The SEC has turned its annual “Kickoff Media Days” into a traveling affair. The event first left the state of Alabama — where the conference’s headquarters are located — in 2018. Now, it will be making its first trip to the Sunshine State.
On Tuesday, On3’s Brett McMurphy revealed that the 2026 SEC Media Days would be held in Tampa. From July 20-23, each of the conference’s 16 football head coaches will make media appearances.
The event is a big get for Tampa, which is quickly becoming a popular college football destination. The city will also be hosting both the 2027 Florida-Georgia game and the 2028 College Football Playoff National Championship game at Raymond James Stadium (home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Overall, Tampa will be the 4th city outside of Alabama to host SEC Media Days, joining Atlanta, Nashville and Dallas:
- Atlanta: 2018, 2022, 2025
- Nashville: 2023
- Dallas: 2024
The SEC expanded its reach with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma in 2024. Commissioner Greg Sankey is doing his best to make full use of the conference’s territory. It will be interesting to see if/when some other prominent SEC locations, like New Orleans and St. Louis, eventually get the chance to host the event.
