Four days in the Nashville Grand Hyatt have come and gone. And as a couple of coaches said when speaking at SEC Media Days, the unofficial start to the college football season is here.

Players wore their best fits and in some cases literally star-studded shoes to preview their teams and recap what they learned from 2022 and the ensuing offseason. There were quips about opening statements, two first-year head coaches and an all-time mom joke by Lane Kiffin.

Here are three questions answered from the conference’s annual circus.

Where does the SEC stand in the NIL debate?

This wasn’t too surprising considering the conference’s trip to Washington, D.C., but commissioner Greg Sankey and many head coaches agreed the aftermath of name, image and likeness legalization is wrecking the sport, and they believe only Congress can fix it.

The general lack of oversight, either by states “racing to the bottom” for looser laws as Sankey’s PR spin labeled it, or an ineffective NCAA has created a pay-for-play model. News broke on Thursday of a bi-partisan law that would require, among other things, athlete agents to be certified and players would have to disclose endorsement numbers to their Universities (this wouldn’t be made available to the public).

A couple of coaches were asked about their respective collectives joining others to promote a revenue-sharing model. Most coaches passed over the question, like Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. But not Kiffin. By far the most entertaining presser of the week, Kiffin summed up the state of NIL: there’s a game-changing issue and no one really knows how to regulate it.

What’s the state of SEC quarterbacks?

While LSU’s Jayden Daniels is a trendy pick for Heisman, he also represents one of the only players with a proven track record in the conference (no disrespect to South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler or Mississippi State’s Will Rogers).

When was the last time Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Auburn all entered fall camp with a question mark at the most important position in the sport?

Teams were hesitant to name starters and promised competition. In totality, it reflects the state of the transfer portal as the Crimson Tide, Gators and Tigers have a good chance to start a fresh face under center.

MORE Media Days: What the Southeastern Conference learned from the Damar Hamlin incident

Five superlatives for Nick Saban and other SEC football coaches

What we learned from the final day of SEC Media Days

Does the SEC still just mean more?

Yes, it does. Obviously. From the SEC Kickoff-branded ice sculptures to the rotating group of fans awaiting their favorite coaches and players at the bottom of the elevator in the hotel lobby where the event was held, it’s clear that college football is still king and the SEC is the ruling class.

ESPN’s SEC Network produced 47 hours of original programming with multiple shows. Paul Finebaum hosted his radio show live from the back of Grand Hall C. Former Auburn offensive lineman Cole Cubelic previewed some of the exclusive content coming to the network this fall. When asked what advice he’d give to an incoming player to the conference, Ole Miss senior Cedric Johnson said it best.

“I’d say just buckle up,” Johnson told AL.com. “It’s a crazy, crazy experience. You’re gonna be playing the best players in the league, the best players in college football.”

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].