Southeastern Conference News: SEC Championship Game in Atlanta; Georgia vs. Alabama, CBS, 4 PM

By Bert Leeson

2023 SEC Football Championship

December 2, 2023
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia

 

 

2023 SEC Football Championship
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)

SEC Football Championship Game History
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
SEC Football Champions
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

 

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