Josh Pate of the Josh Pate College Football Show joins The Next Round live from SEC Media Days in Tampa to break down the biggest storylines surrounding the SEC and the 2026 college football season.
Is it truly national championship or bust for programs such as Georgia, Alabama, LSU and Texas? Can Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs continue competing for championships if their quarterback play is solid but less than elite? And after Vanderbilt’s recent rise, can Clark Lea and the Commodores prove their success is sustainable and continue raising the floor of the program in Nashville?
Josh Pate also shares his perspective on the pressure facing the SEC’s top contenders, quarterback expectations across the conference, Vanderbilt’s changing identity and much more from SEC Media Days.
Topics include:
• Josh Pate’s biggest takeaways from SEC Media Days
• Which SEC teams face national championship-or-bust expectations
• Kirby Smart, Georgia football and the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation
• Whether Georgia needs elite QB play to win another national title
• Can Vanderbilt football sustain its recent success?
• Clark Lea’s progress building the Commodores in Nashville
• SEC championship contenders and College Football Playoff expectations
• Major storylines entering the 2026 college football season
Do not miss this wide-ranging college football conversation with one of the sport’s most recognizable voices.
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💬 Let us know in the comments: Which SEC program is facing the most pressure to win a national championship this season?
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