LSU football: History of games against Florida State

LSU football and Florida State end a tremendous weekend of college football on Sunday night from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Both the Tigers and the Seminoles will be out for blood in a game that means so much to both programs. Brian Kelly and Mike Norvell are set to use this contest to assess the state of their teams, who are looking to get back to the pinnacle of the sport following a couple of disappointing years.

Amid all of the talk about the future, it’s time to take a step back and discuss the history between FSU and LSU. The two teams aren’t exactly as familiar with one another as two of college football’s traditional powerhouses should be. However, they’ve met a handful of times before. The September 4 meeting between the Tigers and the Seminoles marks the first time the two will share a field since 1991.

LSU football’s record in all-time games against Florida State is poor

The Allstate Louisiana Kickoff will become the 10th all-time meeting between the historic programs, only the second in a neutral venue. The Caesars Superdome joins historic Grant Field (now Bobby Dodd Stadium) in Atlanta as the only stadium not named Doak Campbell Stadium or Tiger Stadium to host a contest between the schools.

FSU and LSU met for the first time back in 1968 in the Peach Bowl. Charles McClendon’s Tigers used a huge third quarter to propel them to victory in that clash. The Seminoles were within scoring range at the end of the game, but a huge defensive stop from LSU sealed the deal. The Tigers took down the No. 19 ranked Florida State by a score of 31-27.

The two sides would not meet again for over a decade. However, they became quite familiar with one another in the late 1970s to early 1980s. The Seminoles travelled to Baton Rouge for five consecutive seasons, beginning in 1979. They won all but one match-up during their meetings in Louisiana’s capital city, earning statement victories in 1980 (16-0) and 1981 (38-14).

LSU was able to secure a win over Florida State in 1982 (55-21), but that was the last time the Bayou Bengals tasted victory against the team from Tallahassee. The Seminoles returned to Baton Rouge in 1989, escaping with another double-digit triumph, 31-21.

It was now the Tigers’ turn to go on the road, playing in Florida’s capital city for the only time in their history. After being humiliated 42-3, it’s hard to blame them for not returning to the site of the crime for over 30 years. The following season, the two programs met for the ninth time and Florida State earned another victory by a score of 27-16.

LSU has a horrendous record against the Seminoles—2-7 overall—in its history. All of that being said, the two sides have not squared off against one another in over three decades. The Tigers have since become one of college football’s most recognizable brands and enjoyed a lot of success. LSU has won three National Championships (2003, 2007 and 2011) since the last time it met FSU in a competitive contest.

The Tigers will look to improve their poor record against the ‘Noles with a win on Sunday.