SEC Media Days serves as college football's unofficial opening ceremony -- a four-day traveling roadshow where coaches, star players, television personalities and reporters descend on one city to shape the sport's biggest narratives before a single snap is played.
The 2026 version kicked off on Monday, with Tampa, Florida hosting the event for the first time. Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta have served as hosts for the previous three years.
No conference does theater quite like the SEC. Media Days has evolved from a routine preseason obligation into one of the sport's premier annual events, where perception often matters almost as much as production. Before anyone wins a game this fall, the race for headlines begins in Florida.
Oklahoma's Brent Venables began the festivities on Monday morning. Four coaches will speak in the main room each day. Steve Sarkisian and Texas finish out the week on Thursday afternoon. Several preseason Heisman candidates will also be in attendance, including Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss and Oklahoma's John Mateer.
Here's a look at where to watch 2026 SEC Media Days, along with a breakdown of the full appearance schedule ahead of the anticipated event.
Where to watch 2026 SEC Media Days
Dates: July 20-23
Location: Tampa Marriott Water Street + JW Marriott | Tampa, Florida
TV: SEC Network | Live stream: ESPN+
2026 SEC Media Days schedule
All times Eastern
Thursday, July 23
LSU (9:05 a.m.) – Lane Kiffin | TJ Dottery, LB; Trey'Dez Green, TE; Whit Weeks, LB
Arkansas (10:30 a.m.) – Ryan Silverfield | Caden Kitler, OL; Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE; Sutton Smith, RB
Mississippi State (1:30 p.m.) – Jeff Lebby | Anthony Evans III, WR; Kelley Jones, CB; Kamario Taylor, QB
Texas (2:55 p.m.) – Steve Sarkisian | Trevor Goosby, OL; Arch Manning, QB; Colin Simmons, DE
More from SEC Media Days
- United front: Brent Venables, new OU AD face the hard SEC questions together
- Six new coaches, four years without a title: Burning questions for each team
- Ahmad Hardy cleared after shooting: Mizzou star RB's timeline for return remains TBD
- John Mateer learns from 'uncomfortable' 2025: Oklahoma QB eyes offensive resurgence
- Right man for the job: 5 reasons why Kentucky will thrive under new coach Will Stein
- Patience required: Tennessee expects quick fix with Jim Knowles at DC; is it possible?
- A lot to prove: Does Georgia QB Gunner Stockton have enough weapons around him?
- Auburn's elite pairing: Alex Golesh confident QB Byrum Brown will thrive in SEC
- The way back: How Shane Beamer can re-establish momentum at South Carolina
- Better together: Greg Sankey talks SEC breakaway when focus should be fixing NCAA
- Lone Star State of Excellence: How Texas, Texas A&M rose to national prominence together
- Where did Alabama's toughness go?: Kalen DeBoer stresses physicality after CFP wake-up call
- Brutally honest: Jon Sumrall's no-nonsense approach is already changing Florida
- On the defensive: Pete Golding fires back at tampering critics amid Dabo Swinney claims
- Dynamic duo: Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy chasing history in 2026
- Man on a mission: Arkansas' Ryan Silverfield unbothered by viral 'aura' jokes ahead of Year 1
- Running out the clock: LSU's Lane Kiffin uses 16-minute filibuster to dodge tough questions
- Lane Kiffin unplugged: LSU coach leaves Ole Miss and social media to forge new path
