The game of football will always evolve, and there are always going to be changes -- from how fast teams want to play on offense, to whether the quarterback lines up under center, to whether there are four or six defensive backs on the field.

What doesn't change, at least if you want to be good, is that you have to be able to run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense.

To the latter, I went back and looked at the recent SEC champions.

Last season, Auburn was 62^nd nationally in rushing defense, the lowest any SEC champion has finished in rushing defense in the SEC championship game era. Nine of the previous 10 SEC champs had finished in the top-15 nationally in rushing defense, and six had finished in the top 10.

So, clearly, Auburn was the exception a season ago. The Tigers allowed an average of 162.1 rushing yards per game last season, the most by an SEC champion since the advent of the SEC championship game in 1992. Only three other SEC champions during the championship game era have averaged giving up more than 120 yards per game on the ground.

Prior to last season, the last seven SEC champs averaged giving up just 91.1 yards per game rushing.

Here's a look at the rush defensive numbers for all of the SEC champions going back to the first SEC championship game in 1992. Their national rank is in parentheses:

• 2013 -- Auburn (62nd) -- 162.1 yards

• 2012 -- Alabama (1st) – 76.4 yards

• 2011 -- LSU (5th) – 90.1 yards

• 2010 -- Auburn (9th) – 109.1 yards

• 2009 -- Alabama (2nd) – 78.1 yards

• 2008 -- Florida (15th) – 105.4 yards

• 2007 -- LSU (12th) – 106.1 yards

• 2006 -- Florida (5th) – 72.5 yards

• 2005 -- Georgia (52nd) 143.8 yards

• 2004 -- Auburn (12th) 104.2 yards

• 2003 -- LSU (3rd) – 67 yards

• 2002 – Georgia (19th) 114 yards

• 2001 – LSU (21^st) 116.7 yards

• 2000 – Florida (39^th) 133.1 yards

• 1999 – Alabama (2^nd) 75.3 yards

• 1998 – Tennessee (6^th) – 93.9 yards

• 1997 – Tennessee (8^th) – 93.3 yards

• 1996 – Florida (18^th) – 108.6 yards

• 1995 – Florida (25^th) – 130.2 yards

• 1994 – Florida (5^th) – 84.6 yards

• 1993 – Florida (9^th) – 111.2 yards

• 1992 – Alabama (1^st) – 55 yards