The 10 Most Suprising Outcomes in LSU Football Post 2000

Honorable Mentions

2003 Ole Miss

Eli was the QB for a very good Ole Miss squad and, with the exception of the UGA game played earlier this same season, LSU was playing its toughest opponent yet.

The game wouldn't be decided until Lionel Turner came up the middle with a fourth down sack in the fourth quarter. This play is remembered mostly because of the stumble that preceded the sack.

Final LSU 17 - Ole Miss 14

2005 Auburn

218 Yards rushing by Kenny Irons were rendered useless and irrelevant, as John Vaughn missed five FGs, with one in OT that bounced off the right field goal post.

LSU 20 - Auburn 17

2005 Alabama

Bama lead at halftime at home 10-0, as LSU came back with 10 of their own in the third to nod the game up.

With both offenses being shutdown, this game went into overtime, where the LSU defense forced a field goal. JaMarcus Russell bootlegged right and hit Dwayne Bowe in the endzone for the game winner.

2006 Tennesssee

LSU was down 17-7 on the road and had never won at Knoxville.

LSU had to play four road games this year against four top ten teams. LSU had stumbled in their first two attempts at Auburn and Florida. It looked like this LSU team would fail to win every big game they played, regardless of how much talent was stockpiled on the roster.

However, LSU fought back and eventually got the win in the final minutes, as Early Doucet picked off a throw that was meant for another LSU receiver, although no one in Tiger nation seemed to mind his selfishness on this play.

LSU 28 - Tennessee 24

2006 Arkansas

Simply put this was a wild game. The Razorbacks gained over 300 yards rushing as a team in this game.

This was something that would make the 2003 Tigers disgusted and Will Muschamp may have a popped a nerve.

Bo Pelini was one of the best coordinators in the country, yet at the end of every season, he seemed to forget how to stop rushing attacks. LSU seemed to lose momentum after an 80 yard run by Darren McFadden pulling their team within five points.

On the kickoff, however, Trindon Holliday made an even bigger play, taking it to the house negating the huge Mcfadden play. LSU would then keep the lead util the end.

LSU 31 - Ark 26

2007 Virginia Tech

Considered by most to be the game that would solidify the winner as a National Title Favorite, this game was also billed as the biggest non-conference matchup of the year.

No. 2 LSU went up against No. 7 Va Tech.

The Tigers, much to the surprise of everyone based on a sloppy Mississippi St. win, were more ready than anyone anticipated. What was supposed to be a great contest showcasing elite defensive units turned into a slaughter.

LSU 48 - VA Tech 7

2007 Ohio State

While its importance should make it worthy of being on this list, the outcome was never really in doubt. LSU entered the game, under most accounts, the favorite to win, even though they had two losses and Ohio St. Only had one.

Additionally, Florida had exposed the program a year earlier on the same stage.

So in many ways, the only obstacle was making sure LSU could match the effort of Florida in their crushing of Ohio St.

The game's only shocking development was LSU's slow start, falling behind 10-0 in the first, however, after 31 unanswered points, the game had already been decided.

LSU 38 - OSU 24

It's Not You It's Me

This game gave me a bad vibe the second I heard LSU would be playing on a drenched field.

The rain had been going for what seemed like a week straight, and the pumps wouldn't be able to get all the water out in time.

Meaning, in a season opener defending the National Title, LSU, who was going to be sloppy already, was about to be on a messy field as well.

Further demonstrated in Orlando this past year, when you take away the speed of LSU, they are just not the same team.

The defense could not attack the way it had always done, for fear of slipping, so the defense spent the whole game reacting and not attacking.

Had it not been for Serna missing three PATs—one in overtime—LSU would have lost its opener.

LSU 22 - OSU 21

The Trojan Horse Is Flammable

In what was easily the most disappointing season in the decade, it almost got worse.

In their homecoming game, LSU was trailing Troy 31-3 late in the third, when a Jefferson scramble set LSU on fire.

LSU would score 30 points alone in the fourth quarter, staging one of the greatest comebacks in school history.

The only problem was that most of the fans in attendance never got to see the comeback, for after witnessing the Trojan surge, most people in attendance simply called it a night.

LSU 40 - USC 31

Downing "The U"

In what appeared to be the best Non-BCS matchup of the bowl season, two top 10 teams were going to square off on a non-New Year's Day bowl.

Many doubted LSU and their ability to play Miami, due to the fact that their starting Quarterback was going to miss the game with a separated shoulder.

Insert backup QB Matt Flynn in what was one of the most lopsided bowl season wins. LSU crushed Miami and the game was never in doubt.

Matt Flynn led LSU brilliantly and the final 40-3 further proved that.

After the game Miami, embarrassed by the game, followed LSU into the locker room looking for payback, and from every report I read afterward, Miami lost again.

Saving the Dream

In a game that truly had several momentum shifts that completely altered the game, the final one is the play that is remembered most.

After LSU took the lead early in the game, up 17-3, Alabama came roaring back scoring 24 unanswered.

LSU would then tie the game up at 34 all after a truly epic battle.

With the chance to win the game, John Parker Wilson began leading Bama until Chad "I wanna be like Laron" Jones came up with the sack that forced a fumble, and by that time it was just routine.

LSU would give it to Jacob Hester for the layup and the game was over.

LSU 41 - Bama 34

Fourth and Doesnt Matter

2005 was a tough year for the state, having already been through Katrina and everything that was brought with it.

LSU was breaking in a new coach, and with another hurricane en route, LSU moved its home game to to Arizona.

LSU was down 17-7 in the fourth, with the Sundevils about to kick another field goal, when LSU blocked the kick and returned it to the house.

The following drive, with momentum shifted, Arizona State was about to punt it back to LSU after being stopped again. However, they were never afforded the opportunity, as there was another block and another LSU touchdown off the return.

LSU was at the Arizona St. 39, down 28-31 looking at a fourth and 10, when JaMarcus Russell scrambled right, saw something, and started working his way back left. He then hit Early Doucet in the endzone, with a little over a minute left in the game, for the go ahead touchdown.

Fourth and Gonna Get It

The 5-5 game.

LSU's number was had against the Florida Gators all night. Everytime the Tigers would score, the Gators would answer back, usually reclaiming their 10 point lead.

They took that with them into the fourth. LSU came back in dramatic fashion and won every fourth down they attempted, landing Jacob Hester in the mythical realm of Billy Cannon and his Halloween run.

Hester's unwillingness to go down will be remembered forever by LSU.

Matt Who?

The SEC Championship Game saw LSU facing the No.2 Tennessee Volunteers, and they and lost their starting QB Rohan Davey.

The game played between these two earlier in the year was not nearly as close as the score suggests, as 11 of LSU's points came in the final minutes of the game, after the game had already been decided.

Now trying to beat them without your star QB, the task seemed daunting and slightly unlikely, especially considering LSU was already behind in the game.

However, Mauck provided a spark and led two touchdown drives in the game, as well as being named the game's MVP.

LSU 31 - Tenn 20

No Fluke

LSU faced UGA twice in 2003, and the first game was an epic battle between the two best teams in the SEC at Baton Rouge.

The game was finally decided when Mauck found Green in the back of the endzone for the go ahead, after a long UGA screen pass for a touchdown.

LSU needed several breaks to win that game and many experts felt that, with LSU losing its home field advantage and Georgia being the better team, playing in a neutral site would expose the Tigers.

LSU was exposed alright. After relying heavily all season on a tailback by committee approach, giving Joseph Addai, Shyrone Carey, and Alley Broussard carries, another back emerged and provided LSU with a piece it had not had all year—one hell of a running game.

Justin Vincent, the biggest two hit wonder in school history, showed up when his team needed him most and helped lead LSU to a no contest decision against the Bulldogs.

LSU 34 - UGA 14

No. 1 D Plays in the SEC

While the picture may give glory to Justin Vincent and his offensive performance, this game was decided by the opposite side of the field.

OU, according to the stats, had the No.1 offense and No.1 defense.

On the field LSU said differently.

LSU held OU to just seven points, while scoring seven points of their own. Justin Vincent boomed and busted his running game to over the century mark leading the offense to a touchdown score as well.

LSU 17 - OU 14 in a game that wasn't as close as the score suggests.

Kentucky Bluegrass Miracle

If there was a list of games that LSU flat out deserved to lose, this had to be one of the top five.

LSU was sloppy and refused to take control of the game, even though, on more than one occasion, it was given to them.

Marcus Randall was the QB, filling in for the injured Matt Mauck, and did a poor job to say the least.

Regardless, after on several occasions, squandering double digit leads, Kentucky fought its way, not only back into the game, but with 11 seconds left in the game, they took the lead.

Their coach Guy Morris was given a precelebratory bath in Gatorade and the fans were ready to storm the field.

I was at home in almost disbelief having watched the Saints my whole life, I couldn't imagine LSU falling to Kentucky like this.

Randall threw up a prayer as time expired, intended for Michael Clayton, but several Kentucky players tipped the ball, and then it found Devery Henderson—not a Kentucky player—and the rest is history.