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 coming season when SEC Media Days kick off next week.
Both programs announced on 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 Atlanta this year from July 14-17, with players and coaches appearing at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park and the College Football Hall of Fame.
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-one appearance on Monday afternoon, and Mississippi State is set to be showcased on Wednesday morning.
For Ole Miss, quarterback Austin Simmons, wide receiver Cayden Lee, and linebacker TJ Dottery will join head coach Lane Kiffin in representing the Rebels. Simmons, who spent the past two seasons behind decorated Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart, will command the offense this season. Last year, the talented southpaw appeared in nine games where he completed 19 of 32 passes (59.4%) for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
One of Simmons’ projected top targets, Lee, is poised for a third season in Oxford. The junior wideout logged 874 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 57 receptions a season ago, and is looking to kick his game into another gear when the fall rolls around. Dottery, one of the few returning starters from last year’s defense, will serve as a leader of a transfer-heavy group. Last year, the talented linebacker recorded 76 total tackles (42 solo), two sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass deflection.
Talkin’ ball next week
pic.twitter.com/o4CIh2mkWs
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) July 8, 2025
The Rebels concluded a relatively successful 2024 season with a 10-3 record, though many argue the team fell short of playoff expectations set prior to opening kickoff. This year, with a change of the guard at quarterback along with a litany of newcomers on both sides of the ball, Kiffin and company will have an opportunity to replicate recent successes while also building for the future.
Joining head coach Jeff Lebby in representing Mississippi State will be quarterback Blake Shapen, safety Isaac Smith, and wide receiver Brenen Thompson. Shapen, for the second straight year, will speak to media members as the Bulldogs’ field general. The Louisiana native’s redshirt senior campaign was cut short last year due to a shoulder injury. Prior, Shapen completed 69% of his passes for 974 yards, eight touchdowns, and only one interception.
Also set to speak is Thompson, a newcomer who spent the last three seasons at Oklahoma. The senior wideout had 19 receptions for 230 yards and two scores in 2024. He will be an elder statesman in a young wide receivers room. Anchoring the defensive side will be Smith, a second-team All-SEC safety. Last year, the Fulton native logged an eye-popping 127 total tackles (46 solo), three pass deflections, and a forced fumble.
Locked in for Atlanta.
⁰@BrenenThompson_, @isaacdsmith and @BShapen are headed to SEC Media Days with @Coach_Leb on July 16!
⁰#HailState || #SECMD25 pic.twitter.com/uQYeY0Kocs— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) July 8, 2025
Year two of Lebby’s tenure in Starkville will be pivotal in seeing how quickly Mississippi State can adapt to the modern era of college football. After a 2-10 debut for the first-time head coach, the upcoming season poses a multitude of chances for Lebby’s crew to play spoiler and put college football on watch for emerging Bulldog excellence on the gridiron. However, a difficult conference schedule could also pose complications in those efforts.
Ole Miss and Mississippi State will kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 30. Full schedules for both teams, including TV time slots, can be found here.
Will SEC Media Days be televised?
The SEC Network will once again bring the four-day event to a national audience. 11 projected starting quarterbacks are scheduled to appear in Atlanta next week. 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.
