History of The SEC Championship: A National Semi-Final

So, the SEC Championship is on the way, and it looks to be an epic clash for the ages between #1 Florida and #2 Alabama. Not the first time we've seen this show, huh? These two teams are the inspiration for this article, and many national championship pictures have been effected by them.

Let's start with the 1992 game. It was the first of many classic battles in the short history of the SEC Title game. #2 Alabama clinched a spot in the Bowl Alliance National Title with a classic 28-21 defeat of #12 Florida coming down to a late Antonio Langham interception return for a touchdown.

The 1993 game would have carried some weight if undefeated Auburn had not been on probation, but instead the Florida Gators rolled Alabama 28-13 to get its first SEC Title.

1993 may not help the argument that the SEC Title game is a national Semi-Final, but 1994 does. Alabama came in ranked #3 and undefeated, while Florida was 11-1 and #6. Due to the Bowl Coalition not including the Big Ten and #2 Penn State, the Tide would play Nebraska for all the Marbles with a win. Alabama stormed back from a 17-10 halftime lead to go up 23-17, but Florida proved to be too much and denied Alabama a chance for a title with a 24-23 win.

Argument any good so far? Two of the first three title games decided who would play for the crystal ball. Well, 1995 was another year. #2 Florida beat Arkansas 34-3, but would lose to Nebraska in the title game.

In 1996 Florida would get a rematch with Florida State (the Noles beat UF in the regular season for UF's only loss) for the national title if they could defeat what would be Gene Stallings final Alabama team. The Gators dominated most of the game, and Stallings last bid for a second SEC Title failed. Once again the SEC Title cleared part of the national title picture. Florida won the rematch and the title against FSU.

In 1997 Peyton Manning and Tennessee slipped by Auburn 30-29. The win put #3 Tennessee in the Bowl Alliance National Title against Nebraska. If they won that game they could have claimed the bowl alliance title, once again making the SEC a force in the National Championship. However, it should be noted that even if the Vols did not get crushed 42-17 by the Huskers, the only way they would have gotten an AP or Coaches title would have been to win and have Michigan lose. But nevertheless, the SEC champ had a shot at a title

In 1998 Tennessee defeated Mississippi State 24-14 and clinched a title shot against Florida State. The Vols beat the Noles, and for the 5th time in 7 SEC Title games the National Championship picture was put into focus by the SEC Championship.

The next SEC Title game with National Implications was in 2001. The #2 Tennessee Vols needed a win over #21 LSU to put themselves into the Title game against Miami. Problem was that LSU and a certain 2nd year head coach had other plans, the Tiger dominated Tennessee 31-20, once again proving how important the SEC Championship is.

In 2002 there were some title hopes involved. If #1 Miami had lost to #19 Virginia Tech a Georgia win would have put the #3 Bulldogs in the title versus Ohio State. Miami won, ending the slim chances for Georgia. The Dawgs beat Arkansas anyway, 30-3.

In 2003, #3 LSU needed to beat #5 Georgia and have #1 Oklahoma lose to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game. K State won 35-7 and LSU won 34-13, but LSU didn't get to play the opponent everyone expected. Despite the blowout loss Oklahoma got to play LSU in the title instead of USC. LSU beat Oklahoma, leading to a split Title.

In 2004 Auburn had a scenario identical to LSU. If the Tigers beat Tennessee and Oklahoma lost to Colorado they were in the title, Auburn won, but Oklahoma dominated and it didn't matter. Auburn's 13-0 season didn't even get a sniff at the national title.

In 2005 the same scenario appeared again. If #3 LSU beat Georgia and Texas lost to Colorado, the Tigers would go to the Rose Bowl to play USC. Texas won earlier that day, and with their titles hopes crushed LSU got ripped apart by Georgia.

In 2006 #4 Florida needed to beat #8 Arkansas and have #2 USC lose to unranked UCLA. The Bruins puled the miracle and Florida came through as well, whipping the Hogs 38-28. Florida would go on to destroy Unbeaten Ohio State 41-14 in the Championship.

In 2007 LSU was #7 and needed to beat Tennessee while virtually everyone else lost. The Tigers won 21-14. Then, in one of the most bizarre days of college football #1 Mizzou lost to Oklahoma and #2 West Virginia lost to unranked Pitt. That got LSU over two teams, since LSU beat Virginia Tech they jumped them. LSU jumped Georgia since LSU was the SEC Champ and not the Bulldogs, and Finally LSU jumped 11-1 Kansas. The miracle tigers went on to dominate Ohio State 38-24 in the BCS Championship.

Finally, the biggest argument for why the SEC Title Game is sort of a BCS Semi Final. Last Year #1 Alabama and #2 Florida met in a clash of opposite styles. The physical Tide wore down the Gators and took a 20-17 lead through 3 quarters, but Tim Tebow rallied Florida to two 4th quarter touchdowns to win one of the greatest games ever 31-20.

This year it seems we may have a repeat scenario of last season. Now, with 14 of the 17 SEC Championships relevant in some way to decide who would play in the national championship, is it really a spiritual Semi-Final?

1992-Put Alabama in Title Game.

1994-Kept Alabama out of the title game.

1995-Florida's blowout win over Arkansas put them in the title game.

1996-Put Florida in the Title game.

1997-Put Tennessee in the Bowl Coalition National Championship Game.

1998-Put Tennessee in the title game.

2001-Kept Tennessee out of the title game.

2002-Georgia had hopes needing Miami to lose to Va Tech and to beat Arkansas, but the Canes won a thriller.

2003-LSU pulled off a scenario similar to Georgia's in 2002 to get to the title game.

2004-Auburn pulled a Georgia from 2002. They needed an Oklahoma loss and didn't get it.

2005- LSU failed at another I need help scenario.

2006-Florida beat Arkansas and got a USC loss to get to the national championship.

2007- LSU got a miracle to get into the title after beating Tennessee.

2008-Florida beat Alabama at a direct play in game to the BCS Title Game.

*Note all SEC teams won the National Title Game they played in except for Florida in 1995 and Tennessee in 1997.

I think this shows that the winner of the SEC Title (National Semi Final) Game is always in great shape.