BCS Rankings: Power Ranking Les Miles' 10 Greatest Wins
There are few college football coaches in America right now who are as scrutinized and questioned as current Louisiana State coach Les Miles is.
It is hard to argue sometimes as the daring and risk-taking coach has had his moments of bewildering the masses of college football fans with his decisions.
But, since he first became coach of LSU in 2005, and even as coach of Oklahoma State in 2001, Miles has done things his way, and one thing he cannot be called in his tenures as head coach is a 'loser.'
This season LSU is again playing like its 2007 National Champion counterpart winning close games, and letting everything go on the field.
With continued victories in the brutal SEC and some luck atop the BCS ranks, Miles and the Tigers could find themselves playing for the crystal ball at season's end.
So what exactly have been the best victories in Les Miles' career?
Let's take a look and find out.
No. 10: 2005 Against Arizona State
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In what was Les Miles first game at the helm at LSU, the Tigers got an emotional victory over the Sun Devils in a game that wasn't even scheduled to be in Tempe.
With the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina still reaping devastating havoc on the state of Louisiana, and Baton Rouge being a refuge location, the game was moved to Arizona.
This was an exciting game in which the Tigers were down 17-7 late in the game and blocked two plays on special teams to take the lead. Arizona State would go on to answer, but a long drive by JaMarcus Russell which was capped off by a 39-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet would be the eventual winner for the Tigers in the desert.
It was a great way to start the roller coaster ride that has been the tenure at LSU for Les Miles.
No. 9: 2010 Against Florida
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In what was a game that could come to define and determine the fates of the two teams in it, the battle and victory of LSU over Florida this season was an impactful win to say the least.
Les Miles and the Tigers jumped out of the gate early on in the season, and a pivotal statement win in 'the swamp' was exactly what they needed. Clearly LSU fans did not need the stress and tension that would come at the end of this game with the controversial fake field goal quasi-lateral.
Was it legal or was it not? That was the question.
In the end after review it was determined that the play was in fact legal, and the Tigers finished the drive with a winning touchdown pass which Jarrett Lee threw to Terrence Tolliver with six seconds left.
It was again not pretty for Miles, but he again won under pressure.
No. 8: 2007 Against Alabama
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In what was dubbed as "Saban Bowl I," the Tigers were able to hang on in what was a good old-fashioned shoot-out game that ended in a score of 41-34.
The Tigers, who were composed of many of Nick Saban's recruits from his time as LSU coach, were able to explode on offense for nearly 500 yards in this game.
It was a back-and-forth affair as the teams scored in bunches before a critical fumble caused by Chad Jones on John Parker Wilson ended the Tide's chances and continued LSU's march to SEC and National Glory in 2007.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 7: 2007 Against Florida
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LSU went 5-for-5 on fourth down and blocked a field goal.
This was perhaps the wildest and most well-known of the Les Miles cavalcade of coaching decision oddities.
Jacob Hester, who was as tough a runner as there was in the entire country that season, was a catalyst to most of those zany calls, and he provided the heart and determination that LSU needed to beat a well-coached and talented Gator squad.
The guts of Les Miles were on display as he left everything on the line and threw out what a coach is "supposed" to do in favor of what they "should" do in having faith in his players.
No. 6: 2005 Against Florida
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In what was a series of intense, nail-biting wins this one against the Gators again was a test of nerves for all parties involved. It must be something about Urban Meyer and Les Miles getting together that brings about the most exciting football that anyone could ask for.
In what wasn't the most pretty game played by the Tigers, they were still able to find a way to hold onto the win; which ended the Gators' three-game home winning streak against LSU.
Joseph Addai was the standout in this game as he was able to carry the ball for 156 yards and reached the end zone once.
Florida for all accounts should have won this game, getting the ball in great field position from LSU turnovers, but the Tigers got a key victory that showed the nation the Tigers are a team to reckon with.
No. 5: 2006 Against Notre Dame
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In a win that launched the Tigers to their 2007 title success, LSU dominated the Fighting Irish in a battle of two big time NFL prospects in JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn.
Though neither has lived up to their expectations, they were immense talents in college, and it was expected to be shown in this game.
LSU was the better team, and they showed it before a national audience in the Sugar Bowl. JaMarcus Russell threw the ball for 331 yards and two touchdowns.
In fact, the LSU offense almost reached 600 yards. This win put the Tigers in great position to be atop the preseason polls the following season.
No. 4: 2007 SEC Title Game
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No one could have thought that LSU would make the SEC Title Game in the Georgia Dome after the heart-breaking triple overtime loss to rival Arkansas.
But a miraculous set of circumstances occurred and LSU was given the chance to be SEC champs against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Many distractions were circulating before the game started including rumors of Bo Pelini becoming the new head coach and Les Miles becoming the new head man for Michigan.
Neither of these things happened and the Tigers, with Les at the helm, battled the Vols to a 21-14 victory which sent them to the National Championship.
Erik Ainge unraveled against the stout LSU defense late in the game which sealed the Vols' doom.
No. 3: 2001 Against Oklahoma
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In his first season as a major college football head coach, Les Miles did not have the success in the win-loss department that he had hoped for at Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys finished with an unimpressive record of 4-7, but there was one clear and defining bright spot in that season.
In the final game against in-state rival Oklahoma, the Cowboys pulled off a memorable upset on the road by the score of 16-13.
No one could have thought that a lowly, struggling Oklahoma State team could beat the dominant Sooners who at the time were playing for a possible National Championship berth.
This win, led by quarterback and future MLB player Josh Fields, put Les Miles on the map and started getting the Cowboys going in the right direction.
Sooner fans will never forgive or forget the name T.D. Bryant.
No. 2: 2010 Against Alabama
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Oh, so fresh in our minds.
This battle between the defending National Champions and this gritty and tough LSU team was a big game to determine who might in the hunt in the SEC for a BCS game.
Many favored the Tigers simply based on the fact that it was being played in "deaf valley," and the luck has been going their way this season.
And, when it was all said and done, Les and the boys did in fact come away victorious over "The Nicktator" and are in serious consideration for a national title bid.
No. 1: 2007 National Championship Game
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For some, it may be hard to imagine the improbable journey that led the 2007 LSU Tigers to the National Championship, but at the end of the day they were in fact the best in the land.
That season saw many things happen as it was the year of the upset and had the curse of the No. 2 in the country. But, in the end it saw Miles and the Tigers against Jim Tressel and the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Miles had faced and lost in a bowl game to Tressel before in 2004 with Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl, but this was for a much bigger and more prestigious honor.
It ended in victory for "The Mad Hatter" and his team by a final score of 38-24 in the end as they became the first team to win the National Championship with two losses since the Minnesota Golden Gophers did it in 1960.
Can Les and his team continue to shock and knock off the best in the South Eastern Conference or will the bag of tricks eventually run dry?
Time will tell.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
