NEW ORLEANS – The LSU Tigers are national champions. Six words that sparked an all-night celebration on Bourbon Street and beyond after LSU upset BCS No. 1 Oklahoma in the Nokia Sugar Bowl on Sunday.
The win ended a 45-year title drought for LSU and gave the Tigers (13 1) their second national title in front of a record 79,342 fans in the Superdome.
The Tigers, a team ranked No. 15 in preseason and was No. 12 in the initial BCS ranking, finished No. 1 in the final coaches poll. USC earned the top honor in the final Associated Press poll to claim a share of the national title.
LSU last won the title in 1958 with an 11-0 season that included a 7-0 win over Clemson in the 1959 Sugar Bowl.
The festivities began for LSU after the Sooners (12-2) failed to field Donnie Jonesí punt and time expired.
“It finally happened,” said LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton. “It was a long journey here. It wasn’t something that happened in one season. It was things that happened over the curse of the three seasons I’ve been here. We took every issue we went through as a stepping stone.”
The Tigers’ defense continued its dominance, allowing only 154 yards of total offense to one of the nation’s top offensive units.
OU Heisman quarterback Jason White was limited to 102 yards passing on 13-of-37 passing. White also threw two interceptions and was sacked five times.
LSU’s Matt Mauck finished 13-of-22 for 124 yards.
Justin Vincent rushed for 117 yards on 16 carries to earn Most Outstanding Player honors. Vincent opened the Tigers’ first possession with a 64-yard run on the opening play, but on first and goal from the two, Mauck fumbled the snap and the Sooners recovered.
On OU’s first play, White threw long but Corey Webster and Jack Hunt tipped the ball and Webster came away with an interception.
Webster said despite USC’s win over Michigan, the Tigers are the true No. 1 team in the country.
“I don’t think it has hit me yet,” Webster said. “All the talk is done, everybody knows we are No. 1 in the BCS no matter what people said on TV after the Rose Bowl. We know we are No. 1.”
The Tigers capitalized on Websterís interception four plays later when Skyler Green put LSU on top 7-0 with a 24-yard touchdown run.
Oklahoma answered in the second quarter when Brandon Shelby blocked a Donnie Jones punt and Russe Dennison recovered it at the two. Kejuan Jones then tied the game on a one-yard plunge on third and goal.
LSU responded with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that Vincent capped with an 18-yard TD run that gave LSU a 14-7 halftime lead.
LSU coach Nick Saban said the team overcame adversity when it needed to in the game, which has been a constant with the 2003 squad.
“They have tremendous identity, character and confidence and know how to compete,” Saban said. “This might sound like a bunch of B.S, but I’m telling you that’s why we won the national championship because of the character and ability of these guys and the attitude that they played with.”
The Tigers’ No. 1 defense took over in the second half. Defensive end Marcus Spears intercepted White’s pass and took it in from 20 yards with 14:13 left in the third quarter.
LSU appeared ready to put the game away when it had a first and goal from the five, but duel penalties on a Ryan Gaudet field goal cost the Tigers three points. Blaine Bech connected on a fake field goal pass to tight end David Jones, but he was tackled at the six.
Oklahoma’s Brodney Pool intercepted Mauck and returned it 49 yards to set up Jones second touchdown run, which cut the lead to 21-14.
But the Sooners could not overcome LSU’s vaunted defense, twice failing to convert on fourth downs in LSU territory in the fourth quarter. White’s last eight passes were incomplete.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said the Tigers’ defense executed better, and LSU’s unit was the best he has faced all year.
“In the end, we were not quite good enough to get it done and LSU made the plays in the end and that made the difference to win,” Stoops said.