SEC Network is giving its Saturday mornings a new look this fall, and the changes are pretty significant.
The biggest shift comes with SEC Nation. ESPN is stretching the pregame show from two hours to three and pushing the start time up to 9 a.m.
ET. That extra hour also changes the rhythm of the whole morning: Marty & McGee, which had previously aired from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. during the season, will now move to noon and stay with the same SEC Nation site.
That puts it right in the middle of the pre-noon buildup and bridges the gap until SEC Network’s first game kicks at 12:45 p.m. ET.
In the offseason, Marty & McGee will keep its 7-10 a.m. ET Saturday slot.
The SEC Nation desk will also have a different look. Matt Barrie is stepping in as host after Laura Rutledge moved to NFL coverage.
Chase Daniels is joining as an analyst, and Marion Crowder will be part of the crew as a reporter. Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper and Tim Tebow are all returning.
Jordan Rodgers, meanwhile, is moving on to focus on his Friday night work covering ACC and Big 12 games. Finebaum will still do his Friday show from whatever location SEC Nation is using that week.
Marty Smith and Ryan McGee are taking on a bigger role too, and both said they’re looking forward to putting their own stamp on the expanded setup. They told Barrett Media they’re eager to be part of the pregame show and the final hour before the SEC Network’s first game of the day.
“Marty and McGee is moving to noon on Saturdays,” Smith said. “That’s a shift from what we’ve been the last few years.
Awesome. Our bosses believe [that we’re] going to flourish here.
Okay, badass man. Strike the field.
Let’s go.”
“I think I’m third only behind Tim [Tebow] and Paul [Finebaum] when it comes to tenure on SEC Nation,” McGee said. “So, I’m really excited to be more involved in the show this year, getting back to my SEC Network roots.
I can’t wait to use that noon hour to get out all over campuses. Nothing beats the energy of tailgaters pregaming while watching the early games.
I’m gonna mooch so much smoked meat. And on live television!”
SEC Nation’s Week 1 location hasn’t been announced yet, but Week 2 is already set. The show will be in Lexington for Kentucky vs.
Alabama, the only SEC vs. SEC game on that week’s slate.
And with the season creeping closer, Kentucky’s 2026 TV windows are already lined up:
Sept. 5 vs. Youngstown State at Kroger Field - 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Sept. 12 vs. Alabama at Kroger Field - 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Sept. 19 at Texas A&M - 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2)
Sept. 26 vs. South Alabama at Kroger Field - 12:45 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Oct. 3 at South Carolina - Flex (3:30 p.m. ET or later)
Oct. 10 vs. LSU at Kroger Field - Night (6-8 p.m. ET start)
Oct. 17 at Oklahoma - Flex (3:30 p.m. ET or later)
Oct. 24 vs. Vanderbilt at Kroger Field - Night (6-8 p.m. ET start)
Nov. 7 at Tennessee - Night (6-8 p.m. ET start)
Nov. 14 vs. Florida at Kroger Field - Night (6-8 p.m. ET start)
Nov. 21 at Missouri - Night (6-8 p.m. ET start)
Nov. 28 vs. Louisville at Kroger Field - Early (Noon-1 p.m. ET start)
In Other News...
Kenny Darby Is Giving Kentucky A Freshman Option They May Need
Kenny Darby arrived at Kentucky as a late flip from LSU in the 2026 recruiting cycle, and the Wildcats are already treating the true freshman as a receiver who can help sooner rather than later. The Louisiana product was a highly productive high school target, and his early progress has given Kentucky some hope that he can become part of the offense in his first year, especially as the staff keeps looking for dependable options.
The reason Darby has started to separate himself is not just talent, but how quickly he has taken to the college game. Kentucky coaches have praised his personal accountability and versatility, two traits that can earn a young receiver trust in a hurry. For a team trying to build out its passing options, a freshman who understands what is being asked and keeps moving forward could end up being a useful piece before long. [Read more 🡒]
Larry Glovers Exit Leaves Kentucky Fans Waiting On A Familiar Voice
Larry Glovers departure from WVLK (590 AM) closes a long run for one of Lexingtons most familiar radio voices, a presence Kentucky fans came to know through sports talk and afternoon discussion alike. The longtime host left the station after years on the air, and there was no on-air goodbye because he chose not to make one, with WVLK honoring that request and keeping the exit quiet.
For Kentucky listeners, the immediate question is what comes next for a voice that has been part of the local sports conversation for so long. Glover has said he has future plans to announce, and he could still surface again alongside former UK All-American Kenny Walker on a new platform, leaving fans waiting for the next chapter to be spelled out. [Read more 🡒]
Will Steins Kentucky Debut Starts With A Brutal Reality
Will Steins first season at Kentucky is going to be a stress test from the opening stretch, and he knows it. The new head coach has already remade parts of the program with fresh players and staff, including defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, but the schedule waiting on the other side of that work is unforgiving.
Kentuckys slate features seven opponents in the preseason AP top 25, a brutal run that includes Texas A&M, Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisville and Missouri. Stein has made it clear the challenge is real, and for a team trying to establish a new identity, the early weeks will say plenty about how quickly it can handle adversity. [Read more 🡒]