LSU downs Georgia in SEC title game

Atlanta, GA – Tyrann Mathieu slipped past one defender and zagging his way to the end zone.

Whether or not the ball crossed the goal line with Mathieu is a matter for a different day.

The undefeated LSU Tigers will play for the national title as SEC champions.

Mathieu scored on a 62-yard punt return to get No. 1 LSU out of a first-half funk, and the Tigers scored 42 unanswered points Saturday for a 42-10 win over No. 12 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

LSU had just 12 yards of offense in the first half, punting on all seven of its possessions, but Mathieu provided the spark it needed to climb out of a 10-0 deficit.

Later, Mathieu stayed on his feet for a 47-yard return to set up a touchdown that gave LSU a 21-10 lead.

The Tigers (13-0) captured their 11th SEC title and first since 2007, when they went on to win the national title. Kenny Hilliard scored three touchdowns in the victory.

The final standings don't come out until Sunday, but LSU will play in the BCS National Championship Game on January 9 in New Orleans.

Georgia (10-3) turned the ball over twice in the third quarter after taking a 10-7 lead into halftime. The SEC Western Division champions had their 10-game winning streak snapped, losing for the first time since dropping their first two games of the season.