SEC Network's SEC NATION Opens Season with Three-Hour Special Edition

SEC Network's traveling pregame show, SEC NATION presented by AT&T, is back for its fourth season on Saturday, Sept. 2, in a special three-hour edition (9 a.m. - noon ET) from Arlington, Texas, site of the Advocare Classic where the Florida Gators will face off with the Michigan Wolverines (3:30 p.m., ABC) for both teams' season openers. The show marks the first time SEC NATION has opened the season from a neutral site game and only the second time the show has aired from a neutral site city during the regular-season.

The show will include live reports, analysis and features surrounding all the Week One SEC football action.

Laura Rutledge will make her debut as host of SEC Nation. Returning as analysts for a fourth straight year are Paul Finebaum, Marcus Spears and Tim Tebow. The season premiere will also mark the debut of new reporter Lauren Sisler, an award-winning journalist who takes over the role vacated by Rutledge. Sisler, a familiar face on SEC Network's gymnastics coverage and ESPN's football sidelines, brings significant experience covering SEC football for Al.com. Ryan McGee, senior writer for ESPN The Magazine, returns as a contributor to the show as well.

Longtime LSU head coach Les Miles will serve as a guest analyst for the season opener. In addition to his extensive SEC background, Miles was a player and coach at Michigan. Miles' former running back, Derrius Guice, will be featured in an in-depth story reported by Rutledge. Also, former South Carolina and longtime Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, and additional guests, will stop by the set throughout the telecast.

"Like all SEC fans, we've been counting the days until the return of football, and we have a show worthy of bridging the final few hours until kickoff," said Tom McCollum, ESPN coordinating producer. "We're thrilled to be at one of the very best opening weekend games and excited to see Laura, Les, Lauren and our all-star set of analysts in action."

Fans hoping to catch the show in person will find the SEC NATION set in Lot #3 outside AT&T Stadium on Saturday morning and can park in Lot 4 via AT&T Way starting at 7 a.m. local time. In addition, all five hours (2-7 p.m. ET) of The Paul Finebaum Show will be live from the set on Friday, Sept. 1.

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN launched SEC Network on August 14, 2014. The network televises over 45 SEC football games, 100 men's basketball games, 60 women's basketball games, 75 baseball games, and other events from across the SEC's 21 sports annually. Programming includes in-depth analysis and storytelling in studio shows such as SEC Nation, daily news and information with SEC Now, original content such as SEC STORIED and SEC Inside, and more. Hundreds of additional live events are available for streaming exclusively on SEC Network's digital companion, SEC Network+, via the ESPN app and SECNetwork.com. The network is also available in more than 50 countries throughout Europe, Middle East and AFRICA via ESPN Player, ESPN's sports streaming service in the region.

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