The SEC says the Dec. 5 title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the last. The game has been played in Atlanta every year since 1994.
The SEC Championship Game will end after this season. The game on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the last one, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday.
The conference said the decision coincides with the College Football Playoff’s expansion to a 24-team format. The SEC’s announcement did not say what, if anything, will be played in Atlanta in its place in early December.
The Dec. 5 game will be the 35th edition. Atlanta has hosted every one since 1994.
Thirty-three years in Atlanta
The SEC’s announcement sets out the game’s history:
| Years | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 and 1993 | Legion Field | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 1994 to 2016 | Georgia Dome | Atlanta |
| 2017 to 2026 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta |
The first game, on Dec. 5, 1992, ended with Alabama beating Florida 28-21. The Georgia Dome then hosted 23 straight title games before the event moved next door to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Over the 34 games played so far, the game drew capacity crowds and helped send 14 SEC teams on to a national championship, the conference said.
“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,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. He said the conference would recognize “the city of Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and AMB Sports and Entertainment” for the game’s success.
What is still to come
The SEC’s announcement leaves several things open:
- what replaces the game on the first weekend of December, if anything
- how the conference will mark the final edition on Dec. 5
- the economic effect on downtown hotels and restaurants, which the SEC did not address
We will add these when the conference, the stadium or the city says more.
What it means for you
- This year’s game goes ahead. Kickoff is 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on ABC, according to ESPN’s 2026 SEC broadcast schedule. The two teams are the top two in the final SEC standings.
- Tickets are sold through the SEC Ticket Office.
- Getting there: parking, the clear-bag rule and MARTA to SEC District Station are on our SEC Championship Game page.
- Downtown that day: check our road construction and closures page before you drive.
The Celebration Bowl follows at the same stadium on Saturday, Dec. 12; see our Celebration Bowl page. The Peach Bowl details are on our Peach Bowl page.
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