2026 SEC media days schedule, top storylines

James Morgan, UGA WireSat, Jul 4, 2026·2 min read

The 2026 SEC media days event will be held in Tampa as Florida hosts SEC media days for the first time in history. The four-day event will take place from Monday, July 20 to Thursday, July 23. Every SEC head coach along with three players is expected to speak with the media at the event.

There's a few major storylines to watch ahead of SEC media days. The SEC has not won a national championship in three straight seasons. The last SEC team to win a national title was Georgia in 2022. The 2026 season is set to be the first time the SEC has had nine conference games, so that will be a big talking point along with name, image and likeness and the transfer portal. Another major point of discussion will be first-year LSU head coach Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss in the middle of a College Football Playoff run.

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The conference has six new head coaches: Kentucky's Will Stein, Ole Miss' Pete Golding, Auburn's Alex Golesh, LSU's Lane Kiffin, Arkansas' Ryan Silverfield and Florida's Jon Sumrall. Several other coaches enter the 2026 season on the hot seat including South Carolina's Shane Beamer, Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby and Texas' Steve Sarkisian.

Last preseason, the media predicted that Texas would beat Georgia to win the 2025 SEC championship. Georgia did end up making the SEC championship where the Bulldogs faced predicted No. 3 finished Alabama. Georgia defeated Alabama 28-7 to win their second straight SEC championship.

What is the SEC media days schedule?

• Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel

• Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables

• Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz

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• Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart

• Auburn Tigers head coach Alex Golesh

• South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer

• Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea

• Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer

• Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko

• Ole Miss Rebels head coach Pete Golding

• Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby

• Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian

• Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: 2026 SEC media days schedule, top storylines

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Will Stein

Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall

LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin