SEC Championship Game recap
A year after going winless in the Southeastern Conference, the Auburn Tigers are the 2013 SEC champions. Auburn capped off the biggest turnaround in league history by defeating Missouri, 59-42, in the SEC title game last Saturday (Dec. 7) in the Georgia Dome. Before the season, Gus Malzahn’s Tigers did not receive a vote in any preseason poll. Now, Auburn will play Florida State for the BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6.
The Auburn rushing attack was unstoppable against Missouri. Junior running back Tre Mason ran for 304 yards and four touchdowns, setting a SEC championship record. Mason was four yards shy of setting the school record. Three other Tigers rushed for touchdowns, including Cameron Artis-Payne, Corey Grant and quarterback Nick Marshall. Marshall also had over 100 yards ru-shing and over 100 passing on the day.
Auburn had trouble con-taining Missouri’s offense in the first half, as star Missouri receiver Dorial Green-Beckham had over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the first half alone. Auburn led at the half 28-27. After another back-and-forth third quarter, Mizzou only trailed 45-42. However, Auburn dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the East division champions 14-0. Auburn rushed for over 500 yards and had nearly 700 yards of offense. After Ohio State lost to Michigan State later Saturday evening, Auburn clinched a spot in the BCS title game.
SEC postseason awards
Coach of the Year: Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Offensive Player of the Year: Tre Mason, Auburn
Defensive Player of the Year: C.J. Mosely, Alabama
Freshman of the Year: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
First-Team Offense
Quarterback: Johnny Manziel, So., Texas A&M
Running back: Tre Mason, Jr., Auburn; Mike Davis, So., South Carolina
Wide Receiver: Jordan Matthews, Sr., Vanderbilt, Mike Evans, So., Texas A&M Dorial-Green Beckham, So., Missouri
Tight end: Hunter Henry, Fr., Arkansas
Offensive line: Jake Matthews, Sr., Texas A&M (Sr.), Greg Robinson, So., Auburn, Gabe Jackson, Sr., Mississippi State, Cyrus Kouandjio, Jr., Alabama, Reese Dismukes, Jr., Auburn; Anthony Steen, Sr., Alabama; Justin Britt, Sr., Missouri
All Purpose: Odell Beckham Jr., LSU
Special Teams
Kicker: Marshall Morgan, So., Georgia
Punter: Steven Clark, Sr., Auburn
Kick Returner: Christion Jones, Jr., Alabama
First-Team Defense
Defensive end: Michael Sam, Sr., Missouri, Dee Ford, Sr., Auburn, Jadeveon Clowney, Jr., South Carolina, Kony Ealy, Jr., Missouri
Defensive Tackle: Kelcy Quarles, Jr., South Carolina, Anthony Johnson, Jr., LSU
Linebacker: C.J. Mosely, Sr., Alabama, Ramik Wilson, Jr., Georgia, A.J. Johnson, Jr., Tennessee
Cornerback: Vernon Hargreaves III, Fr., Florida, E.J. Gaines, Sr., Missouri
Safety: Cody Prewitt, Jr., Ole Miss, Kenny Lad-ler, Sr., Vanderbilt
Honorable Mention
Offense
Quarterback: Aaron Murray, Sr., Georgia, Nick Marshall, Jr., Auburn
Running Back: T.J. Yel-don, So., Alabama, Jeremy Hill, So., LSU, Todd Gurley, So., Georgia
Wide Receiver: Jarvis Landry, Jr., LSU, Donte Moncrief, Jr., Ole Miss, Sammie Coates, So., Auburn
Tight End: C.J. Uzo-mah, Jr., Auburn, Evan Engram, Fr., Ole Miss
Offensive Line: Travis Swanson, Sr., Arkansas, Wesley Johnson, Sr., Vanderbilt, Antonio Richardson, Jr., Tennessee, Laremy Tunsil, Fr., Ole Miss
Honorable Mention Defense
Defensive End: Dante Fowler Jr., Florida, Alvin Dupree, Jr., Kentucky
Defensive Tackle: Gabe Wright, Jr., Auburn, Ego Ferguson, Jr., LSU
Linebacker: Trey DePriest, Jr., Alabama, Sharrod Golightly, Jr., South Carolina, Andrew Wilson, So., Missouri
Cornerback: Victor Hampton, Jr., South Carolina, Chris Davis, Sr., Auburn
Safety: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Jr., Alabama, Robenson Therezie, Jr., Auburn
Predicted Heisman Trophy Finish
1. Jameis Winston, quarterback, Florida State
2. Tre Mason, running back, Auburn
3. Johnny Manziel, quarterback, Texas A&M
4. Jordan Lynch, quarterback, Northern Illinois
5. A.J. McCarron, quarterback, Alabama
6. Andre Williams, running back, Boston College