SEC announces new football tie-breaking procedure ahead of 2024 season
By Andrew Olson
Published:
SEC football has a bit of a different feel in 2024.
Not only are there two new members, Oklahoma and Texas, but the path to Atlanta has changed. For the first time since 1991, there will be no divisions in the SEC.
The SEC Championship Game, however, will still be played even though the matchup will no longer feature division champions. On Wednesday, the conference shared its tie-breaking procedures to determine the top two teams if necessary:
A. Head-to-head competition among the tied teams
B. Record versus all common Conference opponents among the tied teams
C. Record against highest (best) placed common Conference opponent in the Conference standings, and proceeding through the Conference standings among the tied teams
D. Cumulative Conference winning percentage of all Conference opponents among the tied teams
E. Capped relative total scoring margin versus all Conference opponents among the tied teams
F. Random draw of the tied teams
Without divisions, the regular-season conference champion (if one can be determined) will be named the home team for the SEC title game. For those looking to get into the nitty-gritty of the tie-breaking procedures, the SEC has published a 22-page PDF that offers detailed explanations for multiple scenarios, including the formula for capped relative total scoring margin and the procedure for the random draw.
Alabama is the defending SEC champion. Georgia topped the preseason poll at SEC Media Days, receiving 165 votes to win the conference title, ahead of Texas (27 votes) and Alabama (12 votes). The Bulldogs are betting favorites to win the SEC Championship Game, priced at +190 at DraftKings Sportsbook ($100 wager wins $190 for $290 payout). The book has Texas priced at +320 and Alabama at +500. Kirby Smart’s team enters the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25.
The 2024 SEC Championship Game is set for Dec. 7 in Atlanta, airing at 4 p.m. ET on ABC.
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Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
