One of the most historic runs in all of college sports will come to an end in college football after the 2026 season. The final SEC championship game will be played this season. From 1992 to 2025, the SEC championship game has brought us all so many memorable football games and it will have one more chance to do that in 2026.
The Southeastern Conference announced on Monday that the 2026 SEC championship game will be the final edition of the event. This decision was made after the expansion of the 24-team format of the College Football Playoff. The SEC championship game started back in Dec. 5, 1992, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. During that first year of the championship game, the contest was set between the Alabama Crimson Tide and
the Florida Gators. Alabama was crowned SEC champions after defeating Florida by a close 28-21 final score.
After Year 2 of this historic conference championship game at Legion Field in 1993, the event was moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome in 1994. From that point forward, the game remained in Atlanta with 23 SEC championship games being played at the Georgia Dome. In 2016, the Georgia Dome was demolished with the plans to bring on the current Mercedes-Benz Stadium next door. Since year 2017, the SEC championship games have been played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In honor of the SEC championship games, let's take a quick glance at just four memorable SEC championship games that involve the Georgia Bulldogs.
2012: Alabama 32, Georgia 28
This was one of the best SEC championship games in all of its years. It was also one of the best Georgia-Alabama games in recent memory. This game decided which team between Alabama and Georgia would go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship Game. The game was back and forth with both defenses making big plays and both offenses making plays. The game came down to the final possession where Alabama held on to defeat the Bulldogs 32-28 with Georgia driving deep into Alabama territory.
2018: Alabama 35, Georgia 28
This game was as intense as they get. Georgia made many plays to put themselves in position to win this contest but Alabama had an answer that willed them to victory. Alabama backup quarterback Jalen Hurts came off the bench in the fourth quarter after Tua Tagovailoa was injured to make a big comeback. Hurts threw the game-tying touchdown pass and rushed for a go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left.
2024: Georgia 22, Texas 19 (OT)
This game was somewhat similar to the 2018 SEC championship game but this time in Georgia's favor. Backup quarterback Gunner Stockton took over the offense after starting quarterback Carson Beck was injured. Georgia played a tough game and Trevor Etienne scored the game-winning touchdown in the first overtime period for the Bulldogs to win 22-19.
2025: Georgia 28, Alabama 7
This matchup always speaks for itself. Georgia absolutely dominated Alabama in all facets of the game, giving head coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs their first SEC championship game victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton threw for three touchdowns that led them to the win. This would be back-to-back SEC titles for the Georgia Bulldogs.
For Georgia fans across the country, 2026 would be a special year to not just compete in the SEC championship game but to win it. One thing that would make that win so special is that Georgia would close this historic chapter by being the the last team to win the SEC title. The Georgia Bulldogs will be eying a three-peat this year to cap off the SEC championship game.
The SEC championship will be truly missed by college football fans across the landscape. However, every era has an end but those great memories will always live on.
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: SEC championship game comes to an end after 35 years
