way through. And, and I think some of that comes from really his experience in 2021 when Joe Milton started the season two games in Hinden Hooker took it and then Hinden Hooker never relinquished it. So Josh Apple knows that's a possibility that the guy that he starts in the opener may not be the guy all the way through.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Talking to Adam Sparks and he also alluded to Knowles coming over and I think he seemed really excited by that, is that that was certainly something that let Tennessee down as well last year even though it was in spots. But you know, Georgia, Oklahoma, these were moments that, you know, there were a lot of self inflicted wounds. But still, how, how critical can that. Because I mean he's a coveted coach.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Yeah, I mean you heard some of the questions here from generally the media and the sec. The assumption is that it's going to take a year for Jim Knowles scheme to take hold. That's, that's kind of been what he's done everywhere at Duke, at Oklahoma State, at Ohio State. They brought in most of his Penn State coaches to speed up that process. They brought in some Penn State transfers to speed up that process. So I don't think it's going to take a year. Now the question is, does it take half a season? Because you've got Georgia Tech in week two, you've got Texas in the SEC opener, you've got to defend Arch Manning, Auburn comes to town. Alabama's at mid season. So you know, Tennessee is probably one of those teams in the meaty middle of the sec. You know, you got maybe three teams at the top, maybe three teams at the bottom and somewhere in between, you know, you could have a seven win team or a nine win team at Tennessee and how you win those early season games will determine how that is. And so yes, it may take a while for Jim Knowles defense to take hold, but they don't really have time for that to take place.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I remember after Nico left there was almost a universal halo on Hypo's head. Who knows exactly what went down but, and there's a lot of he said, she said. But it seems like even though last season was fairly disappointing, you know, there were some good things. You know, Florida, that was an important note. Beaten Alabama a couple of times. Alabama this year in Knoxville hasn't beaten Georgia. But if this comes in where it projected, which isn't great, is that a, is that or how critical is that for a guy who has resurrected a dead program?

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Yeah, I mean he's I think been given the benefit of the doubt by Tennessee fans. He's likable, they like his offense. He's always, you know, we know by now, and I've said this to you before, is that his floor is high. Okay, Josh Hypo is not going to have a bad team. He's just not. But where is the ceiling? And I think that's more of the, the concern with Tennessee fans. Has he hit the ceiling of a team that can barely get into the playoff and is blown out by Ohio State? Is the 22 team the hinted hooker team? Is that the ceiling? Tennessee fans want to know that he can get to that and beyond that. And you know, I don't know. I mean Tennessee fans can, can love a coach and love how he wins. And they're still in that, I think in that moment with Josh Hoppel. But it can flip. Phil Fulmer knows it can flip. Butch Jones knows it can flip. And so Josh Hoppel is in a good state right now, but he can't afford to have like a 7 and 5 season. They, they've got to be competitive this year.

[Aaron Murray]

And

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I look at the schedule and that Georgia Tech game just is very unnerving to me and maybe it's the old Tennessee and me because that game was so critical. Tech was in the league even after that. That was, that was a big game every year. Some of the most famous games in Tennessee history. I'm going back before even I was born or against Georgia Tech. But if that game goes haywire, then it just feels like the tightening around Tennessee's neck this year becomes almost insurmountable.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Yeah, it's a pivotal game. I think there's some pluses and minuses to that matchup. It's a Brent Key team, which means it's going to be a very physical game. Well, I mean, on one hand that means Jim Knoll's defense has to be ready to defend immediately. There can't be time to waste. As we talked about. On the other hand, what Tennessee does well on offense, regardless of the quarterback, is they can run the ball. They have a thousand yard rusher back into Sean Bishop. They have four starting offensive linemen. Josh Hopplen mentioned it at the podium today. The staple of his offense is not really throwing the ball, it's running the ball. And they've run for 2,500 plus yards every season he's been at Tennessee. So, yeah, it's not the best matchup, especially on the road. But Tennessee knows how to run the ball and I think Jim Knowles will know how to defend. So it's not, it's not necessarily a terrible matchup early in the year because Tennessee can play physical and if they

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

win that game, which they will likely be favored, then they have a little breathing room on the screen. It's Texas, Alabama and A and M. And that only tells part of the story. I mean, the schedule is pretty absurd.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Yeah, I mean, Texas in the opener. You know, I think the interesting thing here is Josh Hoppel is going to have to deal with like the subplots of some of these games. You know, you can lose to, to. To. You can lose to Auburn in a given year, but you can't lose to Alex Golis, Tennessee's former offensive coordinator. You can lose to LSU in a given year, but you don't want to lose to Lane Kiffin.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

There's a number which brings me to that game. Sure, I mean, I've sat on enough panels and everybody's got September 19th circle. But I was doing a show a few weeks ago and that game really caught my attention and I know it's caught yours.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

The LSU game. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's late in the year. So the question is, is Is Tennessee in the playoff hunt at the end of the year? Is Lane Kiffin in the playoff hunt at the end of the year? I mean, Josh Hoppel made the joke earlier today about golf balls and mustard bottles and all that. And we remember what happened when Lake Hiffin came to Neyland last time. It will be a circus in that game. But again, what teams are we going to find there? One of those two coaches, I think, will probably really, really, really need to win that game for the second sake of how their fan base looks at them. I just don't know which one.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And there's a schedule. So. The LSU game is November 21st in Knoxville. It could be fairly cold, which would be good for. But that comes right after the trip to A and M, that South Carolina game. I know I'm sounding like I'm trying to hype every game here, but that is not a. That could be. Really be a challenge. There's challenges all over that on Kiffin, though. And listen, he's been gone from Tennessee since early 2010. Left in January. I hear Ole Miss fans and, you know, they can't stop hating on Lane Kiffin. How? Even though it's been, what, 16 years? I mean, how. What's the level of hate toward Lane Kiffin even now in Knoxville, Tennessee?

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Tennessee fans. I don't even know if forgive is the right word. Tennessee fans want to like Lane Kiffin to some extent. Some still hate him. Absolutely. Lane doesn't help himself.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

No.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

I mean, he brought in. He went and got Jordan Ross, the star edge rusher at Tennessee this offseason, and made kind of a big deal about it. He went and got T. Martin that I mentioned a second ago. National championship. National championship quarterback.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

There's a street named after him.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

That's right. Yeah. There's a statue of him outside Neyland, and he went and got him as an analyst and then tweeted about it. So every time I think I hear Tennessee fans just privately say, I kind of still like Lane Kiffin. I'm okay with Lane Kiffin. He does something to. To completely wreck that. But I think that's. That's.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Well, that's his personality. I mean, there's a. There's a more professional words that people use, but I'm. I'm a talk show host, so I don't want to.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

Not on this network.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

In the world of psychotherapy, Adam Sparks, always. Great. Thank you so much.

[WNBA Announcer 2]

All right. Good to be here.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Podcast, and we are back as we wrap up the third hour of a show. Nick Roush joins us from ksr and we say hello again to John Hale. But before that, let me tell you that Ross Dellinger and Heather will kick off the next hour as well as JD Paquel and George Somerville returns to the show as well. So some remember George. He's from Scotland and he has made the trek. Let's say hello to John and of course, Nick. Good to see both of you. So do you want me to do

[Nick Roush]

a Scottish accent for you, Paul? Yeah, give it a try.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Quite distinctive difference of year makes Mark Stoop's up there last year, Will Stein.

[Nick Roush]

Today you went from the dean of the sec, the guy who'd been there the longest, to the guy who's the youngest coach in the sec. And you would think that the dean, the guy who's been there before, would really know how to command the room. But instead, he didn't want to make headlines. Right. He wanted to keep it low key.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Whereas Will Stein involve John Calipari.

[Nick Roush]

That's true. That's true. But Will Stein, you know, he wants to put Kentucky out there. It's Kentucky football. You got to sell Kentucky football, Paul. This is Kentucky football. We know what they've been throughout the years. And he's not afraid to be a little confident, to show that. And it was, it was weird having a SEC media days where I don't want to say Kentucky was the entire conversation, but a lot of people were like, this Will Stein guy, get a hold of him. He had his, his Kurt Signetti moment.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

And it's great to win the first day of media days, but can he win once the season starts, especially with Alabama the second week?

[John Hale]

Yeah. And Will, will be honest about that. He said it to us several times, like, he's won or he's not undefeated right now. I mean, when you're undefeated, you can ask for a $3 million locker room. When you're undefeated, you can, you can play a little bit in the media. And let's be honest, too, Mark got burned here a few times like it was four years ago when he made the sunglasses comment about Shane Beamer here at SEC media days. And that was basically the end of him trying to be entertaining in any way, shape or form. I mean, Nick mentioned the line. He probably said, I don't want to give you a headline more times than you could possibly count in our last two years of dealing with Mark Stoops. And that was just his, his basic, you know, prc.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

When he took the Texas A and M job, too, for a few hours.

[Nick Roush]

Yeah, he had to get it for a few hours. But, like, looking forward. You mentioned that Alabama game, Paul. I'm, I'm, I'm willing to be as bold as Will Stein. I mean, watch out, Calyn DeBoer. Like, we've seen what.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Keep going, keep going.

[Nick Roush]

We've seen what Caleb DeBoer does when he strays away from home for the first time, right? Like, it gets a little shaky. Could they run the ball at all last year, Paul?

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

No.

[Nick Roush]

Are they going to have a new starting quarterback for the first time this year, Paul?

[Cody Goodwin]

Yes.

[Nick Roush]

Yes.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Yeah.

[Nick Roush]

And they're going to go against the defense.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I'm going to put words in your mouth that feels like you think Alabama might go down that afternoon.

[Nick Roush]

They've only gone down to Kentucky twice. Make it three times, Paul. Go ahead, get that out. Write it down.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

Three times says Kentucky will beat Alabama.

[John Hale]

I'm gonna let Nick stick to the predictions there. I'm a little older than Nick. I've watched Kentucky lose to Alabama a lot in my life. I don't think I'm ready to go out on that limb yet. But, you know, we'll see.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I think, I think I saw an Alabama lost to Kentucky in like, 90s.

[Nick Roush]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the ingredients are there because you have an explosive offense that nobody knows anything about, really. Right. You can watch some organ tape and you can say, well, maybe this Minchi guy's a little bit like him. But what are you going to watch? Texas A and M tape. The defense of Kentucky is going to look different than what Jay Bateman was doing, Mike Elko at Texas A and M. So there's going to be a lot of mystery there. It's going to be a juiced up, I mean, fired up Kroger Field. You'll have other players talk about how, like Kentucky, it doesn't get enough credit for being an awesome, outstanding atmosphere. People are fired up for that game. That is going to be a fun one in week two in Lexington overall,

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

though, and, and if that game doesn't go the way our special guests here will, it does feel different, though. Does it?

[John Hale]

Yeah, absolutely. Everything has been different since the day Will Stein stepped on campus in December. I mean, we were talking all spring practice. We'd ask players what's different? What's different? And they would talk about, like, practice is faster, we don't take breaks anymore. And every time you would ask Will Stein, like, the players think this is really different, he would almost seem, like, confused as to why we were even talking about the same thing today. We said, why did you bring Kenny Minchie to SEC media today? Mark Stoops would have never brought his quarterback who had never started a game before. And Will was basically like, he's our quarterback. Why wouldn't we bring him? So like the way things have changed over the course of six months, it's crazy. And Kentucky fans, I'm sure any of them who have paid attention to Will Stein were not surprised by what he said today at the podium.

[Nick Roush]

But the one thing that has remained the same, Paul, is that Will Stein has made it clear that he is not throwing out the baby with the bathroom water. You know, he is not interested in being soft minded. He, he, he is all about being tough. This is still going to be a tough, hard nose.

[Paul Feinbaum (Host)]

I I will see you in Lexington on that Saturday and your if your prediction is right, Monday will be a long day here. Thanks guys.

[Nick Roush]

Appreciate it.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you for listening to the Best of the Paul Feinbomb show podcast. Watch the Paul Fine Bomb show weekday from 3 to 7 Eastern on the SEC Network. Plus you can listen and watch on the ESPN app.

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