5 of the greatest upsets in recent SEC rivalry week history

If there’s one thing we know about rivalry week, it’s that anything can happen.

Some rivalries are older than others. Some are basically brand new.

Many of the matchups we now see in rivalry week began under very different conference alignments, and over the years, these games have been played during various weeks.

Before Missouri and Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012, Arkansas and LSU played each other during rivalry week in the Battle of the Golden Boot. And the newer LSU-Texas A&M rivalry week game matchup is the only one without an upset in the last five years.

Without further ado, here are five of the greatest upsets the last five years of SEC rivalry week has brought us.

5. MISSISSIPPI STATE 17, OLE MISS 10 in OT

Date: Nov. 28, 2013

Star Player: Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott

What happened: In 2013, Prescott was able to lead his team to a come-from-behind overtime victory even though he had been on the sideline with a shoulder injury until the fourth quarter. In the Rebels’ overtime possession, QB Bo Wallace fumbled into the end zone, and it was recovered by a Mississippi State defensive back to seal the deal.

Why It Mattered: This was the first matchup between these in-state rivals to ever go into overtime. The excitement of the game undoubtedly swayed the opinions of broadcasting companies, and that has resulted in more nationally televised games for both teams since then.

4. NO. 19 OLE MISS 31, NO. 4 MISSISSIPPI STATE 17

Date: Nov. 29, 2014

Star Player: Rebels RB Jaylen Walton

What happened: In the first nationally televised Egg Bowl in 50 years, it was No. 19 Ole Miss who stunned No. 4 Mississippi State, even with two star receivers out with injuries. Walton rushed for a career high 148 yards and 1 TD.

Why It Mattered: Until the upset, Mississippi State was still holding onto its playoff hopes. With a win and an Alabama loss, the Bulldogs would have clinched the SEC West and gotten a chance at the first College Football Playoffs.

3. NO. 12 SOUTH CAROLINA 27, NO. 11 CLEMSON 17

Date: Nov. 24, 2012

Star Player: Gamecocks DE Jadeveon Clowney

What happened: In 2012, No. 12 Clemson fell to No. 13 South Carolina and the unforgiving Clowney. Clowney racked up four and a half sacks against the Tigers, bringing his total to a single-season record of 13. To add to Clemson’s misery is the fact that the quarterback who threw for three touchdowns against the Tigers was backup Gamecocks QB Dylan Thompson who was in for the injured Connor Shaw.

Why It Mattered: This was just the second time in school history that the Gamecocks had won four consecutive games against Clemson. And for the first time ever, South Carolina had back-to-back 10-win seasons.

2. NO. 4 AUBURN 34, NO. 1 ALABAMA 28

Date: Nov. 30, 2013

Star Player: Tigers CB Chris Davis

What happened: The No. 1 Tide was upset by No. 4 Auburn thanks to the notorious Kick Six. Auburn clinched the 34-28 upset over Alabama after the Tide attempted a field goal with 1 second left in the game, but instead the ball was kicked into the arms of Davis who ran it back for the game-winning touchdown.

Why It Mattered: The upset ripped away the Tide’s championship dreams and handed those dreams directly to Auburn. The Tigers then beat No. 5 Missouri for the SEC Championship but lost 34-31 to No. 1 Florida State in the BCS Championship game.

1. NO. 17 MISSOURI 21, ARKANSAS 14

Date: Nov. 28, 2014

Star Player: Nearly 10 players made big plays for the Tigers to get this win.

What happened: Despite being ranked No. 17, the Tigers weren’t favored over the unranked Razorbacks, but they showed the league they came to play, toppling the Hogs in a miraculous fourth quarter comeback.

Why It Mattered: This win sent newcomer Missouri to the SEC Championship game for the second year in a row. It’s at No. 1 because the Tigers are the only team on this list that had to prove it belongs in the SEC, and it did just that for two consecutive seasons.

Now here’s a look at all of Week 13’s rivalry matchups, their history and which games could give us upsets:

Alabama vs. Auburn in the Iron Bowl

First Game: Feb. 22, 1893

Overall Record: Alabama leads 43-35-1

History: After just 12 games, the rivalry was already so heated that the two school couldn’t come to an agreement on pretty much anything, including the officiating crew. So the matchup was suspended for 41 years until the state government pressured Alabama and Auburn to resume the matchup or forfeit state funding. So in 1948, the Tide and the Tigers faced off in Birmingham—where they met for the next 41 years—and thereby, the game was dubbed the Iron Bowl.

Upset Alert: In the last five years, there have been two upsets in this matchup. In 2010, No. 2 Auburn and QB Cam Newton upset the favored No. 9 Alabama with a miraculous comeback. The second upset was No. 2 on our list above: the Kick Six in 2013. This year, No. 2 Alabama (-13.5) faces the unranked Tigers at Jordan-Hare.

Arkansas vs. Missouri in the Battle Line Rivalry

First Game: Jan. 1, 2008

Overall Record: Missouri leads 4-2

History: This is new rivalry for the SEC and for these two teams outside of conference affiliation. Arkansas and Missouri have only met six times, but in their first rivalry week meeting last year, both teams embraced the idea and wore home uniforms.

Upset Alert: In its two years, this matchup has seen a single upset, and it is No. 1 on our above list. Friday, in what will probably be his last game, Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel will head to Fayetteville to face a surprisingly energized Arkansas (-14) team.

Florida vs. Florida State

First Game: Nov. 22, 1958

Overall Record: Florida leads 34-23-2

History: Like with the Alabama-Auburn rivalry, the state got involved, and this time passed actual legislation forcing the two schools to play each other. Florida State has made many efforts to even out the records, but Florida has remained dominant over the years. The Gators and the Seminoles absolutely do not get along. But then again, I’m not sure either team gets along with anyone else. This rivalry has seen some of the craziest and outrageous games in college football. Enter the YouTube rabbit hole at your own risk.

Upset Alert: This rivalry has also had two upsets in the last five years. In 2012, the No. 6 Gators upended the favored No. 10 Seminoles after scoring four unanswered touchdowns, and last year, No. 3 Florida State stunned No. 8 Florida even with Noles QB Jameis Winston throwing four interceptions. This year the No. 14 Seminoles (-2) head to Gainesville to take on No. 10 Florida.

Georgia vs. Georgia Tech in Clean, Old Fashioned Hate

First Game: Nov. 4, 1893

Overall Record: Georgia leads 64-40-5

History: These two schools hated each other from Tech’s inception, but it really took a turn during World War I when Georgia criticized Georgia Tech’s decision to keep its football program going in war time. The hostility rising from the criticism influenced the Yellow Jackets to cut ties with the Bulldogs until 1925.

Upset Alert: This matchup has only seen one upset in the last five years. In 2014, No. 9 Georgia suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to No. 16 Georgia Tech. This week, both teams enter the game unranked but the Bulldogs (-5) have a much better record as they travel to Atlanta to face the Yellow Jackets.

Kentucky vs. Louisville in the Governor’s Cup

First Game: Oct. 28, 1912

Overall Record: Kentucky leads 14-13

History: Most of the excitement of this matchup centers around the basketball court, but the football teams are making headway. This matchup has not always been during rivalry week, but the two teams have played each other at various times during the season for 21 consecutive years.

Upset Alert: There is only one upset in this rivalry in the last five yeas, and it came at the hands of the Cardinals. In 2011, the Wildcats were dazed by the shining performance of true freshman Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater. This year, Louisville (-4) is coming off of a heartbreaking loss to face Kentucky in Lexington.

LSU vs. Texas A&M

First Game: Dec. 2, 1899

Overall Record: LSU leads 30-20-3

History: This matchup may be new to SEC Rivalry Week, but the Tigers and the Aggies have actually faced off 53 times in the last 115 years. However, unlike many of the other games this week, this rivalry doesn’t revolve around a bitter hatred. It is more like a rivalry of convenience given the proximity of the two schools.

Upset Alert: This is the only matchup this week with no upsets in the last five years, but we just might see one this year. This year, LSU (-5.5) is coming off a three-game losing streak to face the Aggies in Baton Rouge.

Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl

First Game: Oct. 28, 1902

Overall Record: Ole Miss leads 62-43-6

History: This is one of the longest uninterrupted rivalries in the nation, but it’s not because the two schools don’t hate each other. The Golden Egg trophy that is awarded to the winning team each season was first instituted in 1927 in an effort to keep the fans from fighting each other and destroying school property. After Ole Miss snapped a 13-game losing streak, fans rushed the field and went straight for the goalposts. Mississippi State (then Mississippi A&M College) fans attempted to fight off Ole Miss fans with wooden chairs.

Upset Alert: This matchup has given us two exciting upsets in the last two years, and they are No. 5 and No. 4 above. In what will likely be one of the most exciting games in Week 13, the No. 19 Rebels (-1) travel to Starkville to take on the No. 23 Bulldogs.

South Carolina vs. Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl

First Game: Nov. 12, 1896

Overall Record: Clemson leads 66-42-4

History: South Carolina introduced its mascot the Gamecock in 1902. In the week leading up to the 1902 game, South Carolina students started toting around a poster of a gamecock leading a tiger by the tail. Clemson fans were offended and a riot ensued, brass knuckles and all. South Carolina didn’t heed the Tigers’ warning to leave it at home, and another fight followed on Clemson’s campus before the game. And you thought people only recently began to be offended by any and everything. This rivalry is the second-longest uninterrupted series in all of FBS football.

Upset Alert: The only upset in this matchup in the last five years came in 2012, and is No. 3 in our list. The Gamecocks have had a disappointing 2015 season, and in Week 13, they will have one last chance to at least save face as they play host to No. 1 Clemson (-17.5).

Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

First Game: Oct. 21, 1892

Overall Record: Tennessee leads 74-30-5

History: In the first 25 games of this rivalry, Vanderbilt only lost three times. Then everything went downhill from there. The lopsided nature of this matchup has some arguing that it isn’t a true rivalry. Earlier this year, fans tried to jumpstart the effort to change that by submitting suggestions for what the rivalry should be named and what kind of trophy should be handed out to the winner.

Upset Alert: This is another matchup with two upsets in the last five years. In 2011, Vandy QB Jordan Rodgers tossed an interception in overtime, giving the Vols the gift of the upset. But in 2013, it was the Commodores who came out on top, scoring the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left in the game. After a devastating loss to the Aggies last week, Vanderbilt heads to Knoxville to face Tennessee (-16.5) this week.

*Week 13 rankings are according to the Week 13 AP Poll

Photo Credits: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports, Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports, Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports