LSU Tigers football facts for kids

Quick facts for kids LSU Tigers football
First season	1893; 132 years ago
Athletic director	Scott Woodward
Head coach	Brian Kelly 3rd season, 20–7 (.741)
Stadium	Tiger Stadium (Capacity: 102,321)
Field surface	Grass
Location	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Past conferences	SIAA (1893–1922) SoCon (1923–1932)
All-time record	806–434–47 (.645)
Bowl record	31–24–1 (.563)
Playoff appearances	1 (2019)
Playoff record	2–0 (1.000)
Claimed nat'l titles	4 (1958, 2003, 2007, 2019)
Unclaimed nat'l titles	4 (1908, 1936, 1962, 2011)
National finalist	4 (2003, 2007, 2011, 2019)
Conference titles	16 (12 SEC, 3 SIAA, 1 SoCon)
Division titles	10 (1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2019, 2022)
Rivalries	Alabama (rivalry) Arkansas (rivalry) Auburn (rivalry) Florida (rivalry) Mississippi State (rivalry) Ole Miss (rivalry) Texas A&M (rivalry) Tulane (rivalry)
Heisman winners	Billy Cannon (1959) Joe Burrow (2019) Jayden Daniels (2023)
Consensus All-Americans	40
Current uniform
Colors	Purple and Gold
Fight song	Fight for LSU
Mascot	Mike the Tiger
Marching band	Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band
Website	LSUsports.net

The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers, represents Louisiana State University in exciting college football games. The Tigers play in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are part of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

LSU is ranked among the top teams in NCAA Division I FBS history for its winning record. The team has won four official national championships (in 1958, 2003, 2007, and 2019). They have also won 16 conference championships and had 39 players chosen as All-Americans. Three amazing Tigers players have won the Heisman Trophy: Billy Cannon (in 1959), Joe Burrow (in 2019), and Jayden Daniels (in 2023).

The team plays its home games at Tiger Stadium on the university's campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The current head coach for the team is Brian Kelly.

History of LSU Football

Early Days of the Team (1893–1954)

The first LSU football team was put together in 1893 by Dr. Charles E. Coates, a chemistry professor. The team wore purple and gold ribbons for their first game, which they lost 34–0 to Tulane. This game started a long-lasting rivalry between the two schools. The team's colors, purple and gold, are said to have been chosen because they are Mardi Gras colors.

LSU got its first win in 1894, beating the Natchez Athletic Club 26–0. The first touchdown in LSU history was scored by Samuel Marmaduke Dinwidie Clark. In 1896, LSU had an undefeated season and won its first conference championship in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). This was also the first time the team was called the "Tigers," a name inspired by the "Fighting Tigers" of the 9th Louisiana Infantry from the Civil War.

In 1907, LSU made history by becoming the first American college football team to play a game in another country. They played in the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba, and won 56–0. The 1908 team had a perfect 10–0 record. Their quarterback, Doc Fenton, led the nation in scoring.

A famous supporter of LSU football was Huey P. Long, who was a Louisiana governor and U.S. senator. He helped the program grow. Under head coach Bernie Moore, LSU won its first Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship in 1935. They also played in their first Sugar Bowl game. Gaynell Tinsley became LSU's first All-American player in 1935 and 1936. The 1936 team won LSU's second SEC Championship.

During World War II, many players were away. The 1943 team was led by Steve Van Buren, who was moved to running back and led the NCAA in scoring. The 1946 team played in a famous game called the "Ice Bowl" at the Cotton Bowl Classic. It was a 0–0 tie against Arkansas in icy conditions.

Paul Dietzel's Era (1955–1961)

In 1955, Paul Dietzel became LSU's head coach. He created a special "three-platoon system" where he used different groups of players for offense, defense, and special situations. The defensive group was famously called the Chinese Bandits. This system helped the 1958 team win LSU's first official national championship. They beat Clemson 7–0 in the 1959 Sugar Bowl.

In 1959, Billy Cannon won the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the best college football player. He had a legendary 89-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss, breaking many tackles. This play is known as Cannon's Halloween Run.

Charles McClendon's Time (1962–1979)

Charles "Charlie" McClendon, who had been an assistant coach, took over in 1962. His teams often finished in the top ten. In the 1966 Cotton Bowl, LSU, who was not ranked, surprised undefeated and No. 2 ranked Arkansas, winning 14–7. This ended Arkansas' 22-game winning streak.

A famous game in 1972 saw LSU beat Ole Miss 17–16 with only one second left on the clock. This exciting finish led to a song called One Second Blues.

A Time of Change (1980–1999)

After McClendon, LSU had several coaches in a short period. Sadly, the new coach, Bo Rein, died in a plane crash before he could coach a single game for the Tigers.

Jerry Stovall then became head coach in 1980. In 1982, LSU beat Alabama 20–10, which was a big win as it was the first time LSU had beaten Alabama since 1970.

Bill Arnsparger coached LSU from 1984 to 1986, leading them to two Sugar Bowl games. His 1986 team won LSU's first outright SEC title since 1970.

Mike Archer became the youngest head coach in Division I-A football in 1987. His 1987 team had 10 wins, the most in over 25 years. In 1988, LSU had an amazing upset win over Auburn, which was so loud it registered as an earthquake on a seismograph! This game is now known as "The Earthquake Game".

Curley Hallman coached from 1991 to 1994. The 1992 season was the toughest in school history with a 2–9 record. In 1993, LSU had its worst loss ever, 58–3 to Florida. However, just a few weeks later, they surprised Alabama, ending their 31-game unbeaten streak.

Gerry DiNardo took over in 1995. He helped bring back the tradition of LSU wearing white jerseys for home games. In their first home game with white jerseys, LSU upset No. 5 Auburn. In 1997, LSU beat No. 1 ranked Florida, a huge victory that led to fans tearing down the goalposts for the first time in Tiger Stadium.

Nick Saban's Success (2000–2004)

Nick Saban became head coach in 2000. His first season saw LSU beat No. 11 Tennessee and Alabama, causing the goalposts to be torn down again. In 2001, LSU won the SEC Championship.

In 2003, LSU won its second national championship by defeating Oklahoma 21–14 in the 2004 Sugar Bowl, which was the BCS National Championship Game. This was a very exciting time for LSU football.

Les Miles' Era (2005–2016)

Les Miles became head coach in 2005. His first season was affected by Hurricane Katrina, and a home game was moved to Arizona. LSU still managed a comeback victory. In 2007, No. 2 LSU played a thrilling game against No. 9 Florida, winning 28–24 after being down in the fourth quarter. LSU then went on to defeat No. 1 Ohio State 38–24 in the BCS National Championship, winning their third national title. They were the first team to win two BCS national championships.

In 2011, No. 1 LSU played No. 2 Alabama in a game called the "Game of the Century". It was a very defensive game with no touchdowns, ending in a 9–6 LSU victory in overtime. Later that season, the two teams met again in the BCS National Championship, where Alabama won 21–0. Les Miles was fired during the 2016 season after a tough start.

Ed Orgeron's Time (2016–2021)

After Les Miles, Ed Orgeron became the interim head coach and then the full-time head coach. He made changes to practices and brought in new coaches. The team finished the 2016 season with a 6–2 record under him.

The 2018 season saw LSU upset No. 8 Miami and No. 7 Auburn. They also had a shocking upset win over No. 2 Georgia. LSU finished the 2018 season with a 10–3 record and won the Fiesta Bowl.

The 2019 team had an incredible undefeated season (15–0). They had a huge road win against Texas, known as the "3rd-and-17" Game, and a thrilling 46–41 victory over Alabama. Quarterback Joe Burrow set new LSU and SEC records for passing yards and touchdowns. The Tigers won the SEC Championship and were named the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. On January 13, 2020, Orgeron led LSU to win their fourth national championship, defeating Clemson 42–25.

The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LSU finished with a 5–5 record. In 2021, after a mixed start, LSU and Orgeron agreed that he would leave the program at the end of the season.

Brian Kelly's Leadership (2022–Present)

Brian Kelly became the 34th head coach at LSU on November 30, 2021. His first season in 2022 started with a close 24–23 loss to Florida State. However, the Tigers went on to win several games, including upsets over No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 6 Alabama. They won the SEC West division title, earning a spot in the SEC Championship against No. 1 Georgia.

Team Affiliations

LSU has been part of different conferences over the years:

• Independent (1893–1895)
• Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1896–1922)
• Southern Conference (1923–1932)
• Southeastern Conference (1933–present)

Championship Wins

National Championships

LSU officially claims four national championships: 1958, 2003, 2007, and 2019.

Year	Coach	Selector	Record	Bowl	Final AP	Final Coaches
1958	Paul Dietzel	AP and Coaches	11–0	Won Sugar Bowl	No. 1	No. 1
2003	Nick Saban	Bowl Championship Series	13–1	Won Sugar Bowl (BCS National Championship Game)	No. 2	No. 1
2007	Les Miles	Bowl Championship Series	12–2	Won BCS National Championship Game	No. 1	No. 1
2019	Ed Orgeron	College Football Playoff	15–0	Won Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal) Won College Football Playoff National Championship Game	No. 1	No. 1

1958 National Championship

The 1958 LSU Tigers football team, led by Coach Paul Dietzel, had a perfect season. They won the 1959 Sugar Bowl against Clemson. LSU was named the national champion by both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll, becoming the only undefeated team that year.

2003 National Championship

The 2003 LSU Tigers football team, coached by Nick Saban, had an 11–1 regular season. They won the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. LSU then faced Oklahoma in the 2004 Sugar Bowl, which was the BCS National Championship Game, and won 21–14.

2007 National Championship

The 2007 LSU Tigers football team, coached by Les Miles, finished with a 12–2 record. They won the Southeastern Conference championship. LSU then defeated Ohio State 38–24 in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game. This made LSU the first team to win two BCS National Championships.

2019 National Championship

The 2019 LSU Tigers football team, coached by Ed Orgeron, had a perfect 15–0 season. They won the Southeastern Conference championship against Georgia. LSU then went on to defeat Clemson 42–25 in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship, winning their fourth national title.

Conference Championships

LSU has won 16 conference championships across three different conferences. Since joining the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1933, they have won 12 SEC titles.

Year	Conference	Coach	Overall record	Conference record
1896†	SIAA	Allen Jeardeau	6–0	4–0
1902‡		W. S. Borland	6–1	5–1
1908		Edgar R. Wingard	10–0	3–0
1932†	SoCon	Biff Jones	6–3–1	4–0
1935	SEC	Bernie Moore	9–2–0	5–0
1936			9–1–1	6–0
1958		Paul Dietzel	11–0	6–0
1961†			10–1	6–0
1970		Charles McClendon	9–3	5–0
1986		Bill Arnsparger	9–3	5–1
1988†		Mike Archer	8–4	6–1
2001		Nick Saban	10–3	5–3
2003			13–1	7–1
2007		Les Miles	12–2	6–2
2011			13–1	8–0
2019		Ed Orgeron	15–0	8–0

Division Championships

Since the SEC started playing in divisions in 1992, LSU has won or shared the SEC West title 10 times. They have a 5–2 record in the SEC Championship game.

Year	Division	Opponent	SEC CG Result
1996†	SEC West	N/A (lost tiebreaker to Alabama)
1997†		N/A (lost tiebreaker to Auburn)
2001†		Tennessee	W 31–20
2002†		N/A (lost tiebreaker to Arkansas)
2003†		Georgia	W 34–13
2005†		Georgia	L 14–34
2007		Tennessee	W 21–14
2011		Georgia	W 42–10
2019		Georgia	W 37–10
2022		Georgia	L 30–50

Team Look: Logos and Uniforms

Helmets

LSU's helmets have changed over the years. Before 1946, they wore leather helmets. In 1956, the helmet color changed to a yellow-gold, similar to the Green Bay Packers. It had a white stripe with purple stripes on the sides. In 1977, the current helmet design was introduced, featuring curved LSU letters above a tiger head logo. Purple face masks were added in 1980.

Special Helmets

LSU has worn special helmets for certain games:

• In 1997, they wore white helmets in the Independence Bowl.
• In 2007, white helmets were worn against Tulane to support Hurricane Katrina relief.
• In 2009, "old" gold helmets were worn against Arkansas as part of a special promotion.
• In 2011, white helmets with gold and purple stripes were used for another promotion.
• In 2015, white helmets were worn for a game moved due to flooding in South Carolina.
• In 2016, a throwback helmet with LSU's original "L" and player jersey numbers was used.
• In 2018, purple helmets were worn for a home game against Mississippi State.
• In 2021 and 2022, white helmets were worn with all-white uniforms for home games.

Jerseys

The current jersey style was introduced in 1957. White jerseys have purple numbers with gold and purple stripes on the shoulders. Purple jerseys have white numbers with white and yellow stripes. Player names were added to the back of jerseys in 1972.

LSU has worn gold jerseys a few times, including in the 1940s and for special games in the 1990s and 2016.

LSU is famous for wearing white jerseys at home games, which is unusual in college football. This tradition started in 1958 when Coach Paul Dietzel had the team wear white for good luck. Fans loved it, and it became a tradition. From 1983 to 1994, NCAA rules made LSU wear purple at home, which fans disliked. In 1995, Coach Gerry DiNardo successfully changed the rule, allowing LSU to wear white home jerseys again.

Pants

The team usually wears gold pants with white and purple stripes. On a few occasions, they have worn purple pants (once in 1995) or white pants (several times since 1996 for special games or uniform combinations).

LSU Traditions

Tiger Stadium Traditions

Tiger Stadium is a huge stadium with a capacity of over 102,000 fans. It's known for its unique traditions:

• 5-yard lines: All 5-yard lines are marked on the field, not just multiples of 10.
• H-style goal posts: The stadium uses "H" shaped goal posts, which allows the team to run through them when entering the field.
• "WIN!" crossbar: A crossbar from old goalposts hangs above the locker room door. Players touch it and yell "WIN!" as they run onto the field.
• Night games: LSU has a long tradition of playing night games, which started in 1931. The Tigers often play better under the lights.
• Pregame show: The Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band performs an exciting pregame show, marching across the field and playing "Touchdown for LSU."
• Tailgating: LSU is famous for its amazing tailgating parties before home games. Thousands of fans gather on campus, setting up tents and RVs. It's often called one of the best tailgating spots in the country.
• Victory Gold: After an LSU victory, the lights on the stadium's upper arches light up in "Victory Gold."
• Victory Hill: Before each home game, the football players, coaches, cheerleaders, and Mike the Tiger walk down "Victory Hill" while thousands of fans cheer them on. The marching band also marches down the hill.
• White jerseys: As mentioned, LSU is one of the few teams that wears white jerseys for home games, a tradition that started in 1958.

Songs and Cheers

• Callin' Baton Rouge: The song "Callin' Baton Rouge" by Garth Brooks is played at every game.
• Geaux Tigers: A popular cheer, "Geaux Tigers" (pronounced "Go Tigers"), uses a special spelling from Cajun French to add local flavor.
• Hot Boudin: A cheer about Louisiana food: "Hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on tigers, push push push."
• Tiger Bait: LSU fans often yell "Tiger Bait, Tiger Bait" at visiting fans.
• Tiger Bandits: When LSU's defense makes a big play, the band plays the Tiger Bandits song, and fans bow to honor the defense. This tradition started with Coach Paul Dietzel's "Chinese Bandits" defensive unit in 1958.

Jersey No. 18

Jersey No. 18 is a special tradition at LSU. It started in 2003 when quarterback Matt Mauck led LSU to a national championship. After him, the jersey was passed to other players who showed success on and off the field and had a selfless attitude. Each season, a player is chosen by the coaches to wear this important jersey. Sometimes, two players are chosen, one for offense and one for defense.

"DBU"

Since 2012, LSU has had many talented defensive backs who have gone on to play professionally. This has led to the school being called "Defensive Back University," or "DBU." It's a source of pride for LSU defensive backs to continue this tradition of excellence.

Rivalries

LSU has many exciting rivalries with other college football teams.

Alabama

LSU and Alabama have played each other every year since the 1960s. This rivalry became even more intense after former LSU coach Nick Saban became Alabama's head coach in 2007. Alabama leads the series 56-27-5.

Arkansas

The rivalry with Arkansas grew when Arkansas joined the SEC in 1991. The winner of this game takes home the Golden Boot, a large, gold trophy shaped like the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. LSU leads the series 42–23–2.

Auburn

LSU and Auburn are both called the "Tigers," and they have had many memorable games since they were placed in the same SEC division in 1992. LSU leads the series 30-24-1.

Florida

The Florida Gators and LSU have played every year since 1971. This rivalry is known for close games and often involves highly ranked teams. Between 2006 and 2008, the winner of the Florida-LSU game went on to win the national championship. Florida leads the series 33–31–3.

Mississippi State

The LSU–Mississippi State rivalry is LSU's longest, with 108 meetings. Both teams are founding members of the SEC. LSU leads the series 75-36-3.

Ole Miss

Ole Miss is another traditional SEC rival for LSU. Games between these two schools were very important in the 1950s and 60s. The winner now receives the Magnolia Bowl Trophy. LSU leads the series 63-42-4.

Texas A&M

LSU and Texas A&M first played in 1899. The rivalry has had different periods, becoming a yearly game again when Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2011. In 2018, they played a record-breaking game with 7 overtimes! LSU leads the series 32–23–3.

Tulane

LSU's oldest rival is Tulane. Their first game was in 1893. They used to play for the Tiger Rag. This rivalry was very strong for many years but became less frequent after Tulane left the SEC. LSU leads the series 69–23–7.

Yearly Records

All-Time Record vs. Current SEC Teams

School	LSU record	Streak	First meeting	Last meeting
Alabama	26-55–5	Lost 1	1895	2023
Arkansas	43-23–2	Won 2	1901	2023
Auburn	30–24–1	Won 2	1901	2023
Florida	31–33–3	Won 5	1937	2023
Georgia	18–14-1	Lost 1	1928	2022
Kentucky	40–17–1	Lost 1	1949	2021
Mississippi State	75-36-3	Won 3	1896	2023
Missouri	2-2-0	Won 1	1978	2023
Ole Miss	63–42–4	Lose 1	1894	2023
South Carolina	19–2–1	Won 7	1930	2020
Tennessee	10–21–3	Lost 1	1925	2022
Texas A&M	32-23–3	Won 1	1899	2023
Vanderbilt	24–7–1	Won 9	1902	2020

Bowl Games

LSU has played in 52 bowl games, winning 28 of them. They have played in 20 straight bowl games since 2000, which is one of the longest streaks in college football.

Player Achievements

Heisman Trophy Winners

Three LSU players have won the prestigious Heisman Trophy:

• Billy Cannon (1959)
• Joe Burrow (2019)
• Jayden Daniels (2023)

Retired Jersey Numbers

LSU has retired three jersey numbers to honor legendary players:

No.	Player	Pos.	Career	Retired	Ref.
20	Billy Cannon	RB	1957–1959	1960
37	Tommy Casanova	DB	1969–1971	2009
21	Jerry Stovall	RB	1960–1962	2018

Hall of Fame Players

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Six former LSU football players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which honors the greatest players in professional football.

Player	Position	Seasons at LSU	Inducted
Steve Van Buren	HB	1940–1943	1965
Y. A. Tittle	QB	1944–1947	1971
Jim Taylor	FB	1956–1957	1976
Kevin Mawae	C	1989–1993	2019
Johnny Robinson	S	1957–1959	2019
Alan Faneca	G	1994–1997	2021

College Football Hall of Fame

LSU has had eleven players and five head coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes the best in college football history.

Players

Player	Position	Seasons at LSU	Inducted
Gaynell Tinsley	End	1934–1936	1956
Ken Kavanaugh	End	1937–1939	1963
Abe Mickal	RB	1933–1935	1967
Doc Fenton	QB, End	1904–1909	1971
Tommy Casanova	CB	1969–1971	1995
Billy Cannon	HB	1957–1959	2008
Jerry Stovall	HB	1960–1962	2010
Charles Alexander	HB	1975–1978	2012
Bert Jones	QB	1969–1972	2016
Glenn Dorsey	DT	2004–2007	2021
Kevin Faulk	RB	1995-1998	2022

Coaches

Coach	Seasons at LSU	Induction
Dana X. Bible	1916	1951
Michael "Iron Mike" Donahue	1923–1927	1951
Lawrence "Biff" Jones	1932–1934	1954
Bernie Moore	1935–1947	1954
Charles McClendon	1962–1979	1986

Stadium and Facilities

Tiger Stadium

Tiger Stadium is the home of the LSU Tigers football team. It can hold 102,321 fans, making it one of the largest college stadiums. The stadium first opened in 1924. LSU has a great winning record at Tiger Stadium, especially during night games.

Practice Facilities

Charles McClendon Practice Facility

The Charles McClendon Practice Facility is where the LSU Tigers football team practices. It includes the LSU Football Operations Center, an Indoor Practice Facility, and four outdoor practice fields. It's named after former LSU head coach Charles McClendon.

LSU Football Operations Center

The LSU Football Operations Center, built in 2006, is a modern building that has the team's locker room, a lounge for players, a weight room, training room, equipment room, and coaches' offices. It also displays trophies and memorabilia from LSU football history.

LSU Indoor Practice Facility

The LSU Indoor Practice Facility, built in 1991, is a large, climate-controlled building with a 100-yard indoor football field. It's connected to the Football Operations Center, so players can easily move between them.

LSU Outdoor Practice Fields

Right next to the main buildings are four outdoor practice fields. Three of them have natural grass, and one has a special turf playing surface.

Coaching Staff

Head Coaches

LSU has had 32 head coaches since 1893. Many of them have led the Tigers to bowl games and conference championships. Four coaches—Dietzel, Saban, Miles, and Orgeron—have won national championships with the Tigers. Several LSU coaches are also in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Images for kids

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  1895 football team

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  Chavanne as LSU cadet

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  Auburn vs. LSU on State Field, 1902

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  1907 LSU Tigers Football Team in Havana, Cuba for the 1907 Bacardi Bowl

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  Doc Fenton

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  1914 LSU-Tulane

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  LSU–Tulane, 1922

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  Gaynell Tinsley

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  Arkansas vs. LSU, 2004

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  LSU vs. Tulane, 1973

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  LSU vs. Texas, 2019 "3rd and 17"

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  The Golden Boot trophy is awarded to the annual winner of the Arkansas-LSU football game.

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  Magnolia Bowl trophy