Know Your Opponent: LSU

Returning to play at home for the first time since mid-September, the Gators now face the Tigers of Louisiana State University. LSU traces its establishment back to 1860, when the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy was opened in Pineville. After the college was burned down in 1869, it moved to Baton Rouge and changed its name to The Louisiana State University. The school’s campus was established at its current location in 1926. Currently, the university enrolls around 30,000 students (almost 25,000 are undergrads). School colors are royal purple and old gold (often just purple and yellow in appearance).

The last time the Tigers met the Gators in the Swamp, the
game turned out to be a memorable classic. The 2012 Gators
overcame a 6-0 halftime deficit to win 14-6, mostly through
dominating defensive play and an outstanding rushing attack.
Perhaps the finest hour for Mike Gillislee, the halfback
scored both Florida touchdowns and rushed for 146 yards
against a vaunted LSU defense. Likewise, Matt Elam had
possibly the greatest performance of his spectacular career as
a Gator safety, recording seven tackles and forcing the
game-changing fumble in the third quarter.
Sam Greenwood - Getty Images

The LSU Tigers are among the oldest and most successful programs in the history of college football. The school began playing football in 1893. Louisiana State became a charter member of the Southeastern Conference when the conference was formed in 1933. LSU has won 11 SEC titles; the first was won in 1935 and the most recent was in 2011. The Tigers play home football games in Tiger Stadium, nicknamed “Death Valley.” One of the largest (and loudest, at times) stadiums in the country, Tiger Stadium can seat in excess of 102,000 fans.

Louisiana State has won three national titles in its history (1958, 2003, and 2007). Only two of these titles (1958 and 2007) are recognized by the AP, as the 2003 AP national title was awarded to the USC Trojans. LSU’s Billy Cannon won the Heisman Trophy in 1959 (to date, the school’s only winner). Of LSU’s national championship teams, only the 1958 squad finished with a perfect (11-0) record, winning by at least seven points against every opponent other than Florida and Mississippi State. The 2003 team lost 19-7 to Florida in Tiger Stadium, while the 2007 squad actually lost twice (to Kentucky and Arkansas, both in triple overtime). Coincidentally, each LSU national championship team played their post-season bowl game in nearby New Orleans.

The Gators and Tigers have a long history of playing another that goes back to their first meeting in 1937. The Florida-LSU game has occurred on an annual basis every year since 1971. In total, Florida and LSU have played 60 times; Florida has won 31 of these games, while LSU has won 26 (three games have ended in ties). Recently, the rivalry has become extremely competitive, with the last eight games being won four times by each school and at no time being won more than two years consecutively.