LSU football 2022 season prediction, preview, awards, 2022 bowl game

Brian Kelly is the new man in charge for the LSU Tigers football program. But will he lead the team to immediate success in 2022?

Following their National Championship win in the 2019 season, the LSU Tigers were unable to replicate that success. Most of that can be contributed to the majority of their starters heading to the NFL. Less than two years after leading the historic team to a CFP National title, Ed Orgeron and the program agreed to part ways.

LSU went for a huge name to replace Orgeron, and it was none other than Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. Considering his success leading the Fighting Irish football program, there is a ton of pressure to bring the Tigers to their former glory. But can he do so in the tough SEC?

Without further ado, the No. 28 team on FanSided’s preseason Top 50 rankings — the LSU Tigers.

LSU football 2021 season in review

Last season, the Tigers faced a total of seven Top 25 ranked teams, losing five of them. They were able to take Alabama to the limit, but ultimately fell 20-14. LSU even forced overtime against Arkansas, but lost 16-13.

The Tigers were able to pick up big wins against Florida and Texas A&M. They defeated the rival Gators 49-42 and beat the Aggies, the very team that gave the Crimson Tide their lone loss of the regular season, 27-24. It was quite the way the end of the regular season in Orgeron’s final game as head coach.

Finishing the regular-season 6-6, they were added to the Texas Bowl. Yet, they lost 42-20 with Brad Davis serving as interim head coach following the departure of Orgeron.

Previewing LSU Tigers offense for 2022 season

Returning Starters: QB Myles Brennan, RB John Emery Jr., WR Kayshon Boutte, WR Malik Nabers, WR Jack Bech, OL Charles Turner, OL Cameron Wire, TE Jack Mashburn
Newcomers: OL Will Campbell (Freshman), OL Tre’Mond Shorts (East Tennessee State), OL Miles Frazier (Florida International), QB Jayden Daniels (Arizona State)
Impact Player: Kayshon Boutte

The offense will see Myles Brennan return at quarterback. He spent over a month in the transfer portal following the arrival of Kelly, and decided to return to Baton Rouge one more time. Yet, there is some competition in the form of transfer Jayden Daniels and four-star recruit Garrett Nussmeier.

Whoever the quarterback is, they will have some help in the passing game, as all four of the leading receivers on LSU from 2021 are returning this season.

LSU’s offensive line is the area in which there is the most changeover. They have two transfers in Tre’Mond Shorts and Miles Frazier, but also one freshman recruit who is expected to make an immediate impact in Will Campbell, one of the team’s top recruits in the 2022 class.

Update: Myles Brennan left the program on Aug. 15.

Previewing LSU Tigers defense for 2022 season

Returning Starters: DE Ali Gaye, DT Jacquelin Roy, DT Maason Smith, LB BJ Ojulari, LB Mike Jones Jr., LB Greg Penn III, S Jay Ward
Newcomers: CB Mekhi Garner (Louisiana Lafayette), S Joe Foucha (Arkansas), CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (Oklahoma State), NB Greg Brooks Jr. (Arkansas)
Impact Player: BJ Ojulari

The Tigers will have their defensive front returning. B.J. Ojulari, who recorded the most sacks in 2021 out of all the returning players. In fact, he will wear the No. 18 for this upcoming season, which is given to a player for their on and off-field success. Also returning are Maason Smith and Ali Gaye.

LSU’s secondary will look rather different, as they have four transfers added to the roster. Safety Joe Foucha and nickelback Greg Brooks Jr. arrived from the Arkansas football program. Mekhi Garner switches over from Louisiana Lafayette to LSU. Finally, Jarrick Bernard-Converse is heading over from the Big 12 to the SEC.

LSU football player awards watch for 2022 season

Kayshon Boutte, Biletnikoff/Maxwell awards

Boutte is expected to be the star of the offense. Last season, he recorded 38 catches for 503 yards and nine touchdowns. He was placed on the preseason watch lists for the Biletnikoff award for best wide receiver and the Maxwell award for most outstanding player in college.

BJ Ojulari, Nagurski trophy

Ojulari is wearing the coveted No. 18 for the upcoming season. In his two years with the school, he recorded 70 combined tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Now, he is on the watch list for the best defensive player in college entering the 2021 campaign.

Micah Baskerville, Butkus award

Last year, Micah Baskerville recorded the second-most total tackles on the team with 83. Additionally, he recorded three defended passes, two sacks, and one interception. Entering his senior season, Baskerville is in the running for linebacker of the year.

LSU football biggest game on 2022 schedule

Seriously, when isn’t the annual game against the Alabama Crimson Tide the biggest game of LSU’s season. As mentioned earlier, the Tigers took the Crimson Tide to the limit, but lost 20-14. The last time that LSU won was back in 2019, their historic undefeated season. Defeating Alabama could be quite the statement for Kelly in his first season as head coach.

LSU football best-case scenario

The Tigers are slated to play Alabama, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Auburn this season. The Crimson Tide and the Aggies could spell trouble for the Tigers. But, if LSU can defeat four of MSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee Arkansas, and Auburn, that could be the best-case scenario for Kelly and the Tigers.

LSU football worst-case scenario

Inconsistency at quarterback could doom LSU, especially since they have one of the top receivers in football in Boutte.

Besides that, they need to win against their division rivals if they want to sniff the SEC Championship Game. Losing more than two games against the aforementioned five teams not named Alabama will be the worst-case scenario for Kelly, who is trying to turn the program into a National Championship contender entering next season.

LSU’s 2022 Season Prediction

Brian Kelly is a proven winning head coach, but he is entering one of the toughest divisions in all of college football. Even so, he has the talent to put up a winning record this season. The thing is, they will not topple Alabama and Texas A&M, who are going to be two of the top teams in the entire nation.

It will be interesting to see who will get the starting quarterback job, and if they can maintain it for the entirety of the season. That could be a huge question mark for the 2022 season and could prevent them from building up consistency.

The Tigers will be bowl game eligible this season, and it will be thanks to the team putting up eight wins in the season.

2022 record: 8-4

LSU’s Bowl Game Prediction

Athlon Sports projects LSU to play in the Las Vegas Bowl against the Washington Huskies.

Coming tomorrow: No. 27 Houston Cougars

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