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The Auburn–LSU football rivalry, also known as the Tiger Bowl, is an American
college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...
rivalry A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant o ...
between the
Auburn Tigers The Auburn Tigers are the athletic teams representing Auburn University, a public four-year coeducational university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. The Auburn Tigers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...
and the
LSU Tigers The LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers are the athletic teams representing Louisiana State University (LSU), a state university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a ...
. Both universities have been members of the
Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American college athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central and Southeastern United States. Its fourteen members include the flagship public universities of ...
(SEC) 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. The LSU and Auburn football teams have met 57 times, with LSU holding the all-time lead 32-24-1. This annual matchup is known for wild endings, unusual events, and strong hostility. This rivalry game has been the source of several legendary SEC football games. Including "The Earthquake Game" and "The Barn Burner". CBS college football host Brad Nessler has described the Tiger Bowl as "Where anything can happen".


Notable games


1902

LSU beat
Auburn Auburn may refer to: Places Australia * Auburn, New South Wales * City of Auburn, the local government area *Electoral district of Auburn *Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region *Auburn, South Australia *Auburn, Tasmania *Aub ...
in a hard-fought game 5–0. Captain Henry Landry scored the game's only touchdown. "Nearly every business house in
Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...
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 of the season in which 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 John Jacob "Bill" Seip (August 14, 1882 – April 20, 1940) was a player of American football at the college level. LSU He was a prominent end for the LSU Tigers of Louisiana State University from 1907 to 1909, elected to the LSU Hall of Fame ...
. 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. LSU would finish the season with an undefeated record, but did not claim the national title.


1988 - " The Earthquake Game"

In 1988, #4 Auburn traveled to Tiger Stadium with national title aspirations. Auburn (4-0) 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 Thomas Paul Hodson (born January 28, 1967) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers of Louisiana State University, where he holds several school passing records ...
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 An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
on the
seismograph A seismometer is an instrument that responds to ground noises and shaking such as caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions. They are usually combined with a timing device and a recording device to form a seismograph. The output ...
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 - Five 4th Quarter Interceptions

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, LSU QB
Jamie Howard James Walker Howard III (born December 7, 1973) is a former American football quarterback who played college football for the LSU Tigers football, LSU Tigers. Early years Howard attended St._Thomas_More_Catholic_High_School_(Louisiana), St. Thom ...
received multiple threats.


1996 -
The Barn Burner

LSU defeated Auburn 19–15 in 1996 while the old
Auburn Sports Arena Auburn Sports Arena was a 2,500 seat multi-purpose arena in Auburn, Alabama. Nicknamed "The Barn," it opened in 1946. It was home to the Auburn University Tigers basketball team. It was replaced when the Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum Bea ...
, affectionately called "the Barn", burned to the ground across the street from
Jordan–Hare Stadium Jordan–Hare Stadium (properly pronounced n central Alabama dialectas ) is an American football stadium in Auburn, Alabama on the campus Auburn University. It primarily serves as the home venue of the Auburn Tigers football team. The stadium i ...
. After scoring a touchdown, Auburn trailed 17–15 and attempted the two-point conversion for the tie. However, LSU intercepted the pass and returned it for a defensive two-point conversion and 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 ereoutside 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 - Victory Cigars

On coach
Tommy Tuberville Thomas Hawley Tuberville ( ; born September 18, 1954) is an American retired college football coach and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Alabama since 2021. Before entering politics, Tuberville was the head football co ...
's birthday, Auburn blew out LSU 41–7 during a rare day game in Baton Rouge. In celebration, Auburn players and coaches smoked
cigar A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder l ...
s 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 cigars are still seen stands during this matchup. This would be Auburn's last victory in Tiger Stadium until 2021, and the cigars were often referenced as bad luck in causing Auburn's 20 year drought in Tiger Stadium. Years later, Auburn head coach, Tommy Tuberville commented on his teams victory cigars in 1999 that preceded the losing streak in tiger Stadium. “I guess you could call it ‘The curse of the cigar,’” said Tuberville.


2001 - Revenge Cigars

The 2001 matchup was originally scheduled for Sept. 15 but was moved to Dec.1st after the Sept.11 terrorist attacks. LSU fans were eager for a victory over Auburn after feeling disrespected during the last matchup in Tiger Stadium, when Auburn players smoked cigars on LSU's field after defeating the Bayou Bengals 41-7. Auburn returned to Tiger Stadium in 2001 with similar behavior. During the pregame warm-ups, Auburn players stomped on LSU's midfield "Eye of the Tiger" logo, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Kicking off from the 50-yard line, LSU recovered the onside kick at the Auburn 36 and scored a touchdown six plays later. Tensions escalated further when Auburn special teams began their post-halftime warm-ups while the LSU Marching Band was still performing its halftime routine. Kicker Damon Duval got into a squabble with two band members. Later, Tuberville sent a letter of apology to band leader Frank Wickes for Duval's behavior. LSU ultimately prevailed 27-14 over Auburn. After the victory, LSU fans mocked Auburn by smoked cigars in the stadium. This game began a 20 year losing streak in Tiger Stadium for Auburn.


2016 - Last Second for Les

In 2016, unranked Auburn led #18 LSU by the score of 18-13 with 2:56 left in the game. LSU drove the ball 60 yards to the Auburn 10-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining. After 3 unsuccessful plays, LSU faced 4th down with the game clock running and only a few seconds remaining. LSU QB
Danny Etling Daniel Patrick Etling (born July 22, 1994) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue and LSU, and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the se ...
quickly approached the line of scrimmage and snapped the ball to give his team one more chance for a victory. Etling avoided a sack by running to the sideline where he threw to the back corner of the endzone to wide receiver DJ Chark for a touchdown with no time left on the clock. The referee signaled touchdown and the LSU players began to celebrate believing they had won the game. However, the referees quickly announced the previous play was under review. After further review, it was determined by the officiating staff that LSU QB Danny Etling did not snap the ball until after the game clock hit 0:00, meaning the game was over and the last play did not count. This ruling gave Auburn the 18-13 victory and LSU their 2nd loss in the first 4 games of the 2016 season. This rough start to the 2016 season along with the disappointment of the 2015 season, led to the firing of LSU head coach
Les Miles Leslie Edwin Miles (born November 10, 1953) is a former American football coach. He most recently served as the head coach at Kansas. His head coaching career began with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, where he coached from 2001 to 2004. Following t ...
the following Sunday.


2017 - LSU's Comeback

In 2017, #8 Auburn led unranked LSU 20-0 in the 2nd quarter. After a few successful drives and defensive improvements, LSU shrunk Auburn's lead to 23-14 at the start of the 4th quarter. LSU continued their comeback with a 75 yard punt return for a touchdown by D.J. Chark and 2 field goals by kicker Conner Culp to clinch the victory with a 27-23 win over Auburn. This game remains as the largest comeback in the LSU-Auburn series.


2021

Auburn and first-year head coach
Bryan Harsin Bryan Dale Harsin (born November 1, 1976) is an American football coach and former player who was most recently the head coach at Auburn University. Prior to leading the Auburn Tigers football team, Auburn Tigers, he coached the Boise State Univ ...
travelled to Death Valley to play LSU for the first SEC contest of the 2021 season and completed a comeback from being down 13-0 to win 24-19. Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, who was benched the previous week against Georgia State in favor of backup quarterback and LSU transfer T.J. Finley (who made his first SEC start at Auburn the year prior, in a 48-11 Auburn victory on Halloween night), passed for 255 yards and 1 touchdown while running for 74 yards and another touchdown en route to snapping a 10-game losing steak in Tiger Stadium and securing Auburn’s first win in Baton Rouge since Tommy Tuberville’s first season as head coach in 1999.


Future

With
Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
and
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
joining the SEC no later than 2025, there is a chance Auburn and LSU will not play every year.


Game results


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. (Immediately before then, the road team had won four straight, from 1996 to 1999.) The 2006 game was the lowest scoring contest between the two schools since 1935, when LSU defeated Auburn 7–3 in Auburn. 9 of the first 13 meetings were shutouts; however, neither has been shut out since. LSU leads the series 32–24–1. LSU leads the series in games played in Baton Rouge and
Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...
, with a 17–6–1 and 2–0 record, respectively. Auburn leads games played at
Jordan–Hare Stadium Jordan–Hare Stadium (properly pronounced n central Alabama dialectas ) is an American football stadium in Auburn, Alabama on the campus Auburn University. It primarily serves as the home venue of the Auburn Tigers football team. The stadium i ...
(13-6),
Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
(3–2), and
Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
(2–0). 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.


See also

*
List of NCAA college football rivalry games This is a list of rivalry games in college football in the United States. The list also shows any trophy awarded to the winner of the rivalry between the teams. NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auburn-LSU football rivalry College football rivalries in the United States Auburn Tigers football LSU Tigers football