Auburn–LSU football rivalry
The Auburn–LSU football rivalry, also known as the Tiger Bowl, is an American college football rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the LSU Tigers. Both universities have been members of the Southeastern Conference since December 1932, but the rivalry dates back to 1901. Auburn and LSU have played every year since the SEC instituted divisional play in 1992.
Notable games
1902
LSU beat Auburn in a hard-fought game 5–0. Captain Henry Landry scored the game's only touchdown. "Nearly every business house in Baton Rouge closed at noon and everybody went to the game". The trip to Louisiana made some Auburn players sick.1908
In 1908, both teams were undefeated and competing for the top spot in the SIAA. LSU beat Auburn 10-2, but both teams may claim SIAA championships, for LSU was charged with professionalism and for some stripped of the title. It was the only game LSU did not win by more than 20 points. “We won every game that fall except LSU,” Auburn star Walker Reynolds told Clyde Bolton in 1973. “But LSU had a pro team.”The first touchdown came from LSU's John Seip. Later, Auburn's T. C. Locke blocked a punt, recovered by LSU quarterback and Hall of Famer Doc Fenton in the endzone for an Auburn safety. According to one source, Fenton was knocked unconscious by a spectator's cane as he tried to get out of the end zone. LSU made the second score using conventional football.
1913
In 1913, Auburn had one of its finest teams go undefeated. Its closest game as measured by points was a 7-0 victory over LSU. LSU's Tom Dutton starred on defense, but Kirk Newell broke loose for a 40-yard run in the third quarter, and eventually Red Harris went across for the score.1988
In 1988, #4 Auburn traveled to Tiger Stadium with national title aspirations. Auburn entered the game outscoring its opponents 161–44, but were held to just two field goals. Auburn's outstanding defense kept LSU scoreless through 58 minutes. However, with 1:47 left, QB Tommy Hodson found RB Eddie Fuller open on a crossing pattern for a touchdown on fourth and goal. Ironically, it was the same play Fuller had caught on 1st and goal, only to step out of the back of the end zone. The crowd eruption was so intense that it registered as an earthquake on the seismograph located in LSU’s Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex, though much of the lore surrounding the game is largely apocryphal. Both Hodson and Fuller later said it was the most physical game of their college careers. College Football News ranks this game as the 17th best finish in the history of college football. Auburn would have likely played Notre Dame for the National Championship had they beaten LSU, as Auburn finished the season with six consecutive wins, giving up only 31 points in the process. Auburn and LSU shared the SEC crown though Auburn went to the Sugar Bowl.1994
Auburn was on a 14-game winning streak when LSU traveled to Auburn in 1994, but it was LSU who led 23–9 entering the fourth quarter. LSU quarterback Jamie Howard threw five fourth quarter interceptions - three were returned for touchdowns - as Auburn extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 30–26 win. Auburn made one first down in the second half, yet scored 27 points in the comeback. Multiple players were hospitalized for dehydration after the game. After the loss Jamie Howard received multiple threats.1996
LSU defeated Auburn 19–15 in 1996 while the old Auburn Sports Arena, affectionately called "the Barn", burned to the ground across the street from Jordan–Hare Stadium. After scoring a touchdown, Auburn trailed 17–15 and attempted the two-point conversion. LSU intercepted the pass and returned it for a 19–15 win. The cause of the fire was officially undetermined, though according to investigators the most probable cause was a grill placed too close to the building by tailgaters, possibly to take cover from heavy rainfall. The fire was shown during ESPN's national broadcast, flames being seen as high as the Jordan-Hare east upper-deck. The game was never delayed, and the Auburn public address announcer continually advised fans: "The flames outside the stadium." Because of the fire and the thrilling finish, the game became known as the "Barn Burner" or "The Night The Barn Burned".1999
On coach Tommy Tuberville's birthday, Auburn blew out LSU 41–7 during a rare day game in Baton Rouge. In celebration, Auburn players and coaches smoked cigars on the field at Tiger Stadium, much to the chagrin of LSU players and fans. The intensity of the rivalry grew with this game, and it was used as motivation in 2001 when LSU beat Auburn 27–14 on the way to their first SEC title since splitting it in 1988. Coach Gerry DiNardo was fired before the season ended.2004
Defending national champion and fourth ranked LSU visited Auburn just days after Hurricane Ivan. LSU took a 9–3 lead but missed the extra point. Auburn tied the game with 1:14 left when Jason Campbell threw a 16-yard TD pass to Courtney Taylor. Entering the game, Auburn had successfully converted on 190 straight extra points; however, AU kicker John Vaughn too missed the extra point. But a personal foul penalty was called on Ronnie Prude for violating a new rule restricting jumping on a field goal attempt, and Vaughn connected on the second chance. Auburn would go on to win the SEC Championship, finish 13–0 and No. 2 in the final AP poll.2005
The hero of the 2004 game, John Vaughn would miss five field goals - his final kick bouncing off the right upright in overtime. All of the attempted kicks were over 35 yards; 3 would have been career long kicks for Vaughn. Auburn and LSU tied for the SEC West championship, but the 20-17 OT win allowed LSU to play in the SEC Championship Game. Auburn tailback Kenny Irons, caught by ESPN cameras prior to the game guaranteeing a 200-yard game, provided a 218-yard performance and cemented himself as the starter for the rest of the season.2006
No. 6 LSU met No. 3 Auburn on September 16, and this marked the highest head-to-head ranking ever. The two teams played what several athletes on both teams considered their most physical game of the season. Both teams were early season national title contenders. At the end of the first half, LSU managed a last second field goal to take a 3–0 halftime lead. Auburn took the lead with a third-quarter touchdown, and had two fourth quarter stops to win 7–3 in the lowest scoring game since an LSU 6–0 victory in 1935. In the final moments, playing with no timeouts left, JaMarcus Russell threw short of the end-zone to Craig Davis and Brock delivered a hit on the four yard-line to seal the Auburn victory. The victory helped Auburn climb to No. 2 in the AP Poll, while LSU fell to No. 10.2007
made a last-second catch in the end zone to win it for LSU, 30–24. Down 24–23 and driving late in the game, LSU was in field goal range with the clock running and one timeout left. However, in one of the most discussed play calls of the 2007 season, Les Miles decided to try a long pass to the end zone before a possible FG attempt. Afterwards, Miles stated there was enough time for a 41-yard FG had the pass been incomplete, and the game clock proved him correct; though conventional wisdom argued the safer bet was to advance the ball a few yards, use the time-out, and try the field goal. LSU, despite finishing the year with two losses, would go on to win the SEC and BCS National Championship.2010
In 2010, the game was played at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn. Both teams were undefeated and ranked in the top 10: Auburn was 4th, and LSU 6th. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton excelled on the ground. He ran for a career-high 217 yards with 2 TD. Auburn totaled 440 yards rushing, which was the most ever achieved by the team against an SEC defense. The game was tied at 17 late in the fourth, when Auburn tailback Onterio McCalebb ran 70 yards for the go-ahead score with 5:05 left. Auburn would go on to win the game 24–17. Auburn finished the year 14–0, winning the SEC and BCS National Championship.2016
Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson kicked six field goals to upset #18 LSU 18–13 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. LSU appeared to score the winning touchdown on the last play of the game, but after video review the game clock had expired prior to the snap, thus nullifying the score. A first quarter score by LSU would be the only touchdown of the game. After three field goals Auburn would take a 9–7 lead into halftime. In the second half LSU would score two field goals while Auburn would add three more. LSU scored on what seemed to be the final play to win, but after a review, time had expired before the ball was snapped, giving Auburn the 18–13 victory. LSU head coach Les Miles was fired the next day.2017
Auburn jumped out to a 20–0 lead early in the second quarter by scoring on each of their first four possessions: a 46-yard field goal, a 49-yard touchdown pass, a short rushing touchdown, and a 48-yard field goal. LSU trimmed the deficit to 23–14 before halftime on a 14-yard touchdown completion. After a scoreless third quarter for both teams, LSU cut Auburn's lead to 23–21 just 27 seconds into the fourth when D.J. Chark scored a touchdown on a 75-yard punt return that brought the Tiger Stadium crowd into a frenzy. Two possessions later, LSU took its first lead of the game, 24–23, on a 42-yard field goal. LSU tacked on a 36-yard field goal to make it 27–23 with 38 seconds left. Auburn's ensuing final drive ended with three straight incompletions and a sack, as LSU pulled off the comeback upset.2018
Auburn led 21–10 in the middle of the third quarter before LSU rallied with 12 unanswered points, capped off by a last-second, 42-yard field goal by LSU kicker Cole Tracy, to win on the road 22–21.Game results
Series record source: College Football Data Warehouse.Miscellaneous
From 2000 to 2005, Auburn or LSU won or tied for the SEC West Division championship every season.From 2000 to 2007, the home team won eight straight games.
The 2006 game was the lowest scoring contest between the two schools since 1935, when LSU defeated Auburn 6–0 in Baton Rouge.
9 of the first 13 meetings were shutouts, however neither has been shut out since.
LSU leads the series 30–22–1. LSU leads the series in games played in Baton Rouge and Montgomery, Alabama, with a 17–5–1 and 2–0 record, respectively. Auburn leads games played at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama, and Mobile, Alabama. When the SEC expanded, Auburn and LSU were placed in the SEC's West Division. The Auburn–LSU game quickly became a highly anticipated and respected rivalry.
Since becoming permanent SEC opponents in 1992, the majority of the series has been played in September. Only eight times have games been scheduled in October. Beginning with the 2020 season, the rivalry game will be moved to the next to last week of the regular season due to a schedule reshuffling that is moving the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry to October.