2008 BCS National Championship Game The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans , Louisiana , on Monday , January 7 , 2008 , and featured the # 1 and # 2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll ( a combination of poll s and computer formula s ) to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The game featured # 1 Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes hosting # 2 SEC champion LSU Tigers . It also featured the second postseason matchup between head coaches Jim Tressel and Les Miles in five years . The first occurrence was the 2004 Alamo Bowl , when Tressel ' s Buckeyes defeated Miles ' Oklahoma State Cowboys , 33 – 7 . Team selection . Prior to the last weekend of the regular season , it looked like the national championship game would be played between Missouri and West Virginia . However , Missouri lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game and West Virginia was shocked by their arch - rival Pitt in the Backyard Brawl . This threw the BCS and college football world into upheaval . By virtue of winning the Big Ten and having only one loss , Ohio State looked to be guaranteed a berth in the BCS championship game . After much speculation , LSU was revealed to be the number two team in the ratings , and therefore the Buckeyes ' opponent in the title game . Pre - game buildup . After intense media speculation , including a report on ESPN which indicated that he was on the verge of taking the Michigan job , LSU head coach Les Miles announced just before the SEC championship game on December 1 that he was staying . Shortly thereafter , he agreed to a contract extension at LSU . Additionally , LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini accepted the head coaching job at Nebraska the day after the SEC title game . With the blessing of Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne , Pelini returned to Baton Rouge to prepare for the BCS championship game . As for the Buckeyes , two cornerback s , Donald Washington and Eugene Clifford , were reported to be suspended for this game for violating team rules . However , Ohio State ' s athletic director said on December 27 that the reported suspension of Washington was erroneous . Game summary . First quarter . LSU won the coin toss and deferred to the second half . After receiving the opening kickoff , Ohio State started slowly on offense before Chris Wells broke off a 65 - yard touchdown run for the first score of the game . LSU went three - and - out deep in their own territory and punted on their first possession . Ohio State quickly added a field goal by Ryan Pretorius to go up 10 - 0 . LSU then marched efficiently down field , but their 14 - play / 65 - yard drive stalled in the red zone and Colt David kicked a 32 - yard field goal . The first quarter ended with LSU on offense and trailing , 10 - 3 . Second quarter . LSU scored early in the period with a 12 - yard Matt Flynn touchdown pass to tight end Richard Dickson , tying the score at 10 . The drive was aided by two penalties totaling 28 yards by Ohio State ' s defense . LSU ' s Ricky Jean - Francois then blocked a 38 - yard Pretorius field goal attempt on Ohio State ' s next possession . Momentum appeared to be shifting to LSU ' s sideline . LSU began the ensuing drive from their 34 . The Tigers marched 66 yards in 3 : 28 ; a 10 - yard Brandon LaFell touchdown reception from Flynn culminated the drive . On the next Buckeye possession , quarterback Todd Boeckman was intercepted by cornerback Chevis Jackson who returned the ball 34 yards into Ohio State territory . LSU moved down to the goal line and running back Jacob Hester punched the ball in to give the Tigers a 14 - point lead . A short Buckeye drive led to a punt and LSU was content to go into halftime having scored 24 unanswered points . Third quarter . LSU started the second half with the ball and a 24 - 10 lead . The Ohio State defense appeared to have forced a punt on LSU ' s first drive , but a roughing the punter penalty by Buckeye linebacker Austin Spitler gave LSU a first down . The Tigers parlayed the personal foul into a touchdown , as Early Doucet later received a short pass from Flynn and broke a series of tackles at the five - yard line and walked into the endzone . Ohio State seemed to be fading but with 3 : 50 left in the quarter , Flynn was intercepted by cornerback Malcolm Jenkins , who returned the ball 21 yards to the LSU 11 . Three " Beanie " Wells runs brought the Buckeye offense down to the five and Boeckman proceeded to throw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Robiskie on fourth down , pulling the Buckeyes to within 31 - 17 . Fourth quarter . After LSU punted early in the quarter Ohio State put together a solid drive , reaching the LSU 34 . However the offense stalled and the Buckeyes were forced to go for it on fourth - and - seven . Boeckman dropped back to pass and was hit on his throwing arm just before the arm could start to come forward . The hit — made by LSU linebacker Ali Highsmith — caused a fumble and LSU recovered in Ohio State territory . The play was reviewed to determine if it was a forward pass but the ruling on the field was upheld and LSU got the ball with 10 : 37 left in the game . The Tigers then went three - and - out , but on Ohio State ' s next possession Boeckman was intercepted by safety Curtis Taylor . With 5 : 37 remaining , LSU ' s fate as National Champions was essentially sealed . The Tigers added another touchdown , a five - yard strike from Flynn to Dickson ( his second TD reception of the game ) . Ohio State then scored on a late touchdown pass from Boeckman to wide receiver Brian Hartline before failing to convert an onside kick . LSU ran out the clock and celebrated their 38 - 24 BCS National Championship Game win . Historical implications . This was the first national championship game in the BCS era to feature two teams that had previously won a BCS national championship . Louisiana State became the first school ever to win two BCS championships . The Tigers had previously defeated Oklahoma , 21 - 14 , in the 2004 Sugar Bowl , which served as the 2003 season ' s BCS championship game . LSU was the first team since 1960 to be national champions with two losses .