SEC PRIMER (MEDIA DAY SPECIAL): League enters the 'Kiffin Zone' for 2026
Lane Kiffin changes colors when he arrives this week for the 2026 SEC Kickoff in Tampa. (File Photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
The newest version of SEC Kickoff (what we still call Media Days) brings a bit of intrigue.
So much that it’s hard to figure what is considered the leading topic of conversation.
Is it the current debate regarding the number of teams that should be in the College Football Playoff?
What can be done about the rogue agents and high prices for the elite recruits?
Will the new nine-game conference schedule spell doom for a potential playoff bid for somebody?
Which of the new head coaches will shine and which will look out of place? And what of Lane Kiffin’s new digs - is he a fit for the LSU Tigers?
Most importantly, what needs to be done to get an SEC team back in the Winner’s circle for a national championship?
A lot of questions with multiple answers heading into the most non-rational week heading into football season. Everybody attending in Tampa this week will look for answers to questions most cannot give a definitive answer but the media will use the sound byte to talk about for an hour.
The coaches will look to be as vague as possible, not to give anything away (Hugh Freeze is no longer a part of the group so that eradicates the absolute discussion, at least for the most part).
There will be pointed questions for commissioner Greg Sankey who will bypass most of it with a sly comment that other leagues will take offense to. And at least one of the new coaches will boast of his past as an assistant in the league and say he is prepared for what is about to hit him.
It’s all part of the show that opens on Monday in Tampa, a.k.a. The Big Guava (also the Suncoast).
2026 SEC MEDIA DAYS BREAKDOWN
Teams are listed on the day they are to attend
MONDAY
Morning session
OKLAHOMA (10-3, 6-2, Tied for 5th in 2025)
Coach: Brent Venables (5th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: John Mateer, QB; Eddy Pierre-Louis, OL; Taylor Wein, DL
Questions for the Sooners: Can Mateer bring his game up a notch to give the Sooners a chance to top the 10 wins of last season? Are the fans feeling better about Venables as his head coach or does he need another solid season? Is the schedule too treacherous to win 10 games again?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: The Sooners have been an off again, on again program the last few years with six wins sandwiched between two 10 win seasons. If that trend continues, they will finish out of the running of a playoff bid. Media will probably give them the benefit of the doubt and pick them in the top seven.
MISSOURI (8-5, 4-4, Tied for 8th in 2025)
Coach: Eli Drinkwitz (7th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Cayden Green, OL; Jamal Roberts, RB; Nicholas Rodriguez, LB
Questions for the Tigers: Will the next entry at quarterback (Austin Simmons, formerly of Ole Miss) give the Tigers’ a better chance at another 10-win season? Have we seen the high-water mark of this program under Drinkwitz or is the best yet to come? Is RB Ahmand Hardy underrated or will he have another solid season?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… Mizzou has five home conference games and a couple of road games that are winnable. But seven or eight W’s may be all they can muster. Middle of the pack.
Afternoon session
TENNESSEE (8-5, 4-4, tied for 8th place in 2025)
Coach: Josh Heupel (6th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: DeSean Bishop, RB; Arion Carter, LB; Jeremiah Telander, LB
Questions for the Vols: Will the quarterback kerfuffle that meant no extra year of Joey Aguilar cause a big drop in the standings for Tennessee? Can the defensive players that followed new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Penn State make a marked difference in the Vols’ ability to stop opponents? Will another 7-8 win season put Heupel on the hot seat?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: The season can go from eight wins to six depending on the quarterback situation. Media will see it closer to the latter. Mid to lower pick.
KENTUCKY (5-7, 2-6, Tied for 11th place )
Coach: Will Steiner (1st year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Ty Bryant, S; Kenny Minchey, QB; Willie Rodriguez, TE
Questions for the Wildcats: Can Steiner move the Wildcats back to decency after the program let go of it's winningest coach in school history (Mark Stoops, 82 wins)? Can the offense find a groove that was 103rd nationally in total offense? In what is the 50th season of the Wildcats’ last conference championship (tied with Georgia that year), can they turn their fortunes around under a new coaching staff? Is the schedule susceptible to a winning season and a bowl berth?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… Need a couple of upsets to break .500 but the media will not give them that benefit of the doubt. Bottom three pick.
TUESDAY
Morning session
AUBURN (5-7, 1-7, Tied for 13th in 2025)
Coach: Alex Golesh (1st year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Champ Anthony, DB; Byrum Brown, QB; Alex McPherson, K
Questions for the Tigers: Is Golesh the man to bring the Tigers out of the doldrums (and did he bring enough talent with him from USF to do it)? Can QB Brown adjust to the pressure of SEC defenses? Do the Tigers have enough talent to top the .500 mark and make a bowl game?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… Auburn is not among the upper half of the league and it’s doubtful they will be treated any differently this week. Picked in the lower half.
GEORGIA (12-2, 7-1, SEC Champs)
Coach: Kirby Smart (11th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Gunner Stockton; QB; Drew Bobo, OL; Raylen Wilson, LB
Questions for the Dawgs: Is Georgia lurking under the radar (amazingly) and ready to pick off another SEC Championship? Will Gunner Stockton make a move up the ladder of great QBs nationally? Will the normally solid passing defense return to form this season (60th rated nationally last year)?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Second place but another trip to the SEC Championship game and the playoffs.
Afternoon session
SOUTH CAROLINA (4-8, 1-7, Tied for 13th place)
Coach: Shane Beamer (6th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: LaNorris Sellers; QB, Nyck Harbor; Peyton Williams, DB
Questions for the Gamecocks: Is Sellers able to return to the 2024 form that led the Gamecocks to nine wins? Where will the Cocks find more offense? Is Beamer under the gun to finish with eight or more wins?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Might be the most inconsistent program in the league at the moment. Hard to pick them any higher than ninth.
VANDERBILT (10-3, 6-2, Tied for 5th in SEC)
Coach: Clark Lea (6th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Sedrick Alexander, RB; Issa Ouattara, DL; Junior Sherrill, WR
Questions for the ‘Dores: QB Diego Pavia is gone but all Hail the freshman Jared Curtis… Is he able to recreate the magic? Can Vandy live up to what is now higher expectations after a 10-win season? Is Sedrick Alexander the best RB in the league?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… The past is the past but the media has a long memory. Lower half pick.
WEDNESDAY
Morning session
ALABAMA (11-4, 7-1, Regular season champs via tiebreaker)
Coach: Kalen DeBoer (3rd year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Zabien Brown, DB; Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR ; Bray Hubbard, DB
Questions for the Tide: How good (or bad) can Alabama be - with picks anywhere from conference champs to barely making a bowl in the off-season predictions? Just how much pressure is on DeBoer to put the Tide in position of winning a title? Was last year’s abomination of a running game a one-off or is this the shape of the current staff’s offense?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… This one is a hard call but the name on its own probably garners a top 4 pick.
FLORIDA (4-8, 2-6 11th in SEC)
Coach: Jon Summrall (1st year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Jadan Baugh, RB; Myles Graham LB; Vernell Brown III, WR
Questions for the Gators: Is a new coach the answer to the Gators’ problems? Can running back Jadan Baugh improve on a season of 1,00-plus yards a year ago? Who will replace the disenchanted QB D.J. Lagway and can the new guy keep the severe appraisal out of his head?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… Expectations are low for the Gators. Look for a lower half prediction.
Afternoon session
OLE MISS (13-2, 7-1, Tied for 1st in 2025)
Coach: Pete Golding (1st year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Trinidad Chambliss, QB; Will Echoles, DT; Kewan Lacy, RB
Questions for the Rebels: Can Pete Golding make a full transition and do what is necessary to keep the Rebels flying high? is Chambliss the “underdog’s” best QB in the league? Is the schedule susceptible to another 11-win season?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY…: Last year’s finish might be creating unrealistic expectations for the Rebels but the media will give them high marks this week. Look for a top 5 pick.
TEXAS A&M (11-2, 7-1, Tied for 1st in 2025)
Coach: Mike Elko (3nd year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Daymion Sanford, LB; Marcus Ratcliffe, S; Marcel Reed, QB
Questions for the Aggies: Can the Aggies have an encore after winning the first 11 games of the season or will the schedule catch up with them a little earlier? Is Reed good enough to improve from his solid season of ‘25? Can the Aggie defense find the right answers to the players gone from last year?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… Schedule says 10 wins are possible but there will be a lot of teams to crawl in front of. Top 5? Maybe?
THURSDAY
Morning session
LSU (7-6, 3-5, 10th in SEC in 2025)
Coach: Lane Kiffin (1st year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: TJ Dottery, LB; Trey’Dez Green, TE; Whit Weeks, LB
Questions for the Tigers: When will the pressure of being the LSU coach finally hit Kiffin - or will it? Is the hype and expectations a fair comparison to what the Tigers bring back (transfers notwithstanding)? Will QB Sam Levitt be the answer to recent quarterback woes?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… High expectations mean a lofty ranking by the media…. top four expected.
ARKANSAS (2-10, 0-8, 16th place in 2025)
Coach: Ryan Silverfield (1st year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Caden Kitler, OL; Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE; Sutton Smith, RB
Questions for the Hogs: How quickly can Silverfield reverse the Hogs’ fortunes? Better question - can he reverse the fortunes of a team that has suffered its worst season since back-to-back years of 2-10 in 2018-19? Currently, is this the worst program in the SEC?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… A learning curve season for the new coach but few wins; another bad season and low finish.
Afternoon session
TEXAS (10-3, 6-2, Tied for 5th in 2025)
Coach: Steve Sarkisian (6th year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Arch Manning, QB; Trevor Goosby, OL; Colin Simmons, DE
Questions for the Horns: Has Sarkisian finally built a championship-caliber roster? Will Arch Manning live up to his billing? Will the other stars (DL Colin Simmons/DB Jelani McDonald/ RB Hollywood Smothers, etc) bring this program to the point of winning a national title or will it wilt under the pressure?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… Odds-on favorite to win not only the SEC but the national title, The SEC media will agree.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-8, 1-7, Tied for 13th in 2025)
Coach: Jeff Lebby (3rd year)
Players visiting Tampa this week: Anthony Evans III, WR; Kelley Jones, CB; Kamario Taylor, QB
Questions for the Bulldogs: Does Lebby have what he needs to unleash his offense? Is Taylor on the verge of being the “next” breakout QB? Lebby says this is his “best roster yet.” But is it good enough to move the Dogs into the top 8 of the league?
SEC MEDIA WILL SAY… The talent may say a 7-8 win season but the schedule says otherwise… Another lower half finish.