BJ Ojulari explains his message entering SEC Championship after disappointing end to regular season

No. 14 LSU was on a fast track to the College Football Playoff before Texas A&M beat the breaks of the Tigers in College Station last weekend. As a consolation prize, the Tigers can still salvage its season this Saturday with a second SEC Championship victory in four years.

Tigers edge rusher BJ Ojulari, a team captain for the 2022 season, shared the message he sent to his teammates following the loss in the hopes of motivating them ahead of all the distractions that come with an SEC title berth.

“Very disappointing loss this past Saturday. Hats off to Texas A&M on playing a great game, calling a great game, finishing their season out the right way,” Ojulari said. “But on the player’s standpoint, we all know what the task at hand is. We’re still going to have to go out to Atlanta and play our best game.

“We know our potential. We know how we can play and the level we can play at. This week is just focusing on us, having a great week of preparation, getting ready to play Georgia.”

Despite his message, his team seemed to already be on the same page regarding championship week. They’ll be looking to give No. 1 Georgia a run for its money and potentially steal a league title from under the reigning national champion’s nose. The SEC Championship has eluded the Bulldogs for five seasons, and want that streak to end this season.

“I think I don’t have to say too much. I think the guys have a good understanding of the position that we’re in, what we can still accomplish at the SEC championship,” Ojulari said. “As a leader, I still voice just keeping the guys up, keeping our mental right, keeping us focused so we can have a great week of preparation, and that can alter our path.”

Ojulari is an unquestioned leader for the Tigers, as he was awarded the No. 18 jersey during fall training camp, which is given each year to the player who best represents all outstanding traits of a model LSU football player.

His leadership, combined with his buy-in to head coach Brian Kelly’s process has clearly paid off for the Tigers this season. Kickoff between LSU and the Bulldogs for the SEC Championship is set for this Saturday at 4 p.m. ET live on CBS.