By Bert Leeson
2023 SEC Football Championship
December 2, 2023
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
WEST CHAMPION | EAST CHAMPION | TIME | NETWORK | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | vs. | Georgia | 4 PM ET | CBS |
The Southeastern Conference’s Eastern and Western Division winners will meet in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to battle for the league championship and the right to represent the conference in the College Football Playoff. The 32nd-annual title game is set for December 2 and will be televised nationally by CBS Sports.
The game was born as a result of 1992 conference expansion, which saw Arkansas and South Carolina become the first members added in SEC history. Under NCAA regulations, a conference with 12 members may play an additional football game to determine its champion, provided the regular season is played in divisions. The participants of the game will be determined during the eight-game regular season conference schedule as the teams with the best overall SEC winning percentage in each division.
The SEC Championship has been the most watched conference championship nationally for 14 of the past 15 seasons, including 12 in a row from 2008-2019. The only year it was not #1 was 2020 when the SEC did not have a traditional schedule due to the pandemic.
The 2022 SEC Championship Game was seen by nearly 11 million viewers. The 2018 SEC Championship Game was the most-watched and highest-rated regular-season college football game on any network in seven years with a 10.1/23 rating/share and 17.5 million viewers. It also marked the second most-watched SEC Championship ever in 26 years since the game debuted in 1992. Nearly 14 million viewers watched the 2019 contest. Shifting to primetime, the Alabama-Florida SEC Championship in 2020 averaged a 4.9 and 8.92 million viewers on CBS. It was the first primetime SEC Championship since the 2006 game. The 2021 SEC Championship attracted over 15 million viewers, the most watched championship game in college football since 2018.
The 2009 SEC Championship Game earned an 11.8 rating and a 24 share, marking the highest-rated SEC Championship Game in history. The game matched the No. 1 Florida Gators (12-0) vs. the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0).
The SEC Championship Game has drawn 29 capacity crowds in its 31-year history. Only 1993 (Birmingham) and 1995 (Atlanta) were not sellouts.
The SEC, along with AMB Sports & Entertainment (AMBSE) and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), have an agreement to host the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta through 2026. The new agreement allows the SEC the option of adding up to two successive five-year extensions. The Georgia Dome hosted the SEC Championship Game for 23 years beginning in 1994, with capacity crowds in the last 22 consecutive years. By the end of the new agreement, including options, the Championship will have been played in Atlanta a total of 43 years.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME QUICK FACTS
Date: Saturday, December 2
Site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Ga.
Capacity: 73,000 Time: 4 p.m. ET
Television: CBS Sports
For Tickets: SEC Ticket Office
2201 Richard Arrington Blvd. North
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 458-3000
www.secticketoffice.com
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Contract: Through 2026 game
CBS Sports Contract: Through 2023 game
Highest TV Rating: 11.8 (24 share) – 2009
Largest Crowd: 83,091 (Alabama vs. Florida, Legion Field) – 1992
Largest Georgia Dome Crowd: 75,892 (Alabama vs. Florida) – 2008
Largest Mercedes-Benz Stadium Crowd: 78,030 (2021)
YEAR | SCORE | ATTENDANCE | MVP |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Georgia 50, LSU 30 | 74,810 | Stetson Bennett, Georgia |
2021 | Alabama 41, Georgia 24 | 78,030 | Bryce Young, Alabama |
2020 | Alabama 52, Florida 46 | 16,500 | Najee Harris, Alabama |
2019 | LSU 37, Georgia 10 | 74,150 | Joe Burrow, LSU |
2018 | Alabama 35, Georgia 28 | 77,141 | Josh Jacobs, Alabama |
2017 | Georgia 28, Auburn 7 | 76,534 | Roquan Smith, Georgia |
2016 | Alabama 54, Florida 16 | 74,632 | Reuben Foster, Alabama |
2015 | Alabama 29, Florida 15 | 75,320 | Derrick Henry, Alabama |
2014 | Alabama 42, Missouri 13 | 73,526 | Blake Sims, Alabama |
2013 | Auburn 59, Missouri 42 | 75,632 | Tre Mason, Auburn |
2012 | Alabama 32, Georgia 28 | 75,624 | Eddie Lacy, Alabama |
2011 | LSU 42, Georgia 10 | 75,515 | Tyrann Mathieu, LSU |
2010 | Auburn 56, South Carolina 17 | 75,802 | Cam Newton, Auburn |
2009 | Alabama 32, Florida 13 | 75,514 | Greg McElroy, Alabama |
2008 | Florida 31, Alabama 20 | 75,892 | Tim Tebow, Florida |
2007 | LSU 21, Tennessee 14 | 73,832 | Ryan Perrilloux, LSU |
2006 | Florida 38, Arkansas 28 | 73,374 | Percy Harvin, Florida |
2005 | Georgia 34, LSU 14 | 73,717 | D.J. Shockley, Georgia |
2004 | Auburn 38, Tennessee 28 | 74,892 | Jason Campbell, Auburn |
2003 | LSU 34, Georgia 13 | 74,913 | Justin Vincent, LSU |
2002 | Georgia 30, Arkansas 3 | 74,835 | David Greene, Georgia |
2001 | LSU 31, Tennessee 20 | 74,843 | Matt Mauck, LSU |
2000 | Florida 28, Auburn 6 | 73,427 | Rex Grossman, Florida |
1999 | Alabama 34, Florida 7 | 71,500 | Freddie Milons, Alabama |
1998 | Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 14 | 74,795 | Peerless Price, Tennessee |
1997 | Tennessee 30, Auburn 29 | 74,896 | Peyton Manning, Tennessee |
1996 | Florida 45, Alabama 30 | 74,132 | Danny Wuerffel, Florida |
1995 | Florida 34, Arkansas 3 | 71,325 | Danny Wuerffel, Florida |
1994 | Florida 24, Alabama 23 | 76,751 | Ellis Johnson, Florida |
1993 | Florida 28, Alabama 13 | 76,345 | Terry Dean, Florida |
1992 | Alabama 28, Florida 21 | 83,091 | Antonio Langham, Alabama |
YEAR | CHAMPION |
---|---|
2022 | Georgia Bulldogs |
2021 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
2020 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
2019 | LSU Tigers |
2018 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
2017 | Georgia Bulldogs |
2016 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
2015 | Alabama Crimson Tide |
Full Championship History |
COURTESY SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE