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The SEC produces prodigious talent at every position year after year. Look at any recent NFL Draft if you need to be convinced (and you probably don’t since you’re reading this website) of the league’s prowess.
But perhaps nowhere does the league produce more legends than at running back. SEC rushing stars have won six Heisman Trophies. And in 2017, when Athlon’s magazine released its list of the 50 greatest college football players of the previous 50 years, SEC running backs were No. 1 (Herschel Walker, Georgia) and No. 5 (Bo Jackson, Auburn).
So of course big-time ballcarriers and their brutish friends on the offensive line often carry the day, so to speak, on the SEC’s biggest stage.
Herschel and Bo were long gone by the time the SEC adopted a title game in 1992. Here are our picks for the 10 greatest running back performances in SEC Championship Game history.
10. Jacob Hester, LSU, 2007
He ran for 120 yards, the second-highest total of his 4-year Tigers career, on 23 carries in this game.
Hester and quarterback Ryan Perrilloux led LSU’s offense, which was missing starting quarterback Matt Flynn. This game is probably best remembered for Jonathan Zenon’s 18-yard interception return for the winning score in the fourth quarter of a 21-14 victory over Tennessee.
LSU went on to become the only 2-loss team to play in a national title game, and won it over Ohio State.
9. Derrick Lassic, Alabama, 1992
The first SEC title game is mostly remembered for Antonio Langham’s interception return for the winning score as Alabama defeated Florida 28-21. The Crimson Tide went on to claim Gene Stallings’ only national title as coach.
But, as they often do, an Alabama running back had a lot to say in the outcome.
Lassic ran for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries. His 15-yard score in the third quarter gave Alabama a 21-7 lead.
8. Jamal Lewis, Tennessee, 1997
Lewis is more notable for his 10,000-plus rushing yards in the NFL and his 2,000-yard season for the 2003 Baltimore Ravens. But he was a huge component of the Vols’ 1997 offense even as Peyton Manning received most of the acclaim.
Lewis rushed for 127 yards on 31 carries for Tennessee in the 1997 SEC Championship Game, helping the Vols overcome a 20-10 halftime deficit against Auburn.
The Vols rallied to win 30-29, one of only two times when the SEC title game was settled by one point. UT went on to lose to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
7. T.J. Yeldon, Alabama, 2012
He’s the first of two Bama rushers to make this list from the same game. The Crimson Tide needed every bit of that two-headed rushing attack and all of AJ McCarron’s late passing heroics to top Georgia 32-28.
Alabama trailed 21-10 before Yeldon scored on a 10-yard run, and also punched in the 2-point conversion, late in the third quarter.
Yeldon had 153 yards on 25 carries against the Bulldogs
6. Gerald Riggs, Tennessee, 2004
The only appearance on this list for a player from the losing team.
Riggs had 181 yards and 2 TDs on just 11 carries for the Volunteers. His 80-yard TD run in the third quarter tied the score at 21-21 against Auburn:
He also had a 9-yard TD run to bring Tennessee within 31-28 but Auburn prevailed 38-28. The Vols then beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
5. Earnest Graham, Florida, 2000
The quarterbacks usually carried the day when the Gators were at their peak. Graham showed that UF could also ground opponents into submission.
His 169 yards on 19 carries in Florida’s 28-6 victory over Auburn were an SEC Championship Game record at the time. Graham’s performance is still sixth on the game’s all-time rushing list.
Rex Grossman passed for all four UF touchdowns but Graham’s contributions on the ground were important for the Gators, who lost to Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
4. Derrick Henry, Alabama, 2015
Only four times in 26 SEC title games has a running back been named game MVP. The top four on our list all earned that honor.
Henry had 100-plus yard games in two different SEC title games, leading the Crimson Tide to victory both times. But his latter performance was more memorable and crucial.
In 2015, Henry wore out Florida’s defense (and himself, no doubt) with 44 carries for 189 yards and a touchdown as the Crimson Tide outlasted the Gators 29-15. Henry was awarded the Heisman Trophy and Alabama went on to win the national championship.
3. Eddie Lacy, Alabama, 2012
Yes, Alabama has two performances from the same game on this list. Lacy earned game MVP honors with 20 rushes for 181 yards and 2 scores including a 41-yard TD run in the first quarter.
He and Yeldon (see entry No. 7) combined for 334 of the Tide’s 350 rushing yards. That’s the second most yards rushing for a team in SEC title game history. Georgia’s Todd Gurley (23 carries, 122 yards, 2 TDs) almost made this list as well.
Lacy’s 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter gave Bama a 25-21 lead in a back-and-forth game. Alabama lost the lead then got it back for good to win 32-28. The Tide went on to win the national title.
2. Justin Vincent, LSU, 2003
Vincent had 201 yards and two scores on 18 carries, becoming the first freshman named SEC Championship Game MVP.
His 87-yard run for the first touchdown, which opened the scoring, remains the longest running TD in SEC title game history:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1gTuRHT9yU
Vincent also had a 3-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to cap a 78-yard drive, putting the Tigers ahead 31-13 and ending all doubt. LSU went on to beat Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl to win a piece of the national title.
1. Tre Mason, Auburn, 2013
Auburn was a slight underdog against Missouri in the 2013 title game. Coach Gus Malzahn decided to keep running the ball and make Mizzou stop it.
The East Division champion never did.
Mason set several records including 304 yards, 46 carries and 4 rushing touchdowns as Auburn beat Missouri 59-42. His 2 TD runs in the fourth quarter settled a close game; Auburn led 45-42 after three quarters. The Tigers went to the BCS national title game and lost to Florida State.
Mason was an obvious game MVP even on a team that gained 545 rushing yards on 77 carries, both still game records. Mason’s records, and endurance, are the lasting memories from this game.
RELATED: 10 greatest QB performances in SEC Championship Game
Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a copy editor and writer with SaturdayDownSouth.com.
