From Auburn to Texas A&M to LSU, a few SEC football teams are ripe for quarterback drama
The SEC is not overwhelmed by quarterback controversies at the moment, but just wait. These things have a way of bubbling up.
The SEC West, in particular, has multiple quarterback situations that likely will remain up for debate throughout the season's first month, especially if the starter falters.
Starters at Texas A&M (Haynes King) and Auburn (T.J. Finley) are familiar faces, but each team has an experienced backup, setting the stage for drama.
Plus, starting quarterbacks have not been announced at LSU and Ole Miss.
On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine these quarterback competitions and consider how solid of footing the starter enjoys.
At A&M, Adams predicts LSU transfer Max Johnson will overtake King as the Aggies' starter by October, while Toppmeyer believes in King.
They each think Finley will keep hold of QB1, helped in part by a lack of more enticing options.
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For LSU and Ole Miss, Toppmeyer says they should split the starts between two quarterbacks for the season's first two games, like Michigan is doing, but Adams cautions against tinkering for tinkering's sake, and he doesn't believe that the coaches at those schools don't have a clear-cut starter in mind.
TOPPMEYER:Why Lane Kiffin and Brian Kelly should use a 'biblical' quarterback strategy
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WELCOME TO THE SEC:Brian Kelly sought LSU football's lofty expectations. Now, hold him to the Nick Saban standard
Week 1 picks
- Toppmeyer and Adams go head-to-head picking some top-25 action against the spread:
Oregon vs. Georgia (-17.5): ADAMS: Georgia; TOPPMEYER: Oregon
Cincinnati at Arkansas (-6.5): ADAMS: Arkansas; TOPPMEYER: Arkansas
Notre Dame at Ohio State (-17.5): ADAMS: Ohio State; TOPPMEYER: Notre Dame
Lock of the week: ADAMS: Utah (-2.5) at Florida; TOPPMEYER: BYU (-12.5) at USF
Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered
Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. John Adams is a senior columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. You can subscribe to their podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, or check out their SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.