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The first SEC Championship Game was played in 1992. It was the first of its kind, and the other conferences quickly stepped in line to do the same.
The SEC is widely considered to be the toughest conference in the nation, packed with elite teams and players. Whether or not that’s still true is perennially up for debate, but winning the conference is always an achievement worth celebrating. The favorite usually wins this game, but there’s been plenty of great upsets as well.
With the title game between Florida and Alabama coming up Saturday, we take a look back at some of the biggest upsets in the game’s history:
1994 – NO. 6 FLORIDA vs. NO. 3 ALABAMA
Florida and Alabama had split the first two SEC Championship Games played in Birmingham and when the game moved to Atlanta for the first time in 1994, they two teams met again in the rubber match. Alabama, led by Gene Stallings, was 11-0 and ranked third in the country. Steve Spurrier’s Gators weren’t far behind at No. 6 with a 9-1-1 record. Alabama had jumped ahead but Florida rallied in the fourth quarter and scored with 5:29 to play on a Danny Wuerffel pass to Chris Doering from 2 yards out, ruining Alabama’s perfect season. Rare fact: It was the only time in SEC title game history that a defensive player was the game’s MVP. Florida defensive lineman Ellis Johnson, the national defensive player of the year, got the honor.
Final score: Florida 24, Alabama 23
1999 – NO. 7 ALABAMA vs. NO. 5 FLORIDA
The Tide and the Gators had already met once during the fifth week of the season. At that point, Florida was No. 3 in the country while Alabama was sitting at No. 21. Despite the difference in rankings, the Tide knocked off the Gators in overtime by a one point. The two teams met again in the SEC Championship at the end of the season, much closer in rankings this time. But while Florida was set on revenge, Alabama had other plans. The Gators offense struggled, and Alabama RB Shaun Alexander constantly plowed through the Gators defense for their second win over the Gators that season. Alabama’s defense was stifling, interception four passes and no allowing the Gators a single third-down conversion.
Final score: Alabama 34, Florida 7
2001 – NO. 21 LSU vs. NO. 2 TENNESSEE
Unlike how the conference is today, the SEC East was the stronger division back during this time. Tennessee was the best team in the conference and LSU limped into the game with a 5-2 SEC record. Tennessee, which had won a national title in 1998, was looking for another one as the No. 2 team in the country. But LSU had other ideas, and ripped off a 31-20 win, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit behind QB Matt Mauck.
Final score: LSU 31, Tennessee 20
2005 – NO. 13 GEORGIA vs. NO. 3 LSU
The 2005 season had been a rough one for Georgia, The Bulldogs lost to Florida and Auburn early, but then worked their way back in the race and somehow got to Atlanta. A powerful LSU team was waiting for them but D.J. Shockley threw two early touchdown passes for the Bulldogs and the rout was on. That was Les Miles’ first LSU team, having replaced Nick Saban that year. Georgia’s Mark Richt got the best of him that year.
Final score: Georgia 34, LSU 14
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
