LSU vs. Georgia live score, updates, highlights from 2022 SEC championship game

Georgia is back in the SEC Championship Game for the second consecutive year, but it won't be a rematch of last year's edition.

Instead of Alabama coming out of the SEC West, as most expected, LSU is making its first appearance since its national championship season in 2019.

The Tigers outperformed expectations in Brian Kelly's first season, but they don't come into this game with much momentum after an ugly loss to Texas A&M, which eliminated them from College Football Playoff contention. Georgia, with a powerful defense and an offense brimming with options, is favored by more than two touchdowns.

MORE: Watch LSU vs. Georgia live with fuboTV (free trial)

LSU will have its hands full with the Bulldogs' dynamic running game just a week after allowing Aggies running back Devon Achane to rush for more than 200 yards.

Tigers QB Jayden Daniels, whose rushing ability has transformed LSU's offense this season, will face a major challenge against one of the top run defenses in the nation.

Does LSU have what it takes to pull off the upset and knock the defending champs out of the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff?

MORE: Everything to know about College Football Playoff selection show

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from LSU vs. Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Follow along for all the key moments.

5:13 p.m. — LSU's defense rises up and forces a field goal, against all odds, and the kick hits the uprights. It's still a two-possession game.

5:12 p.m. — Georgia is ripping off big gains now. A 17-yard pass to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is followed up by a 24-yard run for Kendall Milton. The Bulldogs are threatening to turn this into a rout.

5:10 p.m. — The Bulldogs are committing more to the run game now, running it on the first three plays of their latest drive. First down, Georgia.

5:07 p.m. — Georgia forces a quick three-and-out and will get the ball back. This has a chance to get out of hand quickly with nearly 14 minutes still left in the second quarter.

5:01 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — That was quick! Bennett hits Ladd McConkey for a 22-yard score. It's been weird, but Georgia is rolling.

4:59 p.m. INTERCEPTION — What was that?! Smael Mondon Jr. intercepts the ball after it deflects off of an LSU's receiver's helmet while he's flat on the ground. Georgia football.

4:55 p.m. — LSU's offense has been terrific early on and needs another statement drive here. There's virtually no room for error after, well, the error.

4:52 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — That drive was all Brock Bowers. He catches a short pass from Bennett for the score after a penalty set up 1st & Goal.

4:49 p.m. — Bowers again! He takes it down to the 18-yard line. What a weapon for this Bulldogs offense.

4:48 p.m. — Stetson Bennett hits Brock Bowers to put Georgia near midfield. The offenses aren't wasting time.

4:45 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — How's that for an answer? Kayshon Boutte catches the ball ahead of Georgia's 40-yard line and runs it in beautifully for the touchdown. LSU's offense looks better than expected so far.

4:43 p.m. — Can LSU recover from such a demoralizing sequence of events? It felt like points were absolutely needed there with the state of Daniels' ankle. The Tigers open their next drive with a first down.

4:40 p.m. — Georgia's special teams outsmarted everyone. No other way to put it. Championship-caliber football.

4:36 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Unreal! Georgia blocks LSU's field goal attempt and makes little effort to recover the ball. The Tigers didn't realize it was a live ball. That's a 95-yard touchdown for the Bulldogs.

4:35 p.m. — That fizzled out quickly. Georgia gets to Daniels on 3rd & Goal for a big-time sack. LSU will have to settle for a field goal in a spot where a touchdown looked attainable.

4:34 p.m. — LSU is down near the 5-yard line after another nice throw by Daniels.

4:33 p.m. — Daniels looks like he aggravated his ankle injury... That will be worth monitoring, obviously. LSU still threatening for points here.

4:31 p.m. — Daniels is cooking early on. He throws a laser to Kyren Lacy for a 16-yard gain, and LSU is in field goal range.

4:30 p.m. — Big play by Malik Nabers, who takes a short pass 18 yards and into Georgia territory.

4:28 p.m. — Daniels has thrown the ball a pretty good amount early on, and it's working fairly well. Back-to-back first downs for LSU.

4:21 p.m. — Wow, Georgia's special teams comes in and rocks LSU's returner on the punt. Tigers are lucky he held onto the ball.

4:20 p.m. — There's the answer. Georgia goes three-and-out after Stetson Bennett sails a ball over a well-covered Kenny McIntosh. LSU will quickly get another chance.

4:16 p.m. — The Bulldogs force a pair of incompletions and will get their first crack on offense. Georgia has been prone to some slow offensive starts this year, so it'll be interesting to see how efficient this group is out of the gate.

4:13 p.m. — Daniels passes for a first down to get the Tigers' offense off to a solid start.

4:12 p.m. — LSU opens with the ball, so we'll get an early look at Daniels against a tremendous Georgia run defense.

4:08 p.m. — Brian Kelly tells CBS that Jayden Daniels is ready to play and will play well.

4:05 p.m. — How about that timing? Kansas State edges out TCU in the Big 12 title game, and all eyes are now on the SEC.

4:01 p.m. — We're getting close to kickoff, though the fanfare will delay it a bit past 4 p.m.

3:54 p.m. — Will we get the same madness here as the Big 12 is getting from Kansas State and TCU? The odds don't see it that way, but championship weekend is prone to chaos.

3:37 p.m. — Great news for LSU ahead of the game, as Jayden Daniels is reportedly near full health after a couple of tough weeks. The Tigers will need his absolute best to hang with Georgia.