Remembering the Baton Rouge Blowout of 2022
Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics
By Tucker Harlin
How is it that two of the greatest victories in the Josh Heupel era occurred while I was on fall break at UT? Tennessee blasted Mizzou 62-24 on fall break during my sophomore year, and it won 40-13 at LSU on the fall break of my junior year of college.
Let me take you through the weeks building up to the Vols’ first win in Death Valley since 2005.
Tennessee was 4-0 going into Baton Rouge. The Vols had survived a respectable test at Pittsburgh in overtime in the second week and had slipped past a volatile Florida squad ahead of their bye week.
Brian Kelly’s first season in Baton Rouge began with a stinker of a loss to Florida State in New Orleans thanks to a botched extra point among other mistakes. Despite early deficits to both Mississippi State and Auburn, the Tigers mounted second half surges to start SEC play 2-0.
The Vols entered Tiger Stadium as slight favorites, but there was an element to this game that immediately gave the Vols an edge well before Saturday.
Two weeks prior it was announced the Vols and Tigers were kicking off at 11 a.m. CT.
Do you know how rare it is for LSU to play SEC teams that early in the day? We’re talking at most five 11 a.m. kicks in the last 10 seasons rare.
As if a hungover LSU crowd and an army of Tennessee fans wasn’t a win before the game started, the opening kickoff sequence all but sealed any shot of an LSU win.
Paxton Brooks’ kick was short and angled toward the Tennessee sideline, but returner Jack Bech tried to field it. Bech lost the ball and Will Brooks recovered deep in Tigers territory to start the game. Jabari Small walked into the end zone to give the Vols an unexpected early lead.
The defense got off the field on each of the next two possessions, and the offense scored a pair of field goals to stretch the lead to 13.
LSU was facing a 4th and 1 from its 46 as the second quarter began. The Vols defensive front stuffed running back Josh Williams, putting the offense in plus territory.
Hendon Hooker wasted no time finding the end zone, connecting with Jalin Hyatt on one of the most beautiful touchdown passes you’ll ever see.
LSU found the end zone once before the half ended, but it still trailed 23-7 at half and had to kick to the Vols to start the second half.
The Vols scored on a 76-yard drive as Hooker and Hyatt connected again for a touchdown in the red zone, effectively quelling all momentum the Tigers could muster.
The road win set up a heavyweight bout for the third Saturday of October in Neyland Stadium, one Vols fans won’t soon forget.
