| 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BCS Bowl Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 7, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Louisiana Superdome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Offense: QBMatt Flynn (LSU) Defense: DERicky Jean-Francois (LSU) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | LSU by 5½[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National anthem | Preservation Hall Jazz Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Jon Bible (Big 12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | Allstate Alumni Kicker Challenge, Ohio State's marching band, LSU's Marching band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 79,651[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$17,500,000 per conference[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | Fox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Thom Brennaman,Charles Davis, andChris Myers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nielsen ratings | 14.4[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN Radio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Brent Musburger,Kirk Herbstreit, andLisa Salters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2008 BCS National Championship Game (branded as the2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game for sponsorship reasons) was played at theLouisiana Superdome inNew Orleans,Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the No. 1 and No. 2college football teams in the United States as determined by theBCS Poll (a combination ofpolls andcomputer formulas) to decide theBCS National Championship for the2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season.
The game featured No. 1Big Ten championOhio StateBuckeyes hosting No. 2SEC championLSUTigers. It also featured the second postseason matchup between head coachesJim Tressel andLes Miles in four seasons. The first was the2004 Alamo Bowl, when Tressel's Buckeyes defeated Miles'Oklahoma State Cowboys, 33–7, in what turned out to be Miles' last game with the Cowboys, as he was hired by LSU to replaceNick Saban five days later. In the BCS National Championship Game, the Tigers defeated the Buckeyes by a 38–24 score to win their second national championship in five years and first consensus national championship since1958.
Prior to the last weekend of the regular season, it looked like the national championship game would be played betweenMissouri andWest Virginia. However, Missouri lost toOklahoma 38-17 in theBig 12 Championship Game and West Virginia was shocked by their arch-rivalPitt13-9 in theBackyard Brawl. This threw the BCS and college football world into upheaval. By virtue of winning theBig Ten and having only one loss, Ohio State looked to be guaranteed a berth in the BCS championship game. After much speculation, LSU was revealed to be the number two team in the ratings and therefore the Buckeyes' opponent in the title game.
After intense media speculation, including a report onESPN which indicated that he was on the verge of taking theMichigan job, LSU head coachLes Miles announced just before the SEC championship game on December 1 that he was staying. Shortly thereafter, he agreed to a contract extension at LSU.[5] Additionally, LSU defensive coordinatorBo Pelini accepted the head coaching job atNebraska the day after the SEC title game. With the blessing of Nebraska athletic directorTom Osborne, Pelini returned to Baton Rouge to prepare for the BCS championship game.
As for the Buckeyes, twocornerbacks, Donald Washington and Eugene Clifford, were reported to be suspended for this game for violating team rules. However, Ohio State's athletic director said on December 27 that the reported suspension of Washington was erroneous.[6]
LSU won thecoin toss and deferred to the second half. After receiving the opening kickoff, Ohio State started slowly on offense beforeChris Wells broke off a 65-yardtouchdown run for the first score of the game. LSU wentthree-and-out deep in their own territory andpunted on their first possession. Ohio State quickly added afield goal by Ryan Pretorius to go up 10-0. LSU then marched efficiently down field, but their 14-play/65-yard drive stalled in the red zone andColt David kicked a 32-yard field goal. The first quarter ended with LSU on offense and trailing, 10-3.
LSU scored early in the period with a 13-yard Matt Flynn touchdown pass toTight end Richard Dickson, tying the score at 10.[7] The drive was aided by two penalties totaling 28 yards by Ohio State's defense. LSU'sRicky Jean-Francois then blocked a 38-yard Pretorius field goal attempt on Ohio State's next possession. Momentum appeared to be shifting to LSU's sideline. LSU began the ensuing drive from their 34. The Tigers marched 66 yards in 3:28; a 10-yardBrandon LaFell touchdown reception from Flynn culminated the drive. On the next Buckeye possession, quarterbackTodd Boeckman was intercepted by cornerbackChevis Jackson who returned the ball 34 yards into Ohio State territory. LSU moved down to the goal line andrunning backJacob Hester punched the ball in to give the Tigers a 14-point lead. A short Buckeye drive led to a punt and LSU was content to go intohalftime having scored 24 unanswered points.
LSU started the second half with the ball and a 24-10 lead. The Ohio State defense appeared to have forced a punt on LSU's first drive, but a roughing the punter penalty by Buckeyelinebacker Austin Spitler gave LSU afirst down. The Tigers parlayed the personal foul into a touchdown, asEarly Doucet later received a short pass from Flynn and broke a series of tackles at the five-yard line and walked into theendzone. Ohio State seemed to be fading but with 3:50 left in the quarter, Flynn was intercepted by cornerbackMalcolm Jenkins, who returned the ball 21 yards to the LSU 11. Three "Beanie" Wells runs brought the Buckeye offense down to the five and Boeckman proceeded to throw a touchdown pass towide receiver Brian Robiskie on fourth down, pulling the Buckeyes to within 31-17.
After LSU punted early in the quarter Ohio State put together a solid drive, reaching the LSU 34. However, the offense stalled and the Buckeyes were forced to go for it on fourth-and-seven. Boeckman dropped back to pass and was hit on his throwing arm just before the arm could start to come forward. The hit—made by LSU linebackerAli Highsmith—caused a fumble and LSU recovered in Ohio State territory. The play was reviewed to determine if it was a forward pass but the ruling on the field was upheld and LSU got the ball with 10:37 left in the game. The Tigers then went three-and-out, but on Ohio State's next possession Boeckman was intercepted bysafety Curtis Taylor. With 5:37 remaining, LSU's fate as National Champions was essentially sealed.
The Tigers added another touchdown, a five-yard strike from Flynn to LaFell (his second touchdown reception of the game). Ohio State then scored on a late touchdown pass from Boeckman to wide receiver Brian Hartline before failing to convert anonside kick. LSU ran out the clock and celebrated their 38-24 BCS National Championship Game win.
This was the first national championship game in the BCS era to feature two teams that had previously won a BCS national championship. Louisiana State became the first school ever to win two BCS championships. The Tigers had previously defeatedOklahoma, 21-14, in the2004 Sugar Bowl, which served as the 2003 season's BCS championship game.
LSU was the first team since 1960 to be national champion with two losses.[8]
| LSU | OSU | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 25 | 17 |
| Total Yards | 326 | 353 |
| Passing Yards | 174 | 208 |
| Rushing Yards | 152 | 145 |
| Penalties | 4-36 | 7-83 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 11-18 | 3-13 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 1-1 | 2-3 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of Possession | 33:56 | 26:04 |
| Individual | Performance, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Tackles | 18, James Laurinaitis, Ohio State vs. LSU | 2008 |
| Long Plays | Performance, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
| Touchdown run | 65, Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State vs. LSU | 2008 |
| Punt | 63, A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State vs. LSU | 2008 |