SEC Media Days hit Tampa with Arch Manning closing the show
The SEC’s four-day preseason showcase runs July 20-23 in Tampa, with coverage on SEC Network and ESPN+.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
The SEC’s annual preseason microphone marathon starts Monday in Tampa, Florida, where all 16 league coaches and selected players will cycle through four days of interviews before fall camp.
CBS Sports reports the 2026 SEC Media Days are being held at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and JW Marriott from July 20-23. It is Tampa’s first time hosting the event after Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta handled the previous three years.
Coverage is scheduled each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on SEC Network, with streaming available on ESPN+. CBS Sports notes that the SEC has not announced the exact times for each coach’s main-room appearance.
Where to watch
- Dates: July 20-23
- Location: Tampa Marriott Water Street and JW Marriott in Tampa, Florida
- TV: SEC Network
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Daily coverage window: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Kentucky coach Will Stein, in his first year with the Wildcats, is listed first on Monday’s schedule. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns are set to close the week Thursday afternoon, according to CBS Sports.
The player list includes several names CBS Sports identified as preseason Heisman contenders: Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer.
Monday, July 20
- Kentucky: Will Stein, with Ty Bryant, Kenny Minchey and Willie Rodriguez
- Missouri: Eli Drinkwitz, with Cayden Green, Jamal Roberts and Nicholas Rodriguez
- Oklahoma: Brent Venables, with John Mateer, Eddy Pierre-Louis and Taylor Wein
- Tennessee: Josh Heupel, with DeSean Bishop, Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander
Tuesday, July 21
- Auburn: Alex Golesh, with Champ Anthony, Byrum Brown and Alex McPherson
- Georgia: Kirby Smart, with Drew Bobo, Gunner Stockton and Raylen Wilson
- South Carolina: Shane Beamer, with Nyck Harbor, LaNorris Sellers and Peyton Williams
- Vanderbilt: Clark Lea, with Sedrick Alexander, Issa Ouattara and Junior Sherrill
Wednesday, July 22
- Alabama: Kalen DeBoer, with Zabien Brown, Ryan Coleman-Williams and Bray Hubbard
- Florida: Jon Sumrall, with Jadan Baugh, Myles Graham and Vernell Brown III
- Ole Miss: Pete Golding, with Trinidad Chambliss, Will Echoles and Kewan Lacy
- Texas A&M: Mike Elko, with Daymion Sanford, Marcus Ratcliffe and Marcel Reed
Thursday, July 23
- Arkansas: Ryan Silverfield, with Caden Kitler, Quincy Rhodes Jr. and Sutton Smith
- LSU: Lane Kiffin, with TJ Dottery, Trey’Dez Green and Whit Weeks
- Mississippi State: Jeff Lebby, with Anthony Evans III, Kelley Jones and Kamario Taylor
- Texas: Steve Sarkisian, with Trevor Goosby, Arch Manning and Colin Simmons
The event arrives before any fall games are played, but it gives the league’s coaches, quarterbacks and headline players their first major SEC stage of the season.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.