LSU Football: Are the Tigers the Reincarnation of the 2002 OSU Buckeyes?

Six games into the 2010 college football season, the LSU Tigers (6-0, 4-0) find themselves atop of the SEC standings, with victories over four top-25 ranked opponents.  

Following another close, and remarkable, heart-stopping victory over the 14th-ranked Florida Gators, the Tigers are beginning to appear as though they belong in the discussion as national champion contenders.

Those who want to discredit the Tigers claim need look no further than the 2002 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

The 2002 Buckeyes and the 2010 LSU Tigers are almost carbon copies of each other. Case in point, the 2002 Buckeyes undefeated season was memorable for characteristics that the 2010 LSU Tigers share.

First, the 2002 Buckeyes featured a strong running game led by freshman running back Maurice Clarrett. During the 2002 season, Clarrett rushed for 1,237 yards at 5.6 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns.  

The 2010 Tigers are similar in the fact that they feature a strong running game led by junior RB Stevan Ridley. Ridley, in fact, is on pace to rush for 1,280 yards at a 5.1 average and eight touchdowns.

Secondly, the 2002 Buckeyes brought a feared defense, one which hosted the likes of future NFL stars LB A.J. Hawk, LB Bobby Carpenter, DE Will Smith, CB Chris Gamble, and FS Will Allen.  

The 2010 Tigers currently hold the SEC's top-ranked defense featuring the likes of future NFL players in LB Kelvin Sheppard, DT Drake Nevis, CB Patrick Peterson, and LB Ryan Baker.

The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes also were plagued throughout the season with mediocre quarterback production from QB Craig Krenzel. Krenzel completed 148 of his 249 pass attempts, good for 2,110 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.  

The 2010 Tigers are featuring a two-QB system, but Saturday against the Gators saw QB Jarrett Lee probably cement his place as the full-time starter with his 9-of-11, two touchdown performance.  

Finally, the 2002 Buckeyes were known as a team whose motto should have been "better lucky than good," as the Buckeyes seemingly were in tight victories weekly. In fact, the Buckeyes were in six games that were decided by seven points or less.  They were:

OSU 23-Cincinnati 19

OSU 19-Wisconsin 14

OSU 13-Penn Sate 7

OSU 10-Purdue 6

OSU 23-Illinois 16 (OT)

OSU 14-Michigan 9

As for the 2010 Tigers, each week people speak of the luck finally ending. The Tigers have become underdogs since the snafu known as the Tennessee game, but nonetheless, the Tigers entered Gainesville only to emerge with a dramatic 33-29 victory.  

While some will call the Tigers lucky, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Just ask the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes.