The playoff committee serves at the pleasure of Greg Sankey. The SEC boss is college football's ruler. There were only ever 3 spots available in this tournament. One was reserved for Sankey's designee. tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

Michigan and Washington are IN. There are two remaining spots for 3 teams. Who gets left OUT?

‘May the fleas of a thousand camels multiply in your armpit.’ The reader emails were 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 this week, with hate mail coming from all corners. Some of my readers’ finest prose is featured here 🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⬇️ theadvertiser.com/story/sports/c…

* It's 9 p.m. on a Saturday. The athletic director shuffles in. * I had the lyrics to "Schiano Man" stuck in my head Saturday, as Texas A&M experienced a Tennessee moment. OK, so it wasn't 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 bad, but still ... what now? Who is Jeremy Pruitt 2.0? statesman.com/story/sports/c…

After Ole Miss wins Egg Bowl, Mississippi State needs to go hire its own Lane Kiffin. The Kiffin-Ole Miss union works nicely. State is at a crossroads. It needs a bold reinvigoration. Column from Egg Bowl ⏬ clarionledger.com/story/sports/c…

He lost me at ‘Holiday’s’ What’s the apostrophe for? Does the holiday own something? Yes. The holiday owns ‘Peter.’ twitter.com/PeterBurnsESPN…

Tennessee trotted out its royalty, but Georgia remains the king. The Vols meekly bent their knee at the Bulldogs' throne. UT isn't in Georgia's league. Is anyone? Column from Knoxville ⏬ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

Do you agree with Lisa? 🤔 tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

Today's Topp Rope look at the SEC ... Yummy cupcakes! These CFP rankings reiterate the flaw in the 4-team playoff. Also: – 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 for Mizzou? – Future of 𝗕𝗮𝗺𝗮-𝗟𝗦𝗨 – Reader says I'm an '𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩' tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

🍊✅ twitter.com/btoppmeyer/sta…

'A puff is about all I could take.' As you await kickoff of Alabama-Tennessee, nibble on this column in which I chat with Vols fans who enjoyed their first cigar -- ever -- after last year's upset. knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

'I will finish this cigar.' Last year, when Tennessee beat Alabama for the first time since '06, some Vols fans smoked their 1st cigar – ever. Reliving their stories, and a columnist's quest to keep his favorite sport coat from suffering a cigar burn ⬇️ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

Welcome to mid-October, when preseason optimism gives way to keyboard warriors typing “FIRE EVERYBODY!” Here's my midseason heat check on the SEC's struggling coaches ⤵️ tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

Who are these Tennessee Vols? I barely recognize them, but they're alive and kicking, thanks to their defense and special teams. Are they Bama ready? Column ⬇️ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

I kept hearing from Vols fans last season who worried Josh Heupel would get a desiring eye for Oklahoma. I never thought that likely, but I understood fans' concern. Now, Vols fans can put that fear to rest. knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

Lane Kiffin's jokes aren't as funny when they're sprinkled among losses. If Kiffin can't pick on someone his own size, he's just an expensive jester. knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

Did anyone really think Lane Kiffin would beat Nick Saban? C’mon. The version of Alabama + Jalen Milroe that appeared in the second half looks dangerous, while Kiffin still can’t win the big games. Column ⬇️ tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/c…

The Swamp roared, then roared some more. The Vols backed down. Graham Mertz became a maestro. Travis Etienne gutted the Vols. Florida's D supplied the necessary stops. For Tennessee, a nightmare. The Swamp remains the Vols' house of horrors. Column ⬇️ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

A little pregame reading before Vols-Florida ... 'Swamp is a fun word to say.' And a tough place for Vols to play. UT hasn't won here since '03. Caught up with Steve Spurrier, who recalled the story of how he nicknamed this venue The Swamp. Read ⏬ usatoday.com/story/sports/n…

'Swamp is a fun word to say.' Making a nickname stick requires ideation & persistence. Steve Spurrier had both when he nicknamed Florida Field as The Swamp. For the Vols, it's a house of horrors. HBC tells me about the nickname & weighs in on UT-UF ⏬ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

Billy Napier's Florida football woes went beyond the result at Utah. Oh, how very ugly it was. Also in this look around the SEC ... – QB competitions? What QB competitions. – Can Spencer Rattler get some help? – Surprise leader in rushing yards Column ⬇️ gainesville.com/story/sports/c…

From Tennessee to Alabama, fans can boost their school's NIL collective by drinking an Iowa-distilled vodka. Contributing to the crootin' cause, one Bloody Mary at a time. 🍹 Column ⏬ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

I'm in a giving mood, so I'm awarding some preseason gifts. 🎁 To Jeremy Pruitt, a set of poker chips. 🎁 To Vanderbilt fans, hard hats. 🎁 To La La Nails, some new customers. 🎁 To Urban Meyer, a realtor in three cities. My full gift list ⏬ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

KJ Jefferson, Jayden Daniels or ... someone else? Who do you want taking the snap? Column on my SEC QB rankings 1 thru 14 ⬇️ tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

Readers of our SEC Unfiltered newsletter aren't sure what to think of my idea of Pitt to a 20-team SEC. Hail to Pitt, or nah? knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

My popular 𝙏𝙊𝙋𝙋 𝙍𝙊𝙋𝙀 college football column is back. I know you're thrilled. We begin by interpreting Greg Sankey's SEC expansion comments. Plus, does Mark Stoops need a statue? Email of the week returns w/ concerns about B1G takeover READ ⬇️ tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

As we wait with bated breath to see whether the Pac-12 limps on, here's an idea: three 20-team super-conferences that capture most of college football's top brands. Who's in? Who's out? A lifeline for ... Pittsburgh? READ ⏬ tennessean.com/story/sports/c…

Butch Jones once accused Vols media coverage as being overwhelming and rife with 'fake news,' but Josh Heupel is at ease in the spotlight, writes columnist @btoppmeyer ⬇️ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…

As Nick Saban authors an unusual mantra about expectations, loyal supporter Lane Kiffin props up his former boss – even if Paul Finebaum won't. My latest from talkin' season ⏬ clarionledger.com/story/sports/c…

What's the top threat facing Nick Saban and what's Josh Heupel got to do with it? @btoppmeyer weighs in ⏬ knoxnews.com/story/sports/c…