The matchup of LSU Football and USC brings back heated rivalries from 2003

When you look at this LSU Football vs USC game, you can't find a ton of on the field matchups between the historic programs. The teams have met just twice, with LSU winning in 1984 while the Trojans won in 1979. You can find a few results by going to the coaches' past locations like when LSU demolished Lincoln Riley's Oklahoma team in the 2019 Playoff. Brian Kelly obviously has a track record against USC as he went 8-3 against the Trojans while at Notre Dame.

The biggest sticking point in the rivalry between these teams actually stems from not playing each other. In 2003, LSU and USC seemed destined to play each other in the National Championship game as the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll pegged the Trojans as the top team and the Tigers second. The BCS system had other plans leading to LSU and Oklahoma facing off in the National Title game for the beautiful crystal ball trophy.

The Tigers would beat the Sooners and hoist the Coaches Trophy while the USC Trojans beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Winning the BCS National Title game made LSU the consensus National Champions right? Wrong as the Associated Press declared the USC Trojans as their National Championships in what was the last split Title in College Football history.

The LSU Tigers are the rightful National Champions after winning the National Title game in the Sugar Bowl. Even if USC was ahead on paper, LSU beating the Nation's third-ranked team would've surely caused the Tigers to leapfrog USC if it happened in the regular season. The USC fans that claim the National Title should turn to their own trophy case and show the Tigers where their Crystal Ball is.

This topic came up on Up & Adams where Andrew Whitworth said this weekend will settle the score between the players on those teams.

The 2003 team was truly special especially when you look back upon the players and coaches on the roster. Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher, Will Muschamp, and Derek Dooley all went on to coach different SEC Programs. Then you look at the elite NFL talent on the team with Joseph Addai, Laron Landry, Corey Webster, Dwayne Bowe, Marcus Spears, and Kyle Williams among hoards of other talent.

What could've been if Nick Saban stayed in Baton Rouge

We don't have to get selfish and imagine a world where Nick Saban coaches all the way through 2024 at LSU but, if he stayed a few more seasons history would change massively. In 2005, the Tigers finished 11-2 with losses to Tennessee and Georgia two programs Saban historically dominated. If Saban's still around rather than a first-time Head Coach in Les Miles, Saban likely pulls out that Double Overtime Tennessee Game and maybe changes the Tigers' fortune in the SEC Championship game. The same may be said for 2006 where LSU lost to Auburn 7-3 and Florida yet still finished third in the AP Poll. We'll never know how everything could've panned out but, we wouldn't trade 2007 for the world.

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