25 Cheers For 25 Years: Kyle Trask’s Record Breaking 2020
Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Auburn Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Kyle Trask’s 2020 season is an awesome sports story of a patient backup turned record-setting superstar. After years on the Florida bench, Trask took over the starting quarterback role in 2019 and had the most accomplished passing season in Florida history.
In 2020, a season disrupted by COVID-19 and shortened to a 10 game SEC-only schedule, the redshirt senior blossomed into one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks.
Week after week, Trask dismantled defenses and rewrote the Gators’ record books, transforming from an understudy into a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Trask opened the 2020 campaign on fire. In the first game at Ole Miss, he threw for 416 yards and 6 touchdowns, tying an SEC record for TD passes in a conference opener and putting national media on notice.
Surrounded by playmakers like star tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Kadarius Toney, Trask led a one of the best offenses that overwhelmed opponents. He became the first quarterback in Florida history to throw four or more touchdown passes in six consecutive games, a streak that included shredding rival Georgia for 474 yards.
“Hard to say anybody’s meant more to their team than Kyle Trask has to our team this year,” head coach Dan Mullen said late in the season.
By season’s end, Trask had compiled video-game numbers. He finished with 4,283 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes in 12 games, both single-season records in Florida’s storied history.
Trask led the entire FBS in touchdown passes (43) and total touchdowns (46) outpacing even Alabama’s Mac Jones and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.
Under his leadership, Florida averaged over 39 points per game and clinched its first SEC East title since 2016. Trask thrived despite pandemic challenges that saw games played in front of limited crowds and a mid-season COVID-19 outbreak that paused Florida’s schedule.
When the Gators finally met No. 1 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, Trask went punch for punch with the Tide in a 52–46 shootout, passing for 408 yards and 3 TDs. Even though Florida lost, Trask’s heroic performance cemented his place among college football’s best.
Trask’s 2020 Highlights and Records:
4,283 passing yards – most in a single season in UF history (broke Rex Grossman’s record)
43 passing touchdowns – a new Florida record (broke Danny Wuerffel’s 1996 mark)
First player in SEC history with 4+ TD passes in six consecutive games
Heisman Trophy finalist (finished 4th in voting)
When the dust settled, Kyle Trask stood atop the Florida record books and among the country’s elite quarterbacks. He became just the fifth SEC QB ever to surpass 4,000 yards in a season, and his 46 total touchdowns nearly matched the conference record.
A true Gator, Trask proved that loyalty, patience, and hard work still have a place in college sports.
