Imagine playing for a national championship on your home field. For most, it is a dream. For miamiIt is Monday.
Each year, the College Football Playoff national championship game rotates among a handful of host sites. One such site is Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, which hosted the 2021 CFP Championship Game alabama And Ohio State. This year marked a return to the front of the rotation for Hard Rock – at the same time as the Hurricanes, who are Hard Rock’s collegiate residents in the fall – made their first national title game in more than 20 years.
While a team playing the national championship game in its home stadium is unprecedented in FBS history, it would not be the first time a title game actually featured a “home” team. This year will mark the ninth national championship of the BCS and playoff era in which one of the competing teams will be from the same state as the title matchup host.
In fact, LSU State championship game trips have turned into a habit. All of the school’s title game appearances since the beginning of the championship game era have occurred in years when said championship was being held in the Superdome in New Orleans. In turn, in four of the five years since the beginning of the BCS era that the Superdome has hosted the national championship game, LSU has been featured as one of the participating teams.
State teams have an identical 4-4 record in such title games. Would Miami’s even greater local home field advantage provide the incentive needed to break the tie in favor of local squads? Here’s how each team playing a BCS or playoff championship game in their home state fared.
LSU, 2020, New Orleans
Result: 42-25 LSU win
The final destination of one of the most iconic teams in recent college football history was just off campus. final game joe burro, jammer chase And Justin JeffersonThe -Led Tigers played their undefeated 2019 campaign in the then-Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, about 80 miles southwest of LSU’s Baton Rouge campus on Interstate 10.
The title game’s proximity to campus produced a memorable row. in a promotional video Issued by the school before the matchup: “It’s a 60-minute drive for a 60-minute game.”
Georgia2018, Atlanta
Result: 26-23 alabama win
The Bulldogs’ first quest under coach Kirby Smart to win the program’s first national title in decades came in Smart’s second season, and was accomplished in a very short period of time. Playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, about 70 miles west of Samford Stadium in Georgia, a 41-yard walk-off touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Devonta Smith led the Crimson Tide to an overtime victory.
LSU, 2012, New Orleans
Result: 21-0 alabama win
The 2018 championship was not the first time Alabama sent a championship opponent playing in its home state back to campus disappointed – the Crimson Tide also came out on top during the 2012 BCS national championship game against LSU in New Orleans. The Tigers had defeated Alabama in a 9–6 overtime slugfest early in the season, but the title game rematch was not particularly close. The Crimson Tide outgained LSU 384–92, thanks to five field goals by kicker Jeremy Shelley, who were slowly but surely pulling away.
Florida2009, Miami Gardens, Florida
Result: 24-14 Florida win
The drive from Gainesville, Florida to Dolphin Stadium in then-Miami Gardens isn’t as easy as Baton Rouge to New Orleans or Athens to Atlanta, but any Gators fan who made the trek to the 2009 BCS national championship would have been happy to have gone back north.
Tim Tebow throws two touchdowns as Florida leaves oklahoma 24-14, with Tebow Gator Chomping The Gators secured the school’s second title in three years.
LSU, 2008, New Orleans
Result: 38-24 LSU win
Things didn’t start out very strong for the Tigers in the 2008 national championship game – Ohio State broke off a 65-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the game before kicking a field goal on its next possession to take a quick 10–0 lead.
However, LSU eventually found its rhythm, reaching the end zone three times on three second-quarter drives to go into halftime up 24–10. The Tigers would get the job done in the second half, with Matt Flynn throwing his third and fourth touchdown passes to give LSU a 38–24 victory and delight the state faithful.
USC2006, Pasadena, California
It’s one thing to play for a national title in your traditional home stadium. Playing for a national title in its cross-town rival’s home stadium is another thing, which USC did in the 2006 title game against Texas.
Remembered as one of the best college football games of all timeThe matchup featured a fierce battle between two star-studded teams, before the Longhorns mounted a memorable comeback in the final few minutes. Vince Young sprinted into the end zone for the game-winning score and stopped the Trojans just 19 seconds short of their 35th consecutive win and third consecutive national title.
LSU, 2004, New Orleans
Result: 21-14 LSU win
The Tigers’ first national title game experience in the Bayou State was a victorious one, with LSU capturing its first national championship of the BCS era – and the school’s first national title in four decades.
Defensive end Marcus Spears’ 20-yard pick-six was key in the low-scoring game, putting the Tigers ahead 21–7 less than a minute into the second half. LSU’s strong defense kept Oklahoma at bay and won 21–14.
Florida State2001, miami
Result: 13-2 Oklahoma win
Florida State’s trip to then-Pro Player Stadium for the 2001 national championship game was not much of a positive experience for the “home” team.
The defending national champion Seminoles were effectively eliminated. Florida State’s only points came with less than a minute left in the game when a punter flew over the head of Oklahoma punter Jeff Ferguson. Ferguson surrendered himself in his own end zone for a safety to make the final score 13–2.
