SEC Media Days are finally here! Starting on Monday, coaches/players from all Southeastern Conference schools will gather in Tampa, Florida, for the annual kick-off event to the upcoming CFB season.
It’s the first time that Tampa, Florida will be hosting the event, and be sure to stay updated with all the latest coverage across the league, as I will be boots on the ground at the event trying to bring all the latest news, insight, and analysis from the SEC Media Days, and the biggest takeaways from the premier event that never lacks content from coaches like Kirby Smart, Kalen Deboer, Josh Huepel, and all the new coaches taking over universities across the southeast.
Let’s get into some of the key details of SEC Media Days, including the schedule, how to watch, and a quick preview!
Note: The reigning, defending SEC champions are the Georgia Bulldogs, so they are sure to be at the forefront of the event.
How to Watch SEC Media Days 2026
GettyTUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – APRIL 12: Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb talks with head coach Karen DeBoer, right, during the Alabama Spring Game at Bryant Denny Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
Dates: July 20-23
Location: Tampa Marriott Water Street + JW Marriott | Tampa, Florida
TV Channel: SEC Network, Streaming exclusively on ESPN+
The SEC has yet to release the exact schedule of when coaches/players will take the podium on their respective days, but for a quick outline, it’s a four day event in which four different teams will get the spotlight each day.
DawgSports.com wrote (on July 20):
“Wall-to-wall television coverage will be available on SEC Network, with brand new Kentucky head coach Will Stein taking the main stage first this morning. He’ll be followed by Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, and Tennessee’s Bobby Hill. I mean, Josh Heupel.”
So, there you have it, on Monday, you can expect to hear from Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Full SEC Media Days Schedule
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 06: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2025 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Here is the full SEC Media Days schedule:
Monday, July 20
- Will Stein (Kentucky)
- Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri)
- Brent Venables (Oklahoma)
- Josh Heupel (Tennessee)
Tuesday, July 21
- Alex Golesh (Auburn)
- Kirby Smart (Georgia)
- Shane Beamer (South Carolina)
- Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)
Wednesday, July 22
- Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)
- Jon Sumrall (Florida)
- Pete Golding (Ole Miss)
- Mike Elko (Texas A&M)
Thursday, July 23
- Ryan Silverfield (Arkansas)
- Lane Kiffin (LSU)
- Jeff Lebby (Mississippi State)
- Steve Sarkisian (Texas)
All told, there are seven new head coaches (including Lane Kiffin with LSU, if that even counts) who will take the podium and address the media for the first time!
Top Storylines @ SEC Media Days
Per usual, the players representing their universities are very important to note (what they say about the upcoming season).
However, SEC Media Days is so crucial because the coaches are usually more open about what their respective teams will look like ahead of the new season.
Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of the top storylines for SEC Media Days:
Monday: SEC debut for new Kentucky coach Will Stein, while Oklahoma and Tennessee enter 2026 with College Football Playoff aspirations after strong 2025 campaigns.
Tuesday: Georgia’s Kirby Smart headlines arguably the most anticipated day of the week, with Auburn’s Alex Golesh making his SEC Media Days debut and South Carolina/ Vanderbilt looking to build on momentum from the prior season.
Wednesday: Heavyweights take center stage as Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M all speak. Kalen DeBoer and Jon Sumrall are among the most scrutinized coaches entering the season. Sumrall is perhaps the highest-profile ‘new head coach’ in the SEC.
Thursday: The event closes with a star-studded lineup featuring Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Ryan Silverfield, and Jeff Lebby, as Texas (Sarkisian) enters another season with national championship expectations, and pressure may be mounting for Texas and Sark to advance to the College Football Playoff.
SEC Media Days Schedule: How to Watch, Full Week Preview