Once again, we were reminded this season that SEC championships aren’t won on paper.

Florida was the most overwhelming preseason favorite to win the title since the league expanded in 1992. The Gators were coming off their second national championship in three years. Tim Tebow was returning, and so was everybody on a defense that was suffocating the year before.

Their stated goal was a perfect season.

But it was Alabama that was near-perfect Saturday in a 32-13 SEC championship game win over Florida , and it’s the Crimson Tide (13-0) that carry a spotless record into the BCS National Championship game against Texas on Jan. 7.

Really, since the first month of the season, it was apparent that Alabama and Florida were the two best teams in the SEC. They embarked on a collision course that came to a head for the second straight year in Atlanta. Only this time, they both arrived unbeaten.

The fourth quarter of the 2008 SEC championship game had haunted the Crimson Tide, who were no match for Tebow and the Gators’ dominance the final 15 minutes of that game.

This time, the fourth quarter was a mere footnote, because Alabama dominated from the outset. By midway through the fourth quarter, the game had long since been decided.

It was Alabama’s first SEC title in 10 years, and kept alive the Crimson Tide’s streak of winning at least one SEC title in every decade since the league was formed in 1933.

And speaking to how difficult it is to repeat in this league, Florida failed in its bid to become the first repeat SEC champion since Tennessee did it in 1997 and 1998.

Even more so than a year ago, the separation at the top of the league this season was obvious.

It was Alabama and Florida and then everybody else. Six teams finished with 7-5 records -- Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The only team other than Alabama and Florida to finish with a winning SEC record was LSU. It’s the fewest number of teams to have winning league records since expansion in 1992.

Florida clinched the East title on Oct. 31 with a 41-17 rout of Georgia, and Alabama locked up the West title a week later with a 24-15 win over LSU.

From there, the wait was on.

Offensive MVP: Alabama running back Mark Ingram

He’ll be in New York City this weekend for the Heisman Trophy ceremonies and just might become the first Alabama player to win college football’s most prestigious individual award. Ingram was at his best against the best teams. He rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. But even more telling, he averaged 154 yards against the six best defenses that he faced.

Defensive MVP: Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain

If you were looking for the perfect linebacker, McClain has all of the attributes. He has great size, great instincts, the ability to chase the football from sideline to sideline and is incredibly smart. When the Crimson Tide needed a big play on defense this season, McClain was usually the one making the play.

Newcomer of the Year: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett

In his first tour through the SEC, Mallett rewrote the Arkansas record books. Every week, he was setting a different passing record. A transfer from Michigan, Mallett led the SEC with 29 touchdown passes and 3,422 passing yards. Mallett edged out Mississippi State defensive end Pernell McPhee, who also had a big debut season after coming over from junior college.

Coach of the Year: Alabama’s Nick Saban

Even though the Crimson Tide started the season ranked in the top 10, to lead a team to back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons and then top off that second season with your school’s first SEC title in 10 years speaks for itself. Plus, Alabama had to replace three offensive linemen, including two All-Americans, as well as a three-year starter at quarterback and one of its defensive captains. This was some of Saban’s finest work yet. Honorable mention goes to Kentucky’s Rich Brooks.

Biggest surprise: Kentucky

The Wildcats were on the brink of having their first eight-win regular season since 1984, but lost a heartbreaker to Tennessee in overtime. It was Kentucky’s 25^th straight loss to the Vols. Still, with all of the injuries the Wildcats suffered, and losing star defensive end Jeremy Jarmon before the season due to an NCAA suspension, it’s the kind of season few people saw the Big Blue having. Rich Brooks has done a super job with this program, and the Wildcats get a chance in the Music City Bowl to win their fourth straight bowl game.

Biggest disappointment: Ole Miss

The way it all fell apart for Georgia made the Bulldogs a candidate here, but so much was expected of Ole Miss. The Rebels got all the way up to No. 4 in September before losing at South Carolina. The talent on this team was obvious, and it was veteran talent in most places. Making everything worse was the fact that the Rebels seemed to be getting it back on track with wins over Tennessee and LSU, but then laid the smelliest egg of the season in a 41-27 loss to Mississippi State in which Ole Miss was thoroughly outplayed and outcoached.

Game of the Year: Alabama 26, Auburn 21, Nov. 27

There were some strong candidates. Ole Miss’ 25-23 win over LSU rates right up there. Alabama’s 12-10 win over Tennessee with Terrence Cody blocking the field goal as time expired was a thriller, and so was LSU’s 33-30 win over Arkansas in overtime. But the fact that Alabama saved its season by driving 79 yards in the final minutes to rally past Auburn on the road is what separates that contest from the rest. It was a terrific game with even better atmosphere, and Auburn played its best game of the season.