ATLANTA, Ga. - Georgia Dome will host the 23rd Southeastern Conference Championship, this year pitting No. 1 Alabama of the Western Division and the No. 14 Missouri Tigers from the East.
A berth for the conference in the first-ever College Football Playoff hinges on a victory for the Crimson Tide, after the league enjoyed seven straight years holding the national championship trophy.
"Without looking at everyone, I would think that somebody in our league qualifies to be one of the better four teams in the country based on the quality of the league and the good teams that we all have to play," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said Sunday.
Alabama (11-1, 7-1) secured the 79th Iron Bowl Saturday, defeating arch-rival Auburn 55-44 in the greatest scoring total of that mean-spirited series.
That, despite starting quarterback Blake Sims hurling three interceptions. He rebounded with four touchdowns, finishing 20-of-27 on 312 yards passing as the Tide aired it out in their comeback.
Which is unusual for Alabama, a program known in recent years under Saban for their devotion to consistent rushing and defense, a style earning the devotion of football purists.
That change in philosophy against Auburn found receiver Amari Cooper tie a school record, racking up 224 receiving yards on 13 catches.
And under first-year offensive coach Lane Kiffin, no stranger to the forward pass, Cooper easily overpowered Alabama records for yards receiving (1,573) and touchdowns (14).
Cooper recorded two touchdowns against Auburn, from 39 yards, and, trailing 36-27 in the third quarter, broke away to haul in a 75 yard score on a 1 play, 10 second drive.
"I think it's scary for them," Alabama safety Nick Perry said of opponents. "Usually, Bama beats you with defense and running the ball. Now, we can play a whole different type of game. We can put up points or we can shut them out with defense. I think that's scary for other teams."
Other teams like Gary Pinkel's 14th-ranked Missouri Tigers.
"When you're that potent offensively, when you can play defense at that high, consistent level, that's certainly problematic for anybody that's going to play against them," Pinkel said of his opponent this week.
Missouri (10-2, 7-1) is playing for the conference crown for the second time in three seasons since joining the league in 2011. The school has now appeared in the game more often than South Carolina, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt combined.
They lead the league in sacks (40) and face a Crimson Tide group that has allowed the league's fewest (11).
Their two defeats came at home, a 31-27 loss to the unranked Indiana Hoosiers and a 34-0 shutout at the hands of then- No. 13 Georgia, a game after which the Tigers were given a 2.3 percent chance of winning their division.
"This has not been an easy year, but we battled and competed," Pinkel said. "It's our second time down there in a row, and I'll tell you this, that's hard to do. Having the experience of being in this game certainly helps."
Ohio native Maty Mauk goes under center for Missouri, and though is responsible for 23 touchdowns, he completes only 54 percent of his passes and has thrown 11 interceptions.
Missouri needed every bit of the clock last Friday when they hosted Arkansas, rallying for a 21-14 victory. It was a contest that seems to typify the team's character, in that old football cliche, of finding ways to get the job done.
They got the job done with a two-touchdown fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium.
Trailing 14-6 early in the final session, Mauk led the Tigers 98 yards, connecting with Jimmie Hunt for a 4 yard touchdown. Two receivers came up with the 2-point conversion when Bud Sasser found Darius White on a reverse pass.
Marcus Murphy notched the go-ahead touchdown with 4:38 left and tackle Markus Golden recoverd a Razorbacks fumble to end it.
Murphy comes out of Missouri's backfield with 747 yards and four touchdowns. He has also found the end zone once more as a receiver, punt returner, and twice returning kickoffs.
Bud Sasser leads the Tigers with 65 receptions on 904 yards and 9 touchdowns. Jimmie Hunt follows with 529 yards on 34 catches and 7 scores.
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