We have returned to having an SEC Championship Game with a lot at stake.
For a third time in the Nick Saban era, a matchup between Alabama and Florida will determine a conference champion and an opportunity to compete for a national championship. After the leadership of Tim Tebow guided the Gators to victory in 2008, the savvy of Greg McElroy and a vengeful defense for the Crimson Tide won in 2009. Along with this, it will be the second time under Saban where an Alabama-Florida battle for a conference crown determines the winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy.
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Mark Ingram’s outing of 113 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards and three touchdowns paced the Tide to a 32-13 win over the Gators in ’09, and he won the Heisman. This time around, three Alabama players (Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris) and one student-athlete for Florida (Kyle Trask) are competing for the coveted bronze award. Whether it is USA TODAY, ESPN or NBC Sports Bet, each outlet has Jones and Smith in a tight race for the Heisman.
According to ESPN, its staff writers have Smith in the lead with 54 total points (seven first place votes).
Jones is second with 52 points (four first place votes).
NBC Sports Bet has Jones with the highest odds to win at -200. Smith is second at +250.
DeVonta Smith has surged up the Heisman leaderboard after his spectacular performance against Arkansas.
Will we see a non-QB take the award for the first time since 2015? pic.twitter.com/Uz9q7HMZ9P
— NBC Sports Bet (@NBCSportsBet) December 15, 2020
Both players have been amazing this season for Alabama.
Smith has moved up the school’s record books in receiving, to where he is only behind Amari Cooper for career receptions and yards. He has the record for career touchdowns (38) and needs two scores to surpass Cooper for the single-season touchdown mark. As for Jones, he ranks in the top-five nationally in every major category for quarterbacks. He is the fifth 3,000-yard passer (3,321) of the Saban era, and Jones has propelled the offense to scoring at least 40 points in nine straight regular season games.
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The redshirt junior has 27 touchdowns to three interceptions.
A winner was decided in the 2009 SEC title game, and a Heisman recipient will be crowned this weekend.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
