SEC PRIMER (MEDIA DAY SPECIAL): Will the best team please stand and be recognized
Alabama’s Kelen DeBoer will be in Atlanta on Wednesday to discuss his second squad at the Capstone. (Courtesy Unv. Alabama Athletic Dept.)
By GRAHAM DUNN
The battle lines are set.
The guns are zeroed in and ready to fire.
Atlanta hasn’t been this prepared for war since, well, Sherman burned it to the ground.
Yes, SEC Media Days, a.k.a. SEC Kickoff, is back in town.
And like last year, it is doing battle with the Major League All-Star game on the other side of town.
But not to worry, this event will not be knocked off the front pages, that is if we still had newspapers.
But the SEC media is here along with ESPN and a host of national debutants parading around as if their future lies with this league.
And it might, considering all are awaiting the words of commissioner Greg Sankey and whether or not he will give his blessing on several items such as a nine-game conference schedule, automatic bids in the playoffs and whether or not he will finally move on from the slight his league received in the first-ever 12-team playoff.
Last year, newcomers Texas and Oklahoma were welcomed to the field and everyone went to their homeland to do it - Dallas. This year, the party is back in the Deep South and no one seems to know what the excitement is all about.
Sure we can dance to the music of NIL where the NCAA finally made peace with the players (and lawyers) and gave up millions upon millions of dollars to appease the masses.
But college football looks a lot different after a season of parity. The fact that Texas lost twice to preseason favorite Georgia but then moved into the playoff semis just didn’t make sense.
Nor did the fact that the Bulldogs lost twice in the regular season and followed that with a head-scratcher against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
It was as though everything was upside down.
But the do-over begins on Monday when Sankey officially lights the torch on the Media Day Olympics, which will be complete with the likes of hot-seat members Hugh Freeze, Brent Venables and Billy Napier.
Texas will officially introduce another Manning to the world and he assuredly will receive the mass attention duly authorized by his nomenclature.
Last season was a first since 1992 when the league removed divisional lines. Ole Miss was supposed to take advantage of of that and didn’t, limping to a disappointing 10-3 record. Any other season and the Rebel faithful would have been ecstatic with that mark. But a shocking loss to Kentucky in the middle of the season didn’t offset a win over Georgia several weeks later.
Alabama and South Carolina were in the same boat. Head scratching losses doomed their chances to make the post season. In the Tide’s case, it didn’t make sense but neither did the loss to Vanderbilt or a sub-.500 team in Oklahoma.
The question will be asked…. Is this the last season for an eight-game conference schedule? Chances are the answer will not come this week. Nor will Sankey and his minions give his approval of the playoff set up in 2026. It enters the week as a mystery and will probably stay that way.
So, as the late, great Casey Kasem used to say, “on with the countdown.”
2025 SEC MEDIA DAYS BREAKDOWN
Teams are listed on the day they are to attend
MONDAY
Morning session
LSU (9-4, 5-3, Tied for 4th in SEC last year)
Coach: Brian Kelly (4th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Garrett Nussmeier, QB; Chris Hilton Jr., WR; Whitt Weeks, LB
Questions for the Tigers: Where did Harold Perkins go and can he find the mojo he had as a freshman? Will Garrett Nussmeier’s 10th year (seemingly) at LSU be his finest? How much will the Tiger fans tolerate another opening season loss if they can’t get it done at the “other” Death Valley (Clemson)?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Same as last year… somewhere between 3rd and 5th and a great New Year’s Day bowl.
SOUTH CAROLINA (9-4, 5-3, Tied for 4th place)
Coach: Shane Beamer (5th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: LaNorris Sellers, QB, DQ Smith, DB; Nick Barrett, DT
Questions for the Gamecocks: Can LaNorris Sellers as good as he was in 2024 and put the Gamecocks over the top? Will last year’s surprise finish go to this team’s (and coach’s) head? What will be an acceptable finish - playoff spot? Major bowl? Another win over Clemson?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Probably higher then they should be but still in the upper half.
Afternoon session
VANDERBILT (7-6, 3-5, Tied for 11th in SEC)
Coach: Clark Lea (5th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Randon Fontenette, S/OLB; Martel Hight, DB; Diego Pavia, QB
Questions for the ‘Dores: Can Diego Pavia pull the magic as he did in 2024? Will another set of transfers keep Vandy in position to pull off another upset or two? Was last year the start of a trend for the ‘Dores or just a “one-off?”
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: For once, not in last place but may a surprise lower tier pick.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-10, 0-8, Last in SEC)
Coach:Jeff Lebby (2nd year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Blake Shapen, QB; Isaac Smith, S; Brenen Thompson, WR
Questions for the Bulldogs: Is the Lebby tryout going to show improvement? Is Shapen good enough to move the Bulldogs up the standings? Can this program overcome the loss of more than two dozen players in the off season?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Last place by a good margin.
TUESDAY
Morning session
AUBURN (5-7, 2-6, Tied for 13th in SEC)
Coach: Hugh Freeze (3rd year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Jackson Arnold, QB; Keldric Faulk, DE; Connor Lew, OL
Questions for the Tigers: How much will Hugh Freeze’s golf game become contentious during questions with the media? Is Jackson Arnold the answer? Will the Auburn defense, chocked full of talent, learn to slow down opponents?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Ranked in the lower half but expected to improve (and keep Freeze on staff).
GEORGIA (11-3, 6-2, SEC Conference Champs)
Coach: Kirby Smart (10th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Gunner Stockton, QB; CJ Allen, LB; Daylen Everette, DB
Questions for the Dawgs: Was last year’s disappointing finish enough to rouse up the Bulldogs? Can Gunner Stockton find what he needs to make the offense better? Will another two-loss season cause fans to question if Smart is the right man for the job under the new umbrella of the NIL/transfer portal?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Second place behind the Longhorns but a playoff team.
Afternoon session
TENNESSEE (10-3, 6-2, 2nd place in SEC)
Coach: Josh Heupel (5th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Arion Carter, LB; Miles Kitselman, TE,; Bryson Eason, DT
Questions for the Vols: How much will UT miss Nico Iamaleava or will he be missed at all? Was Tennessee as good as their playoff season suggest or was there a little fortune involved? With eight starters returning, will the Vols be defensive oriented this season?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Eight wins and a fourth-place finish
TEXAS (13-3, 7-1 Regular season champs)
Coach: Steve Sarkisian (5th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Arch Manning, QB; Anthony Hill Jr, LB; Michael Taaffe, DB
Questions for the Horns: As preseason polls suppose, is this the best team in the SEC in ’25? How much of that prediction is on Manning and if he isn’t up to snuff, can the Longhorns play for the league title again? The schedule was considered soft a year ago. What about this year?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Champions of the world, or at least the SEC.
WEDNESDAY
Morning session
ALABAMA (9-4, 5-3, Tied for 4th in SEC)
Coach: Kalen DeBoer (2nd year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Tim Keenan, III, DL; Deontae Lawson, LB; Kadyn Proctor, OL
Questions for the Tide: Can the Tide avoid the hiccups that plagued them in 2024? Will Ty Simpson be the quarterback DeBoer needs to run his offense? Will missing the playoffs (again) put DeBoer on the hot seat?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Third place and a trip to the playoffs
Afternoon session
FLORIDA (8-5, 4-4 10th in SEC)
Coach: Billy Napier (4th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: DJ Lagway, QB; Jake Slaughter, OL; Caleb Banks, DL
Questions for the Gators: Can Lagway give the Gators what they need to get over the hump (and save Napier’s job)? Is there enough depth to win more than eight games? With another brutal schedule, will eight wins save Napier?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Once again an 8th or 9th place finish and .Napier on the brink.
OKLAHOMA (6-7, 2-6, Tied for 13th in SEC)
Coach: Brent Venables (4th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: John Mateer, QB,; Robert Spears-Jennings, DB; R Mason Thomas, DL
Questions for the Sooners: Is John Mateer the answer to pull Venables out of the hot seat? Can a large group of transfers be the difference? Can a better running game with transfer Jaydn Ott be the difference?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Despite being better, OU will still be given a mid-level grade.
OLE MISS (10-3, 5-3, Tied for 4th in SEC)
Coach: Lane Kiffin (7th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Austin Simmons, QB; TJ Dottery, LB; Cayden Lee, WR
Questions for the Rebels: Will lesser expectations help the Rebels get over the hump? Is Simmons good enough to do what Jaxon Dart couldn’t - get Ole Miss in the playoffs? Is this the “sleeper” of the SEC this season?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: 5th place finish and some discussion for a playoff berth.
THURSDAY
Morning session
KENTUCKY (4-8, 2-6, Tied for 13th place )
Coach:Mark Stoops (12th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Alex Afari Jr., LB; Jordan Lovett, DB; Josh Kattus, TE
Questions for the Wildcats: Is Mark Stoops officially on the hot seat? Will this be the opposite sort of season when the Cats have low expectations but rise and pull an upset or two? Do they have enough depth to do what is needed to save Stoops from the chopping block?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Picked on the lower end, possibly at the bottom.
MISSOURI (10-3, 5-3, Tied for fourth in SEC)
Coach: Eli Drinkwitz (6th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Daylan Carnell, S,; Connor Tollison, C, Zion Young, DE
Questions for the Tigers: Will the usually offensive Tigers become a defensive-oriented team? Can another transfer QB (Beau Pribula) get the job done? Will Mizzou’s graceful schedule help them look better than they actually are?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Lower half of the league but a bowl team.
Afternoon session
TEXAS A&M (8-5, 5-3, Tied for 4th in SEC)
Coach: Mike Elko (2nd year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Will Lee III, DB; Ar’maj Reed-Adams, OL; Taurean York, LB
Questions for the Aggies: Is there enough talent on hand to get the Aggies out of the lower half of the league? Can the defense find enough pass rush after losing a couple of key players? Is a veteran offensive line capable of allowing QB Marcel Reed prove better than expected?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Middle of the pack but competitive.
ARKANSAS (7-6, 3-5, Tied for 11th place in SEC)
Coach: Sam Pittman (6th year)
Players visiting ATL this week: Cam Ball, DL; Taylen Green, QB; Xavian Sorey Jr., LB
Questions for the Hogs: Is another year under OC Bobby Petrino enough to make Taylen Green a star? With a ton of new faces, can Arkansas get it together in time to be competitive in the league? Will one of the toughest schedules in the nation be too much for the Hogs?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Flank steak, or should it be pigs feet (near the bottom of the league)