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 . Players of the Week Week Three . Players of the Week Week Four . Players of the Week Week Five . Week off : Auburn , Florida , Mississippi State , Vanderbilt . Players of the Week Week Six . Week off : Alabama , Tennessee . Players of the Week 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 . Home Attendance . Games played at Arkansas ' secondary home stadium War Memorial Stadium , capacity : 54 , 120 .