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The 2015 season was filled with unforgettable moments in SEC football. There are likely more to come with 10 SEC teams in bowl games.
Before the onslaught of those games begins on Wednesday afternoon, let’s take a look at some of the events that fans will never forget.
Here are the five best moments from the 2015 SEC football season:
5. Florida’s comeback against Tennessee: The Gators once trailed the Volunteers by 13 points inside of 11 minutes to play. Florida scored a touchdown to pull within six, but with 1:26 left, the Gators faced fourth-and-14. Freshman QB Will Grier not only converted the fourth down, but found WR Antonio Callaway for a 63-yard touchdown to put Florida ahead by one.
The game wasn’t over, though, as Tennessee drove into field goal range on the ensuring drive. It took a delay of game penalty before the final kick and a 55-yard missed field goal for Florida to hold on for the 28-27 victory that determined the SEC East champion.
4. Kelly’s circus act vs. Alabama: Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly had a pair of incredible TD passes in the second half of the victory over Alabama that could make this list. The first one is probably the most unforgettable — it looked like a comedy of errors.
The snap bounced high into the air off Kelly’s fingertips. He caught the ball then threw an unadvised pass into traffic that bounced off two players and into the arms of WR Quincy Adeboyejo, who ran 66 yards for a TD.
The score moved Ole Miss ahead of Alabama by 14, and the Rebels went on to win, 43-37.
3. LSU carries Les Miles off the field: After starting the season 7-0, LSU fell on hard times with three straight blowout losses to Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss. The Tigers were outscored in those games, 99-47.
Despite a win percentage above .700 and a national championship, Les Miles was going to be fired after the final game of the regular season against Texas A&M, according to various rumors and reports. Although he denied it, Miles reportedly addressed the boosters about his future before the final game.
LSU beat Texas A&M 19-7 and his players carried him off the field. Only moments after the final gun, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva announced Miles would be back next season.
2. Arkansas’ fourth-and-25 conversion: Down seven in overtime, Arkansas faced a seemingly impossible fourth-and-25. It was convert or lose for the Razorbacks. Brandon Allen threw to Hunter Henry about 10 yards downfield along the sideline. Henry blindly threw the ball backward while falling to the ground. The lateral bounced to Alex Collins, who scooped it on a hop and ran for the first down.
Arkansas went on to score and added a two-point conversion to beat Ole Miss 53-52, costing the Rebels the SEC West title and the opportunity to play in the College Football Playoff. The play will haunt Ole Miss for a long time.
1. Derrick Henry passes Herschel Walker: Georgia RB Herschel Walker is larger than life in the South. His single-season conference record of 1,891 rushing yards in 1981, accomplished in 11 games (bowl stats didn’t count until 2002), stood for 34 years until Henry passed him in the SEC Championship Game.
Henry rushed for 189 yards in the 29-15 victory over Florida for the conference title. In his last five games, Henry gained 942 rushing yards. On Dec. 12, he became the second Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy.
With 1,986 rushing yards in 14 games, Henry is 14 yards away from becoming the 25th running back since 1956 to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season going into the Cotton Bowl. If Alabama beats Michigan State, he will have a 15th game to pad his numbers and move further up the all-time single-season list.
Henry only needs 142 more yards to finish in the 10 top and just 200 more yards to reach the top five most rushing yards in a single year.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
