As college football fever intensifies, especially here in the South where the sport reigns supreme over just about all other pastimes, Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans will get a nice taste of what is on the horizon this season when SEC Media Days kick off next week.
Both programs announced Tuesday which student-athletes will join each team’s head coach in engaging with the media at the annual event. The four-day SEC Media Days extravaganza will take place in Tampa this year from July 20-23.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will take the stage first on Monday morning, and from there, representatives from all 16 member institutions will, one by one, hype up their respective programs over the next few days. Ole Miss is scheduled for a day-three appearance on Wednesday, while Mississippi State is set to be showcased on Thursday.
Ole Miss
The Rebels, coming off of their first-ever College Football Playoff run, will be one of the main attractions this year, with a lot of the focus expected to center on how Pete Golding will adjust to his new head coaching role following the unprecedented departure of Lane Kiffin. Golding led Ole Miss through the postseason, but with a roster that was not solely his. He’ll soon have the chance to make his own mark, with a strong supporting cast accompanying him.
Joining Golding at SEC Media Days will be quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, a household name in college football. After taking the starting role from an injured Austin Simmons in week three of 2025, Chambliss quickly became the talk of the town. He tallied nearly 4,500 all-purpose yards and 30 total touchdowns with just three turnovers, and chose to stay in Oxford instead of following his ex-coach to LSU.
Another Rebel who decided to remain in Oxford is All-American running back Kewan Lacy, and he will have the chance to explain to reporters why he chose to continue his college career at Ole Miss during media days. Lacy, the cover athlete of EA Sports’ College Football 27, approaches the fall as one of the nation’s top ball carriers. Last season, he had 1,567 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 306 carries.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ole Miss will be represented by Mississippi’s own Will Echoles. The defensive tackle is getting a lot of buzz as a potential first round NFL Draft selection, and for good reason. This past season, the Houston native had 68 total tackles (32 solo) and five sacks. He is expected to anchor a revamped defense this year.
Representing us at SEC Media Days for July 22nd:
QB Trinidad Chambliss
RB Kewan Lacy
DT William Echoles#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/lCsMlyeOyA
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) July 14, 2026
Mississippi State
The Bulldogs are entering year three of the Jeff Lebby era with hopes of progress after a rough inaugural campaign with the head coach followed by tangible signs of growth this past season. Mississippi State went 2-10 in 2024 and followed it up with a 5-8 showing in 2025, with multiple one-score losses. But beyond the signs of record improvement is the hope of a star in the making in quarterback Kamario Taylor.
Taylor, a Noxubee County native, was mainly a redzone and short yardage signal caller last season, with Blake Shapen taking most reps from behind center. But maroon and white faithful witnessed the big quarterback make a 38-19 Egg Bowl loss somewhat palatable with a Houdini-esque touchdown run, while also seeing that he had a stellar showing at the recent Manning Passing Academy, and it ignited a new sense of joy.
Returning wideout Anthony Evans III, expected to be Taylor’s top target, will join his quarterback at SEC Media Days. Evans transferred to Mississippi State ahead of 2025 after spending his first two seasons at Georgia. He broke out last year, with 831 yards and four touchdowns on 67 receptions, and will have the chance to discuss what Lebby has done to bring out the best in him.
Rounding out the Bulldogs’ trio of media days ambassadors is stellar defensive back Kelley Jones. The lockdown corner is expected to hear his name called early in the 2027 NFL Draft, but in the meantime, he is also projected to make one side of the field a proverbial no-fly zone. In 2025, he allowed just 11 receptions on 38 targets, meaning opposing quarterbacks and wideouts had a mere 28.9% success rate against him.
Talking SZN in Tampa 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/CxZq55n8FO
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) July 14, 2026
Will SEC Media Days be televised?
The SEC Network will once again bring the four-day event to a national audience. SEC Football Media Days is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. CT on Monday. More commentary will also be provided by SportsTalk Mississippi from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
