The SEC football schedule was initially set to begin on September 3rd, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the schedule was reduced to a 10-game conference-only slate with a start date of September 26th. The revised slate of games was released on August 17th.
Following the completion of the regular season, the top teams from the East and West division would meet in the SEC Championship held on December 19th in Atlanta, GA. While the conference had to juggle numerous COVID outbreaks and game postponements, the league was still able to play a majority of its contests.
The Alabama Crimson Tide took on the Florida Gators in the SEC title game, pitting the two teams together for the first time since 2016. Alabama and Florida played a memorable matchup, with the Crimson Tide leaving Atlanta with a 52-46 victory and their ninth SEC title.
2020 SEC Game of the Year
#1 Alabama – 52, #7 Florida – 46
The SEC Championship turned into an offensive shootout with 1,067 yards of total offense between the two teams. There was a combined 926 yards through the air and eight passing touchdowns.
Alabama running back Najee Harris set an SEC championship record, scoring five touchdowns, including three through the air. The talented back rushed for 178 yards and a pair of scores and chipped in five catches for 67 yards to capture MVP honors. Wide receiver and Heisman Trophy winner DaVonte Smith caught 15 passes for 184 yards and two scores.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney hauled in eight passes for 153 yards, highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown reception. Kyle Pitts, the John Mackey Award winner for best tight end in college football, capped his collegiate career with seven receptions for 129 yards and one score.
2020 SEC Player of the Year
WR DeVonta Smith – Alabama Crimson Tide
DeVonta Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991. Smith caught 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2020. He set the SEC mark in career receiving touchdowns (46) and yards (3,965).
Smith was also selected as the AP Player of the Year, the first wideout to ever win the award, a unanimous first-team All-American, and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. The senior wide receiver was selected in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles in last month’s NFL Draft.
2020 SEC Freshman of the Year
RB Tank Bigsby – Auburn Tigers
The freshman Auburn Tigers running back received SEC freshman of the year and first-team freshman All-SEC honors following his rookie season. Bigsby finished eighth in the SEC in all-purpose yards (1,346 yards) and fifth in total rushing yards (834).
Bigsby ranks second all-time amongst Auburn freshman running backs in yards and tied for 5th in rushing TDs scored by a freshman. He had a record day against Arkansas, erupting for 268 total yards, most ever by an Auburn freshman.
2020 SEC Coach of the Year
Nick Saban – Alabama Crimson Tide
A no-brainer, Saban got the Crimson Tide back to the College Football Playoffs after their first absence in 2019 from the four-team event. Saban guided Alabama to the SEC title and his sixth national championship since taking over the program in 2009.
The 69-year old head coach and 27th head coach of the Crimson Tide completed his 15th season as head coach in Tuscaloosa. Saban’s successful season improved his career record to 16-3 in SEC and national championship games
