On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge recap week one around the SEC. They discuss Oklahoma's dominance of the tournament at Globe Life Field, talk about what each of them saw in their in-person looks over the weekend and round up the rest of the results in the conference.

00:00 Welcome Back + Season Preview Series Shoutout

01:37 Opening Weekend Vibes: Travel Logistics, Lineups & Freshmen Impact

04:27 Oklahoma’s Statement Weekend at Globe Life (Rotation Leads the Way)

11:14 Arkansas Recap: Holding Serve in Arlington + Key Arms Emerge

15:18 Vanderbilt’s 1-2 Weekend: Power Surge, Tough Breaks, Still Encouraging

18:19 Mark’s Road Trip Stop #1: Mississippi State vs. Hofstra Takeaways

23:47 Mark’s Road Trip Stop #2: Alabama Doubleheader

28:02 Ole Miss check-in: pitching depth after Hunter Elliott, lineup swing-and-miss concerns

32:06 Kentucky’s opening statement: Tyler Bell injury, running wild, and a dominant Friday arm

37:34 Quick-hit weekend results: Texas A&M's offense, Auburn's rotation, LSU strikeouts, Texas/Georgia standouts

43:53 More quick hits: Tennessee’s rotation options, Florida’s bounce-back, and South Carolina’s sluggish start

48:38 Missouri’s rollercoaster weekend

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On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on Alabama.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Acknowledgment

00:42 Alabama Crimson Tide: Program Overview

02:53 Key Players to Watch

04:53 Impact of Sam Christiansen's Injury

10:42 Pitching Staff Analysis

18:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on Arkansas.

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview

00:42 Arkansas Razorbacks: Team Overview

03:38 Key Players to Watch

11:09 Pitching Staff Analysis

16:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on Auburn.

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview

00:52 Sponsorship Acknowledgment

01:06 Auburn Tigers: A Decade of Change

02:48 Auburn's Lineup Depth and Key Players

10:32 Pitching Staff Analysis and Key Questions

15:18 Freshman to Watch and Roster Versatility

17:00 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on Florida.

00:00 Introduction and Season Preview Series

00:46 Florida Gators' Eventful Offseason

02:11 Impact on Team Dynamics

06:29 Pitching Staff Analysis

12:32 Offensive Lineup Breakdown

14:10 Key Players to Watch

18:47 Rivalry Series

19:47 Conclusion and Sign-Off

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on Georgia.

00:00 Introduction and Series Overview

00:49 Georgia Roster Building Philosophy

06:08 Key Players and Transfer Success Stories

11:22 Pitching Development and Strategy

13:21 Offensive Strategy and Key Players

17:09 Conclusion and Season Outlook

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on Kentucky.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:58 Kentucky Wildcats Preseason Ranking

02:45 Kentucky's Offensive Strategy

03:44 Pitching Staff Analysis

10:04 Team Defense and Key Players

13:15 Catcher Position and Depth

16:18 Expectations for the Season

17:05 Conclusion

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge continue to preview the 2026 SEC season with our preview episode on defending national champion LSU.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:14 LSU Tigers: A Dynasty in the Making?

01:37 Key Players and Lineup Changes

03:29 Newcomers and Transfer Impact

05:06 Position Battles and Key Returnees

11:38 Pitching Rotation and Bullpen Strength

15:07 Freshman Contributions and Development

17:52 Conclusion and Upcoming Previews

Highway To Hoover is brought to you by Academy Sports + Outdoors—your go-to destination for everything you need this baseball season. Whether you’re gearing up for game day or sharpening your skills in the offseason, Academy has the bats, gloves, cleats, protective gear, training equipment, and apparel to help you bring it home for less. With everyday low prices and a huge selection of top brands like Easton, Rawlings, and Wilson, Academy makes it easy to step up to the plate with confidence. Shop in-store or online at Academy.com and get ready to play ball!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.