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.
| Year | Coach | Selector | Record | Bowl |
| 1958 | Paul Dietzel | AP and Coaches | 11–0 | Won Sugar Bowl |
| 2003 | Nick Saban | Bowl Championship Series | 13–1 | Won Sugar Bowl (BCS National Championship Game) |
| 2007 | Les Miles | Bowl Championship Series | 12–2 | Won BCS National Championship Game |
| 2019 | Ed Orgeron | College Football Playoff | 15–0 | Won 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.
| Year | Con. | 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 |
LSU Division titles Wins
All in SEC West.
| Year | Opponent | SEC CG Result |
| 1996 | 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 |
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.
