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Ranking the SEC's national championship teams since 1990
Posted on 1/31/16 at 3:40 am
Posted on 1/31/16 at 3:40 am
Over the last 25 seasons, the Southeastern Conference has produced an amazing 12 teams that have won national titles in college football. They are so listed:
Alabama - 5 (1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)
Auburn - 1 (2010)
Florida - 3 (1996, 2006, 2008)
LSU - 2 (2003, 2007)
Tennessee - 1 (1998)
I will attempt to rank those 12 teams below. Obviously there will be controversy and obviously there will be differing opinions on this matter. My rankings are by no means definitive and hopefully there will be civil discussion (yeah right).
12. 2007 LSU Tigers (12-2)
With two losses this team finishes last in the rankings by default. Their two losses came in overtime against teams that finished the season unranked (Kentucky and Arkansas). Their second loss actually came in the last game of the regular season. Going into "Championship Weekend" the Tigers were ranked #7 in the BCS standings. If not for a miraculous amount of upsets on that final Saturday, LSU would more than likely have been left out of the big dance.
11. 2006 Florida Gators (13-1)
That 41-14 victory over the Buckeyes in the BCS National Championship Game notwithstanding, the '06 Florida Gators were a very controversial pick for the title game. They struggled against mediocre teams such as Alabama, South Carolina, Florida State, and Vanderbilt. And they also had another close shave against Tennessee. Their lone loss of the season was a 10-point defeat suffered at the hands of Auburn. Have no fear Florida fans, your other national championship teams are much higher on this list.
10. 2003 LSU Tigers (13-1)
The '03 LSU Tigers were a great defensive team. They played and defeated a Top 10 Georgia Bulldogs team TWICE in the same season and also beat a great Sooners football team in the championship game. However, this team's one blemish on the year was a horrible 12-point loss to an unranked Florida Gators team. They also split the national championship with USC that year.
9. 1998 Tennessee Volunteers (13-0)
The Tennessee Volunteers of '98 were a team of destiny. After losing future Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning to the NFL Draft, there were many who wondered aloud if they could compete for a championship that season. After nearly dropping their opener against Syracuse, and surviving in OT against Florida, the Vols would need a miraculous fumble to beat Arkansas in the game's final minute. They then had to come from behind to beat MSU in the SEC title game before facing FSU and their third string QB in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national title.
8. 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0)
The '92 Alabama team broke a 12-year drought for the SEC when it came to national championship teams. And they did it with defense. The offense wasn't that impressive throughout the season, though it did shine in places. A 7-point win over Southern Miss and a mediocre performance against La. Tech (where the offense never reached the end zone) were the low points of this perfect season. It also had to come from behind to beat Mississippi State and also struggled in places to beat a mediocre, but inspired Auburn team. That 34-13 win over #1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl, however, makes this team a favorite for Tide fans.
7. 2010 Auburn Tigers (14-0)
Cam Newton. That's the short answer. A longer answer would be talented skill players and a senior-laden offensive line. Oh, and Nick Fairley. This team still had close calls against a number of teams in the regular season but their schedule strength as well as the overall strength of the SEC that year makes this national championship team a worthy addition to SEC lore.
6. 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide (14-1)
One of the most talented defensive fronts in SEC football history anchored the newest member of this list. The running game behind Derrick Henry, as well as efficient play from QB Jake Coke, were also heavy contributing factors to this team's success. That 43-37 loss to Ole Miss notwithstanding, the '15 Crimson Tide team played and defeated 6 teams that finished in the AP Top 25. This team won the national title despite playing the nation's toughest schedule and one of the toughest schedules any one team had played since 1978.
05. 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1)
This team will always be remembered for its incredible defense. The '11 defensive squad for the Tide finished ranked #1 in every major statistical category, something that hadn't been done since the '85 Oklahoma Sooners. The offense was also a picture of efficiency with AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson leading the way behind a stout offensive line. Most Alabama fans would probably rank this team a little higher but I personally believe the numbers of the defense were inflated by the quality (or lack thereof) of the teams it played.
4. 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide (14-0)
The 2009 team is almost a virtual clone of the '11 team, though it played better competition and never lost a game. Sure...it had scares against Tennessee and Auburn, and it struggled against South Carolina, but it was dominant in most of the other contests. This includes a 19-point victory over #1 Florida and a 16-point victory over #2 Texas in the title game.
3. 2008 Florida Gators (13-1)
What do you get when you take a highly explosive offense and pair it with a suffocating defense? The 2008 Florida Gators. That's what. This team was dominant in almost every sense of the word. It did suffer a defeat at home to the Ole Miss Rebels, however, and did play in a year when the SEC was down. Be that as it may, however, you can't ignore the dominant run this team went on after their loss to the Rebels.
2. 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1)
Most Alabama fans will probably disagree with me, but it is my opinion that this is the best national championship team of the Saban era. The offense, by and large, could not be stopped, and the defense was suffocating. Aside from a two game stretch in November where the Tide saw its lone loss of the season, this team looked as dominant as any team has ever been in the regular season. The demolition of Notre Dame in the title game was probably the biggest mismatch in BCS Championship Game history as the Tide just crushed the Irish from the opening kickoff onward.
1. 1996 Florida Gators (12-1)
If not for the 24-21 loss to the #2 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, this team could have an argument for being one of the best of all-time. An absolutely unstoppable offensive juggernaut that just rolled over its competition in the SEC, the '96 Gators regularly put up 40-50 points per game. And they avenged their late-season loss to the Seminoles by crushing them by the score of 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl.
Alabama - 5 (1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)
Auburn - 1 (2010)
Florida - 3 (1996, 2006, 2008)
LSU - 2 (2003, 2007)
Tennessee - 1 (1998)
I will attempt to rank those 12 teams below. Obviously there will be controversy and obviously there will be differing opinions on this matter. My rankings are by no means definitive and hopefully there will be civil discussion (yeah right).
12. 2007 LSU Tigers (12-2)
With two losses this team finishes last in the rankings by default. Their two losses came in overtime against teams that finished the season unranked (Kentucky and Arkansas). Their second loss actually came in the last game of the regular season. Going into "Championship Weekend" the Tigers were ranked #7 in the BCS standings. If not for a miraculous amount of upsets on that final Saturday, LSU would more than likely have been left out of the big dance.
11. 2006 Florida Gators (13-1)
That 41-14 victory over the Buckeyes in the BCS National Championship Game notwithstanding, the '06 Florida Gators were a very controversial pick for the title game. They struggled against mediocre teams such as Alabama, South Carolina, Florida State, and Vanderbilt. And they also had another close shave against Tennessee. Their lone loss of the season was a 10-point defeat suffered at the hands of Auburn. Have no fear Florida fans, your other national championship teams are much higher on this list.
10. 2003 LSU Tigers (13-1)
The '03 LSU Tigers were a great defensive team. They played and defeated a Top 10 Georgia Bulldogs team TWICE in the same season and also beat a great Sooners football team in the championship game. However, this team's one blemish on the year was a horrible 12-point loss to an unranked Florida Gators team. They also split the national championship with USC that year.
9. 1998 Tennessee Volunteers (13-0)
The Tennessee Volunteers of '98 were a team of destiny. After losing future Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning to the NFL Draft, there were many who wondered aloud if they could compete for a championship that season. After nearly dropping their opener against Syracuse, and surviving in OT against Florida, the Vols would need a miraculous fumble to beat Arkansas in the game's final minute. They then had to come from behind to beat MSU in the SEC title game before facing FSU and their third string QB in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national title.
8. 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0)
The '92 Alabama team broke a 12-year drought for the SEC when it came to national championship teams. And they did it with defense. The offense wasn't that impressive throughout the season, though it did shine in places. A 7-point win over Southern Miss and a mediocre performance against La. Tech (where the offense never reached the end zone) were the low points of this perfect season. It also had to come from behind to beat Mississippi State and also struggled in places to beat a mediocre, but inspired Auburn team. That 34-13 win over #1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl, however, makes this team a favorite for Tide fans.
7. 2010 Auburn Tigers (14-0)
Cam Newton. That's the short answer. A longer answer would be talented skill players and a senior-laden offensive line. Oh, and Nick Fairley. This team still had close calls against a number of teams in the regular season but their schedule strength as well as the overall strength of the SEC that year makes this national championship team a worthy addition to SEC lore.
6. 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide (14-1)
One of the most talented defensive fronts in SEC football history anchored the newest member of this list. The running game behind Derrick Henry, as well as efficient play from QB Jake Coke, were also heavy contributing factors to this team's success. That 43-37 loss to Ole Miss notwithstanding, the '15 Crimson Tide team played and defeated 6 teams that finished in the AP Top 25. This team won the national title despite playing the nation's toughest schedule and one of the toughest schedules any one team had played since 1978.
05. 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1)
This team will always be remembered for its incredible defense. The '11 defensive squad for the Tide finished ranked #1 in every major statistical category, something that hadn't been done since the '85 Oklahoma Sooners. The offense was also a picture of efficiency with AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson leading the way behind a stout offensive line. Most Alabama fans would probably rank this team a little higher but I personally believe the numbers of the defense were inflated by the quality (or lack thereof) of the teams it played.
4. 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide (14-0)
The 2009 team is almost a virtual clone of the '11 team, though it played better competition and never lost a game. Sure...it had scares against Tennessee and Auburn, and it struggled against South Carolina, but it was dominant in most of the other contests. This includes a 19-point victory over #1 Florida and a 16-point victory over #2 Texas in the title game.
3. 2008 Florida Gators (13-1)
What do you get when you take a highly explosive offense and pair it with a suffocating defense? The 2008 Florida Gators. That's what. This team was dominant in almost every sense of the word. It did suffer a defeat at home to the Ole Miss Rebels, however, and did play in a year when the SEC was down. Be that as it may, however, you can't ignore the dominant run this team went on after their loss to the Rebels.
2. 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1)
Most Alabama fans will probably disagree with me, but it is my opinion that this is the best national championship team of the Saban era. The offense, by and large, could not be stopped, and the defense was suffocating. Aside from a two game stretch in November where the Tide saw its lone loss of the season, this team looked as dominant as any team has ever been in the regular season. The demolition of Notre Dame in the title game was probably the biggest mismatch in BCS Championship Game history as the Tide just crushed the Irish from the opening kickoff onward.
1. 1996 Florida Gators (12-1)
If not for the 24-21 loss to the #2 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, this team could have an argument for being one of the best of all-time. An absolutely unstoppable offensive juggernaut that just rolled over its competition in the SEC, the '96 Gators regularly put up 40-50 points per game. And they avenged their late-season loss to the Seminoles by crushing them by the score of 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl.
This post was edited on 1/31/16 at 3:41 am
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Posted on 1/31/16 at 3:46 am to RollTide1987
quote:
8. 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0)
What was their blemish again?
Posted on 1/31/16 at 3:50 am to RollTide1987
WTF? 1996 Florida wasn't even Florida's best national championship team. 2008 Florida was more talented and more dominant. Also, the 2009 and 2011 Bama teams were both better than 2012 Bama. They weren't as good offensively but they were far better defensively.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 3:58 am to Bench McElroy
quote:
1996 Florida wasn't even Florida's best national championship team. 2008 Florida was more talented and more dominant.
I disagree. '08 Florida may have been more talented than '96 Florida, but it's highly debatable whether or not they were more dominant. For one...the conference in '08 wasn't that strong and Florida's loss in '08 was far worse than their loss in '96.
quote:
Also, the 2009 and 2011 Bama teams were both better than 2012 Bama. They weren't as good offensively but they were far better defensively.
Disagree again. The '12 defense is statistically comparable to the '09 team. And the '11 defense's numbers may be aided by the fact that the only offense they faced that year with a pulse was Arkansas.
'12 Alabama was a more balanced and more complete team than '09 or '11.
This post was edited on 1/31/16 at 4:00 am
Posted on 1/31/16 at 4:08 am to RollTide1987
Solid write up OP. Need more of this around here.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 4:11 am to RollTide1987
I think the 2011 LSU regular season champions is the best regular season champions of all time.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 5:05 am to RollTide1987
I would put 2008 Florida over 1996 Florida, but they were both great.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 5:12 am to Bench McElroy
Take a lap and think about what you type. '08 Florida lost to Ole Miss in the Swamp. '96 Florida was a spectacle to watch and curbed stomped FSU in the re-match. I maybe would put the Cam Auburn team a little higher. And 2011 LSU was by far the best team to never win it all. Still think they were better than Bama ha
Posted on 1/31/16 at 5:39 am to RollTide1987
quote:
05. 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1)
Would beat every team on the list by at least 7.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 6:18 am to RollTide1987
2011 Bama beats everyone on this list.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 6:41 am to RollTide1987
Not a bad write up. My biggest disagreement is 2009 bama. I would put them way down the list, after 2003 LSU. A fluke play won the game against a bad Tennessee team at home. A terrible AU team was beating them most of the game. A bad ref call won them the LSU game. Frankly that was a 3 loss team and I think Texas would have beat them by double digits with their qb playing.
Oh, and ftr, I dont think any team on that list beats 2004 AU. It's crazy, but 04 AU may have been the best team in sec history.
Oh, and ftr, I dont think any team on that list beats 2004 AU. It's crazy, but 04 AU may have been the best team in sec history.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 6:47 am to Tiger n Miami AU83
quote:
Not a bad write up. My biggest disagreement is 2009 bama. I would put them way down the list, after 2003 LSU. A fluke play won the game against a bad Tennessee team at home. A terrible AU team was beating them most of the game. A bad ref call won them the LSU game. Frankly that was a 3 loss team and I think Texas would have beat them by double digits with their qb playing.
Oh, and ftr, I dont think any team on that list beats 2004 AU. It's crazy, but 04 AU may have been the best team in sec history.
Beat me to the 2004 team could beat them all post.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 7:21 am to Sun God
quote:
What was their blemish again?
Not a very good offense?
Posted on 1/31/16 at 7:26 am to Tiger n Miami AU83
quote:
Oh, and ftr, I dont think any team on that list beats 2004 AU. It's crazy, but 04 AU may have been the best team in sec history.
So great they didn't even play for the National Title.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 7:30 am to Tiger n Miami AU83
quote:
My biggest disagreement is 2009 bama. I would put them way down the list, after 2003 LSU. A fluke play won the game against a bad Tennessee team at home. A terrible AU team was beating them most of the game. A bad ref call won them the LSU game. Frankly that was a 3 loss team and I think Texas would have beat them by double digits with their qb playing.
Was 2009 the Peterson INT game? Even if they gave LSU the ball, they were FAR from a shoe in to win the game.
A fluke play let Tennessee even get close late in the game.
I guess I can use the same logic and say 2004 AU should have lost to a very bad Alabama team. Spent almost the entire first half in the red zone but couldn't score because we were down to our 3rd string RB and second string QB.
This post was edited on 1/31/16 at 7:35 am
Posted on 1/31/16 at 7:33 am to pvilleguru
2010 Auburn too low, IMO. Close calls or not, Cam Newton was unbeatable in college.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 8:03 am to RollTide1987
I'd take 2011 Alabama against any other team that I've ever seen.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 8:06 am to Tiger n Miami AU83
quote:
Not a bad write up. My biggest disagreement is 2009 bama. I would put them way down the list, after 2003 LSU. A fluke play won the game against a bad Tennessee team at home. A terrible AU team was beating them most of the game. A bad ref call won them the LSU game. Frankly that was a 3 loss team and I think Texas would have beat them by double digits with their qb playing.
Oh, and ftr, I dont think any team on that list beats 2004 AU. It's crazy, but 04 AU may have been the best team in sec history.
You're quick to point out the close calls in Bama's 2009 season, but in declaring 2004 AU to be better than all on the list, you must be conveniently overlooking their close calls. A fluke missed extra point and a penalty allowing AU to re-kick their's allowed y'all to beat LSU 10-9...y'all beat a bad Bama team by one score, and were losing/shutout at halftime...and y'all beat Va Tech in the Sugar Bowl by 3 in a game where VT dropped a TD pass and shanked a gimme FG...
Just saying games like these happen, even to very good/great teams...
Posted on 1/31/16 at 8:27 am to OldPete
The 2011 Alabama team was the best defense I have ever seen. I know they played against some bad offenses. And not only were they the best in every major category, they were the best in every major category by a WIDE margin. One way or another we saw almost every team's back up QB (injury, blowout, tired of watching QB get pummeled). Nowhere to throw the ball because we consistent dropped 7-8. We had headhunters in the middle of the field so u paid for every yard. Corners stuffed bubbled screens and sweeps. There was just nowhere to go against this team.
Special teams were spotty which was a big reason we lost to LSU. The offense was really good but we lacked a great receiver. Struggled in the red zone.
Add it all up and I think it's the best team of this era.
My top 5.
Bama 11
Florida 08
Auburn 04
LSU 11
Florida 96
Special teams were spotty which was a big reason we lost to LSU. The offense was really good but we lacked a great receiver. Struggled in the red zone.
Add it all up and I think it's the best team of this era.
My top 5.
Bama 11
Florida 08
Auburn 04
LSU 11
Florida 96
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:11 am to RollTide1987
quote:
'12 Alabama was a more balanced and more complete team than '09 or '11.
I actually agree with this.
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