Since the BCS began in 1998, a Heisman Trophy winner has not won the national championship in the same season. Oklahoma's Jason White hopes to end that trend tonight. It was White's Sooners who thwarted FSU quarterback and Heisman winner Chris Weinke in the 2001 Orange Bowl. The next year, Miami defeated Nebraska and Heisman winner Eric Crouch in the Rose Bowl. Before the BCS, FSU's Charlie Ward (1993), Florida's Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Michigan's Charles Woodson (1997) won national titles after claiming the Heisman.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Oklahoma has won at least a share of the national championship seven times, the last in 2000 when the Sooners defeated FSU 13-2 in the Orange Bowl. In fact, OU has claimed four championships since LSU's lone national title in 1958, when the Tigers beat Clemson 7-0 in the Sugar Bowl. Oklahoma's titles: 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985 and 2000.
ORANGE ALERT
There will be tight security at the Superdome due to the national terror alert that was raised from yellow to orange Dec. 21. A perimeter fence was erected around the stadium and each fan will enter through a metal detector. The dome also was fenced at the 2002 Super Bowl and 2003 Final Four. Three parking garages that surround the dome were closed, as well as several streets surrounding the stadium. Some 80,000 fans are expected, with reports of as many as 100,000 in the city without tickets.
SAY THE COMPUTERS
And the champion is ... Michigan. Michigan? The Wolverines, who lost to USC in the Rose Bowl, were the winners of a simulated playoff using 2003 statistics. It was part of College Sports Television's 16-team Crystal Bowl I. EA Sports NCAA Football 2004, a video game, was used to simulate each playoff game. Kansas State defeated LSU on the road in the second round, then beat USC in the semis. Michigan upset Oklahoma to meet Kansas State in the title game, in which quarterback John Navarre threw 272 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan Stadium to defeat K-State.
SUGAR TALK
Each school was allotted 16,000 tickets, but the atmosphere should be in favor of LSU, just 70 miles away in Baton Rouge. ... The officiating crew for the game is from the Big East. ... Oklahoma is considered the "home" team and will wear its home crimson jerseys.
BY THE NUMBERS
LSU
1: rushing TDs against the starting defense this season.
2: games in which a team rushed for 100-plus yards.
6: defensive TDs.
7: games in which LSU held opponents scoreless at half.
21: career TD catches by Michael Clayton, LSU record.
28: TD passes thrown by Matt Mauck, an LSU record.
OKLAHOMA
1: QB Jason White's passing efficiency (167.99) rank.
3: games, due to wide score margins, that White completed this season.
6: Shutouts under coach Bob Stoops.
19: total points allowed in past three bowl games. Only two TDs have been scored against Sooners defense.
22: weeks Stoops' OU teams spent at No. 1.
58: games started by DB Derrick Strait, Thorpe Award winner. Most by an OU player since 1980 and five more than TE Keith Jackson in 1984-87.
QUOTABLE
"Good. They won the Rose Bowl. They can be No. 1 as long as we can be national champs." - TOMMIE HARRIS, Oklahoma All-America defensive tackle after USC's win over Michigan, all but assuring Trojans a share of the national title
