I Defended Auburn Against These Two Podcasters

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

This is the Locked On Podcast Network, celebrating 10 years of your team every day.

Chris Gordy (0:16)

Ole Miss LSU is getting all the attention, but the best SEC game this week may be on the Plains between Auburn and Florida.

Brandon Olson (0:25)

It's a crossover time.

SPEAKER_4 (0:31)

You are Locked On SEC, your daily podcast on the Southeastern Conference. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Chris Gordy (0:44)

What's happening, everybody. This is a Locked On SEC crossover. Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi for a limited time download Kalshi. Use our code LOCKEDON and get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi, trade what's next. We are talking one game and one game only. And it is, like I just teased, perhaps the biggest game this week in the SEC. When you talk about what's on the line. Say it with your chest.

Brandon Olson (1:10)

I was gonna say, with the perhaps, what are we doing here?

Zac Blackerby (1:13)

Yeah, let's stand on something. Let's stand on Alex Golesh, Jon Sumrall. They're standing on business. You stand on business. Say it's the best game this weekend.

Chris Gordy (1:22)

It is the biggest game in college football this weekend. It is Auburn versus Florida. Our guy, Zac Blackerby from Locked On Auburn. Our guy, Brandon Olson from Locked On Gators. I'm Chris Gordy, Locked On SEC. And we bring you a crossover edition, previewing this one. And guys, let's dive right into it. Zac, we'll start with you. When you look at this matchup, what is the biggest storyline for you?

Zac Blackerby (1:45)

It's gotta be the parallels between these two coaches, right? I mean, Jon Sumrall being linked as the, the main favorite going to Auburn. Florida misses out on Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall going to Florida, then Auburn pivoting to go and get Alex Golesh. I think these two are going to be tied together and whatever happens, happens. They're going to be associated. And the fact that both these situations are super similar, I think both Auburn and Florida felt like they should have won more games than they did over the last few years based on the talent on their rosters. The poor coaching led them to this situation. So both programs think they got the right guy.

And I don't know if Saturday will truly just say like which one's better than the other or whatever, but it's going to feel like that this weekend for sure.

Chris Gordy (2:32)

Brandon, you feel the same way?

Brandon Olson (2:34)

Yeah, I think the parallels has always been a thing, right? They're both from the American. They're both G5 coaches coming in and people care about that. I don't give a damn. If you could coach, you can coach. And both these guys, I got no problem saying they were both on my list when Napier got fired as guys that I'd want. I had Sumrall higher, but Golesh was also on that list.

They're psychos. They're both just psychos. And I love that about them both.

I do think that the parallels between them, both of them, and both teams, even last year, they were offenses that had a lot more potential than they really put out there on film. Their defenses were carrying the team to failure of a season. But I think that this is just a game where they're always going to be compared to each other for as long as they're coaching. And I know that I think we're in the same boat of like, it doesn't really say who is better, who wins this game. But that's how it's going to be presented until they face again and get another opportunity to actually settle that one.

Chris Gordy (3:31)

Am I crazy to think that maybe more of the pressure is on the home team? Because it's, you do have the home field advantage. So is it maybe a little bit more with Golesh? Whereas if Sumrall loses, you go, hey man, tough to win on the road in the SEC. Whereas Golesh, and again, knowing that Auburn fans maybe wanted Sumrall before him, a little bit more pressure on Golesh here?

Zac Blackerby (3:53)

I mean, maybe. I think there's pressure on both sides. Is there slightly more on Auburn? Maybe. I also think, Brandon and I talked about this over the summer. I do think the way that Golesh chose to rebuild Auburn's roster versus how Sumrall chose to rebuild Florida's roster is I do think when you bring a veteran quarterback over with you, that the intent is for you to win quicker. There's no like installation and like, hey, we're going to build here. We want to win day one. So I do think that decision, which I think was the right one, does maybe lend a little bit more pressure on you as far as short term versus long term and balancing both of those things.