LSU National Championship Wins

Last Modified Jan 4, 2024 16:55 GMT
LSU National Championship Wins
Source: Getty Images

In collegiate football, Louisiana State University is represented by the Fighting Tigers, also known as the LSU Tigers football program. The Tigers participate in both the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) Western Division and the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

LSU has won 16 conference titles, 39 consensus All-Americans, four national titles (1958, 2003, 2007, and 2019), and ranks 14th in NCAA Division I FBS history in terms of winning percentage. The team plays at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the campus of the university.

How many National Championships has LSU won?

LSU has won four national championships.

(1958, 2003, 2007, and 2019)

Under head coach Paul Dietzel, they finished with an 11-0 record, winning the Sugar Bowl and the AP and Coaches Polls. The team finished 13-1 under Nick Saban's leadership in 2003, winning the Sugar Bowl in the BCS National Championship Game and ranking No. 1 in the Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the AP Poll.

In 2007, Les Miles led LSU to a 12-2 record, the BCS National Championship Game, and the #1 spot in both polls. With a perfect 15-0 record and wins in the Peach Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Ed Orgeron's team finished the 2019 season ranked #1 in both polls.

When was the last time LSU won the National Championships?

The last time LSU won the national championship was in 2019.

In the penultimate regular season game, the team defeated Arkansas to capture the SEC West division title and guarantee a spot in the 2019 SEC Championship Game against Georgia. Led by quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a native of Baton Rouge, and standout receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, the defensively minded Tigers averaged over 48 points per game.

Burrow's 4,366 passing yards set both SEC and LSU single-season records; his 44 touchdown passes tied the SEC record. In the SEC Championship Game, Orgeron's Tigers overcame the Georgia Bulldogs to capture their first SEC title since 2011. They were announced as the top seed in the college football playoff on Sunday, December 8, 2019.

In the Peach Bowl semifinals, they faced the Big 12 Conference champion Oklahoma Sooners, whom they defeated 63–28. Orgeron won the Home Depot Coach of the Year Award and the 2019 AP College Football Coach of the Year Award after the regular season. The Heisman Trophy for 2019 went to Joe Burrow.

LSU National Championships wins years

They defeated Clemson in the Sugar Bowl to finish as the only unbeaten team in 1958, and both the AP and Coaches polls declared them the national champions. LSU won a postseason bowl national championship game and went on to win the national championship in 2003, 2007, and 2019.

YearCoachSelectorRecordBowl
1958Paul DietzelAP and Coaches 11–0Won Sugar Bowl
2003Nick SabanBowl Championship Series 13–1Won Sugar Bowl (BCS National Championship Game)
2007Les MilesBowl Championship Series 12–2Won BCS National Championship Game
2019Ed OrgeronCollege Football Playoff 15–0Won Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal)

LSU National Championships appearances

NCAA-designated major selectors have chosen LSU as the national champion in four more seasons (1908, 1936, 1962, and 2011). In the NCAA records book, they are also listed as the co-champions of the Williamson System for 1935, which seems to be an error.

LSU Conference Titles Wins

In three separate conferences, LSU has won 16 conference titles in total. LSU has won 12 SEC titles since joining the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as a founding member in 1933.

YearCon.CoachOverall recordConference record
1896 SIAAAllen Jeardeau6–04–0
1902W. S. Borland6–15–1
1908Edgar R. Wingard10–03–0
1932SoConBiff Jones6–3–14–0
1935SECBernie Moore9–2–05–0
19369–1–16–0
1958Paul Dietzel11–06–0
196110–16–0
1970Charles McClendon9–35–0
1986Bill Arnsparger9–35–1
1988Mike Archer8–46–1
2001Nick Saban10–35–3
200313–17–1
2007Les Miles12–26–2
201113–18–0
2019Ed Orgeron15–08–0

LSU Division titles Wins

All in SEC West.

YearOpponentSEC CG Result
1996N/A (lost tiebreaker to Alabama)
1997N/A (lost tiebreaker to Auburn)
2001TennesseeW 31–20
2002N/A (lost tiebreaker to Arkansas)
2003GeorgiaW 34–13
2005GeorgiaL 14–34
2007TennesseeW 21–14
2011GeorgiaW 42–10
2019GeorgiaW 37–10
2022GeorgiaL 30-50

FAQs

A. LSU has won four national championships, clinching titles in 1958, 2003, 2007, and 2019.

A. LSU's most recent national championship victory was in 2019.

A. Key players included quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and standout receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

A. LSU was recognized as national champions by NCAA selectors in four additional seasons (1908, 1936, 1962, and 2011).

A. Yes, the listing of co-champions in the Williamson System for 1935 is considered an error in the NCAA records book.

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