On today’s episode of Longshore and McKnight, John and Barry delve into Alabama finally naming Ty Simpson as its starting quarterback for the August 30 opener at Florida State. Discussion around the matchup included perspective on FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium’s atmosphere. Its size and tradition were noted, but will it have an impact on Ty Simpson? Across the conference, preseason polls placed Texas at No. 1, yet oddsmakers list the Longhorns as underdogs at Ohio State, a rather rare occurrence.

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In Auburn, sophomore receiver Malcolm Simmons is cleared to play after domestic assault charges were dismissed, positioning him to start this fall. The Tigers’ backfield picture remains fluid, with coaches weighing Damari Alston’s all-around reliability against Jeremiah Cobb’s explosiveness and the emergence of freshman Omar Madsen. Historical context surfaced as well, with debate over the 2010 “Cam Back” Iron Bowl’s Black Friday date — a reminder of Auburn’s penchant for dramatic, high-stakes games and the program’s history of thriving in pressure moments.