“It Won’t Even Be Close” Look Back At The 2020 SEC Championship
It’s Dec. 18, 2020. About 30 hours until No.1 Alabama kicks off the SEC Championship game against No. 7 Florida.
“First Take” is live on ESPN and show co-host Stephen A. Smith is debating the game with former Heisman trophy-winning Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Smith is high on Alabama and believes the Crimson Tide will stomp the Gators. Tebow also believes that Bama will defeat his alma mater, but it would be closer than most people thought.
Stephen A. laughed at the College Football Hall of Famer for thinking the Gators stood a chance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. "It won't even be close," Smith said.
For the next 29 hours, college football fans make their predictions just like the two ESPN personalities.
Both teams have a “big three”, but all of Bama’s three are Heisman Candidates: Mac Jones, Najee Harris and eventual winner DeVonta Smith.
Florida had a Heisman candidate at quarterback named Kyle Trask. However, they had a generational talent at tight end named Kyle Pitts. On top of that, they had an elite all-purpose receiver named Kadarius Toney.
The big three on both teams made this game one for ages.
Najee Harris started the offensive shootout with an eight-yard score.
Kadarius Toney tied the game up a couple of minutes later after a 51-yard touchdown catch and run.
On Bama's next drive, wide receiver John Metchie had one of the best plays in the entire college football season. Mac Jones threw a pick to safety Trey Dean III, but Metchie hit him on the return so hard that it caused him to fumble and Bama recovered.
Later on that drive, DeVonta Smith had a big 31-yard touchdown to help increase his Heisman odds.
After a Gator field goal, the score was 14-10 in favor of Alabama at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Najee Harris. Harris had three touchdown catches. Trask scored too, but Bama was up 35-17 at halftime.
Bama fans were ready to bring yet another SEC championship to Tuscaloosa. However, UF wasn't about to give up.
Florida locked down the Tide in the third quarter and scored two touchdowns as well. Going into the fourth quarter Alabama was now only up 35-31.
Bama started off the fourth quarter well as they scored 10 straight points.
A Florida touchdown would get them right back in the game to make it 45-38 with six minutes left in regulation.
Mac Jones led a clutch drive ending with a DeVonta Smith touchdown after just 90 seconds.
Trask was in a do-or-die drive, but hit Kyle Pitts for a 22-yard touchdown. They were down 52-46 with two minutes left.
Bama recovered the onside kick, but went three-and-out.
Trask and company received the ball with under with only 16 seconds left.
The Tide's defense didn't allow anything as they finished the game with a Christian Harris sack.
This game had it all, big plays, big hits and lots of touchdowns.
No. 1 Alabama will rematch No. 11 Florida on Saturday in Gainsville. Who knows if it will be as thrilling as the last time these two went head-to-head.