Ranking the 30 Greatest National Championship Games
By Zach Bigalke
14. 2004 Sugar Bowl
#2 LSU d. #1 Oklahoma 21-14
BEFORE THE GAME
The BCS found itself second-guessing its formula after the 2003 season ended in exactly what it had been designed to prevent: a split national championship. Three major-conference champions arrived at the end of the regular season with one loss apiece. The BCS formula that season weighted the computer averages equally to a composite of the AP and Coaches polls, added in a separate strength of schedule component, subtracted points for losses, and also added in a “quality wins” component that was basically a self-reinforcing mechanism within the system. All would prove significant in the end.
Oklahoma entered the Big 12 championship as the only undefeated team in the country, going wire-to-wire with both the best scoring offense and scoring defense in the country. Then the Sooners went to Kansas City to face 9-3 North Division champ Kansas State in the title game. Oklahoma scored first on the opening drive of the game, but the Wildcats intercepted quarterback Jason White twice to keep the Sooners out of the endzone again. White won the Heisman Trophy despite the conference championship defeat, and the Sooners remained in the #2 spot in the BCS standings thanks to the computer-weighted formula.
The human polls both had USC at #1 in the country. The Trojans had lost to Aaron Rodgers and Cal on the road in Berkeley in late September, but they had steadily molded into championship form through October and November as they went on an eight-game winning streak to close out the regular season. When Oklahoma fell, USC was lofted right up into their spot in the polls. LSU lurked right behind as the Sooners dropped to third. But the computers still loved Oklahoma, rating their schedule the third toughest in the country and keeping them atop the composite rankings. LSU ended up bouncing USC to third by 0.16 points despite having their own loss at home to Florida.
USC would go on to play in the 2004 Rose Bowl against Big Ten champion Michigan, beating the Wolverines in a traditional matchup of Midwestern and Pacific champions in Pasadena. The 28-14 win cemented the Trojans’ place atop the final AP poll. The polls split the national championship, as the Coaches poll kept its obligation as the steward of the crystal pigskin and awarded it to the Sugar Bowl winner.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Skyler Green opened the scoring for LSU after a wild opening sequence where the Tigers fumbled after a quick march downfield, only to intercept the ball right back from the Sooners, and score as though they had never lost the ball. Jason White looked lost against the LSU defense, as he completed only 13 of his 37 passing attempts for a total of 102 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Against Kansas State he had at least moved the ball, but against Nick Saban’s defense White had no chance to get comfortable after taking seven sacks and getting hurried numerous other times.
The nation’s most dangerous offense managed just 154 total yards all game, and the Tigers kept pounding the ball on the ground with freshman back Justin Vincent. He finished the day with 117 rushing yards and a score in the second quarter, helping LSU control the clock until a furious late push by the Sooners. After halftime Marcus Spears picked off White and returned the ball 20 yards to extend the Tigers lead to 14. Oklahoma turned a Matt Mauck interception early in the fourth quarter into Kejuan Jones’ second short touchdown run of the day to pull back within seven. They marched down into the LSU red zone in the final five minutes, but the Tigers held the Sooners scoreless on downs to cement at least a share of the national championship.