Netflix’s “Any Given Saturday” — A Preseason Peek Inside SEC Football Brings Mixed Reviews

Netflix’s new docuseries Any Given Saturday dropped just in time to whet the appetite of college football fans before kickoff. Billed as a behind-the-scenes look at the 2024 SEC season, the seven-episode run offered a mix of player spotlights, locker room access, and sideline drama. For some fans, it was the perfect preseason appetizer. For others, it felt rushed, selective, and a bit too polished to deliver the raw authenticity they hoped for.

Standouts and Surprises

One of the series’ breakout personalities was LSU linebacker Whit Weeks, who drew praise for his charisma and on-field energy. Florida quarterback Graham Mertz also emerged as a fan favorite, with several viewers saying his leadership and attitude were exactly what you want in a QB. The show chronicled Mertz’s late-season run and the bittersweet close to his college career, leaving some hoping he lands a long NFL stint — even if as a respected locker room presence.

Another surprise hit was Vanderbilt’s storyline. While the Commodores didn’t have a championship chase to sell, their effort and incremental wins resonated with fans who enjoyed seeing an underdog program featured in a high-profile production.

Coaches in the Spotlight

If there was one constant takeaway from viewers, it’s that Any Given Saturday cemented some existing reputations — for better and worse.

• Shane Beamer (South Carolina) and Clark Lea (Vanderbilt) came off as genuine, likeable leaders. Even some rival fans admitted they were impressed by their authenticity and connection with players.
• Hugh Freeze (Auburn), however, was widely panned for coming across as insincere and flat. Multiple viewers compared his on-screen presence to that of a televangelist without the charisma.
• Brian Kelly (LSU) drew heavy criticism for awkward lines (including a head-scratching mortgage reference) and a coaching style that felt condescending. One viewer summed it up: “He’s a stick in the mud who forces out swearing to be cool with the kiddos.”

Texas A&M’s yell leaders also got a brief spotlight, providing one of the show’s more unintentionally humorous sequences.

Production Choices and Pacing

Many fans felt the season was too short at just seven episodes. Game footage often felt compressed, and the series skipped over some marquee matchups entirely. The editing leaned heavily into SEC boosterism — opening with declarations about the conference’s dominance — only to undercut that narrative by showing early losses to non-SEC teams like USC and Illinois.

Some viewers compared it to the later seasons of Drive to Survive, saying the storytelling felt more manufactured and less raw than the earliest sports docuseries in this style.

The SEC Focus: Strength or Limitation?

As expected, the series was essentially an SEC showcase. That meant rabid fan bases and big stadium backdrops — but also criticism from viewers outside the conference who saw it as “LessEC propaganda.” Others argued the formula could easily translate to other conferences, especially those with less media saturation, and called for future seasons to expand beyond the South.

Final Verdict

Any Given Saturday delivered enough drama, personalities, and program flavor to hold most fans’ attention, but it rarely dove deep enough to feel like a definitive portrait of the season. For SEC loyalists, it’s an easy binge. For neutral fans, it’s a mixed bag — part hype video, part reality show, part missed opportunity.

Or as one South Carolina fan put it:

“Perfect appetizer for the season… but now I want the full meal.”