Mark Your Calendars: When Football Camps Kick Off in 2026

Football never really sleeps in the SEC, and 2026 is no exception. Whether you’re a high schooler dreaming of playing on Saturdays, a parent looking for a youth camp, or a fan counting down to fall practice, here’s your guide to when camps get rolling this year.

Quick Reference: 2026 Camp Dates at a Glance

Now for the details, starting with the programs that have put firm dates on the calendar.

Confirmed: Three Programs Have Official Dates

Texas: Practices Begin July 30 in Austin

The Longhorns have one of the clearer timelines: players report in late July with practices beginning July 30 in Austin, ahead of a September 5 season opener against Texas State. Arch Manning takes over the primary quarterback reps and enters the season near the top of Heisman watch lists, and camp storylines include the starting left guard battle, the race for the third receiver spot, and a retooled secondary where Derek Williams Jr. and Xavier Filsaime step into bigger roles. Fan forums are already counting down the days.

Florida: August 4 Report, August 5 First Practice

Florida has set its schedule for the first camp of the Jon Sumrall era. Gators players report on August 4, which will double as a media day for Sumrall and select staff and players. The first practice follows on August 5.

Florida has two scrimmages on the calendar: the first on August 15 and the second on August 22. Camp wraps up on August 29, at which point the Gators shift into game week mode ahead of their season opener against Florida Atlantic, a 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff in The Swamp and Sumrall’s debut on the Florida sideline.

After going 4 and 8 in 2025, Gainesville is hungry for a turnaround, and Sumrall’s track record (a Sun Belt title at Troy and an American championship and College Football Playoff berth at Tulane) has fans optimistic. The quarterback battle is the storyline to watch when practice opens: sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. emerged as the frontrunner for the starting job after a standout spring game, and camp is where the competition gets settled.

South Carolina: August 6 Report, August 7 First Practice

South Carolina has firm dates on the books: Gamecock players report for fall camp on Thursday, August 6, with the first official practice the following day, Friday, August 7. Shane Beamer enters his sixth season in Columbia with a major piece back in the fold: quarterback LaNorris Sellers passed on the NFL Draft to return for his third year as the starter, and he’ll work under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. Other camp storylines include true freshmen pushing for meaningful snaps, a rebuilt offensive line assembled through recruiting and the transfer portal, and an EDGE group anchored by Dylan Stewart.

Expected Late July Starts

LSU: The Kiffin Era Begins in Baton Rouge

LSU‘s fall camp begins in late July at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility. It marks the first camp of the Lane Kiffin era, and there’s no shortage of buzz after Kiffin brought in the top ranked transfer class in the country, with quarterback Sam Leavitt headlining the new look roster. Practices are closed to the public (media get select 30 minute viewing windows), and camp traditionally wraps in late August with a closed scrimmage at Tiger Stadium before game week prep begins. There’s no easing in, either, with a Week 1 showdown against Clemson to open the Kiffin era.

Alabama: Late July in Tuscaloosa

The Crimson Tide haven’t put out official 2026 fall camp dates yet, but the math is straightforward. Alabama opens the season September 5 against East Carolina, and camp typically begins about 30 days before the opener. Last year, Kalen DeBoer’s squad started on July 30. Look for the Tide to hit the Thomas Drew Practice Fields in the final days of July, with morning practices designed to simulate a true training camp.

Auburn: A New Era Under Alex Golesh

Auburn opens its first fall camp under new head coach Alex Golesh, who arrived from South Florida after engineering one of the sport’s most impressive rebuilds. The Tigers haven’t announced 2026 camp dates yet, but recent history offers a guide: last year players reported on July 29 with the first practice the following day. Expect a similar late July start on the Plains, with practices at the Woltosz Football Performance Complex as Golesh integrates a massive influx of transfer talent ahead of a Week 1 matchup with Baylor.

Oklahoma: Late July in Norman

The Sooners are expected to open fall camp in late July, consistent with recent years, as they reported on July 30 last season. Brent Venables and his staff will run camp in Norman with no shortage of intrigue: a wide open running back competition, an offense looking to build stability under coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and an experienced defense working to solidify its depth chart. The biggest reason for optimism is quarterback John Mateer, who’s looking big heading into camp. The Sooners are projected to have one of their best offensive seasons in 2026 with him at the controls. Media days typically precede the official opening of camp, so expect specifics soon.

Mississippi State: Late July in Starkville

Mississippi State‘s fall camp is expected to crank up in late July, just as the Bulldogs opened on July 31 last year, as Jeff Lebby’s squad prepares for 2026. The headline storyline is at quarterback, where sophomore Kamario Taylor is expected to take the reins after promising play late last season, backed by transfers including AJ Swann and Jaden Rashada. The staff will also be integrating a wave of defensive line transfers and sorting out position battles at tackle and guard.

Missouri: Late July in Columbia

Missouri‘s fall camp will kick off in late July, in line with last year’s July 28 start. Eli Drinkwitz’s Tigers will practice at the Stephens Indoor Facility and Memorial Stadium as they prepare for a Thursday, September 3 season opener against Arkansas Pine Bluff at Faurot Field (7 p.m. CT). Camp battles are expected along the offensive line and at the skill positions as Mizzou works in a deep group of transfers and freshmen. The 2026 slate also features some circled dates: Troy on September 19 for the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game, Florida for Homecoming on October 3, and Texas on November 7.

Texas A&M: Late July in College Station

Texas A&M‘s fall camp is set to kick off in late July as the Aggies prepare to open their season against Missouri State at Kyle Field on August 30. Mike Elko’s squad will hold mostly closed door practices, but there’s good news for fans: A&M plans a fan day at Kyle Field in August, paired with the only open practice of camp, a chance to meet the team before the season. Last year the Aggies reported on July 29, so expect a similar timeline.

Tennessee: Late July at the Anderson Training Center

Tennessee opens fall camp in late July at the Anderson Training Center in Knoxville. Josh Heupel’s Vols enter camp with a four man quarterback room that includes touted freshman Faizon Brandon, and the team recently released its official 2026 roster with camp less than a month out. Tennessee typically holds two fall scrimmages during camp before turning attention to a Week 1 opener against Furman.

Vanderbilt: Late July in Nashville

Vanderbilt is expected to open fall camp in late July, keeping with the Commodores’ recent pattern, as they kicked off camp on July 30 last year. Clark Lea’s squad will hold preseason practices at the team’s facilities in Nashville ahead of a September 5 season opener against Austin Peay, and there’s already plenty of intrigue heading into camp with a quarterback battle heating up to replace Diego Pavia, the star who led Vanderbilt’s breakthrough before departing for the NFL.

Early August Window

Kentucky: Early August at the Joe Craft Center

Kentucky‘s fall camp traditionally opens in the late July to early August window at the Joe Craft Football Training Center in Lexington, and 2026 should be no different, though official dates haven’t dropped yet. Most practices are closed to the public, but Mark Stoops’ program traditionally hosts an open Fan Day and practice at Kroger Field early in camp, so that’s the date to circle if you want to see the Wildcats up close. The running back room is a storyline to watch, with the staff eager to get its backs healthy and on the field once camp opens.

Ole Miss: A New Chapter Under Pete Golding

Fall camps in Mississippi typically get rolling around the first week of August, with report dates confirmed in late July, and this one carries extra significance in Oxford. Ole Miss enters its first full season under head coach Pete Golding, who was elevated from defensive coordinator after Lane Kiffin departed for LSU late in 2025, then promptly guided the Rebels on a College Football Playoff run that included a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia. Adding to the excitement: star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who led the SEC in passing yards during that breakout 2025 campaign, is back for a sixth season after a court injunction secured his eligibility for 2026. The program has spent the summer emphasizing communication, chemistry, and continuity ahead of 2026. The Rebels open the season with a neutral site clash against Louisville in Nashville. And circle September 19, too: that’s when Kiffin returns to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with LSU in one of the most anticipated games of the season.

Still Waiting: Arkansas Hasn’t Announced Dates Yet

Not every program has its camp schedule out. As of mid July, the official Arkansas Football Camps site, the only official registration site for Razorback camps held on campus in Fayetteville, lists no upcoming events. If you’re hoping to attend a camp in Fayetteville, keep checking back, and be wary of third party promotions claiming affiliation with the program; registration only happens through the official site.

Summer & Youth Camps: Get on the Field Yourself

LSU’s Geaux Tigers Camps (June)

New LSU head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff hosted a full slate of Geaux Tigers Camps in Baton Rouge this June, offering hands on instruction for players from elementary school through high school. The lineup: the Specialists Camp on June 2 for kickers, punters, and long snappers (grades 9 through 12); the Tiger Youth Camp on June 4 for grades 2 through 8 (younger campers in the morning, older graders in the evening); Elite Camps on June 5 and June 11 for high schoolers at every position; the Offensive Line/Defensive Line Camp on June 6; and Friday Night Lights on June 19, always one of the most electric recruiting events of the year. Questions can be sent to the camp staff at [email protected].

Around the Conference

Auburn’s official camps page lists the Alex Golesh Football Camps with 2026 sessions on June 3 and June 22 and 23. Mississippi State held a 7 on 7 and OL/DL camp on June 5, with additional sessions in July, and registration runs through Hail State Camps at the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. Tennessee runs a 2026 High School Camp and Youth Camp at the RecSports Field Complex and Anderson Training Center, with registration through the Tennessee Football Camps site. Texas A&M offers youth camps for ages 8 through 16 through the official 12thman.com camps page, and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer Football Camp offers instruction through its official registration site. Alabama’s official football camps site currently lists no upcoming youth or skills camp events, so check back there for announcements.

What Fall Camp Looks Like: The Georgia Blueprint

If you’re wondering what these August camps actually entail, Georgia‘s Kirby Smart has described his program’s approach in vivid detail: players stay in a hotel for eight to ten days, grinding through 15 practices in 18 days with two scrimmages mixed in. The goals are simple but demanding: build physical and mental toughness, create good habits, and forge connection before the season arrives.

Smart’s teams famously face the summer heat head on rather than retreating indoors, with the philosophy that games are played outside, so practice should be too. Expect the Bulldogs, like most SEC programs, to open their own fall camp in that same late July to early August window.

The Bottom Line

• June: Summer and youth camps ran at LSU, Auburn, Mississippi State, and elsewhere
• July 30: Texas opens practice in Austin
• Late July: LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt all expected to open fall camp
• Late July to early August: Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Georgia expected to open camp
• August 4 and 5: Florida reports and opens fall practice
• August 6 and 7: South Carolina reports, then holds its first practice
• August 15 & 22: Florida’s fall scrimmages
• August 29: Florida wraps camp; game week begins
• TBD: Arkansas camp dates, with nothing announced yet, so keep an eye on the official site
• Late August to early September: Season openers kick off across the country

Whether you’re strapping on a helmet at a camp or just counting the days until fall practice reports roll in, football season is closer than it feels. See you in August.