LSU National Championships

With LSU's 38-24 victory over Ohio State, the Tigers claimed their third football national title in school history. A look at those three championships:

2007 BCS National Champions

Too easy.

No. 2 LSU danced, dodged and darted its way into the end zone Monday night, turning the BCS national championship game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State. It was over early, with Matt Flynn throwing four touchdown passes in the victory.

Playing at their home-away-from-home in the Big Easy, LSU (12-2) became the first two-loss team to play for the title. Shouts of "SEC! SEC!" bounced around the Superdome as the Tigers won their second BCS crown in five seasons. They are the first school to win a second title since BCS rankings began with the 1998 season.

And in a season of surprises, this was hardly an upset: Ohio State once again fell apart in college football's biggest game. A year after the Buckeyes were routed by Tim Tebow and Florida 41-14 in the Arizona desert, they barely did better.

Jacob Hester bulled for a short touchdown, Early Doucet wiggled loose for a touchdown and All-American Glenn Dorsey led a unit that outplayed the top-ranked defense in the nation. Ohio State (11-2) had little to celebrate after Chris "Beanie" Wells broke loose for a 65-yard TD run on the fourth play of the game.

Yet while LSU got to hoist the $30,000 crystal trophy, certainly many fans around the country were peering into their crystal balls, wondering if someone else was worthy of the title. Southern California, Georgia, West Virginia, Kansas and Missouri all put on impressive shows in bowl games, and will be among the favorites in 2008

2003 BCS National Champions

They're the best in the bayou and on Bourbon Street.

The LSU Tigers hardly care if the rest of the country considers them co-champs in college football.

Boosted by thousands of purple-and-gold partyers, LSU held off Heisman Trophy winner Jason White and Oklahoma 21-14 at the Sugar Bowl, proving they belonged in the Bowl Championship Series finale.

Too bad there's not one more game left for No. 2 LSU -- against top-ranked Southern California.

"It doesn't bother me," All-America defensive tackle Chad Lavalais said. "It's like winning the lottery, but you have to share the Powerball with another person. It's still a good deal."

The Tigers automatically received the coaches crown for winning this game over the third-ranked Sooners. But a split championship was the result because top-ranked USC won the Associated Press title with a 28-14 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. USC received 48 of the 65 first-place votes cast in the AP poll.

"All I know is the powers that be selected us to be in this game," LSU quarterback Matt Mauck said. "We just received the trophy."

Freshman Justin Vincent ran loose for 117 yards and was selected the Sugar Bowl's most outstanding player, defensive end Marcus Spears scored on an interception return and coach Nick Saban's team never trailed in bringing LSU its first crown since 1958.

1958 National Champions

After seasons of 3-5-2, 3-7 and 5-5 under coach Paul Dietzel, and a team which included only three seniors among its 55-man roster, it didn’t seem likely that 1958 would be LSU's first national championship team.

The Tigers cruised to an undefeated regular season, earning key victories over Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State.

With one game against ancient rival Tulane separating LSU from its first recognized national championship (Before 1965, the wire services awarded their national championship trophies before the bowl games), some wondered how the Tigers would approach the 3-6 Green Wave.

LSU took a slim 6-0 lead at halftime before a then SEC record crowd of 83,221 in Sugar Bowl Stadium. However, LSU took command in the second half, taking full advantage of Green Wave mistakes en route to a 35-point fourth quarter and a 62-0 thrashing of Tulane, the most lopsided score in the history of the series.

With a 10-0 record and national championship in hand, LSU accepted an invitation to take on the Tigers of Clemson, in the 25th annual Sugar Bowl Classic on New Year’s Day, 1959. Once again, LSU found an opponent with little to lose but much recognition to gain in 8-2 Clemson, as Frank Howard’s troops tried to deny LSU its first perfect season in 50 years.

After fighting off a series of bad breaks, LSU got a break of its own when Duane Leopard recovered a fumbled punt attempt on the Clemson 11. On third and eight at the 9, Billy Cannon took a handoff and hit Mickey Mangham with a touchdown pass on the halfback option for the game’s only score.