SEC Shorts set its latest episode at a watch party during the national championship game in incredibly uncomfortable fashion as the SEC, of course, is usually in the game, and not watching from home.

It was unusual in a major way. Since the 4-team format’s inaugural 2014-15 season, at least one SEC team has made the Playoff each year. But the conference has been left out of the national championship game only twice. For the first time since 2018, the national champion came from outside of the SEC and for the first time since 2014 (Ohio State vs. Oregon) there was not be an SEC program playing for the national title.

“You know I thought we were on our way to a 3-peat, and here I am dipping chocolate-covered pretzels in Buffalo chicken dip with you fine people,” the SEC fan said. “Is this how you do it? I’m actually usually playing in the game.”

This is the latest unusual episode from SEC Shorts, which earlier made fun of the Big Ten with a perfectly-executed skit set in a Midwestern garage on a radio show. A similar mustache was used 5 years ago on April Fools Day when the Big Ten hijacked the show.

“I’m actually usually playing,” the SEC fan said to Washington and Michigan fans, and appeared to be surprised at commercials that aired throughout the season. “So it’s just these same 5 commercials over and over again?”

Taking a shot at Alabama’s struggles in the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan, the fan said, “So the center from Washington is just going to snap it to the quarterback every time.”

Taking a page out of an SEC argument, and adding a shot toward Michigan, he added, “Georgia would have smoked both of these teams, it’s not even fair! Here they go huddling again, like cheaters. … If y’all pull this off, Connor Stalions has got to get on the field, right?”

He also referred to a popular social media storyline during the game, the missing EA Sports NCAA 24 video game.

“So they’re not going to announce anything about the NCAA game today?,” he said.

He happened to be wrong about the ratings of the game, which, in fact, pulled in some 25 million fans. ESPN also said this was the most-watched national championship game since 2020 and represents a 45% increase over last season’s title game.

With the Playoff expanding next season, the SEC being out of the mix appears increasingly unusual.