Top takeaways from SEC Media Days for Mizzou’s nine conference opponents

At SEC Media Days throughout the week, all 16 teams spoke to the media with any key updates on their program, touching on new players, coaches and a brand-new schedule with nine conference games.

For all teams in the Southeastern Conference, the schedule will be substantially more difficult this season, as it will be the first with nine conference games, an increase from eight. All 16 teams are inside the top 20 of ESPN’s FPI rankings for strength of schedule. The conference is also required to schedule a Power Four out-of-conference opponent, unlike the Big Ten.

“I distinctly remember last year being in SEC meetings when we were discussing the eight-to-nine-game scenario, and we were being told that if we didn’t vote to go to a nine-game, then the playoffs wouldn’t expand,” Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “And so we made that decision (to play a ninth league game). But in hindsight, we did not recognize that (the Big Ten) didn’t play a (Power Four nonconference) game.”

According to the FPI rankings, Mizzou has the 12th-toughest schedule in the nation. This schedule is highlighted by four teams that made the College Football Playoff last season.

Those four teams, along with the Tigers’ five other SEC opponents, spent the week in Tampa. Here are the takeaways from each of the teams Mizzou will match up against in conference play.

Arkansas: Discipline

Arkansas is one of six SEC teams to undergo a head-coaching change during the offseason. The Razorbacks brought in former Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield after finishing 2-10 last season. Silverfield noted the Razorbacks’ struggles when it comes to discipline in 2025.

The team committed the third-most penalties at the FBS level at 8.2 per game. The Razorbacks threw 11 interceptions last year, tying for second-most in the conference.

“We’ve got to get this team playing more disciplined with better effort and then finding ways to take care of the football,” Silverfield said. “I think all Razorback fans alike will sit there and nod their head and say, ‘Yeah, let’s get those things fixed, and we’ll be pretty pleased.’”

One new addition Silverfield brought over from Memphis was offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey. He helped the Tigers average 32.5 points per game in 2025, ranking 25th in the FBS.

“He’s had a lot of success, a lot of top-25 offenses throughout his career,” Silverfield said. “If you look at what we did on offense at Memphis, we have no doubt that same success can be (replicated) at the University of Arkansas.”

For the first time since 2020, Mizzou will not face Arkansas in the final regular-season game. Instead, the Tigers travel to face the Razorbacks on Oct. 31.

Florida: Build the offensive line

New head coach Jon Sumrall was less than impressed with his new offensive line after arriving at Florida.

“That was probably my greatest disappointment when I took the job and started to watch our team work in January and February. Just the strength of our O-line was underwhelming for me, not where I felt like it needed to be,” Sumrall said.

The Gators are coming off another disappointing season, finishing 4-8 and 13th in the SEC in total offense.

After firing Billy Napier midway through the season, Florida hired Sumrall after two years at Tulane. He led the Green Wave to a conference championship and a CFP appearance in 2025 with an 11-3 record.

If Sumrall hopes to secure the Gators’ first 10-win season since 2019, it will have to start in the trenches. Among the 29 transfers brought in during the spring, four are offensive lineman. Sumrall mentioned Harrison Moore from Georgia Tech and TJ Shanahan Jr. from Penn State as two players who are leading the pack.

“Those guys have worked incredibly hard,” Sumrall said. “They have a lot of pride in their craft and what they’re doing. And I’m very direct. When we do something well, I tell our guys we did it well. When we don’t, I let them know it wasn’t good enough.”

Mizzou will host Florida for Homecoming on Oct. 3.

Georgia: Increase offensive production

While Georgia has won back-to-back SEC championships, many around the program have been dissatisfied after it lost their opening matchup in the CFP.

“We have not had our best performances when we needed them most,” coach Kirby Smart said.

One reason for these concerns comes from the offense, run by coordinator Mike Bobo. The Bulldogs ranked seventh in the conference in total offense per game and 11th in passing yards. They return starting quarterback Gunner Stockton, who passed for 2,894 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.

“He embodies what leadership is, and he doesn’t do it through his mouth,” Smart said. “We can’t get the guy to talk half the time. When he gets around the players, they know. They see the toughness he plays with. He embodies our program.”

Stockton has done a large amount of prep heading into the season, putting on an extra 10 pounds with the expectation of dropping weight during the season.

“Just trying to get my body where it needs to be and get in the training room and stretching, doing all the stretching I need to do,” Stockton said, “and just getting my body right for the season has been a big part.”

Mizzou will face Stockton and the rest of the Georgia offense in the homestretch of the season Nov. 14 in Athens, Georgia.

Kentucky: Throw the ball

Kentucky is another team that aims to improve its passing game in 2026. The Wildcats ranked 14th in the conference in passing yards per game last season, averaging 201.9.

The team is attempting to remedy this with the hiring of new coach Will Stein. He spent the last three seasons as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, making the CFP in back-to-back seasons. He worked with elite quarterbacks Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore.

Now he will put his trust in Kenny Minchey, a transfer from Notre Dame. With the Fighting Irish, Minchey completed 23 of 29 passes for 212 passing yards.

“Really impressed with Kenny since he got here,” Stein said. “He’s somebody that feels like he’s been in our system for a long time. Has elite processing skills, high football IQ, very accurate, has the athletic ability to make plays with his feet.”

While Minchey has relatively limited experience, he was considered the 14th overall quarterback in the Class of 2023. He was part of a Kentucky transfer class that ranked 10th in the nation, according to 247Sports.

“It was a new team. A lot of new coaches, except for one, so everybody was in the same boat as me, same situation as me,” Minchey said. “So it made it a little bit easier, just with everyone kind of doing the same thing in terms of meeting teammates, learning who guys are, learning about guys, spending time with guys.”

Mizzou welcomes the Wildcats to Memorial Stadium on Nov. 21 in the night slot.

Mississippi State: Offensive improvement

While Mississippi State finished only 5-8 last season, the Bulldogs ended the year eighth in the SEC in total offense per game. Quarterback Kamario Taylor came on strong at the end of the year, finishing the 2025 season with 629 yards and five touchdowns. He made an impact late in the game against Mizzou, completing 4 of 5 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a special talent, but he’s a special young man,” coach Jeff Lebby said. “We’re going to be incredibly aggressive from an install standpoint. The way this guy retains, the way he goes about his business on the day-to-day to be able to prepare to put himself in position to go have success in between the white lines, it’s elite.”

One new addition to the offense is Marquis Johnson, a transfer wide receiver from Mizzou. As a Tiger, Johnson reeled in 66 catches for 1,075 yards and six touchdowns.

“He’s a guy that can stretch the field,” Lebby said. “What I’m excited about in that room is the depth in that room. There’s an incredible amount of competition, and that’s going to be fun to see sort out through fall camp. Got some real tools inside that room where there will be great competition.”

Mizzou travels to face Mississippi State to open SEC play during the night window on Sept. 26 in Starkville, Mississippi.

Oklahoma: Physical football

Oklahoma coach Brett Venables believes that the key to winning in the SEC is winning the trenches.

“This is a line-of-scrimmage league, make no mistake about it,” Venables said. “The margins are incredibly small. I would argue if you lose the line of scrimmage in any particular game, most of the time you’re going to lose the game.”

The Sooners had a particularly strong defensive line last season, leading the conference with 45 sacks. But that line took a major hit after having two players drafted into the NFL in the spring. One key returner to the roster is Taylor Wein, who recorded 22 tackles, seven sacks and one interception last year.

“When these bullets are flying and the moments are brightest, we fall back to our standards, we fall back to our foundation,” Wein said. “And so we know we’re very confident because we’ve put in the work.”

The Tigers will attempt to stifle Wein and the rest of Oklahoma’s defensive line in their matchup in the regular-season finale Nov. 28 in Columbia.

Ole Miss: NFL mindset

Ole Miss coach Pete Golding is ready for his first full season after the departure of Lane Kiffin to LSU in dramatic fashion.

Fresh off a trip to the CFP semifinals, Ole Miss is looking for another deep run in 2026. The Rebels’ offseason included the hiring of Paul Constantine as the strength and conditioning coach from the Atlanta Falcons, aligning with Golding’s goals to bring in a professional mindset to the program.

“I feel like the game is now kind of a blend between college and NFL,” Golding said. “I don’t think it’s old-school college, and it’s not all the way to the NFL. So I thought it was really important to get an NFL mind that’s been in this conference and had success and also been in the NFL and be really smart on how to set up the offseason.”

The Rebels have had 13 players drafted in the three years Golding was their defensive coordinator, with eight of those on the defensive side of the ball. One player likely to have his name called on draft night in 2027 is running back Kewan Lacy. The Dallas-area product spent one year with Mizzou before transferring to Ole Miss. Lacy broke onto the scene as a Rebel, recording 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.

Heading into his junior year, Lacy is seen as one of the top candidates for both the Doak Walker and Heisman trophies.

“I’d say one goal of mine, of course, is the Heisman,” Lacy said. “Then I want 2,000 all-purpose yards. That’s one of my goals. But I think just me being the best I can be is going to help my team.”

The Tigers will visit Lacy and the rest of Ole Miss on Oct. 17 in Oxford during the afternoon window.

Texas: Run the ball

While Arch Manning faced heavy criticism last season, he helped lead Texas to the seventh-best passing offense in the SEC. But the Longhorns’ run game left much to be desired, being held to 137.8 yards per game for the fifth-least in the conference.

“I think we’ve addressed all those areas in the run game,” coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We’ve got to create more explosive plays. When we’re at our best, we’re a very explosive offensive football team.”

The Longhorns added a pair of transfer running backs in Arizona State’s Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers from North Carolina State. Brown was one of the top rushers in the FBS last season, ranking 20th with 1,141 yards and also adding four touchdowns. Smothers had a strong 2025 season with the Wolfpack, racking up 939 rushing yards with six touchdowns.

These two will help back the arm of Manning, who faces a bevy of expectations and is projected by ESPN as the top pick in the 2027 draft.

“I think it’s a totally different group,” Manning said. “We’re definitely all probably a year better.”

The Tigers host Manning and the rest of the Longhorns on Nov. 7 during the early window.

Texas A&M: Wide receiver room

Texas A&M had a formidable offense in the second year under coach Mike Elko, finishing fifth in the conference with 444.5 yards per game. The passing game was extremely effective, led by the duo of quarterback Marcel Reed and wide receiver KC Concepcion. The wideout was drafted with the 24th overall pick after pulling in 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. But with his departure from the program, it left a hole in the wide receiver room.

Part of that will be replaced internally, led by Mario Craver. The Alabama native nearly matched Concepcion’s stats last season, recording 59 receptions for 917 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s one of the more explosive, dynamic slot receivers I’ve been able to be around,” Elko said. “I think he does a really, really good job of creating separation. He plays bigger than his size. I think he’ll have a really, really big year for us if he can find a way to stay healthy and be consistent week in and week out.”

Externally, Texas A&M added Isaiah Horton from Alabama. Last year with the Crimson Tide, Horton racked up 42 receptions for 511 yards and eight touchdowns.

“Been really excited with his development through this offseason,” Elko said. “I think he’s really bought into what we’re trying to do and become a really, really good route runner.”

Mizzou will attempt to stifle the receivers when they host the Aggies on Oct. 10 during the early window.

Mizzou will begin its season Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, taking on three nonconference opponents before beginning SEC play.