2003 LSU Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 football 2003 LSU Tigers Louisiana State University (block logo).svg 125 Southeastern Conference Western Division SEC 1 2 13–1 7–1 Nick Saban 4th Jimbo Fisher 4th Pro-style Will Muschamp 2nd 4–3 Tiger Stadium Coaches' Poll (BCS) national championNFF national championSEC championSEC Western Division co-championSugar Bowl champion Sugar Bowl (BCS NCG) W 21–14 vs. Oklahoma SEC Championship Game W 34–13 vs. Georgia 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,2003 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-state/2003-schedule.html 2026-09-25 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en the first national football championship for LSU since 1958.College football championship history NCAA.com https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/college-football-national-championship-history 2026-09-25 www.ncaa.com en 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.https://www.cfbhall.com/news-and-happenings/blog/split-decision-2003-national-champions-lsu-tigers-x-usc-trojans/ Split Decision: 2003 National Champions - LSU Tigers X USC Trojans College Football Hall of Fame November 8, 2023 December 9, 2025 Several experts have viewed the 2003 Tigers as having one of the greatest defenses in college football history.January 2026 Schedule 2003 AP Central August 30 7:00 p.m. w y 14 Louisiana–Monroe Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 49–7 89,148 September 6 9:00 p.m. w y y 13 Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ TBS 59–13 46,110 September 13 7:00 p.m. w y 12 1 (I-AA) Western Illinois Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 35–7 87,164 September 20 2:30 p.m. w 11 Georgia 7 College GameDay Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA CBS 17–10 92,251 September 27 8:00 p.m. w y 7 Mississippi State rivalry Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS ESPN2 41–6 45,835 October 11 2:30 p.m. l 6 Florida rivalry Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA CBS 7–19 92,077 October 18 6:45 p.m. w y 10 South Carolina Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC ESPN2 33–7 82,525 October 25 7:00 p.m. w 9 Auburn 17 Tiger Bowl Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA ESPN 31–7 92,085 November 1 7:00 p.m. w y y 7 Louisiana Tech Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA PPV 49–10 91,879 November 15 6:45 p.m. w y 3 Alabama rivalry Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL ESPN 27–3 83,818 November 22 2:30 p.m. w y 3 Ole Miss 15 Magnolia Bowl Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS CBS 17–14 62,552 November 28, 2003 1:30 p.m. w 3 Arkansas rivalry Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA CBS 55–24 92,213 December 6 8:00 p.m. w y 3 Georgia 5 SEC Championship Game / College GameDay Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA CBS 34–13 74,913 January 4, 2004 Sunday 7:15 p.m. w y y 2 Oklahoma 3 Sugar Bowl / College GameDay Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA ABC 21–14 79,342 Rankings 2003 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 14 13 12 11 7 6 6 10 9 7 4 3 3 3 3 2 (21) 2 (17) Coaches 0 16 15 13 11 10 7 6 6 10 9 8 4 3 3 3 3 2 (18) 1 (60) BCS 8 15 12 7 7 4 4 3 3 2 Roster Quarterbacks 12 Marcus Randall 15 Matt Flynn 18 Matt Mauck 4 JaMarcus Russell 8 Ty Barrett 19 Michael Harrison Running backs 22 Torey Bennett 2 Shyrone Carey 23 Jason Spadoni 25 Justin Vincent 10 Joseph Addai 32 Barrington Edwards 22 Alley Broussard Fullbacks 24 Tyler Olivier 49 Michael Ricks 35 Brandon Nowlin 40 Shawn Jordan 44 Kevin Steltz 11 Jason Lile Wide receivers 86 Junior Joseph 13 Steve Mares 14 Michael Clayton 9 Devery Henderson 87 Blain Bech 4 Michael Russo 81 Dwayne Bowe 85 Craig Davis 17 Bennie Brazell 38 Gino Giambelluca 8 Terrell Clayton 80 Schirra Fields 5 Skyler Green 42 Andre Gill 1 Amp Hill Tight ends 47 Eric Edwards 82 David Jones 84 Andrew Wright 83 Kory Hebert 88 Demetri Robinson 89 Keith Zinger Center 59 Doug Planchard 55 Ben Wilkerson 61 Jimmy Courtenay Offensive line 65 Steve Arflin 62 Brandon Hurley 69 Garett Wibel 75 Brian Johnson 71 Nate Livings 68 Terrell McGill 72 Stephen Peterman 67 Bradley Sowa 74 Josh Dicharry 64 Rudy Niswanger 62 Harold Bicknell 73 Will Arnold 66 Jerry Sevin 76 Andrew Whitworth 63 Mac McLachlan 60 Rodney Reed 78 Paris Hodges 77 Peter Dyakowski Defensive line 59 Leo Desselle Defensive end 79 Sean Merrill 84 Marcus Spears 52 Ryan Willis 96 Carnell Stewart 97 Brandon Washington 94 Marquise Hill 48 Kirston Pittman 53 Tory Collins Defensive tackle 98 Torran Williams 92 Bryce Wyatt 50 Jarrod Carter 89 Timothy Binion 90 Melvin Oliver 95 Kyle Williams 93 Chad Lavalais 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 AdamsLSU Football Spring Guide http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/03fbspring.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200 LSU LSU 12 September 2018 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 13 Corey Webster 24 Keron Gordon 29 Travis Daniels 1 Ronnie Prude 21 Randall Gay Safeties 8 Jack Hunt 43 Chad White Punters 16 Ross Cockrell 80 Donnie Jones 36 Patrick Fisher 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 2003 Louisiana–Monroe Indians football team Indians 0 0 0 7 No. 14 Tigers 0 21 21 7 August 30 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:00 p.m. CDT Statistics ULMLSU First downs 11 23 Total yards 240 474 Rushing yards 59 168 Passing yards 181 306 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 24:45 35:15 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Steven Jyles 14/30, 180 yards, INT Rushing Kevin Payne 16 rushes, 64 yards, TD Receiving Mack Vincent 2 receptions, 46 yardsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 13/28, 153 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Joseph Addai 15 rushes, 81 yards Receiving Michael Clayton 6 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TD ESPN At Arizona 2003 Arizona Wildcats football team No. 13 Tigers 17 21 7 14 Wildcats 0 0 0 13 September 6 Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona 7:00 p.m. MST TBS Statistics LSUARIZ First downs 28 10 Total yards 481 182 Rushing yards 182 91 Passing yards 299 91 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 36:13 23:47 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 10/11, 150 yards, TD Rushing Joseph Addai 18 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Clayton 6 receptions, 109 yards, TDArizona Passing Ryan O'Hara 7/20, 70 yards, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 8 rushes, 61 yards, TD Receiving Sean Jones 3 receptions, 27 yards ESPN No. 1 (I-AA) Western Illinois 2003 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team No. 1 (I-AA) Leathernecks 0 0 7 0 No. 12 Tigers 6 7 15 7 September 13 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:00 p.m. CST 87,164 79 deg F, Wind E 5–10, 74% humidity yes Q1 08:18 LSU Michael Clayton 10 yd pass from Matt Mauck (Ryan Gaudet kick failed) LSU 6–0 Q2 0:42 LSU Shyrone Carey 1 yd run (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 13–0 Q3 10:08 WIU Terrence Hall 3 yd pass from Russ Michna (Justin Langan kick) LSU 13-7 Q3 5:00 LSU Skyler Green 8 yd pass from Matt Mauck (Matt Mauck rush) LSU 21–7 Q3 2:26 LSU Skyler Green 40 yd pass from Matt Mauck (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 28-7 Q4 8:29 AUB D. Henderson 16 yd pass from Matt Mauck (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 35–7 yes Statistics WIULSU First downs 12 31 Total yards 208 457 Rushing yards 13 152 Passing yards 195 305 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 27:59 32:01 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Russ Michna 17/39, 195 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Travis Glasford 16 rushes, 21 yards Receiving Travis Glasford 4 receptions, 43 yardsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 23/32, 305 yards, 4 TD Rushing Shyrone Carey 21 rushes, 124 yards, TD Receiving Michael Clayton 11 receptions, 162 yards, TD ESPN Game SummarySidearm Sports - Scoring Summary No. 7 Georgia 2003 Georgia Bulldogs football team No. 7 Bulldogs 3 0 0 7 No. 11 Tigers 0 7 3 7 September 20 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2:30 p.m. CDT Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge and Jill Arrington CBS yes Q1 6:20 UGA Billy Bennett 33 yard field goal UGA 3–0 Q2 3:10 LSU Shyrone Carey 21 yard run (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 7–3 Q3 6:23 LSU Ryan Gaudet 47 yard field goal LSU 10–3 Q4 4:25 UGA Tyson Browning 93 yard pass from David Greene (Billy Bennett kick) Tie 10–10 Q4 1:22 LSU Skyler Green 34 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 17–10 yes Statistics UGALSU First downs 23 16 Total yards 411 285 Rushing yards 97 105 Passing yards 314 180 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 26:43 33:17 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing David Greene 20/44, 314 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Michael Cooper 18 rushes, 73 yards Receiving Tyson Browning 2 receptions, 104 yards, TDLSU Passing Matt Mauck 14/29, 180 yards, TD, INT Rushing Shyrone Carey 18 rushes, 73 yards, TD Receiving Skyler Green 4 receptions, 78 yards, TD ESPN At Mississippi State 2003 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team No. 7 Tigers 7 17 10 7 Bulldogs 0 0 0 6 September 27 Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi 8:00 p.m. CST Statistics LSUMSST First downs 17 18 Total yards 354 239 Rushing yards 163 31 Passing yards 191 208 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 27:06 32:54 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 12/19, 171 yards, TD, INT Rushing Justin Vincent 6 rushes, 58 yards, TD Receiving Devery Henderson 7 receptions, 114 yards, TDMississippi State Passing Kevin Fant 19/30, 191 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Fred Reid 6 rushes, 29 yards Receiving Justin Jenkins 5 receptions, 61 yards, TD ESPN Florida 2003 Florida Gators football team Gators 10 3 6 0 No. 6 Tigers 7 0 0 0 October 11 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2:30 p.m. CDT 92,077 Cloudy, 76 F C Terry Brown Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge, and Jill Arrington CBS yes 1 11:51 LSU Skyler Green 80-yard punt return (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 7–0 1 6:51 FLA Ran Carthon 22-yard pass from Chris Leak (Matt Leach kick) Tied 7–7(Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 5:00) 1 3:17 FLA Matt Leach 29-yard field goal FLA 10–7(Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 1:43) 2 5:37 FLA Matt Leach 50-yard field goal FLA 13–7(Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 1:58) 3 5:21 FLA Ciatrick Fason 35-yard pass from Chris Leak (pass failed) FLA 19–7(Drive: 6 plays, 48 yards, 1:58) yes Statistics FLALSU First downs 18 14 Total yards 310 287 Rushing yards 81 56 Passing yards 229 231 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 30:20 29:40 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida Passing Chris Leak 18/30, 229 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ciatrick Fason 7 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Carlos Perez 3 receptions, 58 yardsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 19/33, 231 yards, 2 INT Rushing Joseph Addai 10 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Devery Henderson 5 receptions, 109 yards ESPN At South Carolina 2003 South Carolina Gamecocks football team No. 10 Tigers 6 13 7 7 Gamecocks 0 0 7 0 October 18 Williams–Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina 7:45 p.m. EDT Statistics LSUSCAR First downs 27 11 Total yards 482 254 Rushing yards 263 0 Passing yards 219 254 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 41:43 18:17 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 24/30, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Alley Broussard 19 rushes, 108 yards Receiving Justin Vincent 4 receptions, 46 yardsSouth Carolina Passing Dondrial Pinkins 15/32, 254 yards, TD Rushing Demetris Summers 8 rushes, 16 yards Receiving Matthew Thomas 4 receptions, 102 yards, TD ESPN No. 17 Auburn 2003 Auburn Tigers football team No. 17 Auburn 0 0 0 7 No. 9 LSU 21 0 10 0 October 25 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:00 p.m. CDT yes Q1 13:01 LSU Devery Henderson 64 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 7–0 Q1 7:43 LSU Michael Clayton 18 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 14–0 Q1 2:58 LSU Alley Broussard 5 yard run (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 21–0 Q3 8:28 LSU Ryan Gaudet 33 yard field goal LSU 24–0 Q3 3:46 LSU Devery Henderson 16 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 31–0 Q4 6:10 AUB Anthony Mix 6 yard pass from Jason Campbell (Philip Yost kick) LSU 31–7 yes Statistics AUBLSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsAuburn Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving ESPN Louisiana Tech 2003 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team Bulldogs 0 3 7 0 No. 7 Tigers 28 21 0 0 November 1 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7:00 p.m. EST Statistics LTLSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving ESPN At Alabama 2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team No. 3 Tigers 10 7 7 3 Crimson Tide 0 0 0 3 November 15 Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 6:45 p.m. CST yes Q1 10:34 LSU Chris Jackson 20 yard field goal LSU 3–0 Q1 9:16 LSU Michael Clayton 23 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 10–0 Q2 2:03 LSU Eric Edwards 3 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 17–0 Q3 9:15 LSU Alley Broussard 4 yard run (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 24–0 Q4 10:11 LSU Chris Jackson 33 yard field goal LSU 27–0 Q4 6:39 ALA Brian Bostick 27 yard field goal LSU 27–3 yes Statistics LSUALA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving ESPN At No. 15 Ole Miss 2003 Ole Miss Rebels football team No. 3 Tigers 3 7 0 7 No. 15 Rebels 7 0 0 7 November 22 Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi 2:30 p.m. CST Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge and Jill Arrington CBS yes Q1 13:54 MISS Travis Johnson 6 yard interception return (Jonathan Nichols kick) MISS 7–0 Q1 6:44 LSU Chris Jackson 45 yard field goal MISS 7–3 Q2 2:42 LSU Michael Clayton 9 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 10–7 Q4 14:50 LSU Devery Henderson 53 yard pass from Matt Mauck (Chris Jackson kick) LSU 17–7 Q4 10:51 MISS Brandon Jacobs 10 yard pass from Eli Manning (Jonathan Nichols kick) LSU 17–14 yes Statistics LSUMISS First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Ole Miss Passing Rushing Receiving ESPN Arkansas 2003 Arkansas Razorbacks football team Razorbacks 10 7 0 7 No. 3 Tigers 10 24 21 0 November 28 Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1:30 p.m. CST Statistics ARKLSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving ESPN Vs. No. 5 Georgia (SEC Championship Game) 2003 SEC Championship Game No. 3 Tigers 8 9 7 10 No. 5 Bulldogs 0 3 10 0 December 6 Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:00 p.m. EST Indoors Verne Lundquist, Todd Blackledge and Jill Arrington CBS Statistics LSUUGA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Arizona Passing Rushing Receiving ESPN Vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (Sugar Bowl – BCS NCG) 2003 Oklahoma Sooners football team 2004 Sugar Bowl No. 3 Sooners 0 7 0 7 No. 2 Tigers 7 7 7 0 January 4 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana 7:00 p.m. CST 79,342 Indoors Dennis Hennigan Brent Musburger and Gary Danielson ABC yes Q1 11:38 LSU Skyler Green 24 yard run (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 7–0 Q2 7:31 OKLA Kejuan Jones 1 yard run (Trey DiCarlo kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 4:21 LSU Justin Vincent 18 yard run (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 14–7 Q3 14:13 LSU Marcus Spears 20 yard interception return (Ryan Gaudet kick) LSU 21–7 Q4 11:01 OKLA Kejuan Jones 1 yard run (Trey DiCarlo kick) LSU 21–14 yes Statistics OKLALSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Tigers in the 2004 NFL draft 2 LSU Tigers Player Position Round Pick Overall NFL team Michael Clayton Wide receiver 1 15 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Devery Henderson Wide receiver 2 18 50 New Orleans Saints Marquise Hill Defensive end 2 31 63 New England Patriots Stephen Peterman Offensive Guard 3 20 83 Dallas Cowboys Chad Lavalais Defensive tackle 5 10 142 Atlanta Falcons Donnie Jones Punter 7 23 224 Seattle Seahawks Matt Mauck Quarterback 7 24 225 Denver Broncos https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20071223114213/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm 2007-12-23 References 30em LSU Category:LSU Tigers football seasons Category:BCS National Champions Category:Southeastern Conference football champion seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons LSU Tigers football