Former SEC rival
When the SEC formed in 1932, it actually included 13 teams: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane and Vanderbilt.
Sewanee left first in 1940 after their administration no longer wanted to give out athletic scholarships. They became an independent and eventually moved to Division III.
Georgia Tech left in 1964 because the SEC wouldn’t punish teams for over-recruiting and then cutting players before they could transfer. But the team for this category left simply because they de-emphasized athletics and couldn’t keep up anymore.
Tulane Green Waves – 25 Games
One rivalry that began because of the Southern Conference that nearly lasted was Georgia’s almost-annual rivalry with Tulane. The two schools had only met once before the creation of the SoCon in 1921. In 1919, Georgia and Tulane fought to a 7-7 tie. That set a trend of great, close games between the two teams.
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Beginning in 1927, the Bulldogs and Waves played all but twice until 1942. And they met annually from 1927-to-1938. In those first 14 meetings, they were tied at seven wins a piece. Tulane rode a four-game winning streak when the two schools entered the SEC. Georgia answered with a three-game streak in the mid-1930’s.
A Georgia vs. Tulane game was always close. 10 of those first 14 games were decided by two scores or less. And six games were decided by one score. Both teams squeaked out a one-point game each. And both teams enjoined two blowout victories each.
For reasons I was unable to dig up (but I will update the story if I learn anything), Georgia and Tulane halted their rivalry in 1942 after the Bulldogs won 40-0. They met for a series of five games in the 1950’s, all of which were very competitive. But the Bulldogs won four of those games. Tulane then left the conference in 1966.
Georgia and Tulane met again for a series of four games from 1969-to-1972. And once again, they produced great match-ups. Both squads won two games. And besides Georgia’s 35-0 win in 1969, each game was decided by less than 11 points.
The last time Georgia played Tulane was in 1985. The Bulldogs defeated the Green Waves, coached at the time by Mack Brown, 58-3. Georgia leads the all-time series record 14-10-1.
Tulane is no where near the consistent winner they once were as a member of the SEC. But now that they’re in a strong conference, the next meeting between them might live up to the standard set in the 1920’s and 30’s.