The calendar is turning to June and the college football season is right around the corner. The Tigers will be in the College Football Playoff discussion this season and will be vying for another SEC Western division crown. High expectations are already starting to mount for this year’s LSU team with the star plays that are returning and the incoming recruits that will be stepping on campus. The Tigers finished the 2022 season with a 10-4 record and flexed their muscles to end the season by taking down Purdue, 63-7, in the Citrus Bowl.
LSU will begin its season in Orlando against Florida State, and from there, its SEC gauntlet will begin. Tigers already learned that they will be taking on the Seminoles on September 3rd at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. On Wednesday, game times were announced for LSU’s home opener against Grambling and their SEC opener against Mississippi State.
Under The Lights For The Home Opener Against Grambling:
LSU S Greg Brooks Jr. (3) – Jonathan Mailhes/Crescent City Sports
It was announced on Wednesday that LSU would be taking on Grambling under the lights in Tiger Stadium at 6:30 p.m. in week two of the college football season. The matchup between LSU and Grambling will be televised on ESPN + and the SECN+ networks. The week two matchup will mark the first time that the two schools have met on the gridiron. Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs spoke on the opportunity getting to face off against LSU for the first time in the program’s history:
“We’re always going to compete. We’re going to take a shot at it. It’s another game for them, but for us, this is an opportunity to get better and grow.”
The last time the Tigers took on a SWAC participant came during the 2022 season in LSU’s home opener against Southern. LSU dominated the Jaguars, 65-17, to move to 1-1 on the season. The home opener is always an exciting time for Tiger fans, but it will be greater this year as two historic Louisiana programs will face off against each other during the 2023 season. Grambling finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 3-8 and 2-6 in the conference. Their lone wins came against Northwestern State, Alcorn State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Early Morning Kickoff For SEC Opener Against Mississippi State:
LSU RB Armoni Goodwin (22) – Scott Clause/USA Today Sports
LSU didn’t get so lucky with the second game time announcement on Wednesday as they will take on Mississippi State at 11 a.m. to open conference play for the 2023 season. The game will be televised on ESPN, and it will mark the 117th meeting between the two SEC West foes. LSU defeated the Bulldogs, 31-16, in Baton Rouge last season en route to a wild comeback victory in Tiger Stadium.
LSU was down 13-0 in the second quarter before storming back in the second half to pick up their first SEC win of the 2022 season. The turning point of last year’s game between the two teams was when the Tigers recovered a muffed punt by Mississippi State. The turnover would lead LSU to score 21 consecutive points on the Bulldogs.
Armoni Goodwin’s 47-yard touchdown run would seal the win for LSU as they picked up a much-needed win to start SEC play. Mississippi State will be looking for revenge this year as the series will now shift to Starkville. The last time the two teams met at Davis Wade Stadium was during the 2021 season when the Tigers took down the Bulldogs 28-25. LSU currently holds a two-game winning streak and a 77-36-3 advantage in the series.
