SEC Football: What we learned from 2020, questions for 2021 season

Alabama won yet another national title. SEC football has proven to be the standard of the sport. Here is what we learned and big questions for next year.

If there was a question about which conference is the best in college football, 12 national titles in 20 seasons should answer that question.

Alabama’s 52-24 victory against the Ohio State Buckeyes gave the Crimson Tide its sixth title in the Nick Saban era. The math is simple, Alabama has won half of the SEC’s national titles in the last 20 years.

Though the Crimson Tide were the story of the SEC, they were not the only story. Texas A&M capped off its best season under Jimbo Fisher with a resounding Orange Bowl victory against the North Carolina Tar Heels. USC transfer JT Daniels changed the Georgia offense when he was finally cleared to play.

Not all of the stories were the most positive, however. LSU, affected by players’ mass exodus to the NFL and opt-outs, fell hard this season. Bo Pelini was a disaster as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. The Tennessee Volunteers’ season ended with NCAA violations, Phillip Fulmer’s retirement and firing Jeremy Pruitt.

Outstanding players from 2020

This season was the year of offense in the SEC; here are three of the conference’s best players last season.

• Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Mac Jones had the best season statistically by an Alabama quarterback in program history. Considering Alabama’s recent run on quarterbacks (Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovaolia), this one was hard to see coming. Jones threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns this season, leading the Tide to the national title. His ascent also proves Alabama is the best developmental program in the country.

• Kyle Trask, QB, Florida

Kyle Trask, like Mac Jones, is proof that good things come to those who wait. Trask sat behind Miami quarterback D’Eriq King in high school. At Florida, he sat behind Felipe Franks. When Franks was injured and missed last season, Trask stepped in and had a fantastic season. This season, he had a record-setting season throwing 43 touchdowns.

• DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

DeVonta Smith not only won the Heisman Trophy, but he was also one of the most improved players in the country last season. In 2019, Smith was a deep threat with Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle running most of the other routes. Smith was called upon to be the No. 1 receiver with Jeudy in the NFL and Waddle missing most of the season with an ankle injury. He responded in kind with 117 catches and 14 touchdowns.

Game of the year

• Texas A&M 41, Florida 38

This was the Aggies’ signature win. It was the first top-10 victory for A&M in the Fisher era. This was a back-and-forth affair with 945 yards of total offense. It was Kellen Mond’s best performance in his Texas A&M career. In a game where the last possession won, Mond drove the Aggies down the field, and Seth Small kicked a 26-yard field goal.