College Football Preseason is Officially Here, SEC Camp Start Times
Written by Ryan Wright
The college football season officially kicks off for some SEC teams today, and not a minute too soon for most die hard fans. All of the offseason work, stories, rumors, and preseason rankings start accounting for progress and results on the field in the form of fall camp over the next week.
Thirteen of the 14 SEC teams begin fall camp this week with Mississippi State beginning first and Texas A&M being the last starting on Monday, Aug. 10. Four teams officially begin the season on Tuesday with another seven teams starting on Thursday filling the bulk of the conference to take the field.
SEC Fall Camp Start Dates
Mississippi State: Aug. 3
Auburn: Aug. 4
Georgia: Aug. 4
South Carolina: Aug. 4
Tennessee: Aug. 4
Alabama: Aug. 6
Arkansas: Aug. 6
Florida: Aug. 6
LSU: Aug. 6
Missouri: Aug. 6
Ole Miss: Aug. 6
Vanderbilt: Aug. 6
Kentucky: Aug. 7
Texas A&M: Aug. 10
The preseason USA Today Coaches’ Poll has eight SEC teams expected to have better than average seasons picking Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia to be among the best of the best:
SEC Teams in Preseason Coaches’ Poll
No. 3 Alabama
No. 7 Auburn
No. 9 Georgia
No. 13 LSU
No. 15 Ole Miss
No. 20 Arkansas
No. 23 Missouri
No. 25 Tennessee
SEC Opening Weekend Schedule with Start Times and Broadcast Network
When opening weekend begins all 14 SEC teams will take the field.
Thursday, Sept. 3
North Carolina vs. South Carolina (Charlotte), 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 8 p.m. (SEC Network)
Saturday, Sept. 5
Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia, Noon (SEC Network)
Tennessee-Martin at Ole Miss, Noon (SEC Network)
Southeast Missouri State at Missouri 3 p.m. (SEC Network Alternate)
UTEP at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Louisville vs. Auburn (Atlanta), 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Bowling Green vs. Tennessee (Nashville), 4 p.m. (SEC Network)
Arizona State vs. Texas A&M (Houston), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Louisiana-Lafayette at Kentucky, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
McNeese State at LSU, 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
New Mexico State at Florida, 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Wisconsin vs. Alabama (Arlington, Texas), 8 p.m. (ABC)
Mississippi State at Southern Miss, 10 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
SEC Championship Game, Atlanta, December 5
Photo credit: capstonereport.com; SEC Football logo