BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WOKI / WVLT) – The Southeastern Conference has announced that this year’s SEC Championship Game will be the last, closing a chapter that has helped define college football for more than three decades.
The conference revealed Monday that the decision comes as college football prepares for the expanded 24-team College Football Playoff format. The 35th and final SEC Championship Game is set for Dec. 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the game has played a significant role in shaping the history of both the conference and the sport since it debuted in 1992.
“As the sport evolves with an expanded College Football Playoff, we look forward to celebrating the remarkable legacy of this event with its 35th and final edition and recognizing the city of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and AMB Sports and Entertainment, and the many partners who have contributed to its success,” Sankey said.
The championship game was first played on Dec. 5, 1992, at Legion Field in Birmingham, where Alabama defeated Florida 28-21 in the inaugural matchup. Legion Field also hosted the 1993 championship before the event moved to Atlanta in 1994.
From 1994 through 2016, the game was played at the Georgia Dome. Since 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has served as the home of the SEC’s title game.
According to conference officials, the championship game has helped propel 14 SEC teams to national championships over its 34 completed editions.
The announcement marks the end of one of college football’s most recognizable conference championship events. For decades, the SEC Championship Game has featured many of the league’s biggest stars and most memorable moments, often serving as a gateway to national title opportunities.
The final game this December will provide one last chance for teams and fans to celebrate a tradition that has been a fixture of the SEC since the early 1990s.
