Ad Disclosure
The SEC was supposed to deliver a championship game with high-flying performances, offensive fireworks and, well, plenty of points.
Instead, Saturday’s annual title clash in Atlanta delivered … 3 field goals, a lot of yawns and a ton of complaining fans who tuned in for a lot more than what Texas and Georgia provided during the 1st half. When the dust settled and the field goals were counted up, which didn’t take too long, it was 6-3 Longhorns as the teams jogged to the locker room.
Now, the eternal optimist could say it was a wonderful first half for the 2 defenses, and they would be right. Still, an SEC title game between 2 top-5 teams on the eve of Selection Sunday should’ve produced more than just 9 combined points, right? That’s what had many fans angry at halftime.
There is so much at stake inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field to be decided less than 24 hours later. You would think that alone would help produce more excitement in the first 30 minutes of a game between 2 teams of such high-caliber talent, but no. Instead, it was a field-goal fest and that was it.
Georgia had just 5 first downs and 54 total yards. Texas had 260 total yards, which is great, but the Longhorns couldn’t turn any of that offense into even 1 touchdown. Texas also had 8 penalties that bogged itself down.
Fans and media couldn’t wait to complain, and for good reason. Here is a sampling:
So used to the SEC title game feeling like a heavyweight fight, but so far this game has been more sloppy than anything.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 7, 2024
Not a well-played SEC Championship Game so far
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 7, 2024
An avalanche of drops in Atlanta. What a weird game.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) December 7, 2024
Imagine what people would be saying if this was the score in the Big Ten Championship Game pic.twitter.com/JhQbVeHBlr
— Dustin Schutte (@SchutteDustin) December 7, 2024
This SEC Championship game is boring AF. Who enjoys watching this pillow fight?
— Cactus Nole 🌵🍢 (@Grits_N_Gravy_8) December 7, 2024
this sec championship game sure does suck
— pretty take machine (@kidzbopwutang) December 7, 2024
The SEC Championship game SUCKS.
— Sasuri (@SasuriThePyro) December 7, 2024
never seen two footballs teams want a championship less than this SEC title game.
— Tommy Oliver (@dragonzordgo) December 7, 2024
SEC Championship is a mid off
— Nathan Hawks Fan Club (@NathanHawksFC) December 7, 2024
So this SEC championship game is kinda garbage so far right? #UGAvsTEX
— West Texas Pete (@PeteyThePDog) December 7, 2024
SEC Championship is allergic to the end zone, or points at all
— DFAkin (@akycommenter) December 7, 2024
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
