It began with Joe Burrow, Coach O and an unprecedented LSU run that made college football history, and 2020 ended on an even more unprecedented historical note.
In between, a global pandemic threatened the entire sport and exposed rifts and power imbalances across its landscape.
This was a year of pain and protest, followed by a new era of player empowerment. The summer was a new moment for athlete activism across college campuses, from the #WeAreUnited movement to athletes and activists joining forces to change building names for more inclusive campuses.
Coronavirus restrictions led to staggered schedules, start times and cancellations of games all season long.