‘Divine intervention’

NEW ORLEANS – Les Miles unleashed an ear-piercing whoop, then leaned back and exhaled as if he had been holding his breath all night.

“I just had to do that,” the LSU coach said.

Easy for him to say, now that he has the BCS national championship trophy.

The second-ranked Tigers danced, dodged and darted their way into the end zone Monday night, turning the title game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State. It was over early, with Matt Flynn throwing four touchdown passes in a 38-24 win.

In a season of surprises, this was hardly an upset: Ohio State once again fell apart in college football’s biggest game. A year after the Buckeyes were routed by Tim Tebow and Florida 41-14 in the Arizona desert, they barely did better.

The only difference this time is LSU didn’t eliminate all the doubters. Playing at their home-away-from-home in the Big Easy, the Tigers (12-2) became the first two-loss team to compete for the national title.

And while Miles got to hoist the $30,000 crystal prize, surely many fans around the country were wondering if someone else was equally worthy.

Southern California, Georgia, West Virginia, Kansas and Missouri all put on impressive shows in bowl games, and will be among the favorites in 2008.

“Certainly there will be some argument as to who’s the best team. But I think the national champion has been crowned tonight,” Miles said. “I have to give great credit to some divine intervention that allows us to be in this position.”

The final Associated Press poll released after the game had LSU on top with 60 of 65 first-place votes. Georgia, which is ranked second, got three first-place votes; No. 3 Southern Cal got one first-place vote. Kansas, which finished seventh, got the other first-place vote. Ohio State was ranked fifth behind Missouri.

Shouts of “SEC! SEC!” bounced around the Superdome as the Tigers won their second BCS crown in five seasons. They are the first school to win a second title since BCS rankings began with the 1998 season.

“My team is the No. 1 team in the land,” said All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who passed up the NFL draft to return for his senior season.

LSU rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, taking a 24-10 halftime lead that held up.

“We just didn’t do the things you need to do to win a ballgame of this nature. We’re very aware that LSU’s a deserving champion,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.

Jacob Hester bulled for a short touchdown, Early Doucet wiggled loose for a touchdown and Dorsey led a unit that outplayed the top-ranked defense in the nation.

Ohio State (11-2) had little to celebrate after Chris “Beanie” Wells broke loose for a 65-yard TD run on the fourth play of the game.

“It’s unbelievable to know you’ve failed two years in a row,” Wells said.

LSU, whose two losses both came in triple overtime, became just the fourth favorite to win in 10 BCS championship games. The Tigers added to the crown they won in 2003. Their other national championship came in 1958.

Better on offense and defense, the Tigers got two big plays on special teams – Ricky Jean-Francois blocked a field goal, and LSU took advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty.

Flynn hit Doucet with a 4-yard toss with 9:04 left for a 31-10 lead and the celebration was on in earnest. The Buckeyes made the score more respectable on Todd Boeckman’s 5-yard TD pass on fourth down to Brian Robiskie, only to have Flynn come back and throw his second TD pass to Richard Dickson.

Flynn finished 19 of 27 for 174 yards and was picked the game’s most outstanding offensive player.

Only five minutes into the game, Ohio State and its all-brass band was blowing away the Tigers. LSU looked dazed and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini – who now becomes Nebraska’s full-time coach – seemed to have few answers.

Fortunately for the Tigers, their offense started clicking. On a team full of flash, it was the reliable ol’ Hester who settled down LSU.

First, he barreled into All-America linebacker James Laurinaitis for a short gain. Both players are the rugged type and in a nice show of sportsmanship, Laurinaitis – whose dad, Joe, once starred as “Animal” in the “Legion of Doom” wrestling tag team – helped up Hester.

Hester broke off a 20-yard run on the next play, and LSU eventually got a 32-yard field goal from Colt David that made it 10-3.

That score late in the first quarter seemed to jazz up everyone in purple and gold. The Tigers zoomed into fast motion, the band’s Golden Girls suddenly put more bounce in their step and thousands of fans started screaming even louder.

Flynn also seemed to recognize exactly what Ohio State was trying to do. LSU quarterbacks spend a lot of time with an Xbox, playing a custom-made video game to read defenses. Apparently, what worked on the screen did even better on the field.

Two big penalties against Ohio State helped set up Flynn’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Dickson.

“We had a chance early and a chance later. LSU just made too many plays,” Laurinaitis said.

LSU turned to another of its five dangerous tailbacks, and NCAA sprint star Trindon Holliday zigzagged closer to the goal line. Flynn’s perfect pass to Brandon LaFell in the back left corner of the end zone put the Tigers ahead 17-10.

Then, it was time for LSU’s defense to make the big play. Cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted Boeckman’s errant toss and streaked 34 yards down the right sideline.

The Tigers moved to a first-and-goal at the 1. On third down, Hester plunged up the middle and it was 24-10.