2022 SEC Championship Game
Conference Championship
LSU Tigers Georgia Bulldogs
(9–3) (12–0)
30 50
Head coach: 
Brian Kelly		 Head coach: 
Kirby Smart
APCoachesCFP
111314
APCoachesCFP
111
1234 Total
LSU 73137 30
Georgia 142178 50
DateDecember 3, 2022
Season2022
StadiumMercedes-Benz Stadium
LocationAtlanta, Georgia
MVPStetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
FavoriteGeorgia by 17.5
RefereeDavid Smith [1]
Attendance74,810
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS, Westwood One, SEC Radio
AnnouncersBrad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Jenny Dell (sideline) (CBS)
Mike Watts, Derek Rackley and Olivia Dekker (Westwood One)
Dave Neal, David Archer and Stephen Hartzell (SEC Radio)
SEC Championship Game
 < 2021  2023 > 
2022 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 1 Georgia xy$#^   8 – 0     15 – 0  
No. 6 Tennessee   6 – 2     11 – 2  
No. 23 South Carolina   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Kentucky   3 – 5     7 – 6  
Florida   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Missouri   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Vanderbilt   2 – 6     5 – 7  
West Division
No. 16 LSU xy   6 – 2     10 – 4  
No. 5 Alabama x   6 – 2     11 – 2  
No. 20 Mississippi State   4 – 4     9 – 4  
Ole Miss   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Arkansas   3 – 5     7 – 6  
Auburn   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Texas A&M   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Championship: Georgia 50, LSU 30
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2022 SEC Championship Game was a college football game played on December 3, 2022, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It was the 31st edition of the SEC Championship Game and determined the champion of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the 2022 season. The game began at 4:00 p.m. EST on CBS. The contest featured the LSU Tigers, the West Division champions and the Georgia Bulldogs of the East Division.[2]

Teams

LSU Tigers

Main article: 2022 LSU Tigers football team

The Tigers clinched a spot in the game following Alabama's defeat of Ole Miss on November 12. Earlier in the season, LSU had defeated both Alabama and Ole Miss. LSU's last appearance, and victory, in the game was in 2019.[3]

Georgia Bulldogs

Main article: 2022 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Georgia began the season as the No. 3 ranked team in both the AP and Coaches Polls. In the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game, Georgia defeated No. 11 Oregon 49–3. The following week, after jumping to No. 2 in both polls, Georgia defeated No. 25-FCS-ranked Samford 33–0. Georgia would jump to No. 1 in the AP Poll before defeating South Carolina 48–7 on the road. Georgia would return to Athens as the No. 1 team in both polls. Georgia would go on to defeat Kent State 39–22. The following week at Missouri, Georgia would trail 12–22 in the fourth quarter. After 14 unanswered points, Georgia would win the game 26–22. Georgia would return home for a two game home stretch including victories over rivals Auburn and Vanderbilt before a bye week. Following the bye week, Georgia would defeat Florida 42–20. During the game, Nolan Smith would tear a pectoral muscle, prematurely ending his season. Georgia would remain No. 1 in the AP and Coaches Polls, but was ranked No. 3 in the inaugural College Football Playoff rankings. In the game of the century, Georgia defeated Tennessee 27–13.[4] The following week, Georgia clinched a spot in the SEC Championship with a 45–19 victory over Mississippi State.[5]

Game summary

2022 SEC Championship Game
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 14 Tigers 7 3 13730
No. 1 Bulldogs 14 21 7850

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

Game information
First quarter
  • (3:33) UGA – Damian Ramos 32 yd FG BLOCKED by Nazir Stackhouse, Christopher Smith return for 95 yds for a TD (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 7–0)
  • (2:21) LSU – Kayshon Boutte 53 yd pass from Jayden Daniels (Damian Ramos Kick) (Tied 7–7)
  • (0:03) UGA – Brock Bowers 4 yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 14–7)
Second quarter
  • (14:43) UGA – Ladd McConkey 22 yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 21–7)
  • (2:48) UGA – Darnell Washington 14 yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 28–7)
  • (0:32) UGA – Dillon Bell 3 yd pass from Stetson Bennett (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 35–7)
  • (0:01) LSU – Damian Ramos 42 yd Field Goal (Georgia 35–10)
Third quarter
  • (10:33) LSU – Malik Nabers 34 yd pass from Garrett Nussmeier (Damian Ramos Kick) (Georgia 35–17)
  • (3:32) UGA – Kenny McIntosh 2 yd Run (Jack Podlesny Kick) (Georgia 42–17)
  • (1:46) LSU – Noah Cain 1 yd Run (2-PT Pass Conversion Failed) (Georgia 42–23)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:13) UGA – Kenny McIntosh 8 yd Run (Adonai Mitchell pass to Darnell Washington for 2-PT Conversion) (Georgia 50–23)
  • (7:12) LSU – Jaray Jenkins 33 yd pass from Garrett Nussmeier (Damian Ramos Kick) (Georgia 50–30)

Statistics

References

  1. ^ "Officiating crews for the 2022 college football conference championship games | Football Zebras". December 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "2022 SEC Championship Game: Date, time, history". NCAA.com. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "LSU clinches SEC West title with victory vs. Arkansas, Mississippi loss to Alabama". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "RECAP: Georgia 27, Tennessee 13". DawgNation. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Austin, Brooks. "FINAL Score: Georgia Beats Mississippi State 45 to 19 in Starkville". Sports Illustrated Georgia Bulldogs News, Analysis and More. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
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