By Chris Marler
Every fanbase has that one day—the high point. The moment when everything felt right, the team looked unstoppable, and the future seemed full of promise. It might’ve been a national title, a huge rivalry win, or even just the calm before the shoe throwing. In the SEC, those days stick with you.
So here it is: the last time every SEC fanbase was truly happy—or at least far from rock bottom.
Alabama
January 9, 2024
The day before Nick Saban retired. The sting from the overtime loss in the Rose Bowl against Michigan was still there, but the news of the GOAT leaving the game hadn’t dropped yet. The state of Alabama hadn’t been that depressed since Milo’s replaced actual butter with I can’t believe it’s not butter back in ‘96.
Arkansas
March 31, 2012
The day before Bobby Petrino ever got on that motorcycle. The Razorbacks were coming off back-to-back 10 win seasons and a No. 5 ranking at the end of the 2011 season. They were a week and a half from firing the coach that got them there that ultimately led to hiring John L. Smith as a mercenary for one season so he could avoid bankruptcy. No, seriously.
Auburn
October 21, 2022 or February 15, 2025
The day Bryan Harsin was fired or the day Auburn beat Alabama in Coleman Coliseum in the Iron Bowl of Basketball. Both served as great holiday presents for Auburn fans. The trick that was trying to fire Harsin finally became a treat on Halloween 2022. And Valentine’s Day flowers paled in comparison to that win between No. 1 and No. 2 on their rival’s court.
Florida
November 7, 2020
After they beat Georgia. UGA still hadn’t won a national title in 40 years, and it wasn’t painstakingly clear that Dan Mullen hadn’t recruited enough to keep this thing rolling. Zero concerns about the future, zero shoes being thrown, just vibes.
Georgia
January 10, 2022
The day the Dawgs won their first national title in 41 years and did it by slaying the dragon in Alabama. A walk-on quarterback counted out by everyone took down a Heisman winner and mighty Nick Saban. Eight degree weather in Indianapolis wasn’t going to stop the warmth that first natty brought to the soul for Dawg fans.
Kentucky
April 2, 2012
The last time they won a basketball national championship.
LSU
June 26, 2023
The day LSU won the national title in Omaha. Skenes. Crews. A 14-year drought that ended in emphatic fashion with an 18-4 win over Florida. They exercised some demons from 2017 that day and also crowned arguably the most talented college baseball season the world has ever seen.
Mississippi State
July 1, 2021
The Bulldogs won in Omaha and ended a 126-year title drought in Starkville. Who would’ve thought that nothing Dak Prescott and Dan Mullen produced in 2014 could compare to the feeling State fans had in TD America stadium that July night.
Missouri
December 29, 2023
Missouri capped off an 11 win season with a New Year’s Six Bowl win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The 2013 win over Texas A&M that sent them to Atlanta is a close second. However, Missouri fans are pretty positive and there’s no way it’s been over a decade since they found joy.
Oklahoma
Who cares?
Ole Miss
November 9, 2024
Drenched but delighted in Oxford, Mississippi that night. Ole Miss not only beat Georgia, but they beat the hell out of them. A game that immediately re-opened the door for their college football playoff hopes and made Rebel fans feel like they weren’t crazy after all for believing in Kiffin and ponying up millions in the portal. Gainesville, Florida was still just an afterthought that day.
South Carolina
November 30, 2024
LaNorris Sellers and Shane Beamer went into fake Death Valley and ripped out the hearts of Clemson fans. Again. All Dabo and company had to do was stop a 3rd and 16, and they couldn’t do it. One of the most iconic moments in Gamecock football history unfolded and sent South Carolina fans into a frenzy as they beat their rival for the second time in three years and took home the Palmetto Bowl trophy to where it belongs – Columbia.
Tennessee
Never. Nor do their fans deserve to be.
Texas
Today
If you’ve ever met a Texas fan it’s quite clear that they don’t need to win a title to feel accomplished. They are still feasting off the memories of a Rose Bowl from 20 years ago and living in a state of delusion that they haven’t lost since.
Texas A&M
July 20, 2021
The day before anyone knew Texas was joining the SEC. The Aggies were coming off a 10-1 season where they just missed the College Football Playoff. Everything was coming up aces and Aggies that offseason. That was until SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced that big brother was coming home from college and would be sharing a room with the Aggies.
Vanderbilt
Today
Vandy has been f’ing turnt every day since October 5, 2024, when Diego Pavia and the Commodores beat Alabama for the first time in 40 years. The Dores have been playing with house money ever since and have had multiple field and court stormings, too.
