
ESPN's Dari Nowkhah joins That SEC Podcast live from 2026 SEC Media Days in Tampa SEC Media Days takeaways (0:30), changing of the guard occurring in the SEC? (1:30), what has to happen for Oklahoma to reach Atlanta? (2:00), easiest SEC teams to root for in 2026? (4:00), SEC players that won Dari over at SEC Media Days (4:45), Lane Kiffin (7:30), could the SEC cannibalize itself this season? (8:15), Auburn, Florida, Carolina, Missouri: Which most likely to make Playoff push? (10:00), SEC coach under the most pressure? (11:00), boldest SEC take (12:00), plans before football? (13:00) Advertising inquiries: thatsecpodcast@gmail.com Interested in helping us grow the channel? Become an Official Cousin by signing up for a membership to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8aQL-yFS2ZoSkUBeMfYesA/join We have t-shirts for sale! Check out our merchandise store featuring shirts, hoodies, stickers, coffee mugs, pillows, phone cases and more: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/tha...
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ESPN Host (Mike)
All right. SEC Media Days. Dari Noka, ESPN SEC Network. It's a pleasure to have you back on the show.
Dari Nowka
Great to be back on the show, man. I appreciate you having me.
ESPN Host (Mike)
And you are the. Not the first one where Shane missed the first part of an interview, but. So we're just keeping with tradition here.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Sorry. Ignore the heavy breathing. I was running.
Dari Nowka
Well, I didn't get to see in Nashville when I got to the cool setup. So it's. It's good to get to see you now, Shane.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Absolutely. Good see you. Thank you for taking time.
Dari Nowka
You got it.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Anything stand out to you so far? SEC Media Days, man.
Dari Nowka
You know, I'll just say what's very recent, and that's just be Golding. I just, you know, back in. It wasn't that long ago we had all of these people who were just kind of like unabashedly themselves and not afraid to kind of censor or whatever and almost that don't give a blank level. Right. And. And he brings it back, which is great, you know, and he does it in a way that is respectful. He's not going to call anybody out. He just. He's. He talked on our set just a few minutes ago about. I just believe in telling the truth. I mean, you may like it, you may not like it, but that's just. That's kind of who I am and who I'm going to be. So I. I really appreciated Pete Golding today. I thought it was really cool.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Doesn't it feel like there's a little bit of a changing of the guard? The younger guys coming in? You're seeing some more transparency. John Sumral is a prime example. I mean, he tells you how it is and do you start. You're starting to see that shift.
Dari Nowka
You know, I'm in for that too, man. We all are, right? We kind of need that. You just talk about young in general. It blew me away when I heard and I should have known this, but that Brent Venables is the oldest coach in this league at 55. Because he doesn't look one. 55 ain't old too. He doesn't look 55. He's in ridiculous shape. But. Yeah. No to your point. Yeah, the old kind of like, look, you take it or don't. I mean, I'm gonna be me. Let's just keep bringing that stuff in.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Yeah, that's great.
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ESPN Host (Mike)
Do you think Shane and I even make it to 55.
Dari Nowka
I think you guys will. I think y' all will get there. I think y' all Mexican cookies.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
I don't think so, Mike.
Dari Nowka
I hope you all do, man.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Well, I don't know if you've seen it. I'm picking Oklahoma to advance all the way to the SEC championship.
Dari Nowka
I love it. Good.
ESPN Host (Mike)
What has to happen for the Sooners to get there.
Dari Nowka
I think defense stays close to where it was and it's all offensive improvement. Run the football, protect John Mateer and he needs to stay healthy. But I think I'm with you. I think they get there too. And it's, it's experience up front. It's bringing in a fifth starter that's started 25 games in the SEC before, you know, in a Marion Harris at Arkansas. It's running the football with tight ends that can block. It's giving John Matiere help at tight ends with the Hayden Hansen's and the Rocky Beers of the world giving him more weapons to throw to. With Trell Harris and Parker Livingston, they knew Arbuckle and Venables knew exactly where they needed and Jim Nagy knew exactly where they needed to go to make this team one that's not just good but potentially great and a national contender. And they've addressed all of it. They've addressed all of it. So the other little part of it is not so little. John Matiere's got to play smarter football. It's not just the thumb thing. It's. It's trying for the home run ball when it isn't there. But yet an eight yard crossing pass that would have been a first down was there. Right. It's make those plays. And he talked extensively Monday about doing that and yeah, I'm with you. I think they're that good and I think all they've really just can play more consistent offensively, score five to seven points more a game than they did a year ago. And I think they could certainly be in Atlanta.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
You know, I, they call me the big Tennessee Homer because I'm a die
Dari Nowka
hard ball sure man.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
And I try to be neutral. Right. Ball fans get mad if I say anything bad about them. But yeah, I feel like in media days and more importantly the offseason, I always pick up another team. You know, just maybe that's not my. But it's not my baby. But it's like I'm rooting them on. So is there, is there one maybe a storyline or something like that coming into the season you're like, man, I hope, I hope things go well for this football.
Dari Nowka
There's a couple. There's probably multiple ones. One is Ole Miss. I really, I just spent some time down there last year leading into the two lane game and the playoff game and, and, and got to know Pete a little bit and, and Trinidad's just an unbelievable guy and I think they're certainly one of those teams. I also think I kind of, I kind of want to see Florida start to get back and I, you know, nobody's like, even Tennessee, it's right. Florida's more fun when they're, when they're good and, and to have a guy like John S. Raw, that is very honest. That is very intense. I would love to see him kind of flip that thing a little bit. So if I'm kind of rooting for a couple of other schools, that, that might be those two.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Are there any players that you've got to interact with that maybe you didn't know much about? Yeah, now you're a huge fan. Oh, coming off of media, Byron Brown
Dari Nowka
yesterday, man, that guy was fantastic on our set with us. He was great. You know, Trinidad already knew and really became a fan of his last year. But yeah, Byron Brown is one today. And actually I enjoyed both of the Gators I interviewed today. Jaden. Jaden Boss. Well as Vernell Brown iii. Just good dudes, you know, that's the thing you. This is the great. One of the best parts of media day every year is you get these guys coming in and you see him play, see them with their helmets on. You don't really know anything about them. And then you have a conversation with them, you're like, that's just a dude, man. Like a really cool dude. I remember saying that, like, Taylor Green became one of my favorite players. Like it because of media days when you're in. Yeah, I think that's fairly normal to just kind of get to talk to these guys and see that they're cool, they're respectful, they're fun, they're smart. You know, they. And they can just have a conversation with you.
ESPN Host (Mike)
I haven't. Can't recall a time where we've seen so many players make their second media days journey like this year. It's kind of interesting.
Dari Nowka
Yeah, well, it's. It is. I'm trying to. Goodness. Yeah. Well, Trinidad didn't last year. He wasn't here last year because nobody knew who he was. He wasn't even the starting quarterback last year. He was off Simmons. But John Mateer and Arch tomorrow. Yep.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Auburn quarterback yeah, he was with Oklahoma.
Dari Nowka
Oh, Jackson Arnold went once with two different.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
It's.
Dari Nowka
No, he didn't go with Oklahoma, though. I don't.
ESPN Host (Mike)
No, no, he definitely did.
Angie Hicks
Yeah.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Yeah, he did.
Dari Nowka
He did without you. Okay. Yeah. Maybe he needs to stop going immediate. I think he was there at. With UNLV at theirs. I saw. But yeah, it's a good point. Yeah. The. The two time. The two time guys.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Now, when's Alabama get here?
Dari Nowka
Hey, I actually thought there was a little buzz, a little Bama buzz today.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
That's because Saban was here, right?
Dari Nowka
Yeah, I think that's what it was. That's what. It had nothing to do with the guys from Alabama. Now, just because. Yeah.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Somebody was saying something about the cafeteria, said, oh, man, the food's good today. I said, well, that's Bama day, you know, day three.
Dari Nowka
You know how good it was? A little bit, man. Oh, I got tomorrow. We got on set. I got in our morning set. We got. I'm on the set with Nick and a couple other guys. But then also we got Lane Kiffin coming to the set, so it'll be fun. And Chiswick. So we got, you know, Saban and Chiswick, who had a couple of good battles. And then Lane will be on the set with us tomorrow morning. So I'm excited about.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
You gonna sneak Paul up there, give him a little bit.
Dari Nowka
Paul may not want a party going up there. I don't know. I don't know.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Do you anticipate we'll see any fireworks from Kiffin? It seems like he's really trying to clamp it down and not say anything right now.
Dari Nowka
No, I. Yeah, I don't. Do you guys kind of like. I think Kiffin's overrated on the mic, to be honest. I think everybody always expects more than we're gonna get from him now on Twitter or something. He's great, but, you know, especially with golden kind of going on and on about how he's like, he and Kiff are friends. They're tight. Kiffin's not. I don't. I don't think Kiffin's gonna say anything else about Ole Miss or Oxford or that history or.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
What about Hoppo with the golf balls and the mustard ball?
Angie Hicks
Yeah.
Dari Nowka
Yeah, that was pretty cool. That was pretty cool.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Yeah.
Dari Nowka
And then Kirby did talk, didn't he, about Kiffin and how he's. He is kind of like a little bit of a troll, right? He's like, was he calling me a troll? Look like a troll. But, I mean, there might be a couple of good lines. Nothing. Nothing nasty.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Well, I think maybe that there certainly seems to be a lot of teams that are exuding a lot of confidence. But one theme that we're getting is everybody's a little confident, but it's going to. It could end up in a nightmare because if we don't, if we all beat each other up, 9 and 3, 10 and twos, it's going to make a playoff log jam. Could you see that happening?
Dari Nowka
Absolutely couldn't. Yeah. I mean, everybody keeps saying Georgia and Texas, Georgia and Texas, and I like. To your point, you're saying Oklahoma. I think Oklahoma, too, I think. What about Ole Miss? Like, are we just forgetting about them? Are we assuming that Pete Golding can't coach through a regular season or that they lost too much? He loves his defense, even though, you know, Lane took a couple of those key pieces. When you get Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacey, hard to be. I can't. I don't know if I like them. That's the one. I can't. There's so many new pieces on the offensive line. I know they're SEC players that have come over. It's never done this together. And defensive line, they certainly took some losses, and Marcel Reed turned it over a lot, especially late last year. I don't know where I am on them, but. Yeah, I'll tell you what. What do you guys think about Alabama? Like, I. That's the mystery team to me. This is the first time I can remember doing media days, and I feel like I don't know Alabama at all.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Well, they're coached by. I don't know if you know their coach. His name's Four Lost Deborah.
Dari Nowka
So they're going eight and four Kaylin to four losses. Is that what you're calling easy?
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Oh, wow. Jeez.
Dari Nowka
Man. God. All right, okay. I hear you.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
I hear what happens at Tuscaloosa. They. They lose four games this year after
Dari Nowka
the big extension they gave him. And I. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe. It depends who they're. Who they are, too, and what it looks like. Is there hope, you know, who. Who's he go with at quarterback? And is there hope at that position? The offensive line? That's a big question mark. Show some promise. I don't know. 8. Not all eight and fours are created equal, but they're all hated equally. I think in. In Tuscaloosa.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Hey, four teams I want to throw at you. I don't think anybody has them in the playoff discussion. Auburn, Florida, Carolina, And Missouri. But I think there's enough there that you could envision a scenario. Not that you're guaranteeing it, but if like one of those teams breaks out and makes a playoff push, who do you think is most likely to do that?
Dari Nowka
It's Auburn or Florida. I could see either one of them kind of being surprisingly good. Maybe Florida more than the rest of them. Their skill position guys are so good. Right. Their defensive line is really good. They got a ton of production back on defense. John Sumrall's the. If they could figure out whether it's Philo or Jones, whoever the right answer is at quarterback put the ball in the hands of the playmakers. Singleton coming over there as well. So I would say Florida, then Auburn, out of that group. They maybe wouldn't shock me if they made that sort of a push late in the season. They're in that playoff conversation. Yeah.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Do you think there's a coach in more of a pressure cooker situation than Sarkeesian coming in here tomorrow with the quote, unquote. How many millions?
Shannon Maldonado
40.
ESPN Host (Mike)
40 plus.
Dari Nowka
It's a big old roster. I think Beamer's the hottest seat. But that's kind of different in terms of what you're saying. Pressure cooker Deborah in him. Yeah, I think both of them probably. But yeah, I mean, you know, now Sark has gotten. I guess they've both been in the playoff one in the playoff. But no, I think that's certainly a factor. I mean now that everybody seems to know everybody's payroll. That's gonna happen sometimes, right? I mean, if the, if the Dodgers suck, then that's bad look, right, because $400 million, they shouldn't suck. So same with Texas and in football too.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Did you tell the family by. Did you let them know that you'll see them. This is it.
Dari Nowka
I get back tomorrow and then I got like another week off. So then yeah, I'll tell them bye at the end of the month once August starts. See ya. Been nice.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Well, our all of our SEC media days coverage is brought to you by Tennessee legend. They make some fantastic Tennessee whiskey. So in thanks to them, we are asking everybody for their Tennessee legend hottest take entering entering the SEC season. You have a hot take you'd like to share.
Dari Nowka
Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Okay, you all are not going to like to hear this. Kaylin Russell will start and be one of the three best quarterbacks in the SEC by the time the season ends, which means he will not be Kaylin to four losses, which will mean they'll Be in conversation for a spot in Atlanta in a playoff.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Oh, Mikey just got deflored. I'm sorry. Dad jokes. Kick it in.
Dari Nowka
No, I love a good dad joke. I love dad jokes. I love dad jokes.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
No, just I. I am curious, you know, you got this final week. Do you have any plans? You know, right here, the calm before the storm is the wife got a list?
Dari Nowka
No, I'm sure she does. I'm sure does. Now we might just try to get over to the beach for a couple of days. You know, it's. We've had a lot of people come, family come in and visit. It's.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
You're in Charlotte.
Dari Nowka
Yeah, it's been hotter than you know what. And go to the pool and. And maybe go to the beach a little bit. That's about it. Nothing.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Fair enough.
ESPN Host (Mike)
Well, we appreciate you, Dari. Before you go, tell our audience how to follow you and how to find the radio show.
Dari Nowka
Oh, sure. Yeah. So I'm on Twitter @Espn, Dari. I don't really do much else social media wise. And then, yeah, on the ref Kref, you can grab the ref app. It's Fun Daily Show, 9 to noon Central Time. It's heavily Oklahoma, but very much sec and you've been on it and I'm gonna have you on it again after your Oklahoma take. And Shane, we got to get you on the show. Absolutely. So yeah, it'd be great to have either have both you guys on. So. Yeah.
Co-host/Analyst (Shane)
Thank you.
Dari Nowka
You got it, buddy. Thank you.
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Date: August 2, 2026
Hosts: Michael Bratton (SEC Mike), Cousin Shane
Guest: Dari Nowkhah (ESPN/SEC Network)
This episode brings ESPN and SEC Network host Dari Nowkhah onto the show to break down everything SEC Media Days, with a special focus on Oklahoma's expectations in the conference. The guys discuss the evolving landscape of SEC coaching, team outlooks for the coming season, under-the-radar players, and which schools could surprise fans in the playoff race. Dari also delivers his "Tennessee Legend Hottest Take" and offers candid opinions on programs ranging from Alabama to Ole Miss and Florida. The tone is lively, knowledgeable, and full of the kind of banter fans love.
"It wasn't that long ago we had all of these people who were just kind of like unabashedly themselves... Pete Golding brings it back... he talked on our set just a few minutes ago about, 'I just believe in telling the truth. You may like it, you may not like it, but that's just who I am.'" — Dari Nowkhah
"Jim Nagy knew exactly where they needed to go to make this team one that's not just good but potentially great and a national contender. And they've addressed all of it... if they can play more consistent offensively... I think they could certainly be in Atlanta." — Dari Nowkhah
"Byron Brown yesterday, man, that guy was fantastic... Jaden Boss, Vernell Brown III... That’s just a dude, man. Like a really cool dude." — Dari Nowkhah
"That's the mystery team to me. This is the first time I can remember doing media days, and I feel like I don't know Alabama at all." — Dari Nowkhah
"Kaylin Russell will start and be one of the three best quarterbacks in the SEC by the time the season ends, which means he will not be Kaylin to four losses..." — Dari Nowkhah
The episode is a lively, insight-packed preview of the upcoming SEC season, spotlighting the shift toward more open, personable coaches, the intriguing outlook for Oklahoma, and why Alabama is a true wildcard. Dari Nowkhah’s candor and humor mesh seamlessly with Mike and Shane’s banter, delivering an absorbing listen for hardcore SEC fans and casual observers alike.