The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle for the Rag

Tulane20-63-7LSU
National Program III#63 of 138–Blue Blood#10 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
4 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

LSU leads the all-time series 63-20-7. They've met 90 times since 1904. LSU has won the last 18.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Tulane
Transfer portal
-4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -26
What fans are saying · program direction
fans think the team's recent performance justifies playoff hopes
RMFW we're playoff bound!!!
Verified verbatim
LSU
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+8
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +15
What fans are saying · program direction
fans think expelling LSU would hurt the conference's reputation
I'll say this again, the SEC is not going to expel LSU. It would be a rash and shortsighted decision and would end up being the single most disastrous decision the conference ever made.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1904–2009

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeTulaneLSUevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Tulane won, gray: LSU won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Tulane was the more pass-heavy program — then LSU took it over.

Tulane threw it more in 12 of 12 seasons, 2004–2015. Since 2016, LSU has led 10 of 11. Real exceptions: 2026.

more passmore runTulaneLSU2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262016LSU 9.0 pts2026Tulane 0.8 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

LSU once won 18 in a row. The biggest win was LSU by 62 in 1958. The biggest crowd, 92,136, was in 2008.

The coaching duels

Andy Pilney vs Paul Dietzel0-6-1
Red Dawson vs Bernie Moore2-4
Jim Pittman vs Charles McClendon0-5
Bennie Ellender vs Charles McClendon1-4
Claude Simons vs Bernie Moore1-3
Henry Frnka vs Gaynell Tinsley1-2-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
45-241
LSU leads
1st-rounders
2-40
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
TulaneLSU
1960s3-6
1970s4-14
1980s8-31
1990s4-22
2000s9-49
2010s7-62
2020s10-57

Best picks, either side

2020Joe Burrow Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2007JaMarcus Russell Quarterback · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2024Jayden Daniels Quarterback · Washington CommandersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1973Bert Jones Quarterback · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2022Derek Stingley Jr. Cornerback · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2009Tyson Jackson Defensive End · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2025Will Campbell Offensive Tackle · New England PatriotsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
2017Leonard Fournette Running Back · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall

Recent meetings

They haven’t met since 2009 — 17 seasons and counting.

2009LSU42-0
2008LSU35-10
2007LSU34-9
2006LSU49-7
2001LSU48-17
1996LSU35-17
1994LSU49-25
1993LSU24-10
1992LSU24-12
1991LSU39-20
1990LSU16-13Tulane — decided by 3
1989LSU27-7
1988LSU44-14
1987LSU41-36