Though Missouri’s back-to-back SEC East titles shocked most fans and media members outside of Columbia, Mo., defending an East Division title isn’t unusual.

Since the SEC split into divisions prior to the 1992 season, the defending East Division champion has repeated in 10 of 22 seasons, or 45.5 percent of the time. (The ’08 and ’09 Alabama teams are the only back-to-back SEC West champions.)

But divisional three-peats? There’s been one in 23 years. Coach Steve Spurrier’s Florida Gators won five consecutive SEC East titles from 1992-96 before losing to ranked LSU and Georgia teams in ’97, eventually finishing No. 4 in the nation after losing a division tiebreaker for second place.

Florida State and Ohio State, winners of the last two national championships, are the only power-conference programs with three consecutive conference division titles, and that’s counting the 2012 season during which Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes finished 12-0 despite being ineligible for the postseason.

Missouri’s accomplishment probably is the most surprising back-to-back SEC East run ever. The Tigers weren’t picked to finish better than fourth in the SEC’s preseason poll either year. But some have downplayed the significance given the context: a) Florida and Tennessee have languished well below the traditional norm the last two seasons, and b) Mizzou got worked pretty good in the SEC Championship Game by Auburn and Alabama, respectively.

But with Georgia a clear-cut favorite and likely an Associated Press Top 10 team prior to this season, a third consecutive title would shatter most any criticism that could be levied against the Tigers. (Except, of course, for the team’s relatively-easy schedule.)

Spurrier’s Gators went on a run even more dominant than Nick Saban’s Alabama teams (4 of 7 SEC West titles), Meyer’s Florida teams (3 of 4 SEC East titles), Phillip Fulmer’s Tennessee teams (4 of 8 SEC East titles) or Mark Richt’s Georgia teams (4 of 6 SEC East titles).

If Missouri can collect a third consecutive SEC East crown — and especially if Mizzou can knock off the West champion — Gary Pinkel’s Tigers teams have to be added to that short list of the best single-program runs in recent SEC history.

Again, no SEC team has won a division three consecutive years since ’96. Eighteen seasons have passed since then. It’s become more and more difficult to maintain dominance, what with teams like Ole Miss and Mississippi State paying their head coaches in excess of $4 million per season.

If Missouri can string together a 3-1 record against Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee — which it also managed in ’13 and ’14 — winning another SEC East title is not only possible, but likely. Three of those games are at Faurot Field. (The road game is UGA, which plays Alabama and at Tennessee in the two weeks before hosting Mizzou.)

Incidentally, the term is also a registered trademark held by Miami Heat president Pat Riley. While he tries to salvage Dwayne Wade’s future with the team this offseason, he may want to start looking out for potential Mizzou merchandise with the term.

Of the former Big 12 newcomers, Texas A&M may be the more lucrative program. But Missouri has been the better addition to the SEC on the field. Now the Tigers can claim a permanent distinction in the conference record books with one more division title in ’15.

SEC DIVISION WINNERS

1992: Alabama, Florida
1993: Auburn*, Florida
1994: Alabama, Florida
1995: Arkansas, Florida
1996: Alabama, Florida
1997: Auburn, Tennessee
1998: Mississippi State, Tennessee
1999: Alabama, Florida
2000: Auburn, Florida
2001: LSU, Tennessee
2002: Alabama*, Georgia
2003: LSU, Georgia
2004: Auburn, Tennessee
2005: LSU, Georgia
2006: Arkansas, Florida
2007: LSU, Tennessee
2008: Alabama, Florida
2009: Alabama, Florida
2010: Auburn, South Carolina
2011: LSU, Georgia
2012: Alabama, Georgia
2013: Auburn, Missouri
2014: Alabama, Missouri

*Did not participate in the SEC Championship due to NCAA probation.