An important checkpoint on the road to college football kickoff is “talkin season” as conference media days being around the country.

With that, comes perhaps the most prestigious of “talkin season” events, SEC media days, taking place in Atlanta, GA on Monday.

A much-hyped event certainly carries heavy amounts of pressure as this is an early impression for any critics looking to craft a narrative.

Take one of the bigger stories heading into last season’s Media Days, Florida head coach Billy Napier. By all accounts, he was a betting favorite to be one of the first head coaches fired.

Coming off of an eight-win season, highlighted by a pair of ranked wins and a bowl victory, Napier enters this media day with even more confidence than he entered a year ago in Dallas.

This offseason Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze seems to be playing the role of head coach under pressure. Entering his third season on the plains, all eyes will be on the Tigers to see how they respond to the noise.

However, Freeze isn’t alone in this small club descending upon Atlanta this week. Across the SEC, there’s coaches and players entering also entering the league’s summer pressure cooker.

Here’s some names to monitor during SEC Media Days:

Arch Manning, Texas QB

Famous SEC voice and ESPN radio host Paul Finebaum lit the fuse for the third generation Manning.

After his quote saying the Texas Longhorns quarterback is the ‘best college football quarterback we have seen since Tim Tebow’, fans are eager await the long-awaited arrival.

After taking over for a departing Quinn Ewers, he now enters the same caldron his uncle’s Peyton and Eli entered. Add in a dash or burnt orange, and you’ve got Arch under the spotlight.

While there may not be much that comes out from what he says, the soon-to-be viral photos and videos from his media session will surely justify the billing of one the emerging faces of the sport.

Mark Stoops, Kentucky head coach

Just a couple of years ago, it seemed Kentucky was an SEC team looking to beat down the door of the league’s consistent contenders.

This season, seems to have a feeling of unease, coming to Media Days off of a 4-8 2024 campaign.

If Kentucky was to move on from Stoops after the 2025 season, his contract includes a large buyout clause of $37.5 million dollars, according to On3.

Like most coaches on the hot seat, a bowl appearance is necessary for Kentucky to not have to cut a big check for a Stoops exit. The Wildcats, who won just one league game last season, once again have a difficult road ahead in 2025.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU QB

The SEC has more than one ballyhooed quarterback prospect.

According to most NFL mock drafts, Nussmeier is ranked as one of the top quarterback prospects coming out.

Nussmeier passed for passed for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. However, LSU finished just 9-4 with losses to the likes of USC, Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida.

With all the hype surrounding his NFL draft predictions, previous QB prestige at LSU, expect a few more eyes on the LSU QB at Media Days. Especially a program that has even bigger title aspirations entering 2025.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma head coach

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables was supposed to be in lockstep with the SEC heavywights once they walked through the door a year ago.

Winning just two league games last season (ironically enough, vs. Auburn and Alabama) won’t cut it in Norman, OK.

The Sooners are making a big bet on new coordinators and another transfer QB, John Mateer from Washington State.

With two losing seasons in three years for Venables, an athletic department in transition following departing AD, Joe Castiglione, a bad 2025 may see more changes at OU.

Billy Napier, Florida head coach

Napier survived to make it to this year’s media day, but he’s still under a heavy microscope this fall. What’s his prize?

Getting to do it all over again this week in Atlanta.

The Gators finished last season 8-5, anchored by a four-game winning streak to end the season. Florida upset No. 22 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss during that stretch. Due to the SEC’s flip-flop scheduling, Florida now hits the road for trips to LSU and Ole Miss.

The good news, another chance to prove that last season’s close calls vs. Tennessee and Georgia showed very well may be avenged.

Now with a full season with sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway under center, how far away could Florida be from turning things around?

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3or email him at [email protected].