2010 Southeastern Conference football season

The 2010 Southeastern Conference football season began on Thursday, September 2, 2010 with South Carolina defeating Southern Miss on ESPN.

Preseason
Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin left after his first season in Knoxville for Southern Cal. Kiffin was replaced by Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley. Dooley opened his first season on September 4 against University of Tennessee – Martin.

Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks retired after seven seasons in Lexington, ending a coaching career that lasted over 40 years. As agreed on in 2008, Brooks was replaced by his offensive coordinator Joker Phillips, who began his first season as head coach on September 4 against archrival Louisville.

In July 2010, Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson unexpectedly retired. He was replaced on an interim basis by Robbie Caldwell, who had the dual titles of Vanderbilt assistant head coach and offensive line coach in 2009. Caldwell made his Vanderbilt head coaching debut on September 4 against Northwestern.

2010 Pre-season Coaches All-SEC

Rankings
Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt went unranked throughout the season in the rankings shown below (AP and Coaches polls, and BCS standings).

Regular season
All times Eastern time.

Rankings reflect that of the AP poll for that week until week eight when the BCS rankings will be used.

Week One
Players of the week:

Week Two
Players of the week:

Week Three
Players of the week:

Week Four
Players of the week:

Week Five
Players of the week:

Week Six
Players of the week:

Week Seven
Players of the week:

Week Eight
Players of the week:

Week Nine
Players of the week:

Week Ten
Players of the week:

Week Eleven
Players of the week:

Week Twelve
Players of the week:

Week Thirteen
Players of the week:

SEC vs. BCS conference opponents
''NOTE:. Games with a * next to the home team represent a neutral site game''

All-SEC
The following players were named by the AP All-SEC team:

All-Americans
Quarterback
 * Cam Newton, Auburn (AFCA-Coaches, AP, Walter Camp, CBS, Rivals.com, Scout.com, SI)

Defensive tackle
 * Nick Fairley, Auburn (AP, FWAA, Walter Camp, CBS, Rivals.com, Scout.com, SI)
 * Drake Nevis, LSU (CBS)

Wide receiver
 * Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (AFCA-Coaches, FWAA, Rivals.com, Scout.com)

Linebacker
 * Justin Houston, Georgia (FWAA)

Offensive tackle
 * Lee Ziemba, Auburn (AFCA-Coaches, FWAA, SI, Walter Camp)

Secondary
 * Mark Barron, Alabama (FWAA)
 * Ahmad Black, Florida (CBS, Rivals.com)
 * Patrick Peterson, LSU (AFCA-Coaches, AP, FWAA, Walter Camp, CBS, Rivals.com, Scout.com, SI)

All-purpose
 * Randall Cobb, Kentucky (AP, SI)

Kicker/Punter
 * Chas Henry, Florida (AP, Walter Camp, CBS, Rivals.com, Scout.com, SI)
 * Josh Jasper LSU (FWAA)

National award winners
The following SEC players listed below have been named to the national award semifinalist and finalist lists.

2010 Heisman Trophy Winner:
 * Cameron Newton, Auburn

2010 Bednarik Award Winner:
 * Patrick Peterson, LSU

2010 Lombardi Award Winner:
 * Nick Fairley, Auburn

2010 Maxwell Award Winner:
 * Cameron Newton, Auburn

2010 Walter Camp Award Winner:
 * Cameron Newton, Auburn

2010 John Mackey Award Winner:
 * DJ Williams, Arkansas

2010 Davey O'Brien Award Winner:
 * Cameron Newton, Auburn

2010 Paul Hornung Award Finalist:
 * Randall Cobb, Kentucky