On this date in 1968 LSU won the inaugural Peach Bowl

December 30, 1968: LSU 31, Florida State 27. For some odd reason the Peach Bowl wanted an Auburn-SMU rematch (the two played in their season opener). While each was interested in the Peach, they had no interest in a rematch. The Bluebonnet had courted LSU but eventually chose SMU and Oklahoma. So, LSU ,who also had been high on the Peach Bowl's list was selected to face Florida State, who was on the Peach's secondary list.

The 1968 season was an unusual one for LSU. The Tigers started out 3-0 and ranked 8th in the country (believe it or not 8th was the highest the 1969 team was ranked) before kicking getting blasted by Miami, 30-0 on a Friday night. (for some reason LSU agreed to back to back games in Miami on a Friday night and won the '69 game,20-0). LSU won two more before losing to Archie Manning and Ole Miss, 26-23 in the last minute at home. After a 16-7 loss in Birmingham to Alabama in game one of a double header with Tennessee and Auburn in the nightcap, LSU fell out of the polls.

The next game almost resulted in LSU's most embarrassing loss ever. Miss State came to Baton Rouge 0-7-1 after having gone 1-9-0 the previous year. In the fourth quarter State trailed 14-13 and had the ball near the LSU 10. First and second downs netted two yards. You're familiar with FIFTH DOWNS in games? Somehow the refs,chain guys and the pressbox got confused and on what should have been 3rd down, State had FOURTH DOWN. After screaming to no avail, State kicked a FG to go up 16-14. Later State appeared to pick off a pass near midfield to end LSU's winning march but was ruled out of bounds. LSU eked out a 20-16 win.

As for the Peach, it was played in a driving rainstorm at Georgia Tech's Grant Field. Florida State was coached by former LSU assistant Bill Peterson and had good passing game with Bill Cappleman and Ron Sellers. Defense could play as well, as Florida State held Houston to 20 points in a 40-20 win the week after Houston beat Tulsa, 100-6.

LSU led 24-13 going into the 4th QTR but Florida State took the lead 27-24. The Tigers came back converting a 3rd and 19 and won 31-27. The game was televised by the Hughes Television Network.