The LSU football team entered Cowboys Stadium 91 days ago and started what has since become one of the most successful seasons in Tiger football history.
LSU now travels to Atlanta in hopes of extending the school’s first undefeated season since 1958, when LSU coach Paul Dietzel led the Bayou Bengals to the team’s first national championship.
The No. 1 Tigers will take on No. 14 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game at 3 p.m. Saturday.
If the Tigers win, they will have earned a trip to the national championship to play what many analysts believe will be a rematch with Alabama.
When asked if a team should be allowed to play in the national championship game without winning their conference, LSU coach Les Miles replied, “No comment.”
“If we want to make it to the national championship, we first have to win the West and then the SEC,” said LSU sophomore safety Eric Reid. “We got step one done, and now we’re looking forward to step two.”
The Tigers have won all 12 games this season by a combined score of 458-127, earning LSU a No. 1 ranking for a school-record ninth consecutive game.
LSU and Georgia have played each other twice in the SEC Championship Game and have split the series, with then-No. 13 Georgia winning the most recent game in 2005, 34-14, against then-No. 3 LSU.
The Tigers are in search of their 11th SEC title and fourth SEC Championship win since its inception in 1992.
The last time the two teams faced off was in 2009, when LSU running back Charles Scott busted a late 33-yard run to put the Tigers up by seven points. That was LSU’s first win in Athens since 1987. Then-sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson went 18-of-27 for 212 yards through the air.
Jefferson, who was suspended for four games earlier this season, has started the past three games after coming off the bench against No. 2 Alabama. He leads the SEC in active wins for a quarterback and has posted 907 total yards and eight touchdowns since his return.
Senior quarterback Jarrett Lee led the Tigers for the first eight games of the season, elevating the team to the No. 1 spot. Lee has thrown for 1,306 yards and 14 touchdowns this season but has seen greatly diminished playing time since throwing two interceptions against Alabama.
“The issue for me is that I have to make sure the victory is secured,” Miles said. “The contribution he’s made in the season thus far and the contribution he’s about to make in the next two games is very significant.”
The majority of the Tiger offense this season has focused on the running game. Four tailbacks have recorded six or more touchdowns with sophomores Michael Ford and Spencer Ware posting 721 and 687 yards, respectively, and sophomore Alfred Blue within 55 yards of breaking the 500 mark.
The Tigers’ driving force this season, however, has been a stifling defense that ranks in the top six in five major categories including No. 2 in both total defense (248.42 yards-per-game) and scoring defense (10.58 points-per-game).
LSU has also held opponents without a touchdown in 38 of the 48 quarters played.
“It felt pretty bad going down 14 to nothing to Arkansas,” Reid said. “I don’t remember ever being down that much this season, and I don’t want that feeling again.”
Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones feels confident that the Bulldogs can keep up with LSU’s defense.
“They’ve probably intimidated teams, but that’s not a question with us,” Jones said in a media session. “[We’re not] intimidated by anybody.”
Jones also made headlines in the past week for tweeting that the Georgia defense is just as good if not better than LSU.
Georgia ranks in the top 10 in both rushing defense (94.75 yards-per-game) and total defense (271.08 yards-per-game).
Many people may have expected sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu to engage in a war of words with Jones, but the Honey Badger said he’s resisted the urge.
“He may have a point,” Mathieu said. “I know those guys are going to go out there and play hard, and [Jones] is definitely going to go out and play a little harder.”
Walter Camp finalist Mathieu leads the Tigers with 66 tackles, six forced fumbles and four recoveries.
Mathieu is also part of a backfield that has scored as many touchdowns as passing touchdowns allowed. Mathieu has scored on two fumbles and a punt return, senior cornerback Ron Brooks scored on two interceptions, and junior cornerback Morris Claiborne returned a kickoff.
 
—-
Contact Michael Gegenheimer at [email protected]