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The times where the SEC Championship Game cost a team a shot at the national crown
Posted on 11/28/24 at 5:32 am
Posted on 11/28/24 at 5:32 am
The SEC Championship Game has existed since 1992 and, in that period, there have been multiple instances where the game has cost a team a shot at a national championship. Here are those examples:
1. 1994 SEC Championship Game
The first game on our list occurred just three years into the conference title game. This match-up featured #3 Alabama (11-0) and #6 Florida (9-1-1). In earlier years, Alabama would have won the conference outright as they were the only team to finish the season undefeated in conference play. This was the era of the Bowl Coalition and since the Rose Bowl and, thus, the Big Ten refused to participate, #2 Penn State (11-0) was on the outside looking in. A potential national championship showdown between #1 Nebraska and #3 Alabama was avoided when the Tide lost to the Gators in Atlanta by the score of 24-23.
2. 2001 SEC Championship Game
This match-up between #2 Tennessee (10-1) and #21 (8-3) LSU was seen by most pundits as just a formality. Tennessee, who had already defeated LSU in the regular season, would do so again and then head on to the Rose Bowl to meet #1 Miami for the national championship. This was not to be, however, as the LSU Tigers would go on to upset the heavily favored Volunteers by the score of 31-20. Instead of going to Pasadena to play for it all, Tennessee was instead relegated to the Citrus Bowl. The Volunteer program has only now just begun to recover from the fallout of this game.
3. 2008 SEC Championship Game
Part one of two very historic and memorable clashes between the Saban-led Alabama Crimson Tide and the Meyer-led Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game, this edition saw Alabama coming into the game undefeated and #1, while the Gators entered with one loss and were ranked #2. A seesaw contest throughout the entirety of the game finally saw the Florida Gators victorious, pulling away from Alabama at the end to take a 31-20 victory into the BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma. Alabama would fall to #4 and be relegated to a Sugar Bowl appearance.
4. 2009 SEC Championship Game
Part two of two saw the only game in the history of the SEC Championship Game to feature two undefeated teams. The #1 Florida Gators (12-0) vs. the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) was billed as THE game of the season. The Crimson Tide were able to get their revenge against Tim Tebow and the boys from Florida, pulling away in the second half to win the game by the score of 32-13. The Tide went on to play #2 Texas in the BCS National Championship Game while Florida would play the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl.
5. 2012 SEC Championship Game
Arguably the greatest SEC Championship Game to date, this one featured the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) vs. the #3 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1). The game was a seesaw contest back and forth to the very end, with the Crimson Tide emerging victorious by the score of 32-28. Alabama would go on to play #1 Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game while the Georgia Bulldogs would end their season against #23 Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl.
6. 2013 SEC Championship Game
Once upon a time, the Missouri Tigers had a shot at making the BCS National Championship Game. After choking in 2007 against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game, the Tigers had one more shot at making it in 2013. This matchup featured the aforementioned #5 Missouri Tigers (11-1) vs. the #3 Auburn Tigers (11-1). This game, like many on this list, was a seesaw battle. However, the Auburn rushing attacking could not be stopped and the Tigers from Lee County emerged as a 59-42 winner over their foe from Columbia, Missouri. Auburn would play for it all in the BCS National Championship Game while Missouri would play #13 Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.
7. 2017 SEC Championship Game
In the heart of the College Football Playoff Era, a program looked to be the first two-loss team to make it into the CFP. The #2 Auburn Tigers (10-2) faced off against the #6 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) in Atlanta that season. The Tigers had defeated Georgia earlier in the season to the tune of 40-17. This time around, however, the Georgia Bulldogs would not be denied - defeating Auburn in Mercedes-Benz Stadium by the score of 28-7. Georgia would end up in the CFP National Championship Game that season while Auburn was relegated to playing #12 Central Florida in the Peach Bowl.
8. 2018 SEC Championship Game
The second time ever these two teams met in Atlanta with national championship implications. The #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) vs. the #4 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) was an elimination game for the Bulldogs and a seeding game for the Crimson Tide. In a back and forth contest that would go on to be a classic in SEC Championship Game history, the Alabama Crimson Tide emerged victorious by the score of 35-28. Alabama would go on to make an appearance in the CFP National Championship Game while Georgia would play #15 Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
9. 2019 SEC Championship Game
The 2019 edition of the SEC Championship Game featured the #2 LSU Tigers (12-0) vs. the #4 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1). While the game featured two highly ranked teams with CFP implications, there wasn't much drama surrounding this match-up as LSU was seen by many as the superior team, despite what Vegas had the line at (-7). And the LSU Tigers lived up to their reputation, defeating Georgia by the score of 37-10. Bumped out of playoff consideration, Georgia would instead go on to play and defeat #7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.
10. 2023 SEC Championship Game
The #1 Georgia Bulldogs (12-0) came into the 2023 SEC Championship Game looking to become the first team in college football history to achieve the coveted threepeat - back-to-back-to-back national championships. The only team that stood in their way from getting into the CFP to defend their title was the #8 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1). Very few people thought the Tide stood a chance in this game, but Nick Saban once again proved why he was tGOAT and was able to coach is team to a 27-24 upset win over the Bulldogs. Georgia fell from #1 to #6 and were relegated to playing #5 Florida State in the Orange Bowl while Alabama vaulted its way into the College Football Playoffs.
1. 1994 SEC Championship Game
The first game on our list occurred just three years into the conference title game. This match-up featured #3 Alabama (11-0) and #6 Florida (9-1-1). In earlier years, Alabama would have won the conference outright as they were the only team to finish the season undefeated in conference play. This was the era of the Bowl Coalition and since the Rose Bowl and, thus, the Big Ten refused to participate, #2 Penn State (11-0) was on the outside looking in. A potential national championship showdown between #1 Nebraska and #3 Alabama was avoided when the Tide lost to the Gators in Atlanta by the score of 24-23.
2. 2001 SEC Championship Game
This match-up between #2 Tennessee (10-1) and #21 (8-3) LSU was seen by most pundits as just a formality. Tennessee, who had already defeated LSU in the regular season, would do so again and then head on to the Rose Bowl to meet #1 Miami for the national championship. This was not to be, however, as the LSU Tigers would go on to upset the heavily favored Volunteers by the score of 31-20. Instead of going to Pasadena to play for it all, Tennessee was instead relegated to the Citrus Bowl. The Volunteer program has only now just begun to recover from the fallout of this game.
3. 2008 SEC Championship Game
Part one of two very historic and memorable clashes between the Saban-led Alabama Crimson Tide and the Meyer-led Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game, this edition saw Alabama coming into the game undefeated and #1, while the Gators entered with one loss and were ranked #2. A seesaw contest throughout the entirety of the game finally saw the Florida Gators victorious, pulling away from Alabama at the end to take a 31-20 victory into the BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma. Alabama would fall to #4 and be relegated to a Sugar Bowl appearance.
4. 2009 SEC Championship Game
Part two of two saw the only game in the history of the SEC Championship Game to feature two undefeated teams. The #1 Florida Gators (12-0) vs. the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) was billed as THE game of the season. The Crimson Tide were able to get their revenge against Tim Tebow and the boys from Florida, pulling away in the second half to win the game by the score of 32-13. The Tide went on to play #2 Texas in the BCS National Championship Game while Florida would play the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl.
5. 2012 SEC Championship Game
Arguably the greatest SEC Championship Game to date, this one featured the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) vs. the #3 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1). The game was a seesaw contest back and forth to the very end, with the Crimson Tide emerging victorious by the score of 32-28. Alabama would go on to play #1 Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game while the Georgia Bulldogs would end their season against #23 Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl.
6. 2013 SEC Championship Game
Once upon a time, the Missouri Tigers had a shot at making the BCS National Championship Game. After choking in 2007 against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game, the Tigers had one more shot at making it in 2013. This matchup featured the aforementioned #5 Missouri Tigers (11-1) vs. the #3 Auburn Tigers (11-1). This game, like many on this list, was a seesaw battle. However, the Auburn rushing attacking could not be stopped and the Tigers from Lee County emerged as a 59-42 winner over their foe from Columbia, Missouri. Auburn would play for it all in the BCS National Championship Game while Missouri would play #13 Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.
7. 2017 SEC Championship Game
In the heart of the College Football Playoff Era, a program looked to be the first two-loss team to make it into the CFP. The #2 Auburn Tigers (10-2) faced off against the #6 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) in Atlanta that season. The Tigers had defeated Georgia earlier in the season to the tune of 40-17. This time around, however, the Georgia Bulldogs would not be denied - defeating Auburn in Mercedes-Benz Stadium by the score of 28-7. Georgia would end up in the CFP National Championship Game that season while Auburn was relegated to playing #12 Central Florida in the Peach Bowl.
8. 2018 SEC Championship Game
The second time ever these two teams met in Atlanta with national championship implications. The #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) vs. the #4 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) was an elimination game for the Bulldogs and a seeding game for the Crimson Tide. In a back and forth contest that would go on to be a classic in SEC Championship Game history, the Alabama Crimson Tide emerged victorious by the score of 35-28. Alabama would go on to make an appearance in the CFP National Championship Game while Georgia would play #15 Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
9. 2019 SEC Championship Game
The 2019 edition of the SEC Championship Game featured the #2 LSU Tigers (12-0) vs. the #4 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1). While the game featured two highly ranked teams with CFP implications, there wasn't much drama surrounding this match-up as LSU was seen by many as the superior team, despite what Vegas had the line at (-7). And the LSU Tigers lived up to their reputation, defeating Georgia by the score of 37-10. Bumped out of playoff consideration, Georgia would instead go on to play and defeat #7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.
10. 2023 SEC Championship Game
The #1 Georgia Bulldogs (12-0) came into the 2023 SEC Championship Game looking to become the first team in college football history to achieve the coveted threepeat - back-to-back-to-back national championships. The only team that stood in their way from getting into the CFP to defend their title was the #8 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1). Very few people thought the Tide stood a chance in this game, but Nick Saban once again proved why he was tGOAT and was able to coach is team to a 27-24 upset win over the Bulldogs. Georgia fell from #1 to #6 and were relegated to playing #5 Florida State in the Orange Bowl while Alabama vaulted its way into the College Football Playoffs.
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Posted on 11/28/24 at 5:47 am to RollTide1987
quote:
he heavily favored Volunteers by the score of 31-20. Instead of going to Pasadena to play for it all, Tennessee was instead relegated to the Citrus Bowl. The Volunteer program has only now just begun to recover from the fallout of this game
This is an idiotic take. That game has nothing to do with Tennessee's downfall. Tennessee is just now recovering from Phillip Fulmer sitting on his arse for the last 5 years he was there, and Mike Hamilton's disastrous hires to replace him.
That LSU game had nothing to do with it.
Mike Hamilton could have hired Gary Patterson at TCU, or Brian Kelly for that matter. They both interviewed for the job. Patterson thought he had it. Hamilton bought into Lane Kiffin's bullshite.
Your take is literally laughable. You have idiotic LSU fans that try to stroke their ego by making that claim. I didn't think anybody else was stupid enough to buy it. I guess I was wrong.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 5:54 am to Blackadder
quote:
That LSU game had nothing to do with it.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 5:56 am to RollTide1987
quote:
RollTide1987
You can post any meme you want, you moron. Your take is ridiculous.
Looks like the Vanderbilt game destroyed Alabama's program. We'll see y'all in about 20 years.
You don't even know anything about Alabama's program, much less Tennessee's.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 6:15 am to Blackadder
The fact that you’re so salty over 20 years later, just tells me that what I posted is 100% true.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 6:30 am to RollTide1987
Both schools that go to Atlanta are getting in. Unless A&M is the lose of the SEC championship. Aggies won’t be going with 4 losses. But Georgia and Texas would go with a loss.
So your best hope is to have Aggie best Texas and lose to Georgia.
So your best hope is to have Aggie best Texas and lose to Georgia.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:03 am to Blackadder
quote:
This is an idiotic take.
Your melty posts in this thread would suggest otherwise.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:09 am to Blackadder
"idiotic take"
True. We were in the SECCG two more times in the next five years. We recovered just fine from the 2001 game.
However it did cost us a shot at a nattie. But folks around here like to say we were 'irrelevant' thos three years hahaha
True. We were in the SECCG two more times in the next five years. We recovered just fine from the 2001 game.
However it did cost us a shot at a nattie. But folks around here like to say we were 'irrelevant' thos three years hahaha
This post was edited on 11/28/24 at 7:16 am
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:12 am to RollTide1987
quote:
The fact that you’re so salty over 20 years later, just tells me that what I posted is 100% true.
The fact he has you flailing tells everyone you are clueless. `
Blackadder should apologize to innocent idiots for comparing them to you.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:14 am to MemphisGuy
quote:He stated facts. Tell us what is "melty", Snot Nose.
Your melty posts in this thread would suggest otherwise.
You're an Ole Miss fan. What do you know about a game in Atlanta?
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:14 am to Cool McCool
2017 Auburn is probably the scariest comparison to both UGA and TAMU scenarios this season.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:18 am to CIGAR_cigarillo
quote:Don't use facts on the know-nothing crowd. Facts are "melty".
True. We were in the SECCG two more times in the next five years. We recovered just fine from the 2001 game.
quote:Fulmer's spectacular game day coaching.
However it did cost us a shot at a nattie. But folks around here like to say we were 'irrelevant' that year hahaha
With the talent Fulmer had, there is no reason not to have won 4 NCs between 1996 and 2003. He should have cruised to at least 3.
The 1998 team was so talented, they won a NC in spite of Fulmer, not becasue of him.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:19 am to Cool McCool
Also, 1992 SECCG Florida vs Bama.
Miami awaited winner in Sugar Bowl.
UM was demolished by Bama.
Miami awaited winner in Sugar Bowl.
UM was demolished by Bama.
This post was edited on 11/28/24 at 7:24 am
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:30 am to Blackadder
quote:
That game has nothing to do with Tennessee's downfall
Lulu and Junior want a refund on the roses they bought pre-game...
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:42 am to TriumphTiger
quote:
Lulu and Junior want a refund on the roses they bought pre-game...
Troy and 'Lizbeth mad that the LSU fans got ran out of Dead Valley....AGAIN!
Their son beat them out of the stadium.
Then there is you. Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:43 am to RollTide1987
quote:
The fact that you’re so salty over 20 years later, just tells me that what I posted is 100% true.
BadBladder is a particularly angry Vile.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:50 am to TripleBarrelBluff1
quote:
TripleBarrelBluff1
Cuyler, you are a particularly disgusting groomer.
I should go to the PT forum and make a thread talking bad about pedophiles. You will be running in there and out yourself by defending them.
Then again you might just use your teamjackson account to defend them.
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:53 am to Blackadder
Melt
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:54 am to Blackadder
Continued melt
Posted on 11/28/24 at 7:55 am to Blackadder
Continued on the next page melt.
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