Jan. 7, 2008, Superdome
LSU 38, Ohio State 24NEW ORLEANS -- Les Miles unleashed an ear-piercing whoop, then leaned back and exhaled as if he had been holding his breath all night.
The second-ranked Tigers danced, dodged and darted their way into the end zone Monday night for a 38-24 victory, turning the title game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State.
They made it look easy with Matt Flynn throwing four touchdown passes.
In a season of surprises, this was hardly an upset: Ohio State once again fell apart in college football's biggest game. A year after the Buckeyes were routed by Florida 41-14, they barely did better.
But this was unprecedented. Playing at their home-away-from-home in the Big Easy, the Tigers (12-2) became the first two-loss team to compete for the title.
Still, LSU was a runaway No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll. The Tigers received 60 of 65 first-place votes from a national media panel.
Shouts of "SEC! SEC!" bounced around the Superdome as the Tigers won their second BCS crown in five seasons. They are the first school to win a second title since BCS rankings began with the 1998 season.
LSU rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, taking a 24-10 halftime lead that held up.
Jacob Hester bulled for a short touchdown, Early Doucet wiggled loose for a touchdown and Dorsey led a unit that outplayed the top-ranked defense in the nation.
Ohio State (11-2) had little to celebrate after Chris "Beanie" Wells broke loose for a 65-yard TD run on the fourth play of the game.
Only five minutes into the game, Ohio State and its all-brass band was blowing away the Tigers. LSU looked dazed and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini had few answers.
LSU, whose two losses both came in triple overtime, became just the fourth favorite to win in 10 BCS championship games. The Tigers added to the crown they won in 2003 -- their other national championship came in 1958.
Better on offense and defense, the Tigers got two big plays on special teams -- Ricky Jean-Francois blocked a field goal, and LSU took advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty.
Flynn hit Doucet with a 4-yard toss with 9:04 left for a 31-10 lead and the celebration was on in earnest. The Buckeyes made the score more respectable on Todd Boeckman's 5-yard TD pass on fourth down to Brian Robiskie, only to have Flynn come back and throw his second TD pass to Richard Dickson.
Flynn finished 19-for-27 for 174 yards and was picked the game's most outstanding offensive player.
As the clock ticked down, Boeckman threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Brian Hartline.
Ohio State was trying to win its second BCS title in six years, and add to the one that Tressel captured by upsetting Miami 31-24 in double overtime for the 2002 championship.
Tied at 10, the Buckeyes counted on Wells. He delivered one of the season's best stiff-arms on a 29-yard romp, and Ohio State seemed poised to retake the lead.
Instead, Jean-Francois crashed through the middle, swung his big right arm and blocked Pretorius' 38-yard field goal try.
As Ohio State trudged off the field and LSU ran on, it was all over. It only took a while to confirm it.
|
Score by Quarters |
|
LSU |
3 |
21 |
7 |
7 |
38 |
|
Ohio State |
10 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
24 |
|
|
LSU |
Ohio State |
|
First Downs |
25 |
17 |
|
Rushing Yards |
152 |
145 |
|
Passes Attempted |
27 |
26 |
|
Passes Completed |
19 |
15 |
|
Had Intercepted |
1 |
2 |
|
Passing Yards |
174 |
208 |
|
Punting/Avg |
3/56.7 |
3/50.0 |
|
Fumbles/Lost |
2/0 |
3/1 |
|
Penalties/Yards |
4/36 |
7/83 |
Scoring Summary
OSU: Wells 64 yd run (Pretorius kick); OSU: Pretorius 25 yd field goal; LSU: David 32 yd field goal; LSU: Dickson 13 yd pass from Flynn (David kick); LSU: LaFell 10 yd pass from Flynn (David kick); LSU: Hester 1 yd run (David kick); LSU: Doucet 4 yd pass from Flynn (David kick); OSU: Robiskie 5 yd pass from Boeckman (Pretorius kick); LSU: Dickson 5 yd pass from Flynn (David kick); OSU: Hartline 15 yd pass from Boeckman (Pretorius kick)
MOPs: Matt Flynn, Ricky Jean-Francois (LSU)