| Year: | 1972 |
| Team: | LSU Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Coachrank: | 10 |
| Aprank: | 11 |
| Record: | 9–2–1 |
| Conf Record: | 4–1–1 |
| Head Coach: | Charles McClendon |
| Hc Year: | 11th |
| Stadium: | Tiger Stadium |
| Bowl: | Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 17–24 vs. Tennessee |
The 1972 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Charles McClendon, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 9–2–1, with a mark of 4–1–1 in conference play, and finished third in the SEC.[1]
LSU and SEC rivals Georgia and Ole Miss became the last major universities to desegregate their varsity football squads this season.
The September 30 game against Wisconsin marked the first appearance of a Big Ten Conference team at Tiger Stadium. Only two other Big Ten teams have played at Baton Rouge since: Indiana in 1978 and Ohio State in 1987 (Maryland and Nebraska each played in Baton Rouge before joining the Big Ten, as did future Big Ten member USC). UCLA will become the third in 2024, less than two months after leaving the Pac-12.
LSU introduced a new helmet logo, a tiger head above the letters "LSU" inside a purple circle, a logo which was used through 1976. Also, player names were placed on jerseys for the first time.
See main article: 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings.
See also: 1972 Ole Miss Rebels football team and Magnolia Bowl.
Bert Jones set school career records for completions, touchdowns and total offense.[2]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL team |
| Bert Jones | Quarterback | 1 | 2 | Baltimore Colts |
| John Wood | Defensive tackle | 3 | 70 | Denver Broncos |