Five best SEC Championship games

Sports

A look at the best matchups for the SEC title since its inception in 1992.

1998: Tennessee 17, Mississippi State 14 (Honorable Mention). In the first year of the BCS it was a winner take-all for a mere chance to play in the national championship game. The Volunteers were 11-0 and ranked No. 1, but they had company — Kansas State and UCLA were also both undefeated. Kansas State faced Texas A&M in the Big 12 title game and UCLA faced Miami. Both games started before the 8 p.m. SEC Championship Game. Tennessee's offense was pedestrian with three turnovers that allowed the Bulldogs to jump to a 14-10 lead in the first three quarters. Kansas State went down. UCLA went down. With 8 minutes left in the final quarter, Tennessee needed a comeback for a national title shot. Then it happened, Kevin Prentiss returned a punt for 83 yards for a score. The Volunteers' national aspirations remained alive. Tennessee would face the Florida State Seminoles in the BCS title game and win.

1992: Alabama 28, Florida 21. The very first SEC Championship Game was played in Birmingham, Ala. Florida came back from a 14 point deficit and was driving the ball with just three minutes left until a Shane Matthews pass was picked off by Alabama defensive back Antonio Langham (43) and returned for a touchdown, sealing the win for the No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide. The Tide would go on to the Sugar Bowl to defeat Miami and finish atop the AP poll.

1994: Florida 24, Alabama 23. The third-straight title matchup between the Gators and Crimson Tide pitter the nation's third-ranked defense against Steve Spurrier's offense - managed by Danny Wuerffel. It was Florida's that would aid in the win, intercepting Alabama's Jay Barker with 44 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

1997: Tennessee 30, Auburn 29. A record 74,896, packed the Georgia Dome for another SEC title game that came down to the wire. Peyton Manning led the Volunteers from a 20-7 second quarter deficit to defeat the Tigers on a 73-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Nash early in the fourth quarter that gave Tennessee a 30-29 lead it wouldn't relinquish.

2008: Florida 31, Alabama 20. The Gators – led by quarterback Tim Tebow – wore down Nick Saban's undefeated Alabama team. Even without Percy Harvin the Gators drove down the field and scored on their first possession. With Alabama holding a 20-17 lead after three quarters, Florida's offense gained momentum and took the lead on a touchdown run by Jeff Demps and touchdown pass to Riley Cooper. An interception by Joe Haden secured the win for Florida, who would again go on to win the National Championship.

2012: Alabama 32, Georgia 28. In a game that featured defensive hits and offensive strikes, the Crimson Tide took the lead with 3 minutes left on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. After an apparent interception was overruled, Georgia's Aaron Murray drove the Bulldogs to the Crimson Tide's 8-yard line in a blitz to score. With 9 seconds to go and no time outs left, Murray attempted a pass into the corner but it was deflected at the line and ended in the arms of Chris Conley out in the right flats. Surprised he slipped at the 5 and Georgia was unable to get off another play. Alabama went on to win the National Championship.

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1998: Tennessee 17, Mississippi State 14 (Honorable Mention). In the first year of the BCS it was a winner take-all for a mere chance to play in the national championship game. The Volunteers were 11-0 and ranked No. 1, but they had company — Kansas State and UCLA were also both undefeated. Kansas State faced Texas A&M in the Big 12 title game and UCLA faced Miami. Both games started before the 8 p.m. SEC Championship Game. Tennessee's offense was pedestrian with three turnovers that allowed the Bulldogs to jump to a 14-10 lead in the first three quarters. Kansas State went down. UCLA went down. With 8 minutes left in the final quarter, Tennessee needed a comeback for a national title shot. Then it happened, Kevin Prentiss returned a punt for 83 yards for a score. The Volunteers' national aspirations remained alive. Tennessee would face the Florida State Seminoles in the BCS title game and win.

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