Tag: 2022 SEC Championship

Everything Brian Kelly said after SEC Championship loss to Georgia

Kelly took the podium after the Tigers’ loss in the conference title game.

The Tigers showed fight in the second half, but it wasn’t enough against the top team in college football as they lost to Georgia 50-30 on Saturday night.

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] had to leave the game in the second half after he was clearly limited with an ankle injury, but both he and backup [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] surpassed 200 passing yards, the first time LSU has ever had two quarterbacks do so in the same game.

Nussmeier’s 294 passing yards was also the most Georgia has allowed all season.

There are certainly positives to take away from LSU’s performance, but at 9-4, coach Brian Kelly’s team has nothing to do but sit and wait to learn its bowl destination, which likely won’t be in the New Year’s Six.

Here’s what Kelly had to say after the game.

Stock Up, Stock Down: Where do the Tigers stand after the SEC Championship loss to Georgia?

From the good (Garrett Nussmeier) to the bad (more costly special teams mistakes) here’s how things are trending after Saturday’s loss.

It is hard enough to beat the No. 1 team in the country and the reigning national champions when you get a break here and there, but when the ball doesn’t roll your way in a game against Georgia, the ‘Dawgs make you pay.

LSU looked like they would get on the board first against Georgia when the Tigers attempted a field goal in the first quarter but that field goal got blocked. Not only did it get blocked, but Georgia also took it back for a kick-six.

When that is how the game gets started, you know you’re in for a rough game. Georgia held on to its No. 1 spot with a 50-30 win over LSU in the SEC Championship Game.

Here’s where things are trending after the game.

Photos: LSU falls to Georgia in SEC Championship despite second-half fight

The Tigers made things a bit interesting in the second half, but they were ultimately overmatched by the Bulldogs.

There were few positive takeaways from a 50-30 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship on Saturday, but one would be the fight the Tigers showed.

Much of that was sparked by the play of redshirt freshman quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], who entered in the second half in place of a banged-up [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. He threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, making the game more competitive than it looked like it would be given the 35-10 halftime score.

Still, the loss likely ends LSU’s hopes of playing in a New Year’s Six game, and the Tigers could be heading to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando instead. As LSU awaits its bowl decision, here were the best photos from Saturday’s game.

Instant Analysis: LSU comes up short against Georgia in SEC Championship Game

The Tigers just didn’t have enough juice to keep up with Georgia on Saturday afternoon.

It wound up being more competitive than it appeared it would in the first half, but the Tigers were simply overmatched in their 50-30 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday.

LSU had about as rough a start as one could imagine in this game. It was actually driving down the field to score the game’s first points, but a 32-yard field goal from [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] was blocked and, apparently unaware the ball was still live, the Tigers allowed Georgia to return it for a touchdown.

That special teams gaffe and one of the stranger interceptions you’ll ever see when [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ pass bounced off Jack Bech’s helmet allowed the ‘Dawgs to stretch a 35-10 lead heading into the locker room.

Daniels played through an ankle injury and was clearly hobbled in this game. He finished with 208 passing yards and a touchdown through the air but was limited in the run game and was sacked three times. He ultimately left the game and wouldn’t return, and [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] seemed to spark the offense in his stead.

The redshirt freshman threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns, and he helped make it close in the second half. But after a drive in the third quarter that could have cut the lead to 11 stalled on fourth and inches, the lead felt insurmountable despite Nussmeier’s best efforts.

LSU actually outgained Georgia in this game, totaling 549 yards, but was unbalanced. The Tigers only had 47 yards on the ground, which corresponds to the longest run of the day from [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag]. Aside from that, nothing was working.

UGA, meanwhile, was quite balanced. LSU allowed 255 rushing yards to the three-headed attack of Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton. Stetson Bennett also had one of the best games of his career, finishing with 274 yards and four passing touchdowns.

It wasn’t the worst performance, but allowing half a hundred to the Bulldogs was certainly not how LSU wanted this game to go. With the loss, the Tigers’ hopes of making the New Year’s Six diminish considerably. They will learn their postseason fate on Sunday.

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Twitter reacts to mind-boggling LSU special teams error that gave Georgia a touchdown in the SEC Championship

What just happened?

Special teams has been LSU’s Achilles heel all season, and those issues reared their head again in LSU’s SEC Championship contest against Georgia.

In the first quarter, the Tigers were driving to score the game’s first points. A solid drive stalled in the red zone, and kicker [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] lined up for what would have been a 32-yard field goal.

However, Ramos’ kick was blocked, and one special teams error compounded into an even bigger one. Apparently forgetting that a ball is live after a block on a field goal, LSU’s players acted as if the play was ever.

But as Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith knew, that wasn’t the case. Ninety-five yards later, Smith reached paydirt as the Bulldogs swung the momentum completely.

College football Twitter was stunned by the poorly timed gaffe.

LSU vs. Georgia: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for 2022 SEC Championship Game

Here’s what you need to know to follow the Tigers in the SEC title game.

The Tigers will be playing for a conference title on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Atlanta to take on an undefeated Georgia team that ranks No. 1 in the country.

The defending national champion Bulldogs, led by coach Kirby Smart, are yet to face a real scare this season, and they are likely heading to the College Football Playoff regardless of the result in Saturday’s game. Still, LSU will try to pull off the stunning upset and capture some hardware in coach Brian Kelly’s first season.

Here’s what you need to know to follow the Tigers in the 2022 SEC Championship, which kicks off at 3 p.m. CT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

LSU Wire Roundtable: Staff predictions for SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia

Can the Tigers stun the Bulldogs on Saturday in Atlanta?

The Tigers have a major opportunity on Saturday in the first season under head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

Heading to Atlanta to take on the No. 1, undefeated Georgia Bulldogs in front of what should be a UGA-friendly crowd, LSU will look for its second shocking upset of a conference power this season.

Unfortunately, a lot of the stakes have been removed for Kelly’s team. Before last week’s loss to Texas A&M, a win likely would have clinched LSU’s place in the College Football Playoff. Now, at 9-3, all the Tigers are likely playing for is a spot in the New Year’s Six.

The Tigers have a shot to make quite a splash in Kelly’s first season, despite last week’s result. Here’s how our staff thinks this one will play out.

COLUMN: Inconsistent LSU team should be defined by its highs

LSU might get smoked on Saturday, and going from playoff contender to 9-4 in just the span of two weeks can be demoralizing, but it shouldn’t take away from the advances this staff and group made in 2022.

LSU wasn’t supposed to be here.

Nick Saban had one of his most talented and experienced rosters. Jimbo Fisher was getting ready to turn the corner at Texas A&M. In Mississippi, Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach had established programs.

LSU was rebuilding under a first-year coach. Nobody expected this team to win the west. Yet, it did, and here we are. This version of LSU, just as so many previous renditions have been, is volatile.

You never know which team is going to show up. The one that beat Alabama or the one that got rolled by Texas A&M. Against a juggernaut like Georgia, it might not matter. LSU has to play the game of its life to have a chance in this one.

This is LSU. The standard is winning national championships. The players know that and [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] does too.

But this team shouldn’t be defined by its lows, but by its highs.

It’s still hard to believe this LSU team is playing this weekend. This roster was worn thin when Kelly took over. It was coming off a bowl loss where [autotag]Jontre Kirklin[/autotag] had to play quarterback for a team with 39 scholarship players.

That’s full rebuild state. Plugging a few holes in the transfer portal shouldn’t suddenly boost a program back into contention.

And in some ways, it didn’t. LSU’s loss last weekend revealed the Tigers aren’t ready to be part of the national picture. This is a good team, but not an elite one. Elite teams are consistent, and this LSU team is anything but.

As I’ve said all year, LSU’s playing with house money. Losses confirmed what we thought, that this team is rebuilding, while wins meant the program was ahead of schedule.

Saturday is no different. LSU will get to see how it stacks up against the nation’s best, but its safe to presume that gap is a little wide.

There are no moral victories at LSU and the standard is too high to take the “we’re just happy to be here” route, but making this game is something this team and fan base should be proud of.

Winning your division matters. If it’s all about the process of getting back to a national championship, this is just one step.

LSU might get smoked on Saturday and going from playoff contender to 9-4 in just the span of two weeks can be demoralizing, but it shouldn’t take away from the advances this staff and group made.

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Brian Kelly provides update on Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Josh Williams

Kelly delivered good news on both starters ahead of Saturday’s conference title game.

If the LSU Tigers plan to beat Georgia for the SEC Championship this Saturday, it will start with being as healthy as possible.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] gave an update on two of his most impactful players as LSU has been hard at work getting ready for the Bulldogs. The Tigers have been without one of their best running backs, [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag], and one of their best cornerbacks, [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], as they have been dealing with injuries the past couple of weeks.

It would be crucial for LSU to get these guys back as they could provide a big confidence boost and morale boost for the team. Kelly updated both of their statuses on Thursday.

“Yeah, I was really pleased with Josh yesterday. I think he looked like himself finally. This is an injury that takes some time because of the way he runs. He’s such a physical runner. He plays so hard. His physical exertion and effort is one where he’s not a guy that’s going to go at less than 100%.

“I think yesterday was really the first time where I felt like, Okay, we’ve got Josh back to where he needs to be, to be confident and effective.”

“Jarrick was cleared through our concussion protocol,” said Kelly. “He is obviously going to play an important role for us, as well.”

That is definitely great news heading into Saturday, as LSU will need to be at full strength to have a hope of pulling off the win in this one.

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LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels will play Saturday vs. Georgia in SEC Championship, Brian Kelly says

Daniels will start for the Tigers despite a nagging ankle injury.

Ahead of LSU’s first trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship since the 2019 season, one of the major questions has surrounded the health of quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag].

Daniels suffered an ankle injury in last week’s loss to Texas A&M and briefly exited. He eventually finished the game, but he was seen in a walking boot on Monday, putting his status for Saturday’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs in question.

LSU fans got some good news on Thursday, as [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced at his press conference in Atlanta that Daniels had a good week of practice and will play for the Tigers against No. 1 UGA.

Daniels has been a major part of LSU’s offensive success this season, totaling 26 touchdowns (15 passing and 11 rushing) to just two interceptions. The Tigers have their work cut out for them against the defending national champions, but Daniels being in the mix certainly helps.

With the loss to the Aggies, LSU has no shot at the playoff regardless of the outcome on Saturday, but the Tigers may need a win if they have any hope of reaching a New Year’s Six Bowl game.

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