“SEC Nation” heads to Gainesville in Week 1 for Miami-Florida

When the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners officially joined the SEC on July 1, it was the first time new teams were added to the conference since 2012, increasing the team size from 14 to 16.

A lot has changed since 2012. Ten years ago, ESPN launched the SEC Network, which gives fans of the conference teams their own cable network for news, games and more. One of the network’s flagship shows is SEC Nation, essentially College Game Day But limited exclusively to SEC schools.

On Wednesday, ESPN announced a new theme song for the show and said the week one broadcast will be from Gainesville, Florida, where the Florida Gators will face the Miami Hurricanes.

Country music star Brooke Eden will sing the new theme song, which will be released on all platforms on August 30, the night before the opening game. The song will accompany a new opening sequence of the show.

“It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to help create the SEC Nation theme song and opening sequence. I am so grateful for the chance to connect with fans and celebrate the passion of college football through a song that means so much to each of us. I grew up here in the SEC, so these games make me feel at home, even when I’m on the road,” Eden said.

In addition to the new opening sequence and the new song, SEC Nation will not see many changes. Host Laura Rutledge will return, as will panelists Tim Tebow, Paul Finebaum, Jordan Rodgers and Roman Harper, who are part of the same cast the show has had since 2021.

(ESPN Press Room)