Good morning.
Yesterday kicked off our new, less-fun and far more corporatized SEC media days in Atlanta, where attendees found a highly combative Greg Sankey spitting fire at everyone from the Big 10 to the Big 12 to the College Football Playoff and everyone in between.
And he is still pissed at Warde Manuel for the stunt the CFP pulled last year:
On SEC football schedule: “We will continue to evaluate increasing the number of SEC games from eight to nine. As I have said repeatedly, understanding how
ADthe CFP will evaluate “strength of schedule” and “strength of record” is a critically important part of our football…
— Greg Sankey (@GregSankey) July 14, 2025
Translation: We’re never getting nine SEC games until those are actually factored into the CFP calculus. He also noted that unique among all conferences, the SEC requires its teams to play at least one Power 4 opponent per year — so any hand-wringing about 8- or 9-game schedules is irrelevant: The SEC already has the toughest conference slate, and the league amplifies that degree of difficulty by requiring its teams to add another P4 matchup in its OOC slate.
And the urgency is there. The CFP contract expires at the end of this season, and everyone has until 1 December to reach an accord. Well, really it’s just two that need to decide: the Big Ten and SEC. What seemed to be an agreement is now stuck on an impasse in the model to use. The B1G prefers four guaranteed teams, which is frankly absurd. The SEC favors 5+11, with more discretion to at-large teams using objective criteria. Obviously this is self-interest by both, and I don’t know that there’s room here to get to yes.
And, what Sankey speech is complete without the most feckless, short-sighted commissioner in the Power 4 trying to destroy college sports:
On NCAA Tournament expansion:
— Greg Sankey (@GregSankey) July 14, 2025
“In general, we support bracket expansion for both the men’s and women’s tournaments. Nothing else in college basketball is static, so tournament expansion is worth exploring. We think there are enough quality teams across the country to merit…
Well, f’n of course the SEC supports expansion. Expansion will only positively impact power conferences. More at-large bids aren’t going to go a plukcy 30-4 low major who had a bad day in the Conference Title game; they’re going to go slop like 17-15 Xavier and 18-14 Nebraska.
Fortunately, someone already did the numbers on it too: Since expansion, over 80% of new at-large slots have gone to Power leagues.
Great story, even if it’s from Forde:
Column: In the coming days -- probably the next 48 hours -- college leaders will decide whether to expand the NCAA basketball tournament.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) July 9, 2025
Don't do it. Don't let the vandals in charge further deface a work of art.https://t.co/Cw7q4qKK5g
Alabama was not even on the stage yesterday, yet the Tide occupied much headspace, headlines, and anecdotes.
From Kelly on the challenges of playing the Tide:
Brian Kelly shares his thoughts on Alabama.@abc3340 @LSUfootball @AlabamaFTBL #SECMediaDays pic.twitter.com/qzGrw4B6wC
— Jamie Hale (@JamieHaleSports) July 14, 2025
To LMFK on what made Nick Saban so great:
Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) spoke with @TheoVon about Nick Saban and why he was able to have so much success at Alabama.
— Crimson Coverage (@CrimsonCoverage) July 14, 2025
“We won a national championship and there was a 7:30 (AM) staff meeting the next morning. I’m like “What are we meeting on at 7:30 the next… pic.twitter.com/nDSBURhDGa
To headline whore Greg McElroy and Chris Lowe trying to stir up a non-story that Nick Saban isn’t done.
To the Tide’s title chances:
CBS Sports’ @joshpatecfb gives @_NickKelly his thoughts on if/when Kalen DeBoer will win a National Championship at Alabama during SEC Media Days 2025. pic.twitter.com/KjQiUaXmxA
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) July 14, 2025
Seems like a lot of attention given to some has-been program on the decline, huh?
Since this a basketball site first and foremost, let’s check in on hoops.
I’d like to start by taking a victory lap on this one. Last week I said that despite being the less-heralded signing, Chris Youngblood’s skillset as a three-and-D wing, and the team that signed him, perhaps set him up the best for long-term success.
And, well, lookie here:
Most Points From Rookies So Far:
— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) July 14, 2025
1. Cooper Flagg - 41 (35.7% FG)
2. Chris Youngblood - 40 (63.6%)
3. TRE JOHNSON - 39 (58.3%)
Pure Bucket Getter pic.twitter.com/7F8NO93H99
Grant Nelson, interestingly, has been told to lay aside his offensive skills for now and focus on becoming a better defender to become a true NBA two-way player. This is how you develop players, and I wish teams did more of it:
For right now, I’m really trying to lock in on the roles I’m told to do. Like I said, rebounding the ball, guarding one-through-five. I feel like that’s been something I’ve been picking up even through this training camp, being able to switch on those guards.”
Still, Nelson isn’t letting the growing pains stunt what he could be in the future.
…I’m really just looking to get on the court right now and do things to get that two-way. I think it’s me focusing on right now what I can do to help this team win.”
Mark Sears has not made his debut yet. He has a calf strain, and given the catastrophic run of knock-on Achilles tears arising from those strains, he’s being sat until fully healthy — seriously, eight in the NBA playoffs this year, including the best player on three teams.
I suspect we’re going to see this a lot more: guys sitting out a game or two with a sore calf. It beats throwing a $70 million star on the bench for 18 months.
And, no word on Cliff yet. He was selected by the Raptors for an E10 deal, but that contract remains unsigned, and he has not appeared in Summer League games yet.
As for this year’s team, unfortunately, despite inviting more kids to the picnic, and all the rumored big money the Players Era organizers were allegedly throwing at attendees, the payout figures were revealed yesterday. Most of us figured it would just cement the sums we already knew..or thought we knew. And let’s just say that the payout money has evaporated:
Per Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68, only the tournament winner is guaranteed $1 million while the second, third and fourth place will receive $500,000, $300,000 and $200,000, respectively.
That’s rough, given that the field of sixteen in Vegas figures to have about a dozen Top 25 teams. It feels like a trip to the grocery store — trying to stretch the same dollar thinner than it was ever intended to be spread.
And, in my quest to make you smarter consumers of the football product, let’s get this clear: No, Gus Malzahn does not run a Wing T, and he runs even fewer of those concepts now than ever before: He’s a bread-and-butter spread coach these days, with passes to FBs and TEs up 500%, and his teams running inside zone 55% of the time.
Zone blocking ain’t a Wing T, fellas. Alabama is closer to it in philosophy than Gus these days. Just about all modern two-back spread sets will borrow from the Wing T...as Kalen did last year:
Somewhere in Wing-T heaven, Tubby Raymond looks down and smiles. https://t.co/dcdjzlNnIi
— Roll ‘Bama Roll (@rollbamaroll) July 12, 2025
It’s never too early to get a read on an opponent, and given ‘Bama’s issues with inside zone last season, and FSU’s adoption of that (as well as the hiring of Malzahn’s OLC), expect the ‘Noles to be a lot tougher on the ground than Tide fans are prepared to admit.
Now, go watch that video. There will be a quiz later.
Finally, your moment of levity: This f’n 1999 Corolla.
Have a great morning, we’ll be back in a bit with Giving Away Money for the SEC Title game, and whatever anyone else has to add.
Row Tahd.
More from rollbamaroll.com:
- A legend hangs them up — Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2020 NFL Draft
- Jumbo Package: Decision Day
- MONDAY UPDATE: Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft Junior Tracker
- Devonta Smith announces his return to Alabama in 2020
- Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban to hold press conference at 11am CT Monday
- Predictions: Will they stay or will they go?
- Watch: NFL analyst breaks down Rashaan Evans’ role in critical goal line stand vs. Patriots
