The Ohio Valley Conference is set to hold its annual Media Day on Friday, July 17 at the Hilton BNA Nashville Airport and features a morning live show on ESPN+; interview sessions with local, regional and national media outlets; and a luncheon.

Steve Hall and Jacob Waller are set to represent the Lions at Media Day alongside head coach Jed Stugart.

Both Hall and Waller were all-conference guys a season ago. Hall was a second team selection and ran the ball 111 times for 612 yards while tying for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with eight. The redshirt junior had three 100 yard rushing games, including a season-high 148 against Western Illinois.

Waller was also a second team honoree as a linebacker. The Iowa native finished second on the team with 89 tackles, 59 of which were solo, a top 10 single season mark in program history. Waller was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week one time during the year after recording 17 tackles against Charleston Southern.

As part of the event, the OVC will announce its 2026 Preseason Poll and Players Watch List.  In addition, all eight head coaches will speak during the luncheon, which is scheduled to begin at 11:30am CT.

Interviews with each team's head coach and student-athletes will be part of the morning live show on ESPN+ hosted by Bob Belvin.  The show will begin at 8:15am CT/9:15am ET, and the full schedule and appearance order is listed below

The following student-athletes are confirmed as attending: 

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Gabe Giardina (Head Coach)
Steve Zayachkowsky (LB)
Taivon Snipe (LB)

EASTERN ILLINOIS
Chris Wilkerson (Head Coach)
Charles Kellom (RB)
Ja'Wuan Nickson (LB)

GARDNER-WEBB
Kris McCullough (Head Coach)
Cole Pennington (QB)
Josiah Harris (DB)

LINDENWOOD
Jed Stugart (Head Coach)
Steve Hall (RB)
Jacob Waller (LB)

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Tom Matukewicz (Head Coach)
Jobe Bryant (WR)
McCoy Casey (OLB)

TENNESSEE STATE
Reggie Barlow (Head Coach)
Zack Simmons-Brown (RB)
Sammy Taylor (LB)

UT MARTIN
Jason Simpson (Head Coach)
Tommy Ansley (RB)
Broderick Tommie Jr. (DT)

WESTERN ILLINOIS
Joe Davis (Head Coach)
James Durand (OL)
Keshawn Harrington-McKinney (DL)

ESPN+ Live Show Schedule (approximate and subject to change)
8:30 a.m. - Gardner-Webb
8:45 a.m. - Western Illinois
9:00 a.m. - SEMO
9:15 a.m. - Eastern Illinois 
9:40 a.m. - UT Martin 
9:55 a.m, - Charleston Southern 
10:10 a.m. - Tennessee State 
10:25 a.m. - Lindenwood