2004 Sugar Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Sugar Bowl, the BCS title game for the 2003 college football season, was played on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The teams were LSU Tigers
and the Oklahoma Sooners. The Tigers won the BCS National Championship, their second, defeating the Sooners by a score of 21-14.
19-7. Top-ranked Oklahoma (but #3 in the AP poll) was 12-1, with the lone defeat coming at a neutral site in the Big 12 Championship Game against Kansas State 35-7. There was substantial media and fan controversy as to which teams deserved to play in the National Title game. USC was ranked #3 in the BCS standings but #1 by both of the human polls, the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and the AP poll, which made up a portion of the BCS Standings. Southern Cal owned a record of 11-1, with its one loss coming in triple overtime at unranked 34-31.
Once the game commenced, LSU's #1 ranked defense held the country's most prolific offense, which had averaged 45.2 points and 461 yards per game, to 154 total yards (32 in the first half) and just one touchdown until midway though the fourth quarter. The Sooners' Heisman Trophy-winning QB Jason White completed only 13 of his 37 passing attempts for just 102 yards. He was also sacked seven times and intercepted twice. LSU's offense was largely supplied by freshman running back and Sugar Bowl MVP Justin Vincent, who rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
As a result, LSU won their second National Championship Title and first since 1958
. The majority of the coaches voted LSU National Champions as contractually required by the BCS. There were three dissenting coaches who voted USC #1.The #3 USC
won the Rose Bowl
against #4 ranked Michigan
, and was voted the National Champion in the AP Poll
.
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The teams were LSU Tigers
2003 LSU Tigers football team
The 2003 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2003–2004. Coached by Nick Saban, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a bit of controversy, LSU won the BCS National Championship, the first...
and the Oklahoma Sooners. The Tigers won the BCS National Championship, their second, defeating the Sooners by a score of 21-14.
Set-up
Number 2 ranked LSU came into The National Championship Title Game 12-1, with their one loss at home to #17 Florida2003 Florida Gators football team
The 2003 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2003 college football season...
19-7. Top-ranked Oklahoma (but #3 in the AP poll) was 12-1, with the lone defeat coming at a neutral site in the Big 12 Championship Game against Kansas State 35-7. There was substantial media and fan controversy as to which teams deserved to play in the National Title game. USC was ranked #3 in the BCS standings but #1 by both of the human polls, the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and the AP poll, which made up a portion of the BCS Standings. Southern Cal owned a record of 11-1, with its one loss coming in triple overtime at unranked 34-31.
As a result, LSU won their second National Championship Title and first since 1958
1958 LSU Tigers football team
The 1958 LSU Tigers segregated football team represented Louisiana State University during the 1958 college football season. Under head coach Paul Dietzel, the Tigers cruised to an undefeated season capped by a win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl...
. The majority of the coaches voted LSU National Champions as contractually required by the BCS. There were three dissenting coaches who voted USC #1.The #3 USC
2003 USC Trojans football team
The 2003 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2003-2004 NCAA Division I-A college football season...
won the Rose Bowl
2004 Rose Bowl
The 2004 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game held on January 1, 2004 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 90th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 28-14...
against #4 ranked Michigan
2003 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2003 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2003 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team won the first of its back to back Big Ten Championships...
, and was voted the National Champion in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
.
Scoring summary
| Scoring Play | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||||
| LSU - Skyler Green Skyler Green Skyler Green is a professional gridiron football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently playing for the AFL New Orleans VooDoo. He most recently played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL... 24 yard run (Ryan Gaudet kick). |
LSU 7-0 | ||||
| 2nd Quarter | |||||
| OU - Kejuan Jones 1 yard run (Trey DiCarlo kick). | Tie 7-7 | ||||
| LSU - Justin Vincent Justin Vincent Justin Vincent is a former American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007... 16 yard run (Gaudet kick). |
LSU 14-7 | ||||
| 3rd Quarter | |||||
| LSU - Marcus Spears Marcus Spears (defensive end) For the offensive lineman, see Marcus Spears .Marcus Raishonie Spears is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League... 20 yard interception return (Gaudet kick). |
LSU 21-7 | ||||
| 4th Quarter | |||||
| OU - Jones 1 yard run (DiCarlo kick). | LSU 21-14 | ||||
Trivia
- The attendance of 79,342 became the largest ever to see a game in the Superdome. That figure has since been surpassed by the 2008 BCS National Championship Game2008 BCS National Championship GameThe 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
(79,651). - The team that led at half-time had won 10 of 11 Sugar Bowl games.
- LSU improved its record to 5-7 in Sugar Bowl games.
- The SEC improved its record to 34-29-1 in Sugar Bowl games.