Happy Thursday, everyone. The men’s basketball team opted out of playing defense last night and took the loss they deserved as a result. Perhaps the women can fare better in Knoxville tonight. At least one Tennessee beat writer believes that the Lady Vols are going to handle business in that one.
Knox News reporter Cora Hall’s prediction: Tennessee 82, Alabama 70
The Crimson Tide is a solid team overall, but it isn’t the strongest rebounding team and it will come back to bite them. Things are coming together for the Lady Vols. They also understand their margin for error is slim to none, and on Thursday, they’ll play like it.
Perhaps they will, but that’s an awfully bold prediction for a team that is currently 6-6 in SEC play. The game tips off at 5:30pm CT and will be available to stream on the ESPN app via SEC Network Plus.
Kalen DeBoer hired an analyst that has some familiarity with his program.
Kalen DeBoer has brought aboard another former staffer with whom he worked at Washington.
Tyler Hughes is now listed as a football analyst in the Alabama football staff directory. He worked in quality control for the offense at Washington under DeBoer in 2023 before coaching the New England Patriots wide receivers under Jerod Mayo in 2024.
Count David Pollack among those who were somewhat stunned by Roq Montgomery’s recent suggestion that some Alabama players showed up late for workouts last season.
“I’m confused. I feel like I’m missing … I would love to get more details on this and get more of the story, hear from more of the players and stuff. But I didn’t know this was ever a thing (at Alabama). I thought you always had to be on time for workouts, I thought if you didn’t, it was a punishment,” Pollack said last week on his David Pollack College Football podcast.
“Listen, what Bama went through a year ago, it was a complete and total culture shock. It was done one way that was THE way and everybody talked about it and everybody thinks it’s the gold standard. And then being Kalen DeBoer coming in next, that’s a hard life. We both thought he was a great coach, nobody disputed he was a great coach, but you’re taking over for the greatest coach of all-time. And that’s a different standard you have to live up to, while being your own man, while kids get to know you. That’s a tough job. … I wonder how much of it is true and do I really want to believe, and how much they were just allowed to free-style and do what they want (last season).”
Last, the Big Ten and SEC athletic directors had a meeting of the minds this week and playoff expansion was the topic du jour. If it happens with the autobid model we discussed on Monday, a ninth SEC game is almost sure to follow. Unfortunately the autobids also mean that there will be no incentive whatsoever to play a stronger out of conference schedule.
One is ESPN being willing to ante up more money for a ninth conference game. It’s long been a sticking point for any action — for years it hasn’t been worth the SEC’s while, according to sources — but there is increasing optimism that the numbers will be financially viable for a majority to get on board.
Secondly, if the Big Ten and SEC get their wish with automatic qualifiers and an expanded playoff field, the downside of a ninth conference game is diminished. More money doesn’t outweigh the risk of another difficult game on the schedule that could keep schools like Alabama or South Carolina out of the playoff, but if schools knew going in they’d have at least four spots guaranteed, there’d be less time wasted on comparing apples to oranges against schools from other conferences; instead, they’d focus on finishing in the top four within the SEC.
One silver lining is that the two leagues seem united to push for the seeding debacle to change for the 2025 season, but that requires unanimity among the “Power 4.”
And, according to Stewart mandel, the SEC braintrust has indeed discussed a play in format for SEC Championship Game week where the 1-seed will put its playoff spot on the line against the 8-seed.
The idea of play-in games has been floated since last fall, as part of a proposal where the SEC and Big Ten would get four guaranteed bids to an expanded 14-team Playoff field. The most-discussed proposal has been to have the two top seeds meet in the SEC Championship Game as usual, both teams ensured a Playoff bid but playing for a bye, and two play-in games, matching the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds and No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.But the SEC has discussed a more radical idea: four play-in games, matching No. 1 and No. 8, No. 4 and No. 5, No. 2 and No. 7 and No. 3 and No. 6.
“It’s one of the ideas on the table,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said Wednesday as he left New Orleans, where SEC and Big Ten athletic directors met to discuss several issues.
This isn’t the only idea, and there doesn’t yet appear a consensus. But it shows how far the conference is going to rethink championship weekend.
“We’ll see what happens,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said when asked if that format was in play.
This is one of the dumbest ideas yet. So much for trying to have “the best” teams in the field, eh?
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
