The Sweet 16 Of BCS Era Football Champions: 2003 LSU vs. 2003 USC

Jan 8, 2013; Fort Lauderdale FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban poses with the national championship coaches trophy after addressing the media during the winning coach press conference at Harbor Beach Marriott Resort

The 2013 NCAA tournament returns to action tonight with the Sweet 16. Just four percent of all the Div. I college basketball teams remain in contention for the national championship — this is the truly elite in the game.

The Bowl Championship Series was introduced 15 years ago to give college football a more clear picture of its elite. Now, the system has missed its mark and is set for replacement in the 2014 season. But in the meantime, this is the system we have, and it’s crowned 15 champions.

Well, 16 if you count the split 2003 title between the LSU Tigers and USC Trojans.

2003 LSU Tigers vs. 2003 USC Trojans

Determining the 2004 Sugar Bowl remains one of the most contentious decisions since the BCS inception. Oklahoma failed to win the Big 12 championship, losing the conference’s title game to Kansas State in spectacular fashion. And yet, the Sooners outscored the Pac-10 champion USC Trojans in the BCS rankings to earn invitation to New Orleans.

The Trojans rode an eight-game win streak into the Rose Bowl after their early season loss to Jeff Tedford’s Cal Golden Bears. In Pasadena, where USC had no trouble with the Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines, dominating 28-14. SEC champion LSU held off Oklahoma with a similarly stout defensive effort, 21-14, to give Nick Saban the first of his four crystal balls.

Both teams had a loss entering the postseason, but LSU had one win more because of the conference championship game. Now, the idea an SEC program winning the BCS title would split the Associated Press title with a team from another conference is completely foreign today — especially when that SEC team boasted 13 wins to the other team’s 12.

But the SEC was not the same juggernaut in 2003 it is today — or at least, did not have the same reputation. LSU lost to a Florida Gators bunch treading water when the Tigers visited the Swamp. Ron Zook’s team was 3-3 headed into the match-up, but stymied the Tiger offense en route to a 19-7 decision.

LSU had a few similarly anemic offensive performances, despite boasting four rushers with at least 338 yards and multiple touchdowns. Joseph Addai was the No. 2 option in the ground game behind Justin Vincent.

The Tigers had a sometimes-potent passing attack with Matt Mauck, who scored 28 touchdowns. Three-quarters of those went to wide receivers Michael Clayton and Devery Henderson.

Of course, this was a Saban-coached team. And as such, LSU made its bones on the defensive end. Only once did an opponent breaking into the 20s on the Tiger defense: the Arkansas Razorbacks, which were blown out 55-24 in the regular season finale. Tackle Chad Lavalais won SEC Defensive Player of the Year for his seven-sack

USC came into 2003 off an impressive Orange Bowl run, but lost Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. The Trojans were disregarded initially, but a rout of Auburn to open the campaign quickly put Matt Leinart on the map. He threw 38 touchdowns to just nine interceptions on the year.

LenDale White was the star of the running game that season. Reggie Bush saw significant carries, but was third in responsibility behind Hershel Dennis. Dennis suffered a knee injury before the 2004 season, and the rest is history.

The Trojans barreled through their slate rarely challenged. Beyond the 34-31 loss at Cal, the closest outcome was USC’s two-touchdown beating of Michigan.

This is the match-up college football needed and deserved: Trojans vs. Tigers. Pete Carroll vs. Nick Saban. The closest we’ll get is the SaturdayBlitz.com Sweet 16.