| Year: | 1973 |
| Team: | LSU Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Coachrank: | 14 |
| Aprank: | 13 |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Charles McClendon |
| Hc Year: | 12th |
| Stadium: | Tiger Stadium |
| Bowl: | Orange Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 9–16 vs. Penn State |
The 1973 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Led by 12th-year head coach Charles McClendon, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 9–3, with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, and finished second in the SEC.[1]
After winning its first nine games, LSU accepted a bid to the Orange Bowl to face undefeated Penn State, which was on its way to its third undefeated season in six years.
The Orange Bowl's gamble backfired badly when the Tigers lost to Alabama on Thanksgiving night at home, then to Tulane in New Orleans, the Green Wave's first over its in-state rival since 1948. The Tigers' skid continued on New Year's night with a 16-9 loss to the Nittany Lions, foreshadowing a downturn which saw LSU post non-winning records in 1974 and 1975.
The game vs. Alabama would be the last non-Friday or Saturday game in Baton Rouge until the 2005 game vs. Tennessee was moved from Saturday to Monday due to the threat of Hurricane Rita.