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Smith's TD return sparks No. 1 Tide's 52-3 tour of Arkansas
Alabama punt returner DeVonta Smith (6) returns a punt for a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Fayetteville, Ark. โ DeVonta Smith returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown as No. 1 Alabama scored 28 points in a span of 11 minutes in the first half and rolled past Arkansas 52-3 on Saturday. Mac Jones, whose day was finished in the third quarter, threw for 208 yards on 24 of 29 passing for Alabama. Alabama: Another trip to Atlanta for the SEC title game, the Tide's third in five years.
Gators Breakdown: Game Reaction | Florida 63 Arkansas 35
Another week, another strong performance for Florida QB Kyle Trask. David Waters is joined by Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun) as they look back at Traskโs big night and the defenseโs up and down showing. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
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Heisman front-runner? Trask, No. 6 Florida thump Hogs 63-35
Arkansas acting head coach Barry Odom, center, watches a stadium video monitor after Florida scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Heisman front-runner? Trask, No. 6 Florida thump Hogs 63-35
Trask repeatedly torched the Razorbacks (3-4), who were without coach Sam Pittman and without much of a chance by halftime. It was the second time this season Trask tossed six TDs in a game. โI think I did a great job of executing and being efficient,โ said Trask, who now has an SEC-record 28 TD passes and just three interceptions in six games. He became the third player in school history with at least 25 touchdown passes in multiple years, joining Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel. Florida: The Gators have the offense to beat anyone and the defense to keep everyone in games.
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Mullenโs message for Florida before Arkansas: donโt peak now
GAINESVILLE, Fla. โ Florida coach Dan Mullen had a message for his players this week: great teams donโt peak at the midpoint of the season. โIf you want to be a great team, great teams get better every single week,โ Mullen said. โGreat teams donโt peak at the midway point of the season. Great teams peak in early, mid-December, and early, mid-January. If we donโt improve, last week was really irrelevant.โFlorida begins the second half of its season against surprising Arkansas (3-3) on Saturday night in the Swamp.
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Gators Breakdown: Arkansas Game Preview 2020
As soon as Florida vs Arkansas was announced with the revised SEC schedule, the first topic brought up was facing former Gators QB, Feleipe Franks. David Waters is joined by Pat Jenkins (The Hill with Pat Jenkins) to preview the Razorbacks as they travel to The Swamp to take on the Gators. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
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Virus postponements hit SEC, Big Ten; 8 games across FBS
Among the three SEC games still on for this Saturday, Arkansas will visit No. Orgeron said he expects most of his players in quarantine due to contact tracing back next week. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said his team only had two positive cases as of Wednesday afternoon, but contact tracing had taken a toll. โCandidly, the numbers around contact tracing have emerged as one of our biggest challenges to playing. โThe contact tracing has the potential to magnify even one positive test,โ Sankey said.
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The Latest: Arkansas coach Pittman tests positive for virus
The reserve/COVID-19 list is either for players who have tested positive or have been in close contact with someone who has. ___Italian basketball team Olimpia Milano has suspended all team activity after โnumerousโ members of the squad tested positive for the coronavirus. ___The Danish soccer federation has put eight national team players and some staff members in quarantine after two positive tests for COVID-19. Robert Skov of German club Hoffenheim is one of the people who tested positive. ___European qualifying in December for the Women's Rugby World Cup next year in New Zealand has been postponed.
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Floridaโs Pitts questionable vs Arkansas due to concussion
6 Florida could be without standout tight end Kyle Pitts against Arkansas on Saturday because of a concussion. Coach Dan Mullen called Pitts questionable for the game. Pitts spent the rest of the game in the locker room. If Pitts canโt play against the Razorbacks (3-3), Kemore Gamble and Keon Zipperer would fill his role. You look, he goes out and Kemore has a great game.
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Postponement, outbreaks: SEC takes a hit from COVID-19
The conference on Monday postponed Saturdayโs game between No. 20 Auburn and Mississippi State because of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantining within the Bulldogsโ program. 5 Texas A&M paused in-person activities after a player and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a win at South Carolina. LSU is battling an outbreak that could put Saturday's game against No. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.
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The Latest: Tom Izzo tests positive for COVID-19
(AP Photo/Michael Woods)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has tested positive for COVID-19. 20 Auburn and Mississippi State because of positive COVID-19 and quarantining within the Bulldogsโ program that the school says left the team below the minimum threshold of 53 available scholarship athletes. 5 Texas A&M paused in-person activities on Monday after a player and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 after the team returned from its weekend trip to South Carolina. ___Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman has tested positive for COVID-19 and could miss the Razorbacksโ game at No. Pittman was tested Sunday as part of the teamโs regular protocol and learned Monday that his test came back positive.
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Arkansas snaps 20-game SEC skid, 21-14 vs. Mississippi St.
Costello three times as the Razorbacks broke a 20-game SEC losing streak by upsetting No. 16 Mississippi State 21-14 on Saturday night. The Razorbacks allowed plenty of yards but made Mississippi State settle for small chunks. Mississippi State: The loud voices of praise Leach will be quiet this week. Mississippi State will head to Kentucky.
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No. 4 Georgia to be reunited with popular Pittman in opener
Kirby Smart gives much credit to first-year Arkansas coach Sam Pittman for helping to make No. Smart and his Bulldogs will be reunited with Pittman when Georgia opens its pandemic-delayed season at Arkansas on Saturday. In four years as Georgiaโs offensive line coach, including the 2019 season with the added title of associate head coach, Pittman was a key member of Smartโs staff. After Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman opted out of the season, Mathis is competing with JT Daniels, freshman Carson Beck and junior Stetson Bennett. Coach Pittman, he was my guy for two years.
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SEC remains loaded in season when little else is normal
In a precarious season when almost nothing feels normal, the SEC does feel like, well, the SEC even without its most prominent passers. And the league opted to continue working toward a season that will include just 10 SEC games with a Sept. 26 start. Alabama coach Nick Saban said that schedule under the circumstances will be good for the fans and players alike. NEW FACESLane Kiffin, head coach, Mississippi; Mike Leach, head coach, Mississippi State: The hiring of these two big-name coaches with impressive offensive pedigrees brought some excitement to the Magnolia State. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt: Mason has had his successes with the Commodores, but has also won just 10 SEC games in six seasons.