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Season in Review: College Football 2021

The first full season following the COVID-19 pandemic

By Matt Pendleton Photography

July 1^st, 2022

Welcome Back!

After missing all college football action (with exception of the 2020 SEC Football Championship in ATL) in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was looking forward to covering a few games in 2021. I was able to cover a bunch of Gator football home games and a couple bowl games including the Outback Bowl to end the season.

I continued my partnership with The Gainesville Sun but also worked more with USA TODAY Sports. While I didn't make every match this season, I still was able to create a ton of images.

Scroll down to see my favorite images from the 2021 college football season.

Florida vs USF - 9/11/2021

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Florida Gators and USF Bulls ran out under the Red, White, and Blue. Gators head coach Dan Mullen rocked custom American flag Jordans and the players wore custom helmets.

A quarterback competition was brewing: Emory Jones (5) vs Anthony Richardson (15).

After a long run, Anthony injured his hamstring and left the game.

Florida vs Vanderbilt - 10/9/2021

It was homecoming in Gainesville and the former local Buchholz Bobcat, Trent Whittemore, scored a touchdown in the back corner of the

Houston vs USF - 11/6/2021

Working for USA TODAY Sports, I was assigned my first USF game in Tampa at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was definitely a fun game but LED lights off touchdown celebrations were not my friend.

Florida vs Samford - 11/13/2021

The Gators ended a three-game losing streak with the win over the Bulldogs back home in Gainesville.

Unfortunately, the win did not help Dan Mullen's future as head coach of the Florida Gators.

On November 21, 2021, he was fired by Athletic Director Scott Stricklin.

He would be replaced by interim head coach Greg Knox.

Coastal Carolina vs NIU - Cure Bowl

This was my first time shooting inside Exploria Stadium in Orlando. USA TODAY Sports hired me to cover the 2021 Cure Bowl, one of the first bowl games to kick of Bowl Season in college football.

Coastal Carolina gets the win in Orlando!

Arkansas vs Penn State - Outback Bowl

...and then this happened on the sideline as I was changing endzones.

Until Next Season

Behind The Dashed Line

A huge shout out to all my fellow photographers that I'm honored to share the sidelines. This is what it's all about: the people. Surround yourself with greatness.

Special shout out to Gainesville Sun's Brad McClenny, USA TODAY Sports' Kristi Guerriero and Ocala Star-Banner's Doug Engle for hiring me for all these amazing assignments this season.