Just past the honkey-tonks on Broadway, the Southeastern Conference kicked off its annual media event at the Nashville Grand Hyatt.

Commissioner Greg Sankey and representatives from LSU, Texas A&M and Missouri’s football programs met with reporters and previewed their respective 2023 seasons. They touched on the existential issues the sport is facing along with a recap of what the conference accomplished a year ago.

Amid coachspeak and SEC-branded memorabilia, here’s what to know from the start of SEC Media Days:

Saddle up, SEC

In his opening statement, Sankey honored the first responders who sprung to action during the mass shooting at The Covenant (Tenn.) School which impacted the area in March. The four officers will be honored again at the 2024 men’s basketball tournament as the SEC’s guests.

Sankey then confirmed that next year’s media days will be in Dallas as the conference welcomes Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns. The SEC showcase will take place from July 15-18 at the Omni Hotel. It was first reported by the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy on Monday morning. Sankey also noted the football championships are likely to remain in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Sankey: NIL needs a Congressional solution, leave gambling to the states

Sankey took aim at the notion that NIL laws should be handled on a state-by-state basis. He cited the conference’s trip to Capital Hill earlier this summer asking Congress for national legislation to regulate the wild west that’s taken over college sports. Without specifics, Sankey said he hasn’t met an engaged SEC athlete that prefers the employee model some state houses have suggested.

“Only Congress can fully address the issues facing college athletics,” Sankey said.

Yet, when discussing legalized sports gambling and the controversies that sprung from it at Alabama and other schools, Sankey took a different tone. He said states and their gambling enforcers must take action against threats and “hostile behaviors” that players coaches, and officials face as a result of a bad beat or blown play.

LSU knows despite hype, it’s not done yet

Kelly said Alabama and Georgia still possess the “mantle of consistency” within the SEC. That comes off a year where LSU upset the Crimson Tide in overtime and made it to the conference title game against the Bulldogs. With a returning Jayden Daniels at quarterback and Harold Perkins off the edge, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Tigers once again capture the SEC West. Kelly did concede that beating Nick Saban and Alabama in year one has made a positive impact on the recruiting trail.

Texas A&M has ‘something to prove,’ excited about freshmen class

Fisher wasn’t clear if he or new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will call plays this season. Fisher was predictably coy on offensive formations the Aggies will deploy. But Fisher knows improvements have to come following a 5-7 season. Fisher acknowledged that while the 2023 recruiting class wasn’t as publicized as the No. 1 all-time group from 2022, there are many pieces he’s excited about. Players echoed the sentiment, stating how important consistency will be throughout the program.

Missouri QB1 race a competition, but Brady Cook leads for now

Amid his 12-minute opening statement, Drinkwitz produced a position-by-position breakdown heading into fall camp. He ended, fittingly, with the quarterbacks. Drinkwitz named incumbent Brady Cook QB1 but Cook will “have his handful” while practicing against transfer Jake Garcia and sophomore Sam Horn.

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