Counting down over the last decade, let’s look at SEC unbeatens at the Week 10 mark and see how they fared:
2013: Alabama — Auburn’s ‘Kick Six’ at Jordan-Hare took the 11-0 Crimson Tide out of the SEC and national championship picture and paved the way for the Tigers to move on to final BCS title game after an emphatic rushing performance in Atlanta against Mizzou.
2012: Alabama — The Crimson Tide ran their winning streak to nine to start the season before a quarterback named Johnny Manziel waltzed into Bryant-Denny and left with a 29-24 victory. Alabama responded however, winning its second consecutive title and third in four seasons with a much-anticipated blowout win over Notre Dame in Miami.
2011: Alabama, LSU — Dubbed as the Game of the Century, No. 1 LSU beat second-ranked Alabama in overtime on the first Saturday of November, a game featuring five field goals as the only scores. Alabama returned the favor in the BCS title game two months later, shutting out the Tigers, 21-0, to bring home the crystal ball despite not winning the SEC. After nine weeks of the regular season, four Power 5s along with Boise State and a Kevin Sumlin-led Houston team sported unblemished records.
2010: Auburn — Led by Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick Cam Newton at quarterback, the Tigers escaped a 24-point deficit in the Iron Bowl, steamrolled South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game, then beat Oregon as time expired to win their first national championship since 1957.
2009: Alabama, Florida — One of the more epic SEC Championships since the East and West champs squared off at the end of the season beginning in 1992, second-ranked Alabama denied Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators’ shot at their second straight and third national title in four years during a battle of 12-0 teams. The Crimson Tide avenged their 2008 SEC title loss to the same Urban Meyer-led Gators.
2008: Alabama — The unbeaten Crimson Tide were a mere pit stop in Atlanta for top-ranked Florida on its way to a BCS Championship, solidifying Tim Tebow’s second trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony. He didn’t win, but did have three touchdown passes against Alabama during a 31-20 victory.
2007: None — Ohio State started the season 10-0 before falling by a touchdown at home to Illinois. Despite the late-season loss, a crippling element during the BCS era, the Buckeyes still reached the national championship game for a second straight year, falling to LSU, 38-24.
2006: None — Driven by dynamic Heisman quarterback Troy Smith, Ohio State entered the BCS Championship Game unbeaten at 12-0 and ranked No. 2. The Buckeyes proceeded to get blown out by Florida which kicked off the SEC’s seven-year reign at the top of college football.
2005: Alabama — The Crimson Tide improved to 9-0 with a shutout win at Mississippi State before losing their final two games of the regular season resulting in a Cotton Bowl bid. It was Alabama’s 53rd bowl appearance and its 30th victory at the time, both NCAA records.
2004: Auburn — “Neither team is better than us. We’ll play them anytime, anywhere.” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville’s words were strong after the Tigers capped off a perfect 13-0 season with a Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech. Auburn was one of three teams to finish the 2004 season perfect, but it was USC that played in — and won — the BCS Championship Game, humiliating Oklahoma, 55-19, behind five touchdown passes from Matt Leinart.
