SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Fires Media Days Shot Across Big 12 Bow

STILLWATER – It’s funny but one of my last conversations at last week’s 2023 Big 12 Football Media Days was with Big 12 associate commissioner Bob Burda with regard to next summer’s Big 12 Football Media Days and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at nearby Globe Life Field in Arlington on Tuesday, July 16. Now, there is a greater presence being felt in terms of threatening the Big 12’s hold on media attention. This comes from a rival conference. 

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced on Monday (July 17) that the Southeastern Conference is going to stage their media days for 2024 in Dallas from Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18 at The Omni Hotel in Dallas. Sankey made the announcement in his opening address to the media gathered in Nashville, Tenn. for the 2023 SEC Football Media Days.

"The SEC will light up the Dallas skyline with the colors of the Southeastern conference," Sankey said to the media gathered.

The Big 12 has made AT&T Cowboys Stadium in Arlington their headquarters for media days. Burda explained to me last week that the MLB All-Star Game would not be an issue with Big 12 Media Days for 2024 as the All-Star game is on July 16 and the Big 12 was going to be the week before, likely Wednesday, July 10 and Thursday, July 11, for the Big 12 Football Media Days.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Sankey vs. Yormark in a battle of media days in the DFW.

Sankey is bringing the SEC event to Dallas to commemorate the first season with Texas and Oklahoma competing in the conference. Interesting, as it appears the head of the SEC is intent on rubbing it in to the new head of the Big 12. If you have learned anything so far from Brett Yormark as commissioner of the Big 12 is that he is competitive and likes to win. 

The Big 12 will still play lead and this could backfire on the SEC unless they plan on buying a block of tickets and taking all the media in for their event to the All-Star Game. 

Stay tuned as this could get really fun as the two conferences battle for the perception and media win for next summer, and maybe some before and some after.