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

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Jan 11, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris (22) runs the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Pete Werner (20) third quarter in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Alabama is a cut above everyone

Six national championships is one of the great runs in all sports. Deep diving those 12 seasons makes the run even more dominant. Alabama finished in the top 10 each of those 12 seasons. In two of those seasons, Alabama went undefeated. It won six championships playing for nine. Alabama won 11 or more games in 11-of-12 seasons; the Tide won 10 games in 2010.

Nick Saban’s relentless pursuit of perfection is why Alabama’s program is second to none. When Oklahoma and Trevor Knight beat Alabama with tempo and speed in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, Nick Saban and his staff went about turning the roster over. The defense got smaller and faster; the offense became more pass-centric, resulting in this season, one of the best in the country.

Dan Mullen is a quarterback guru

Dan Mullen has an unparalleled resume with quarterbacks. At Mississippi State, Mullen developed Dak Prescott into an NFL-caliber quarterback. Before Starkville, Mullen guided Tim Tebow to a record-setting, multi-time Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. Feleipe Franks, the quarterback at Florida Mullen’s first season, developed into a solid starter before the ankle injury. This season, Kyle Trask broke decades-old records at Florida under Mullen.

Ironically, Trask is not the ideal quarterback for Mullen’s system. Dual-threat quarterbacks have thrived Mullen’s system traditionally. This season proves that Mullen knows how to adjust his playbook based on the quarterback he has.

All Saban disciples are not created equal

While Kirby Smart has enjoyed immense success at Georgia, the same cannot be said about Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee. The now-fired Pruitt was not Tennessee’s first choice. Fans pressured the Volunteers not to hire Greg Schiano. Mike Leach was all but signed until Philip Fulmer forced his way into the athletic director’s chair and hired Pruitt (David Cutcliffe turned the Volunteers down as well).

Pruitt, Tennessee’s fourth choice, did not do well in Knoxville. Though Pruitt recruited well, the offense never rounded into form, and this season was a complete disaster. Pruitt is fired amid NCAA recruiting violations and a mass exodus of transfers.

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