The countdown to college football is officially on.
Just 34 days remain until the 2026 college football season kicks off with Week Zero.
While Southeastern Conference play begins a week later, preparations for a new season took center stage this week in Tampa, Florida.
For the first time, SEC Media Days, presented by Regions Bank, was held in the popular Florida city, generating headlines, storylines and anticipation for the season ahead. And if the past is any indication, the popularity will only continue to dominate the sports scene.
“Southeastern Conference football remains the second-most watched sports property in the United States, trailing only the National Football League,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey in his opening address. “And we account for just over 40 percent of the live viewership hours consumed among the four major conferences.”
Southeastern Conference football remains the second-most watched sports property in the United States, trailing only the National Football League. Greg Sankey, SEC Commissioner
The SEC averaged more than 80,000 fans per football game in 2025, “the highest average attendance for any sport in the world,” Sankey said.
This year’s event may have been the most newsworthy SEC Media Days in recent memory.
- Sankey confirmed the league is discussing potential reforms to college athletics with congressional leaders while acknowledging frustrations could eventually lead members to consider breaking away from the NCAA if key issues are not addressed.
- “We support the effort behind the College Protect Sports Act,” Sankey said. “However, we believe changes to the act are necessary to make it most effective. And the changes we’ve suggested are both achievable and reasonable, and we’re committed to working with Congress to pushing it across the finish line.”
- The debate over a nine-game SEC schedule has intensified because conference leaders want assurance that the CFP selection process will appropriately reward teams that play tougher schedules. While strength of schedule is a stated selection criterion, some SEC officials worry that additional conference games could lead to more losses and fewer at-large playoff opportunities compared with leagues that play lighter schedules.
- Six new head coaches made their SEC Media Days debut: Arkansas’ Ryan Silverfield, Auburn’s Alex Golesh, Florida’s Jon Sumrall, Kentucky’s Will Stein, LSU’s Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss’ Pete Golding, who led the Rebels to a pair of CFP victories after taking over for Kiffin in 2025.
- Regions and the SEC also introduced “Regions Extra: Welcome to the SEC,” a new podcast featuring SEC Network personalities Peter Burns and Chris Doering. The show highlights four of the conference’s rookie coaches – Golding, Golesh, Silverfield and Sumrall.
As the SEC’s official bank, Regions is proud to help bring SEC Media Days to life. But the partnership extends far beyond the annual event. Regions bankers work with student-athletes on financial wellness initiatives and support programming throughout the season, including SEC Nation each Saturday morning.
Regions’ relationship with the SEC goes back 30 years, and each year we try to find ways to deepen that connection, not just with the schools, but with our customers and fans throughout our footprint.Paul Hodges, Regions Experiential Marketing Strategy Manager
“You could argue that the Regions Tradition is the kickoff to the summer,” said Paul Hodges, Regions Experiential Marketing Strategy Manager. “But Media Days is the unofficial kickoff to the new season. And there are few things that bring people together faster than college football.”
“Regions’ relationship with the SEC goes back 30 years, and each year we try to find ways to deepen that connection, not just with the schools, but with our customers and fans throughout our footprint.”
