LSU Football: 5 Best Moments of 2011

The Louisiana State University Tigers have had a season to remember in 2011. They have a perfect 12-0 and are heading to the SEC title game and most likely will find themselves in New Orleans Jan. 9, 2012 to play for the BCS National Championship. Too much good has come to this team to narrow all of the top moments down to just five, but we will give it a shot.

Whether it be the defeat of Oregon by multiple scores opening weekend or defeating all of their top rivals, the Bayou Bengals won't forget this season any time soon. They still have an opportunity to top the season off with the best possible moment in any college football team's season by winning their second BCS National Championship in five years under head coach Les Miles.

Brad Wing's Negated Touchdown

When the Tigers took on then No. 17-ranked Florida Gators, punter Brad Wing had the ultimate fake-punt to run the ball 52 yards downfield for a touchdown. Unfortunately for the Tigers and Wing, the touchdown was reversed when Wing "taunted" the opposition in a way that, under a new rule introduced this season, qualifies for any form of unsportsmanlike conduct performed prior to a touchdown being scored.

The touchdown does not count, but rather, a penalty is imposed on the play instead of allowing a touchdown and applying penalty yards on the kickoff.

This could have been a huge moment for the Tigers and their punter, who is having arguably one of the most effective seasons a punter can have for his team. This non-moment makes the list primarily for the surprise and excitement it produced being all for naught.

Jordan Jefferson's Return

When it was announced that Jordan Jefferson was a subject of an investigation into a fight outside of a bar in the summer and that he would be suspended indefinitely, many people wrote the Tigers and Jefferson off as BCS title contenders. Despite missing the first four games of the season, when Jefferson got into the lineup beginning against Kentucky, he made an instant impact.

Jefferson was used mostly for short yardage situations until the Alabama game, where he replaced starter Jarrett Lee after Lee threw for two consecutive interceptions. Jefferson's coming out party of sorts didn't see him do anything brilliant, but it displayed the leadership and respect he has. 

Jefferson was able to control the ball and make timely, smart plays to allow the Tigers to have a chance at victory, which they eventually achieved in their 9-6 overtime victory over the Crimson Tide just a few short weeks ago. Jefferson has started every game since that performance, and that was a huge moment for the Tigers this season.

Tyrann Mathieu's 92-Yard Kick Return Against Arkansas

When the Tigers took on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Battle for the Golden Boot last Saturday, it saw a battle kept close between the No. 1 and 3-ranked teams in the country up until this moment.

When Tyrann Mathieu received an Arkansas punt late in the second quarter with the Tigers down by a touchdown to the Hogs 14-7, he escaped to the left side of the field before cutting up the middle of the field. He broke a couple tackles on the way to a 92-yard touchdown, tying the score and signifying the turning point in the game.

From that score onward, the Tigers didn't look back and won the game, 41-17, scoring 41 points in a row at one point. Had Mathieu not returned the kick for a touchdown, the chance of the Tigers winning the game could have turned for the worse, and there was a chance their undefeated season would be put on the line.

Opening Week Victory over Oregon

When Oregon and LSU met in the first game of the season, it was expected that whoever won that game would be most likely to contend for a berth in the BCS Title game in January. It was the first opening game between two top-five teams since 1984. 

The Tigers defense proved too strong for the No. 1 offense coming into the season of the Ducks. The 41-27 victory by LSU helped prove that Les Miles' choice of Jarrett Lee to start in place of the suspended Jordan Jefferson was a smart one and got the Tigers to start their run of victories on the season.

Oregon was fresh off a National Championship game loss to Auburn and came in with a chip on their shoulder, only to get knocked back down by another SEC foe in LSU. The proving point made by their victory helped LSU to eventually secure the top ranking for multiple weeks this season.

Drew Alleman's 25-Yard Field Goal to Beat Alabama

The so-called game of the century lived up to all its expectations—if you love defensive SEC football—and by far the biggest moment of the LSU Tigers season to date was Drew Alleman's game-winning field goal in overtime to give the Tigers a victory over the No. 2 team in the country in Alabama to keep their perfect record alive and all but secure themselves a trip to New Orleans in January.

After Alabama kicker Cade Foster missed a 52-yard try to give the Crimson Tide an overtime edge, Alleman calmly entered onto the biggest stage of his career under the torment of Tide fans in Tuscaloosa and stepped up and hit his kick to give the Tigers their biggest victory of the season.

That play was the biggest moment of the 2011 LSU Tigers season easily, and it meant the most to Tigers nation back in Baton Rouge. Should the storied rivalry resume for the National Championship in January, the Tigers will have a new top moment, when they win again over Alabama for their second BCS title in five years.