2003 LSU Tigers football team

2003 LSU Tigers football
Coaches' Poll (BCS) national champion
NFF national champion
SEC champion
SEC Western Division co-champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl (BCS NCG), W 21–14 vs. Oklahoma
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 2
Record13–1 (7–1 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJimbo Fisher (4th season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorWill Muschamp (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumTiger Stadium
2003 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 7 Georgia xy 6–2  11–3 
No. 15 Tennessee x 6–2  10–3 
No. 24 Florida x 6–2  8–5 
South Carolina 2–6  5–7 
Vanderbilt 1–7  2–10 
Kentucky 1–7  4–8 
Western Division
No. 2 LSU xy$# 7–1  13–1 
No. 13 Ole Miss x 7–1  10–3 
Auburn 5–3  8–5 
Arkansas 4–4  9–4 
Alabama 2–6  4–9 
Mississippi State 1–7  2–10 
Championship: LSU 34, Georgia 13
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2003 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Nick Saban, the LSU Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Tigers compiled an 11–1 regular season record, going 7–1 in SEC play to finish tied for first in the SEC West, with the lone loss coming against SEC East foe Florida. Due to defeating the other co-division champion, Ole Miss, LSU was selected to play in the SEC Championship Game, defeating no. 5 Georgia 34–13. LSU was selected to play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Sugar Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national title. LSU won the BCS National Championship Game, the first national football championship for LSU since 1958.

The 2003 college football regular season ended with three one-loss teams in BCS contention: the LSU Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and USC Trojans. USC ended the regular season ranked No. 1 and LSU No. 2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. Media controversy ensued when the BCS computer-based selection system chose LSU and Oklahoma as the participants in the BCS title game, largely based on an assessment of the relative difficulty of the three teams' 2003 schedules. During the bowl games, LSU beat No. 3 Oklahoma 21–14 in the Sugar Bowl (designated as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2003–04 season), while USC defeated the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines 28–14 in the Rose Bowl. LSU was ranked No. 1 in the final Coaches' Poll (which was contractually obligated to rank the BCS champion No. 1) while USC remained No. 1 in the final AP Poll, resulting in a non-consensus national title - the last time this has happened.[1] Several experts have viewed the 2003 Tigers as having one of the greatest defenses in college football history.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 p.m.Louisiana–Monroe*No. 14W 49–789,148
September 69:00 p.m.at Arizona*No. 13TBSW 59–1346,110
September 137:00 p.m.No. 1 (I-AA) Western Illinois*No. 12
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
W 35–787,164
September 202:30 p.m.No. 7 GeorgiaNo. 11
CBSW 17–1092,251
September 278:00 p.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 7ESPN2W 41–645,835
October 112:30 p.m.FloridaNo. 6
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
CBSL 7–1992,077
October 186:45 p.m.at South CarolinaNo. 10ESPN2W 33–782,525
October 257:00 p.m.No. 17 AuburnNo. 9
ESPNW 31–792,085
November 17:00 p.m.Louisiana Tech*daggerNo. 7
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
PPVW 49–1091,879
November 156:45 p.m.at AlabamaNo. 3ESPNW 27–383,818
November 222:30 p.m.at No. 15 Ole MissNo. 3CBSW 17–1462,552
November 281:30 p.m.ArkansasNo. 3
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
CBSW 55–2492,213
December 68:00 p.m.vs. No. 5 GeorgiaNo. 3CBSW 34–1374,913
January 4, 20047:15 p.m.vs. No. 3 Oklahoma*No. 2ABCW 21–1479,342
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP141312117661097433332 (21)2 (17)
Coaches151311107661098433332 (18)1 (60)
BCSNot released127744332Not released

Roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Fullbacks

  • 24 Tyler Olivier
  • 49 Michael Ricks
  • 35 Brandon Nowlin
  • 40 Shawn Jordan
  • 44 Kevin Steltz
  • 11 Jason Lile

Wide receivers

 

Tight ends

Center

Offensive line

Defensive line

  • 59 Leo Desselle

Defensive end

 

Defensive tackle

Linebackers

  • 99 Jason LeDoux
  • 45 Willie Demps
  • 35 Mark Martin
  • 19 Darius Ingram
  • 63 Patrick McGibboney
  • 57 Dave Peterson
  • 34 Dorsett Buckels
  • 27 Eric Alexander
  • 40 Barrett Dupuy
  • 52 Joey Noto
  • 47 Dustin Adams[2]
  • 35 Micah Metrailer
  • 91 Alonzo Manuel
  • 56 Kenneth Hollis
  • 42 Phillip Maxwell
  • 46 Cameron Vaughn
  • 58 Lionel Turner
  • 51 Dominic Cooper
  • 54 Brian West
  • 55 Chris McCauley
  • 7 Adrian Mayes

Defensive backs

  • 37 Daniel Francis
  • 38 Vernon Russell, Jr.
  • 6 Ryan Gilbert
  • 28 Jeff Cook
  • 39 Troy Hankton
  • 9 Corey Meredith
  • 28 Greg Hercules
  • 44 Patrick Babinecz
  • 30 LaRon Landry
  • 33 Jonathan Zenon
  • 26 Nick Child
  • 31 Jessie Daniels
  • 41 Marcques Lewis
 

Cornerbacks

Safeties

Punters

Kickers

  • 35 Andre Boagni
  • 6 Colt David
  • 41 Chris Jackson
  • 39 Ryan Gaudet

Long snappers

  • 86 Steve Damen
  • 70 Gant Petty

Game summaries

Louisiana–Monroe

Team 1 234Total
Indians 0 007 7
• No. 14 Tigers 0 21217 49
StatisticsULMLSU
First downs1123
Total yards240474
Rushing yards59168
Passing yards181306
Turnovers21
Time of possession24:4535:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisiana–MonroePassingSteven Jyles14/30, 180 yards, INT
RushingKevin Payne16 rushes, 64 yards, TD
ReceivingMack Vincent2 receptions, 46 yards
LSUPassingMatt Mauck13/28, 153 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingJoseph Addai15 rushes, 81 yards
ReceivingMichael Clayton6 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TD

[3]

At Arizona

Team 1 234Total
• No. 13 Tigers 17 21714 59
Wildcats 0 0013 13
StatisticsLSUARIZ
First downs2810
Total yards481182
Rushing yards18291
Passing yards29991
Turnovers43
Time of possession36:1323:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassingMatt Mauck10/11, 150 yards, TD
RushingJoseph Addai18 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingMichael Clayton6 receptions, 109 yards, TD
ArizonaPassingRyan O'Hara7/20, 70 yards, INT
RushingClarence Farmer8 rushes, 61 yards, TD
ReceivingSean Jones3 receptions, 27 yards

[4]

No. 1 (I-AA) Western Illinois

Team 1 234Total
No. 1 (I-AA) Leathernecks 0 070 7
• No. 12 Tigers 6 7157 35
  • Date: September 13
  • Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 87,164
  • Game weather: 79 deg F, Wind E 5–10, 74% humidity
StatisticsWIULSU
First downs1231
Total yards208457
Rushing yards13152
Passing yards195305
Turnovers33
Time of possession27:5932:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western IllinoisPassingRuss Michna17/39, 195 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingTravis Glasford16 rushes, 21 yards
ReceivingTravis Glasford4 receptions, 43 yards
LSUPassingMatt Mauck23/32, 305 yards, 4 TD
RushingShyrone Carey21 rushes, 124 yards, TD
ReceivingMichael Clayton11 receptions, 162 yards, TD

[5][6]

No. 7 Georgia

Team 1 234Total
No. 7 Bulldogs 3 007 10
• No. 11 Tigers 0 737 17
StatisticsUGALSU
First downs2316
Total yards411285
Rushing yards97105
Passing yards314180
Turnovers32
Time of possession26:4333:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
GeorgiaPassingDavid Greene20/44, 314 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingMichael Cooper18 rushes, 73 yards
ReceivingTyson Browning2 receptions, 104 yards, TD
LSUPassingMatt Mauck14/29, 180 yards, TD, INT
RushingShyrone Carey18 rushes, 73 yards, TD
ReceivingSkyler Green4 receptions, 78 yards, TD

[7]

At Mississippi State

Team 1 234Total
• No. 7 Tigers 7 17107 41
Bulldogs 0 006 6
StatisticsLSUMSST
First downs1718
Total yards354239
Rushing yards16331
Passing yards191208
Turnovers24
Time of possession27:0632:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassingMatt Mauck12/19, 171 yards, TD, INT
RushingJustin Vincent6 rushes, 58 yards, TD
ReceivingDevery Henderson7 receptions, 114 yards, TD
Mississippi StatePassingKevin Fant19/30, 191 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingFred Reid6 rushes, 29 yards
ReceivingJustin Jenkins5 receptions, 61 yards, TD

[8]

Florida

Team 1 234Total
• Gators 10 360 19
No. 6 Tigers 7 000 7
  • Date: October 11
  • Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 92,077
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 76 °F (24 °C)
  • Referee: Terry Brown
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge, and Jill Arrington
StatisticsFLALSU
First downs1814
Total yards310287
Rushing yards8156
Passing yards229231
Turnovers13
Time of possession30:2029:40
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FloridaPassingChris Leak18/30, 229 yards, 2 TD
RushingCiatrick Fason7 rushes, 92 yards
ReceivingCarlos Perez3 receptions, 58 yards
LSUPassingMatt Mauck19/33, 231 yards, 2 INT
RushingJoseph Addai10 rushes, 39 yards
ReceivingDevery Henderson5 receptions, 109 yards

[9]

At South Carolina

Team 1 234Total
• No. 10 Tigers 6 1377 33
Gamecocks 0 070 7
StatisticsLSUSCAR
First downs2711
Total yards482254
Rushing yards2630
Passing yards219254
Turnovers11
Time of possession41:4318:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassingMatt Mauck24/30, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingAlley Broussard19 rushes, 108 yards
ReceivingJustin Vincent4 receptions, 46 yards
South CarolinaPassingDondrial Pinkins15/32, 254 yards, TD
RushingDemetris Summers8 rushes, 16 yards
ReceivingMatthew Thomas4 receptions, 102 yards, TD

[10]

No. 17 Auburn

Team 1 234Total
No. 17 Auburn 0 007 7
• No. 9 LSU 21 0100 31
  • Date: October 25
  • Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. CDT
StatisticsAUBLSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AuburnPassing
Rushing
Receiving
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving

[11]

Louisiana Tech

Team 1 234Total
Bulldogs 0 370 10
• No. 7 Tigers 28 2100 49
  • Date: November 1
  • Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
StatisticsLTLSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisiana TechPassing
Rushing
Receiving
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving

[12]

At Alabama

Team 1 234Total
• No. 3 Tigers 10 773 27
Crimson Tide 0 003 3
StatisticsLSUALA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving
AlabamaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

[13]

At No. 15 Ole Miss

Team 1 234Total
• No. 3 Tigers 3 707 17
No. 15 Rebels 7 007 14
StatisticsLSUMISS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Ole MissPassing
Rushing
Receiving

[14]

Arkansas

Team 1 234Total
Razorbacks 10 707 24
• No. 3 Tigers 10 24210 55
  • Date: November 28
  • Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CST
StatisticsARKLSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ArkansasPassing
Rushing
Receiving
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving

[15]

Vs. No. 5 Georgia (SEC Championship Game)

Team 1 234Total
• No. 3 Tigers 8 9710 34
No. 5 Bulldogs 0 3100 13
StatisticsLSUUGA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving
ArizonaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

[16]

Vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (Sugar Bowl – BCS NCG)

Team 1 234Total
No. 3 Sooners 0 707 14
• No. 2 Tigers 7 770 21
StatisticsOKLALSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
OklahomaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
LSUPassing
Rushing
Receiving

LSU Tigers in the 2004 NFL draft

Player Position Round Pick Overall NFL team
Michael ClaytonWide receiver11515Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Devery HendersonWide receiver21850New Orleans Saints
Marquise HillDefensive end23163New England Patriots
Stephen PetermanOffensive Guard32083Dallas Cowboys
Chad LavalaisDefensive tackle510142Atlanta Falcons
Donnie JonesPunter723224Seattle Seahawks
Matt MauckQuarterback724225Denver Broncos

[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Split Decision: 2003 National Champions - LSU Tigers X USC Trojans". College Football Hall of Fame. November 8, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ "LSU Football Spring Guide" (PDF). LSU. LSU. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ ESPN
  4. ↑ ESPN
  5. ↑ ESPN Game Summary
  6. ↑ Sidearm Sports - Scoring Summary
  7. ↑ ESPN
  8. ↑ ESPN
  9. ↑ ESPN
  10. ↑ ESPN
  11. ↑ ESPN
  12. ↑ ESPN
  13. ↑ ESPN
  14. ↑ ESPN
  15. ↑ ESPN
  16. ↑ ESPN
  17. ↑ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm Archived 2007-12-23 at the Wayback Machine