We are getting every so closely to the start of the college football season and LSU is looking to start off fresh as a new era begins for LSU football with first-year head coach, Brian Kelly. The schedule for LSU in 2022 will not be easy according to CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee, the Tigers’ schedule ranks as the sixth-most difficult in the league. With all of that being said, here is the most important stretch on LSU’s schedule comes in October:
October 1st: @ Auburn
LSU will return to conference competition to start off the month of October coming off a home game against New Mexico the previous week. The Auburn game will be the true first road test for LSU. Auburn finished the 2021 campaign with the same record as LSU last year, 6-7, under head coach Bryan Harsin. Bo Nix is out of Auburn’s quarterback room as he transferred to Oregon. Even with Nix’s departure, Auburn returns a solid rushing attack with Tank Bigsby leading the running back group. The last visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium didn’t pan out so well for LSU as Auburn drubbed them 48-11 during the 2020 season. Auburn also snapped a 10-game losing streak in Death Valley last year, giving Auburn their first win in Tiger Stadium since 1999.
October 8th: vs. Tennessee
LSU will return home after the trip to Auburn to face a Tennessee team. Tennessee chance to breakout in the 2022 season and make some noise in the SEC East. The Volunteers finished 7-6 under first-year head coach, Josh Heupel. Tennessee is reloaded on the offensive side as they returned many of their key starters, including quarterback Hendon Hooker. Tennessee’s offense averaged 39.31 PPG, so this one has the makings to be a high-scoring affair. The last time the Volunteers and the Tigers got together was in 2017, when LSU won 30-10 in Knoxville. You have to go all the way back to 2010 when the last time Tennessee traveled to Death Valley, where the Tigers won at the last second, 16-14.
October 15th: @ Florida
The LSU vs. Florida rivalry is always a treat to watch for every college football fan across the country. The two previous games has been no exception to that. Florida will also start off the 2022 season with a new head coach, Billy Napier, who is looking to turn things around in Gainesville. The two first-year head coaches of Brian Kelly and Billy Napier will be looking for a statement win in this annual rivalry game. The Gators also have some question marks surrounding their roster heading into the season, but having quarterback Anthony Richardson healthy is a huge boost. In limited time last season, Richardson threw for 529 yards and six touchdowns in limited duty. The two previous meetings between the Gators and the Tigers have gone to the purple and gold. In 2020, LSU upset the No. 6 Gators, 37-34 and in 2021, LSU won a high- scoring battle, 49-42.
October 22nd: vs. Ole Miss
LSU will be looking to avenge last year’s road loss in Oxford where they lost 31-17 to the Rebels. Ole Miss had a successful season last year under head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin led the Rebels to a 10-3 record and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl last season. Kiffin’s offense will look a bit different without quarterback Matt Corral, but they did reload with landing USC transfer Jaxon Dart. The Rebels offense will also have to fill the shoes of running backs Jerrion Ealy and Snoop Conner. Ole Miss also lost receivers Dontario Drummond and Braylon Sanders. The last time the Rebels faced off against the Tigers in Death Valley, LSU came out on top in a high-scoring slugfest, 53-48.
