5 Myths About LSU Football 2007 Debunked

The 2007 LSU Tigers football season remains one of the most debated and chaotic campaigns in college football history. While the program secured a BCS National Championship, the path to the title was filled with unconventional losses, shifting rankings, and intense media scrutiny. By examining the facts behind the narrative, we can clarify the realities of this historic season.

The 2007 season was defined by parity and unpredictability. For decades, the narrative has persisted that LSU somehow backed into the national title game despite losing two games in triple-overtime. In reality, the Tigers’ path was forged by the collective failures of their competitors and their own resilience in high-stakes environments. Debunking the myths surrounding this team requires an objective look at the BCS era's unique mechanics and the specific performance of the 2007 roster under head coach Les Miles.

Myth 1: LSU Was Not the Best Team in the Country

A common refrain from critics is that a two-loss team had no business playing for, let alone winning, the national championship. This myth posits that LSU was merely the "least bad" option in a year where the sport lacked a dominant force.

When evaluating the 2007 season, it is essential to remember the context of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). The rankings were determined by a combination of human polls (AP and Coaches) and computer algorithms. By the end of the regular season, LSU had defeated multiple ranked opponents, including Virginia Tech, Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee. Their two losses came to Kentucky and Arkansas, both in triple-overtime on the road.

If you compare LSU to the other top-tier contenders—such as Ohio State, Oklahoma, or Georgia—none possessed a significantly more impressive resume. The "best team" argument ignores the fact that LSU’s defense was consistently elite, ranking in the top five nationally for much of the season, and their special teams were among the most opportunistic in the SEC. They were not an accidental champion; they were the only team that managed to survive the most turbulent season in modern college football history.

Myth 2: The Coaching Staff Was Unprepared for the Triple-Overtime Losses

There is a pervasive belief that Les Miles and his coaching staff were tactically inept, leading to the losses against Kentucky and Arkansas. This myth frames the 2007 season as a success in spite of coaching, rather than because of it.

In reality, LSU’s losses were the result of late-game fatigue and aggressive defensive play-calling that failed to materialize in overtime against high-powered offenses. Against Arkansas, the Tigers faced a Darren McFadden-led squad that played with nothing to lose. The loss to Kentucky was equally about the brilliance of quarterback Andre Woodson, who performed at an elite level.

The coaching staff, however, demonstrated a remarkable ability to pivot. Following the Arkansas loss, the team faced a must-win situation in the SEC Championship game against Tennessee. Les Miles successfully navigated the locker room dynamics, keeping the players focused despite external rumors regarding his potential departure for the University of Michigan. This ability to maintain stability during a period of high pressure is a hallmark of effective coaching, not failure.

Myth 3: LSU Needed a "Miracle" to Reach the BCS Title Game

Many casual observers believe that LSU required a series of impossible events to occur in the final week of the season to jump from seventh to second in the BCS standings. While the final week was indeed chaotic, the "miracle" narrative oversimplifies the mathematical reality of the rankings.

The climb into the top two was supported by a specific series of outcomes:

• Missouri's Loss: They were ranked No. 1 and lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship.
• West Virginia's Loss: They were ranked No. 2 and suffered an upset at the hands of Pittsburgh.

When these teams lost, LSU did not need to perform a miracle; they simply needed to win the SEC Championship. By defeating Tennessee 21-14, LSU validated their position. The math was standard BCS protocol: a conference champion with a high strength-of-schedule rating will almost always leapfrog one-loss teams from weaker conferences or those that do not win their own division. The "miracle" was actually the collective collapse of other programs, while LSU remained the most consistent survivor.

Myth 4: The 2007 LSU Offense Was One-Dimensional

A lingering critique of the 2007 Tigers is that their offense was stagnant, relying solely on a "three yards and a cloud of dust" philosophy. Critics often point to the team’s struggles in overtime games as evidence of an inability to move the ball through the air.

This is demonstrably false. While the identity of the team was built on a physical, downhill running game, the offense was highly versatile. Quarterback Matt Flynn was an efficient game manager who demonstrated significant poise in critical situations, particularly in the SEC Championship and the National Championship game against Ohio State.

The offense utilized a sophisticated set of play-action passes that kept defenses honest. Players like Early Doucet and Brandon LaFell were instrumental in key moments, proving that the passing attack could be explosive when required. The team averaged over 38 points per game, a testament to their offensive capability that often gets overshadowed by the defensive reputation of the program.

Myth 5: The BCS Championship Win Over Ohio State Was a Fluke

The most durable myth is that LSU only defeated Ohio State in the 2008 BCS National Championship because the Buckeyes were overrated or unprepared. This narrative attempts to strip the Tigers of their dominant 38-24 victory in New Orleans.

The game was a definitive statement. LSU controlled the trenches on both sides of the ball. Defensive end Glenn Dorsey and the rest of the defensive line pressured Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman into hurried throws and costly turnovers. Offensively, the Tigers used their depth at running back to wear down the Buckeyes’ defense.

Statistically and physically, LSU was the superior team on the field that night. They didn't win because of a fluke play or a lucky officiating call; they won because they played a more complete game. By the second half, the game was effectively out of reach for Ohio State, serving as the final argument against the doubters who had questioned LSU's status throughout the season.

Comparative Analysis of 2007 BCS Contenders

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did LSU move up in the rankings after losing to Arkansas? LSU moved up because of the specific way the BCS weighted outcomes in that cycle. Other top-ranked teams lost on the same weekend, and because LSU had already secured an SEC Championship berth, the computers and human polls favored their overall body of work compared to other one- or two-loss teams.

Was the 2007 season the reason the playoff was created? The 2007 season was a major catalyst for the eventual move toward the College Football Playoff. The widespread frustration with the subjective nature of the BCS rankings and the controversy surrounding two-loss teams playing for a title led to a decade-long push for a more transparent, on-field selection process.

Who was the most valuable player on the 2007 team? While Matt Flynn provided the necessary stability, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey was widely considered the most valuable player. His impact on the interior line dictated the flow of almost every game, often forcing opposing teams to abandon their game plans early.

How did the SEC Championship performance impact the BCS outcome? The victory over Tennessee was the "closer" for the BCS voters. It provided a concrete, high-stakes data point that proved LSU was the premier team in the deepest conference in the country, effectively silencing the argument for teams like Kansas or Hawaii, who had higher win counts but weaker schedules.

Final Recommendations

To fully understand the legacy of the 2007 LSU Tigers, one must look past the "two-loss" narrative and examine the metrics of the era. The team succeeded through defensive dominance, resilience in the face of coaching scrutiny, and the ability to capitalize on the failures of their peers. For those interested in the history of college football, studying this season serves as the best primer for why the sport ultimately transitioned away from the BCS model. Those seeking to review the game film should look for archived footage of the SEC Championship and the BCS National Championship to witness the technical superiority of the roster in high-leverage situations.