Honestly, if you looked at the LSU football schedule 2022 before the season started, you probably wouldn't have predicted a trip to Atlanta. Most people didn't. Coming off a shaky transition and hiring Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame, the vibe in Baton Rouge was cautious. People were hopeful, sure, but the roster was thin. Like, "39 scholarship players thin" at one point.
That 2022 season turned into a wild ride that basically redefined the floor for this program. It wasn't just about the games; it was about watching a team learn how to win again after the post-2019 hangover.
The Opener That Almost Broke the Internet
Things started with a thud. On September 4th, LSU headed to the Caesars Superdome for a neutral-site game against Florida State. It was supposed to be the grand unveiling of the new era. Instead, it was a comedy of errors.
Muffed punts. A blocked extra point at the very last second. LSU lost 24-23.
The internet was not kind. Critics were ready to write off the Brian Kelly experiment before it even reached Week 2. But looking back at the LSU football schedule 2022, that loss was actually the wake-up call Jayden Daniels needed. He was hesitant in that game, kinda playing "not to lose" instead of just letting it rip.
Finding a Rhythm in Death Valley
After the FSU debacle, the Tigers came home. They needed a "get right" game, and they got it against Southern (65-17). But the real test was Week 3 against Mississippi State.
- September 17: LSU 31, Mississippi State 16
- September 24: LSU 38, New Mexico 0
- October 1: LSU 21, Auburn 17
That Auburn game was ugly. Let's be real. It was one of those typical "Auburn weirdness" games where LSU had to claw back from a 17-0 deficit. But winning in Jordan-Hare Stadium—regardless of how it looks—is always a big deal for a first-year coach. It showed this team had some grit.
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The Mid-Season Reality Check
Then came Tennessee.
On October 8th, the Volunteers rolled into Tiger Stadium and basically did whatever they wanted. A 40-13 loss at home is never easy to swallow. Hendon Hooker and the Vols' offense exposed some serious depth issues in the LSU secondary.
At 4-2, the season felt like it could go either way. But that’s the thing about the LSU football schedule 2022—it was back-loaded with opportunities. Instead of folding, the Tigers went to Gainesville and handled Florida 45-35. Jayden Daniels finally looked like the dual-threat monster we’d eventually see win a Heisman. He accounted for six touchdowns that night. Six.
That Night Against Alabama
If you ask any LSU fan about 2022, they aren't going to talk about the New Mexico game. They’re going to talk about November 5th.
Alabama came to town. The atmosphere was electric. It was one of those nights where the air in Death Valley feels heavy. The game went to overtime, and Brian Kelly made the ballsy call of the decade.
After a touchdown in the first OT, instead of kicking the extra point to tie, he went for two.
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Daniels found Mason Taylor in the corner of the end zone. The 32-31 victory sent fans storming the field and effectively clinched the SEC West. It was the moment everyone realized LSU was back ahead of schedule.
Key Performance Stats from the Bama Game
Jayden Daniels was the heart of the offense, rushing for 95 yards and throwing for 182. But more than the stats, it was his 25-yard touchdown run in overtime that set the stage for the gamble. Mason Taylor, a true freshman tight end at the time, became an instant legend with that catch.
Finishing the SEC Slate
The hangover after the Alabama win was real. LSU barely scraped by Arkansas (13-10) in a freezing Fayetteville afternoon. Harold Perkins Jr. basically won that game single-handedly with four sacks and two forced fumbles. It was one of the most dominant individual defensive performances I've ever seen.
Then, they handled UAB (41-10) before a total collapse against Texas A&M in the regular-season finale.
The 38-23 loss to the Aggies was frustrating. It knocked LSU out of the College Football Playoff conversation, which was a long shot anyway, but it stung because A&M had been struggling all year. Still, a 9-3 regular season and an SEC West title? You take that every single time in Year 1.
Postseason: Atlanta and Orlando
The LSU football schedule 2022 didn't end in College Station. They had earned a trip to the SEC Championship against Georgia.
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Georgia was a buzzsaw.
The 50-30 score looks bad, and honestly, the game felt out of hand early after a weird blocked field goal return for a touchdown. But Garrett Nussmeier came in for an injured Daniels and threw for nearly 300 yards in the second half. It showed the world that the Tigers had a future at the position regardless of who was under center.
The season officially wrapped up in the Citrus Bowl on January 2, 2023.
LSU absolutely dismantled Purdue 63-7. It was a statement. It was a "we aren't just happy to be here" kind of win.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 4 | vs Florida St | Loss | 23-24 |
| Sept 10 | Southern | Win | 65-17 |
| Sept 17 | Mississippi St | Win | 31-16 |
| Oct 8 | Tennessee | Loss | 13-40 |
| Oct 22 | Ole Miss | Win | 45-20 |
| Nov 5 | Alabama | Win | 32-31 (OT) |
| Nov 26 | at Texas A&M | Loss | 23-38 |
| Dec 3 | vs Georgia | Loss | 30-50 |
| Jan 2 | vs Purdue | Win | 63-7 |
Why the 2022 Schedule Matters Now
When you look back at these games, you see the blueprint Brian Kelly was trying to build. He took a team that most experts picked to finish fifth or sixth in the SEC West and turned them into division champions.
The biggest takeaway for fans and analysts today is the development of the roster. Players like Malik Nabers and Mason Taylor, who became household names, really cut their teeth during this stretch.
If you're trying to understand the current state of LSU football, you have to look at the LSU football schedule 2022 as the foundation. It wasn't perfect. There were bad losses. But the wins against Bama and Ole Miss proved that the ceiling in Baton Rouge is always "National Championship" if the coaching is right.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Review the 2022 recruiting class to see which players from that transition year are still impact starters or have moved to the NFL.
- Compare Jayden Daniels' 2022 stats to his 2023 Heisman season to see the massive leap in his passing efficiency.
- Watch the highlights of the LSU vs. Alabama 2022 game if you ever need a reminder of why SEC football is the best sport on earth.