College Football’s 2025 Season Unofficially Kicks Off in Atlanta on July 16 as the Sport’s Eyes Turn to SEC Media Days
Each year, while the first official snap of college football is still weeks away, the true beginning of the season is marked not by kickoff but by conversation. And that conversation begins in earnest during SEC Media Days — a highly anticipated gathering of coaches, players, media, and analysts that sets the tone for the upcoming college football season. For 2025, that unofficial start kicks off in Atlanta on July 16, when the Southeastern Conference takes center stage once again to preview what is shaping up to be one of the most compelling seasons in recent memory.
Atlanta, a city rich in college football tradition, has become a fitting host for the spectacle. While it’s not a game day, the energy in the building mirrors the intensity of Saturdays in the fall. Journalists from all over the country descend upon the city. Network television cameras line up. Coaches don fresh suits and prepare to face an avalanche of questions. Players polish their answers, knowing that one quote could dominate the news cycle. What happens in those few days in July may not appear in the box score, but it often reveals the mindset, ambition, and pressure each team carries heading into the new season.
This year’s event carries even greater weight because of the continued evolution of the college football landscape. The 2025 season will be the second under the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format, which has already added intensity to every conversation about rankings, rivalries, and resume-building. For SEC teams — who often argue they deserve multiple playoff spots — Media Days offer a platform not just to project confidence but to shape early narratives about strength of schedule, key returning players, and championship potential.
Moreover, 2025 is also the year that will test several coaching transitions, program rebuilds, and the ever-changing impact of the transfer portal and NIL deals. All of this creates a swirling mixture of drama and intrigue, and it starts in one room — with microphones, podiums, and a lot of bold proclamations.
The headlines coming into Atlanta are already drawing attention. The spotlight, perhaps more than ever, will shine on Alabama as the Crimson Tide enters their first season without Nick Saban since 2006. New head coach Kalen DeBoer will face the media in SEC territory for the first time, and while he’s no stranger to press conferences, this is a different animal. He’ll be asked about everything from replacing a legend to quarterback development, and how he plans to keep Alabama in the championship conversation.
Alabama isn’t the only program entering Media Days with something to prove. Texas and Oklahoma, who completed their first full SEC season in 2024, return to the event with higher expectations and more pressure. After a promising start in the conference, both fanbases are hungry for a breakthrough. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will likely address how the Longhorns plan to turn playoff appearances into national titles. Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, meanwhile, may be grilled about his defensive strategy in a league still known for explosive offenses.
Then there’s Georgia — a program that has become the gold standard since dethroning Alabama at the top of the SEC in recent years. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are national title contenders yet again, returning a roster loaded with both experience and five-star newcomers. Smart will likely be asked how he keeps his team motivated, what separates his current group from past squads, and how Georgia plans to reclaim the title after falling just short in 2024.
LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Florida also arrive in Atlanta with compelling storylines. LSU’s Brian Kelly faces mounting pressure to deliver consistent results with the nation’s most dynamic roster. Josh Heupel’s Tennessee squad has offensive firepower and a veteran defense, making them a potential dark horse in the SEC East. Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss team continues to overachieve, but will 2025 finally be the year they break through and make the playoff? And Florida’s Billy Napier, whose seat has grown warmer with each passing season, must convince Gators fans and media alike that the program is on an upward trajectory.
Media Days aren’t just about the coaches, though. Star players often emerge as the unofficial faces of their programs during this event. Quarterbacks like Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Carson Beck (Georgia), and Arch Manning (Texas) — if selected to speak — will be under the microscope. Their body language, their words, and their ability to handle tough questions will serve as early indicators of leadership. Fans dissect every answer, looking for signs of maturity, focus, or even concern.
And it’s not only veterans. The SEC’s crop of rising stars and incoming freshmen will also be discussed at length. Which under-the-radar players are impressing in camp? Which transfers could reshape their teams? Who’s poised to take a sophomore leap? These are the types of questions analysts explore throughout the week. Insider quotes or one well-placed comment can elevate a player’s profile nationally before a single down is played.
Of course, not all of the attention in Atlanta will be on football strategy. The business of college football now plays a massive role in the event. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation, player compensation, and transfer rules are constant topics. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will address the state of the conference, expansion rumors, and legislative updates in his opening remarks. He’ll likely be pressed on the long-term vision for the SEC, potential scheduling models, and how the league plans to maintain dominance in a constantly shifting collegiate sports landscape.
And fans, despite not being in the room, are very much a part of the event. Social media lights up with every juicy quote or awkward moment. Fanbases argue over who “won” the event — a strange but very real competition that plays out each year. Some coaches come across as poised and articulate, others defensive or vague. Those impressions often linger far beyond the summer.
For media members, SEC Media Days are like a reunion and a marathon rolled into one. Reporters work long hours, bouncing between interviews, live television hits, and social media updates. It’s a grind, but it’s also the most concentrated burst of access they’ll have all season. Questions that may go unanswered during game weeks — due to time constraints or media restrictions — get asked here, and sometimes answered in surprising ways.
But the real value of SEC Media Days isn’t necessarily in the breaking news — it’s in the tone it sets. Programs that speak with clarity and confidence often carry that swagger into the season. Teams that seem evasive or unsettled sometimes reflect that uncertainty on the field. Coaches who control the room often control the narrative for weeks to come.
For the players, it’s a dress rehearsal of sorts. Walking into a ballroom full of flashing lights and national cameras mimics the pressure of a big-game Saturday. Handling tough questions, staying composed, and representing their school with maturity is all part of the process. And for some, it’s the first step toward building their NFL résumé, especially in a league known for preparing pros.
Atlanta hosting the event only adds to the spectacle. As the unofficial capital of Southern football, the city provides both the prestige and infrastructure to match the magnitude of the moment. The College Football Hall of Fame sits just blocks away, serving as a reminder of the history these players are chasing. And while it may only be July, for fans and analysts alike, this feels like football season.
Indeed, SEC Media Days mark the psychological shift for the college football world. Summer camps are around the corner. Fall depth charts are being finalized. Playoff predictions begin to take shape. And while championships aren’t won at a podium, the seeds of success — or failure — are often planted in these early moments.
As July 16 approaches, all eyes will once again be on Atlanta. Not because of a coin toss or kickoff, but because the story of the 2025 college football season is about to begin. Coaches will speak, players will shine, controversies will emerge, and narratives will be written. It’s not the official start, but it’s the one that counts. From here on out, every word, every decision, and every headline becomes part of the countdown to kickoff. College football is back — unofficially, but undeniably.
