SEC Media Days came to a conclusion on Thursday in Tampa.
Oklahoma received two votes to win the conference in the SEC Preseason Media Poll, and was picked to finish seventh in the league. The Sooners also saw 10 players earn preseason First- and Second-Team All-SEC recognition, with eight on the second team.
Prior to voting for preseason honors, the media met with coaches and players from each SEC program at the conference's annual media days event.
A few attendees from other teams spoke briefly about Brent Venables' squad, with most of the conversation centering around Oklahoma's incoming and outgoing transfers. Georgia's Kirby Smart even highlighted the Oklahoma City Thunder and LSU's Lane Kiffin gave a shout-out to OU's baseball team winning a national title.
Read more: Brent Venables has earned all the respect from Kalen DeBoer after 3 battles
Venables, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Taylor Wein and John Mateer all represented the Sooners in Tampa, standing at the podium on Monday to kick off the event.
Here's what a few of Oklahoma's 2026 opponents said about the team at SEC Media Days.
Jadan Baugh, Florida RB
"Hayden (Hansen) is a great player, obviously," Baugh said. "He can do a lot. I remember this one time, we were playing Tennessee or something, and he lost on a rep or whatever. He told me and the rest of the running backs, that's never going to happen again. So he's going to be a fighter, regardless."
Hansen transferred to Oklahoma over the offseason as part of the Sooners' transformed tight end room under new position coach Jason Witten. He had spent his entire career to this point at Florida while totaling 34 career starts and gaining valuable SEC experience.
Pete Golding, Ole Miss HC
Golding is going into his first season as Ole Miss' head coach after taking over just before the Rebels' College Football Playoff run when Lane Kiffin abruptly left for LSU.
"(Oklahoma and Texas are) two really good football teams in tough places to play that have traditions at the school," Golding said. "From a recruiting standpoint are in fertile. Now that's your competition. Even from a recruiting standpoint now, they come to Mississippi to recruit. We're battling them in Mississippi. I tell Sark all the time, 'Dude, you got plenty of guys in Texas. Get out of our state.' They are everywhere. Two really good competitors. I think Venables and Sark do an amazing job."
Arch Manning, Texas QB
Arch Manning was asked about his former teammate and roommate Parker Livingstone, who transferred across the Red River to Oklahoma to now catch passes from John Mateer instead. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian admitted during SEC Media Days that Livingstone was among multiple players the Longhorns cut ties with to bring in additions from the transfer portal.
"Yeah, it's going to be different," Manning said. "I mean, he was my roommate. So now playing against him is definitely a little bit of a change. I think that's just kind of how college football is now."
Gunner Stockton, Georgia QB
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton was asked about cornerback Gentry Williams, who just transferred to Georgia after four years at OU. What Stockton said somewhat mirrored what Venables stated when also asked about his former player. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart also praised Venables for the way he develops players, including Williams.
"(Williams) done a good job," Stockton said. "I think the best part, he's been here and worked. And he's a great player, obviously, but even a better person. And just getting to see him and going to play against him and 7-on-7 stuff we've done this offseason, and just the workouts, just seeing all the work he puts in has been awesome."
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