2 weeks Ago By USA TODAY Sports
For the second consecutive season, the Southeastern Conference will not win the College Football Playoff championship . And, for the second consecutive season, the SEC will have no representation in the biggest game in college football — a stark departure from the SEC's dominance over the sport since the mid-2000s. REQUIRED READING: When is CFP national championship? How to watch Ohio State vs.
Notre Dame That dominance has shifted the last two seasons to the Big Ten, with Michigan and Washington playing for the 2023 season championship and Ohio State and Notre Dame facing off for the 2024 title. At the time, the Huskies were in the Pac-12 but have since moved to the Big Ten. Notre Dame, an independent, at least is a geographic fit for the Big Ten.
One of the prevailing discussions amid the 2024 college football season has been about the SEC's historic dominance in the sport seemingly being over, or at least slowed. ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit and Fox Sports' Joel Klatt have both mentioned the fact in recent weeks. Indeed, only Texas — which last year was a Big 12 member — won a CFP game this season.
No. 2 Georgia and No. 9 Tennessee both lost their opening games in the CFP quarterfinal and CFP first round, respectively.
It has only been two seasons since the Bulldogs won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. However, it appears the SEC has some work to do to get back in the national championship conversation. Here's a look back at the SEC's history in the College Football Playoff era: SEC history in CFP championship game SEC teams in bold.
The 2024-25 College Football Playoff has no SEC teams in the national championship for the second consecutive season, which marks the first time the SEC hasn't occupied a spot in back-to-back years in the CFP. It's the first time of the CFP era that the SEC won't win in consecutive seasons. In fact, the SEC won the national championship in four consecutive seasons prior to not making the game in back-to-back years for the 2023 and 2024 season.
Altogether, an SEC program has won the national championship in six of 11 years of the CFP's history . Here's the full national championship game history of the CFP era: The conference's dominance extends back even before the CFP era began in 2014. Indeed, the 2023 and 2024 college football seasons mark only the fourth time since 2000 that an SEC team will not be a national champion in back-to-back seasons: CFP appearances by SEC teams Here's the full list of CFP appearances by SEC teams: * Does not include Texas' appearance in 2023-24 CFP championships by conference Here's which conferences have won the most national championships in the CFP era: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC to miss consecutive CFP championships for first time of playoff era.
