re: Why didn't LSU play UGA from 1954-1977

For a long time the SEC didn't require any type of regular scheduling of the member teams - in 1968 LSU only played four conference games (actually played four games against SWC teams that year and were 4-0!). But that did catch up with the Tigers in 1969. Tenn won the SEC Championship with a 5-1 conference record (.833) beating out LSU's 4-1 conference record (.80) by a few percentage points.

LSU rarely played Georgia, Auburn or Vandy until the conference started requiring regular scheduling of all conference teams.