Mizzou set to take its turn at ‘talkin’ time,’ as the unofficial kickoff to 2026

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (KMIZ)

One of the biggest media madhouses in all of college football will have Mizzou football take center-stage, on Monday morning.

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company will tackle the opening day of 'talkin' time,' otherwise known as SEC Media Days, in Tampa Bay. Over the course of a few hours, Coach Drinkwitz - along with offensive lineman Cayden Green, running back Jamal Roberts and linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez - will meet with local Mid-Missouri media members, take on press conference with national media and film some promotional content for the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers will likely address some of the biggest storylines headed into the 2026 campaign, including working under some new offensive leadership in first-year coordinator Chip Lindsey and starting quarterback Austin Simmons, as well as the status of returning running back Ahmad Hardy's recovery, after he suffered a gunshot wound in a May shooting. MU is also coming in with a new-look defense, after being ranked as a Top-10 unit in 2025.

For the 2026 edition of Media Days, Drinkwitz decided to bring some of his team's most seasoned veterans. Rodriguez and Green are entering their third season in Columbia, while Roberts is already onto his fourth year.

The ABC 17 sports team will be bringing you live coverage from Mizzou's appearance in Tampa, all starting on Sunday night with a live edition of SportsZone at 9:30 on Fox 22 and 10:30 on ABC 17. Then, on Monday, catch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones and Sports Reporter Collin Anderson live at five, six, nine and 10 with more on everything the Tigers said at SEC Media Days.