The  Southeastern Conference is on the verge of their 7th consecutive BSC national championship. Alabama is aiming for back to back titles and third in four years, not to mention the 15th National title in their history. Notre Dame stands in the way of that history. Below is a list of the greatest teams in SEC history who have already earned their mark and hoisted the big trophy. Could this year’s Tide team join the list?

HONORABLE MENTION-TENNESSEE 1939, AUBURN 1957, ALABAMA 2011

12-TENNESSEE 1998
The Volunteers weren’t even picked to win their division but managed to navigate a perfect season with some close calls including a nail biter against Arkansas at Neyland Stadium. Tee Martin and Peerless Price led an opportunistic offense including a 23-16 win over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to finish 13-0.

11-FLORIDA 1996
A season earlier the Gators lost to Nebraska in the National Title game 62-26. A year later, Florida was perfect until a 24-21 loss against Florida State in Tallahassee. Five weeks later Heisman trophy winner Danny Wuerffel and and his talented squad got their revenge when they clobbered the Seminoles 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl to earn Steve Spurrier and the Gators their first ever National Championship.

10-GEORGIA 1980
Freshman Herschel Walker broke onto the scene in a big way especially when he ran over Tennessee safety Bill Bates. The  Bulldogs rallied to beat Florida in a classic game when Buck Belue hooked up with Lindsey Scott in one of the most famous plays and finishes in SEC history. Georgia outlasted Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl to complete a perfect season and give Vince Dooley his only National Championship.

9-ALABAMA 1979
The Crimson Tide defense posted five shutouts and allowed only Tennessee and Auburn to score in double digits. Major Ogilvie was one of the stars offensively, as Bear Bryant celebrated his last National Championship by steamrolling Arkansas and Lou Holtz in the Sugar Bowl.

8-ALABAMA 1978
The goal line stand against Penn State in the Sugar Bowl is one of the most celebrated plays in Alabama football history. The Tide lost once in the regular season to USC after committing 6 turnovers. Aside from a close call to Washington, the team blew out every other opponent.

7-AUBURN 2010
Cam Newton put together one of the best offensive seasons in history winning the Heisman trophy. Nick  Fairley was the leader of the defense. Auburn had close calls against Mississippi State, Clemson, Alabama, and Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl and managed to win them all.

6-ALABAMA 2009
Nick Saban’s defense was stifling and Mark Ingram earned the first Heisman trophy in Alabama history. The Tide whipped #1 Florida in the SEC championship and then clobbered Texas in the BSC Championship knocking out Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy in the first quarter.

5-FLORIDA 2006
The Florida Gators featured a high powered offense with senior Chris Leak at quarterback, backed up by freshman Tim Tebow. In the BCS championship, the Gators defense held Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith to 6 net yards, as the Gators blew out #1 Ohio State 41-14.

4-LSU 2003
Nick Saban’s LSU defense was the best in the country and in the BCS Championship they faced off against the country’s best offense in Oklahoma and Heisman winner Jason White. The Tigers won by KO holding the Sooners to a total of 152 yards. LSU won the BCS, while USC was voted the AP national champs.

3-ALABAMA 1992
The Alabama defense is thought by many as the G.O.A.T.. They held opponents to an average of 9 points per game. In the National Championship, defensive ends John Copeland and Eric Curry pressured Heisman trophy winner Gino Toretta all night and Alabama routed top ranked Miami 34-13 to complete a 13-0 season. Gene Stallings earned his first national title and Alabama’s first in 13 years.

2-FLORIDA 2008
The Gators featured all-stars like Tim Tebow  Percy Harvin, Riley Cooper, Aaron Hernandez and Mike Pouncey. After beating top ranked Alabama in the SEC Championship they breezed by Oklahoma and quarterback Sam Bradford in the BSC Championship. The season is best remembered for the dramatic Tebow speech after the Ole Miss game in which he vowed the Gators would not lose another game.

1-ALABAMA 1961
The numbers are amazing for Bear Bryant’s first National Championship team in Tuscaloosa. The defense recorded six shutouts including five in a row during the regular season. They outscored opponents 297-25 and beat Arkansas 10-3 in the Sugar Bowl to cap off an 11-0 season.