A berth in the Sugar Bowl long has been the goal for SEC teams. At least prior to the BCS and the current College Football Playoff.

But the SEC hasn’t enjoyed much success in New Orleans in recent seasons. And those losses are a big reason for perceptions that the conference hasn’t been as strong as in the past.

SEC teams have lost four straight at the Superdome, dating back to the 2009 season when Florida whipped Cincinnati. The year before, Utah humbled Alabama.

Prior to Utah’s upset of the Crimson Tide, the SEC had won 6 of 7 in the Sugar Bowl, including LSU’s victory over Oklahoma to claim the 2003 national championship.

The last three SEC defeats have been particularly disappointing. In each, top 3 SEC teams were knocked off by underdogs. No. 3 Florida lost to No. 21 Louisville after the 2012 season. No. 3 Alabama lost to No. 11 Oklahoma the next season. Last season, the No. 1 Crimson Tide lost to No. 4 Ohio State, which went on to win the national title.

Ole Miss (9-3) has an excellent chance to get the conference back on the right track on New Year’s Day with its Sugar Bowl date against Oklahoma State (10-2).

The Rebels’ lineup of playmakers on both sides of the ball showed its potential, beating Playoff-bound Alabama in Tuscaloosa then ending the season with convincing victories over LSU and Mississippi State.

Motivation, traditionally a key component of bowl performance, could be in the Rebels’ favor. The Cowboys lost their last two games at home, squandering a chance to make the Playoff.

On the flip side, Ole Miss has three solid No. 1 picks leaving for the NFL. So their motivation level is tough to predict. Robert Nkemdiche, one of the trio, has been suspended for the game following an incident at an Atlanta hotel.

With the Rebels playing in Archie Manning’s longtime hometown, the SEC should have a home-crowd favorite second only to having LSU in the game. Chad Kelly and a high-octane passing game make the Rebels capable of winning a shootout against the Cowboys’ high-scoring offense.

A combination of mismatches lost to motivated underdogs (Utah, Louisville, Oklahoma and West Virginia over Georgia in Atlanta after the 2005 season) and tough competition (Ohio State last season) have played a major role in the SEC’s recent Sugar Bowl demise.

Regardless, winning the Sugar Bowl — the SEC’s premier bowl game outside the Playoff — on a regular basis is essential for the SEC to make a persuasive case as the nation’s top conference.