2012 Southeastern Conference football season

The 2012 Southeastern Conference football season began on August 30 with South Carolina visiting Vanderbilt, and concluded with the BCS National Championship Game on January 7, 2013. It was also the first season of play for former Big 12 Conference members Texas A&M and Missouri. Texas A&M plays in the West Division, while Missouri plays in the East Division, although, geographically, Missouri is one of the conference's westernmost teams.

Preseason
Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino was fired in early April for lying about his affair with an Arkansas employee after a motorcycle accident that he had on April that left him four broken ribs, a cracked vertebra in his neck and numerous abrasions on his face. In the press conference announcing the termination, Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said, "(Petrino) made the decision to mislead the public, (and it) adversely affected the university and the football program." In Petrino's place, Assistant Coach Taver Johnson will serve as interim coach through the end of spring practice. After the firing of Bobby Petrino in April 2012, there was considerable media speculation that Smith would return to Arkansas. This was confirmed on April 23 when multiple media outlets reported that Smith had indeed agreed to succeed Petrino. He was introduced as Arkansas' 29th full-time head coach the next day. Smith signed a 10-month contract, leading to speculation that he was only taking the post on an interim basis for the 2012 season. The Razorbacks' formal announcement described him as "head coach", without any qualifiers; however, it also indicated that Smith's hiring would allow Arkansas to hire "a head coach for the future of the program" in a more appropriate timeframe following the 2012 season.

At the end of the 2011 season it was announced that Head Coach Houston Nutt resigned from the position of head coach at Ole Miss. His resignation became official once the season ended. In his place, Ole Miss hired Arkansas State Head Coach Hugh Freeze.

Preseason All-SEC
2012 Pre-season Coaches All-SEC

Regular season
All times Eastern time. SEC teams in bold.

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

Week One
Texas A&M's matchup with Louisiana Tech University was rescheduled to October 13 by agreement of the schools due to the potential impact of Hurricane Isaac on Shreveport, Louisiana, where the game was to be held.

Players of the week:

Week Two
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Week Three
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Week Four
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Week Five
Week off: Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt.

Players of the week:

Week Six
Week off: Alabama, Tennessee.

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Week Seven
Week off: Georgia

Players of the week:

Week Eight
Week off: Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri.

Players of the week:

Week Nine
Week off: LSU.

Players of the week:

Week Ten
Week off: South Carolina.

Players of the week:

Week Eleven
Week off: Kentucky.

Players of the week:

Week Twelve
Players of the week:

Week Thirteen
Players of the week:

SEC vs AQ-conference matchups
Rankings from the AP Poll

Bowl games
Nine SEC teams became bowl eligible, and all were selected for post-season competition. SEC teams are bolded.

National awards

 * Heisman Trophy: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * Archie Griffin Award (MVP): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * AP Player of the Year: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * Chic Harley Award (Player of the Year): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * SN Player of the Year: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * Campbell Trophy ("academic Heisman"): Barrett Jones, Alabama
 * Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * Manning Award (quarterback): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
 * Dave Rimington Trophy (center): Barrett Jones, Alabama
 * Outland Trophy (interior lineman): Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
 * Jack Lambert Trophy (linebacker): Jarvis Jones, Georgia
 * Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end): Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
 * Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back): Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State

Consensus All-Americans

 * QB – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M -- CONSENSUS -- (AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, Scout, SI)
 * OL – Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M -- UNANIMOUS -- (AFCA, AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, PFW, Scout, SI)
 * OL – Barrett Jones, Alabama -- CONSENSUS -- (AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, Scout, SI)
 * OL – Chance Warmack, Alabama -- UNANIMOUS -- (AFCA, AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, PFW, Scout, SI)
 * DL – Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina -- UNANIMOUS -- (AFCA, AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, PFW, Scout, SI)
 * DL – Damontre Moore, Texas A&M -- CONSENSUS -- (AFCA, FWAA, WCFF, ESPN)
 * LB – Jarvis Jones, Georgia -- UNANIMOUS -- (AFCA, AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, PFW, Scout, SI)
 * LB – C. J. Mosley, Alabama -- CONSENSUS -- (AFCA, AP, TSN, WCFF, CBS, Scout, SI)
 * DB – Dee Milliner, Alabama -- UNANIMOUS -- (AFCA, AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, CBS, ESPN, PFW, Scout)
 * DB – Eric Reid, LSU -- CONSENSUS -- (AFCA, FWAA, ESPN, Scout)

All-SEC Teams
The Southeastern Conference coaches voted for the All-SEC teams after the regular season concluded. Prior to the 2012 SEC Championship Game the teams were released. Alabama had the most representatives on the 2012 All-SEC Coaches’ Football Team, the league office announced on Tuesday. Alabama had eight total members, including six on the first team. Florida was close behind with seven, while Eastern Division Champion Georgia and Tennessee had six each.

Ten of the 14 SEC schools had a member on the first-team All-SEC squad. Alabama led with six, while Florida had five and Texas A&M with four. LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M had five total members on the annual list, while Mississippi State was next with four total selections.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Home attendance
Games played at Arkansas' secondary home stadium War Memorial Stadium, capacity: 54,120.

Attendance was 84,644 for the Florida vs. Georgia game in Jacksonville