Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is set to close 2026 SEC Media Days in Tampa, where Mike Elko, Brent Venables and other big-name coaches will take the stage.
The SEC has saved one of its biggest draws for last at 2026 SEC Football Media Days, with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian currently lined up to close the four-day event in Tampa.
Set for July 20-23 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and JW Marriott, this year’s gathering marks a milestone for the conference.
For the first time, SEC Media Days will be staged in Florida, giving the event a fresh backdrop after recent runs in Dallas, Nashville and Atlanta.
And if the tentative order holds, Sarkisian will deliver the final coach appearance on Thursday, July 23.
SEC Media Days is built on storylines, and Texas will arrive with plenty of them.
Sarkisian’s program remains one of the conference’s marquee brands, and his appearance at the end of the week should keep Texas football, SEC Media Days 2026 and the Longhorns’ outlook squarely in the spotlight for search traffic and national conversation alike.
Sarkisian is scheduled to appear alongside Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield, LSU coach Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby on the final day.
Earlier in the week, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko is positioned as Wednesday’s last speaker, while Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is slated to speak late on Monday.
The full lineup also includes names such as Kirby Smart, Josh Heupel, Shane Beamer, Clark Lea and Kalen DeBoer, giving the event no shortage of headline power from start to finish.
Of course, the SEC has left itself some flexibility, noting the speaking order can still shift before July.
But for now, the conference appears to understand exactly what it’s doing ... placing Sarkisian in the closing chair and letting one of college football’s biggest brands deliver the final word from Tampa.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community for FREE! Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable App to stay even more connected!