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LSU Tigers: The top 5 moments that defined the 2022 football season

By John Fye

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 03: Malik Nabers #8 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after scoring a 34 yard touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 03: Malik Nabers #8 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after scoring a 34 yard touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Jahmyr Gibbs #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Greg Brooks Jr. #3 and Jay Ward #5 of the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Jahmyr Gibbs #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Greg Brooks Jr. #3 and Jay Ward #5 of the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. LSU Tigers walk-off Alabama on the final play

There is no more significant wake-up call to college football than beating Nick Saban. Brian Kelly did that in his first shot as LSU Tigers head coach.

Jayden Daniels ran for a 25-yard touchdown as time expired in the 4th quarter. With LSU trailing 32-31, Kelly pushed all his chips into the middle of the table. The Tigers lined up for a 2-point try, and the game was won when Daniels hit Mason Taylor on a ‘quick-out’ route. LSU fans stormed the field in a scene one can only describe as purple and gold chaos.

Marking a win over Alabama as a ‘defining moment’ requires no explanation. But how the Tigers won does. The Crimson Tide’s passing offense was out-of-sync most of the game, primarily because of the LSU defensive pressure. Offensively, Daniels was sacked six times but remained composed and made huge plays in multiple clutch moments. As for Kelly, he finally got the better of Nick Saban, effectively taking the Crimson Tide’s place in the SEC Championship game.

One cannot underestimate Kelly’s decision to go for the win instead of taking his chances in overtime. The call required incredible fortitude and signaled to fans that their new head coach was not settling for playing with Alabama. Kelly’s goal is to beat Alabama by going for their jugular. The loss stung the Tide and gave LSU fans 12 months of bragging rights.

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