SEC Media Days serves as the unofficial opening ceremony of college football, a four-day event where coaches, star players, television personalities, and reporters converge on one city to shape the sport’s biggest narratives before a single snap is played. The 2026 version of this event is set to kick off on Monday, July 20, with Tampa, Florida hosting the event for the first time.

Dallas, Nashville, and Atlanta have served as hosts for the previous three years, but the SEC has chosen a new location for this year’s event. The Tampa Marriott Water Street + JW Marriott will be the hub of activity, where coaches and players will take the stage to share their thoughts on the upcoming season.

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.

First-year Kentucky coach Will Stein gets things started on Monday morning, one of four coaches to 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.

The 2026 SEC Media Days schedule is packed with exciting matchups and storylines. On Monday, July 20, the day gets underway with Kentucky’s Will Stein, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel taking the stage. The following day, Tuesday, July 21, Auburn’s Alex Golesh, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer, and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea will share their thoughts on the upcoming season.

Wednesday, July 22, will feature Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Florida’s Jon Sumrall, Ole Miss’ Pete Golding, and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko. Finally, on Thursday, July 23, Arkansas’ Ryan Silverfield, LSU’s Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby, and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian will wrap up the week with their insights on the upcoming season.

The full schedule of coaches and players is as follows:

• Monday, July 20:
• Kentucky – Will Stein | Ty Bryant, S; Kenny Minchey, QB; Willie Rodriguez, TE
• Missouri – Eli Drinkwitz | Cayden Green, OL; Jamal Roberts, RB; Nicholas Rodriguez, LB
• Oklahoma – Brent Venables | John Mateer, QB; Eddy Pierre-Louis, OL; Taylor Wein, DL
• Tennessee – Josh Heupel | DeSean Bishop, RB; Arion Carter, LB; Jeremiah Telander, LB
• Tuesday, July 21:
• Auburn – Alex Golesh | Champ Anthony, DB; Byrum Brown, QB; Alex McPherson, K
• Georgia – Kirby Smart | Drew Bobo, OL; Gunner Stockton, QB; Raylen Wilson, LB
• South Carolina – Shane Beamer | Nyck Harbor, WR; LaNorris Sellers, QB; Peyton Williams, DB
• Vanderbilt – Clark Lea | Sedrick Alexander, RB; Issa Ouattara, DL; Junior Sherrill, WR
• Wednesday, July 22:
• Alabama – Kalen DeBoer | Zabien Brown, DB; Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR; Bray Hubbard, DB
• Florida – Jon Sumrall | Jadan Baugh, RB; Myles Graham, LB; Vernell Brown III, WR
• Ole Miss – Pete Golding | Trinidad Chambliss, QB; Will Echoles, DT; Kewan Lacy, RB
• Texas A&M – Mike Elko | Daymion Sanford, LB; Marcus Ratcliffe, S; Marcel Reed, QB
• Thursday, July 23:
• Arkansas – Ryan Silverfield | Caden Kitler, OL; Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE; Sutton Smith, RB
• LSU – Lane Kiffin | TJ Dottery, LB; Trey’Dez Green, TE; Whit Weeks, LB
• Mississippi State – Jeff Lebby | Anthony Evans III, WR; Kelley Jones, CB; Kamario Taylor, QB
• Texas – Steve Sarkisian | Trevor Goosby, OL; Arch Manning, QB; Colin Simmons, DE

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+

SEC Network and ESPN+ will provide live coverage of the event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET each day.