Ranking the 10 Best SEC Teams in the BCS/Playoff Era
By Jason McIntyre
The SEC has been the best college football conference for the better part of two decades. We decided to rank the best SEC teams in the BCS/Playoff era, which spans 1998-now. Yes, Nick Saban figures prominently, and so does Tim Tebow.
10. 2017 Alabama (13-1)
Got lucky to get into the playoff following the late-season loss to Auburn, and then needed an unproven, backup quarterback to pull off a miracle comeback in the 2nd half of the title game vs Georgia. The Tide were #1 in scoring defense and #1 in rushing defense.
1. 2009 Alabama 14-0
Utterly dominant National Champ boasted six eventual 1st round picks, and obliterated the competition en route to Nick Saban’s easiest title. The Tide won two games by single digits, one which was saved when Terrence Cody blocked a Tennessee field goal on the final play, and the other when Greg McElroy took the Tide down the field in the 4th quarter to win the game. Texas, after losing QB Colt McCoy to injury in the title game, got blown out because they couldn’t stop Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram.
9. 2004 Auburn Tigers (13-0)
The trio of QB Jason Campbell, RB Cadillac Williams and RB Ronnie Brown steamrolled the SEC – fine, they escaped LSU, but every other win was convincing – and beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, but only ended up sharing the National title with USC.
8. 2006 Florida Gators (13-1)
Tim Tebow’s first team was led by Charlie Strong’s ferocious defense that locked down Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith in the National Title game (4-of-14, 35 yards, INT). Tebow was a freshman backup to Chris Leak, but Urban Meyer was smart enough to ease Tebow into the offense. The Gators didn’t roll through the SEC, though – they went 5-0 in one-score games.
7. 2003 LSU Tigers (13-1)
Nick Saban’s Tigers led the country in defense, as LSU gave up 20 or more points just once all season (a 55-24 win rout of Arkansas). In the title game against Oklahoma – which had averaged 45 points and 461 yards per game – LSU’s defense held the Sooners to 14 points and 154 yards.
6. 2015 Alabama Tide (14-1)
After a stunning, early-season home loss to Chad Kelly and Ole Miss, the Tide rebounded to roll into the title game, where it held off a determined Deshaun Watson, 45-40, in an all-time classic. The Tide were #2 in scoring defense and #1 in rushing defense.
5. 2012 Alabama Tide (13-1)
If this is too much Alabama for you, deal with it, because that’s how much of a dynasty Saban has created. This is the team that lost to Johnny Manziel in November, but still won the Championship after beating #3 Georgia in a memorable SEC title game, then pulverizing #1 Notre Dame. Alabama played four Top 10 games (Michigan and LSU, too) and won by a combined 136-73. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Tide were #1 in scoring defense and #1 in rushing defense.
4. 1998 Tennessee (13-0)
All undefeated teams are not created equally, and this Vols team won it all, eking out five one-score wins on the heels of QB Tee Martin and a formidable defense led by LB Al Wilson, S Deon Grant, DE Shaun Ellis.
3. 2008 Florida Gators (13-1)
Tim Tebow’s best team in Gainesville would have been higher if not for the home loss to Ole Miss. That loss was followed by Tebow’s epic speech, and they never played another one-score game. These young Gators ended up having eight players drafted in the 1st or 2nd round. Nationally, Florida ranked 4th in scoring offense, and 4th in scoring defense. The average margin of victory was a staggering 30.7 ppg.
2. 2010 Auburn Tigers (14-0)
Led by record-setting Cam Newton, the Tigers beat three top 10 teams – LSU, a stunning comeback in Alabama, and vs Oregon in the National title game – to capture the National Title. Newton set an SEC single-season record for yards (4,327) en route to the Heisman Trophy, and Auburn averaged 41.2 ppg.