2008 BCS National Championship Game

2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game
BCS Bowl Game
LSU Tigers Ohio State Buckeyes (11–2) (11–1) SEC Big Ten 38 24 Head coach:  Les Miles Head coach:  Jim Tressel AP Coaches BCS 2 2 2 AP Coaches BCS 1 1 1
1 2 3 4 Total LSU 3 21 7 7 38 Ohio State 10 0 7 7 24
Date	January 7, 2008
Season	Nielsen ratings	14.4[4]
BCS National Championship Game  < 2007  2009 >

The 2008 BCS National Championship Game (branded as the 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game for sponsorship reasons) was played at the

.

The game featured No. 1 Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes hosting No. 2 SEC champion LSU Tigers. It also featured the second postseason matchup between head coaches Jim Tressel and Les Miles in four seasons. The first was the 2004 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 replace Nick 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 since their 1958 squad.

Background

Team selection

Prior to the last weekend of the regular season, it looked like the national championship game would be played between

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.

Pregame buildup

After intense media speculation, including a report on ESPN which indicated that he was on the verge of taking the Michigan job, LSU head coach Les 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 coordinator Bo Pelini accepted the head coaching job at Nebraska the day after the SEC title game. With the blessing of Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne, Pelini returned to Baton Rouge to prepare for the BCS championship game.

As for the Buckeyes, two cornerbacks, 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]

Game summary

First quarter

LSU won the

kicked a 32-yard field goal. The first quarter ended with LSU on offense and trailing, 10-3.

Louisiana Superdome

prior to the start of the game.

Second quarter

LSU scored early in the period with a 13-yard Matt Flynn touchdown pass to

having scored 24 unanswered points.

Third quarter

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 Buckeye

Brian Robiskie on fourth down, pulling the Buckeyes to within 31-17.

The Times-Picayune

newspaper of the next day.

Fourth quarter

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 linebacker

safety

Curtis Taylor. With 5:37 remaining, LSU's fate as National Champions was essentially sealed.

Ricky Jean-Francois

celebrates on stage.

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 an onside kick. LSU ran out the clock and celebrated their 38-24 BCS National Championship Game win.

Historical implications

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 defeated Oklahoma, 21-14, in the 2004 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]

Scoring summary

Scoring

First quarter

• Ohio State - Chris Wells 69 Yd TD Run (Ryan Pretorius Kick) 13:34
• Ohio State - Ryan Pretorius -25 Yd FG 9:12
• LSU - Colt David 32 Yd FG 2:21

Second quarter

• LSU - Richard Dickson 13 Yd TD Pass From Matt Flynn (Colt David Kick) 13:00
• LSU - Brandon LaFell 10 Yd TD Pass From Matt Flynn (Colt David Kick) 7:25
• LSU - Jacob Hester 1 Yd TD Run (Colt David Kick) 4:16

Third quarter

• LSU - Earley Doucet 4 Yd TD Pass From Matt Flynn (Colt David Kick) 9:04
• Ohio State - Brian Robiskie 5 Yd TD Pass From Todd Boeckman (Ryan Pretorius Kick) 1:38

Fourth quarter

• LSU - Richard Dickson 5 Yd TD Pass From Matt Flynn (Colt David Kick) 1:50
• Ohio State - Brian Hartline 15 TD Pass From Todd Boeckman (Ryan Pretorius Kick) 1:13

Statistics

Statistical Comparison^[9]

	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

LSU

• QB Matt Flynn: 19/27, 174 yds, 4 TD
• RB Jacob Hester: 21 rush, 86 yds, TD
• WR Early Doucet: 7 rec, 51 yds, TD
• TE Richard Dickson: 4 rec, 44 yds, 2 TD

Ohio State

• QB Todd Boeckman: 15/26, 208 yds, 2 TD, 2 Int
• RB Chris Wells: 20 rush, 146 yds, TD
• WR Brian Hartline: 6 rec, 75 yds, TD

Game records

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

Trivia

• Baton Rouge attorney Stephen Babcock got the judge in an insurance case to issue a continuance in the case by pointing out that both he and the opposing attorney had tickets to the game, and "All counsel to this matter unequivocally agree that the presence of LSU in the aforementioned contest of pigskin skill unquestionably constitutes good grounds". The judge obliged and moved the trial date.^[10]

References

External links

• ESPN.com game article