SEC Network analyst ranks top five league teams to not win a national championship

SEC Network’s Matt Stinchcomb ranked the top five teams in the league that did not win a national championship. All five of these teams were high quality over the last 25 years, but did not win it all.

The teams mentioned were in the CFP and the BCS era. Two of them had a chance within the College Football Playoff era, but these SEC squads couldn’t lay claim to the best in college football.

So let’s dive into the best SEC teams to not win the national championship. We’ll start with a team that, let’s be real, probably should have!

1. 2011 LSU

The Tigers finished 13-1, losing 21-0 to Alabama in the BCS National Championship. They previously beat the Crimson Tide 9-6 which was dubbed a “Game of the Century,” pitting No. 1 and 2.

LSU was never lower than No. 4 all year and dominated their way through SEC play, only playing a close game against Alabama. However, QB Jordan Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr. were held scoreless on offense. Despite eight NFL Draft picks on defense, the Tigers couldn’t contain Alabama and were eventually worn down. They gave up five field goals, keeping LSU within two scores, but a Trent Richardson TD in the fourth quarter sealed the deal. Tyrann Matthieu, Morris Claiborne, Eric Reid and Brandon Taylor were in this secondary!

2. 2016 Alabama

This Alabama team was loaded, winning the SEC over Florida 56-14 and steamrolling their way in the CFP. The Crimson Tide controlled Washington, winning 24-7 in the semifinals before matching up with Clemson in a rematch of the previous year, won by Alabama.

Freshman QB Jalen Hurts was a star in this game and left the field with a lead before Clemson broke Crimson hearts. Despite an offense featuring Calvin Ridley, OJ Howard and tackle Cam Robinson, it wasn’t enough. Out of the 11 defensive starters, Alabama had 10 NFL Draft picks, including Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Unfortunately, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson found Hunter Renfrow for a game winning score, virtually, as time expired.

3. 2009 Florida

Florida won BCS national titles in 2006 and ‘08, the latter with QB Tim Tebow being the starter. Tebow and 11 defensive starters returned for 2009 to run it back, and boy, they nearly did. Already a Heisman winner, Tebow led the Gators to a 12-0 record and the No. 1 ranking into the SEC Championship Game.

But, that’s where the dream ended. Facing No. 2 Alabama, in what could’ve been that year’s national championship game, the Crimson Tide ran away with a 32-13 victory. That was the only blip on the radar as the Gators dominated No. 4 Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, 51-24 to cap a 13-1 season. But they had to watch an SEC foe beat Texas for the national championship/

4. 2017 Georgia

Looking back on this Georgia team, man. Not winning the national championship really stings, despite Kirby Smart eventually winning two in a row just a few years later. The Bulldogs lost an all-SEC final to Alabama, 26-23 in overtime. Alabama QB Jalen Hurts was subbed out for a freshman Tua Tagovailoa in the second half. Tagovailoa resurrected Alabama and threw a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith to win it in OT.

Georgia only lost to Auburn in the regular season, 40-17, but got their payback 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game. A freshman QB Jake Fromm piloted the offense that outscored Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma in the CFP semifinals at the Rose Bowl as well, an instant classic won by the Bulldogs 54-48 in double OT. Georgia’s offense also featured Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and Riley Ridley, in addition to four draft picks on the OL. On defense, Roquan Smith and Deandre Baker led the way.

5. 2002 Georgia

Mark Richt led this great Georgia team to a Sugar Bowl win over Florida State, winning 26-13 and finishing 13-1. They were SEC champions and finished No. 3 in the country. So how didn’t they play for the national title?

Well, the Bulldogs lost to unranked Florida team 20-13 on November 2nd of that year, making that their only loss. Ohio State and Miami squared off for the title in a battle of unbeaten teams, won by the Buckeyes. Georgia’s defense was led by David Pollack at DE, Terrence Edwards at RB and DJ Shockley at QB.