The SEC has a long and storied history in bowl games. Still, the conference is in what is arguably its Golden Age of football, having captured eight national championships over the last 10 years.
Here’s a look at each SEC team and the last time it won a bowl game.
Alabama: Of course the Crimson Tide won their last bowl game, the 2015 National Championship Game, a 45-40 victory over Clemson in Glendale, AZ. Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry ran for three touchdowns and QB Jake Coker threw a pair of touchdown passes to TE O.J. Howard to seal the deal.
Arkansas: The Razorbacks won their most recent bowl game, a 45-23 triumph over Kansas State in last season’s Liberty Bowl. In fact, Arkansas has won its last three bowl appearances. In last year’s victory, RB Alex Collins earned MVP honors after rushing for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.
Auburn: The Tigers won the 2015 Birmingham Bowl, a rousing 31-10 rout of Memphis. Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson threw for one touchdown and ran for another to break a 10-10 tie at halftime. The Auburn defense held Memphis to just a field goal. Memphis scored its lone touchdown on an interception return.
Florida: The Gators last won a bowl game in 2014 when they turned back East Carolina 28-20 at the Birmingham Bowl. Florida QB Treon Harris threw a pair of touchdown passes and Brian Poole returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown. Adam Lane also found the end zone on a 4-yard run.
Georgia: The Bulldogs captured last season’s TaxSlayer Bowl, holding off Penn State 24-17. The Bulldogs built a 24-3 lead with the help of a 17-yard touchdown pass by QB Greyson Lambert and a 21-yard touchdown run from RB Sony Michel. Wide receiver Terry Godwin won MVP honors. He caught a touchdown pass and also threw one to Malcolm Mitchell.
Kentucky: The Wildcats last won a bowl game in 2008 when they defeated East Carolina 25-19 in the Liberty Bowl. Kentucky rallied from a 16-3 halftime deficit with a 99-yard kickoff return by David Jones and a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Ventrell Jenkins in the final minutes of the game.
LSU: The Tigers outscored Texas Tech 56-27 in last year’s Texas Bowl. Leonard Fournette stole the show, rushing for four touchdowns in addition to catching a touchdown pass from QB Brandon Harris, who also scored a rushing touchdown of his own.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs won last season’s Belk Bowl, running past North Carolina State 51-28. QB Dak Prescott threw for three touchdowns in his farewell performance before helping to resurrect the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie NFL season this year.
Missouri: The Tigers won the 2014 Citrus Bowl, a convincing 33-17 victory over Minnesota. QB Maty Mauk threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while DE Markus Golden turned in an outstanding performance and earned MVP honors.
Ole Miss: The Rebels won last season’s Sugar Bowl, rolling past Oklahoma State 48-20. Chad Kelly threw four touchdown passes to earn MVP honors and lead the Rebels to 554 total yards of offense.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks claimed the 2014 Independence Bowl, outlasting Miami 24-21. Dylan Thompson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. He completed a 78-yard scoring strike to WR Pharoh Cooper, who was named the game’s MVP.
Tennessee: The Vols romped in the 2015 Outback Bowl, a 45-6 triumph over Northwestern. QB Joshua Dobbs rushed for two touchdowns and Evan Berry returned an interception 100 yards for another score. RB Jalen Hurd took home the MVP Award and helped lead an offense that piled up 420 total yards.
Texas A&M: The Aggies last won a bowl game when they held off West Virginia 45-37 at the 2014 Liberty Bowl. Kyle Allen earned MVP honors after throwing for four touchdowns and running for another. He was a main player in the Aggies’ rolling up 529 yards of offense.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores were last victorious in a bowl game when they defeated Houston 41-24 at the 2013 Compass Bowl. Vanderbilt QB Patton Robinette threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the way.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
