“That was Death Valley. That was the place where opponents’ dreams come to die.”

It is fair to say that LSU head coach Les Miles inherited a program that was already a juggernaut when he arrived at Baton Rouge to take over for the departed Nick Saban — the program had won a national championship in 2003, and probably was as good the following year when it finished 10-3.

It is equally fair to say that Miles and his staff took what they were given and made it into something all their own — in a decade as the head coach at Red Stick,* the Tigers are 108-29 (counting their five wins thus far in 2015), have won two SEC championships, one national title and have registered five top-10 finishes (including three in the top-5). It’s been a remarkable run, arguably better for longer than any other program in the league.

*Now that Steve Spurrier is gone from South Carolina, Miles is the second-longest tenured SEC head coach (at his current job), trailing only Georgia’s Mark Richt.

Part of that run, of course, means lots of juicy matchups, many of them in the snake pit LSU calls Tiger Stadium. By our count, the Bengal Tigers have hosted seven matchups with other top-10 squads during Les Miles’ tenure. Please to enjoy:

Sept. 26, 2005: No. 10 Tennessee at No. 4 LSU

The stakes: This game was actually played on a Monday night because of Hurricane Rita (the forgotten little sister to Katrina), and featured the return of quarterback Rick Clausen, who transferred to Knoxville from LSU because … hell, I have no idea. It was 10 years ago.

The game: Tennessee 30, LSU 27 (OT)

One of the first games that clued fans into the Les Miles Experience (think of a high-stakes blackjack game where the player won’t stop hitting on 19) — LSU built a 21-0 lead in the first half, watched all of it slip away, and eventually lost in OT when Gerald Riggs powered in against a tired Tiger defense.

The fallout: The Tigers not lose again in the 2005 regular season, and wound up in Atlanta after an OT win over Mike Shula’s Alabama in Tuscaloosa (Alabama lost the following week to Auburn). They lost to D.J. Shockley and Georgia in the SEC title game, went back to Atlanta to crush Miami in the Peach Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 12 in the final BCS standings.

Sept. 8, 2007: No. 9 Virginia Tech at No. 2 LSU

The stakes: Arguably the most talented football team in the history of the Southeastern Conference, LSU’s first big test of the season came at home against the Hokies, back when most of us were still under the impression that VT was among the nation’s elite.

The game: LSU 48, Va. Tech 7

This one was over early — the Tigers outgained Va. Tech 327-40 in the first half, bulldozing a defense that had been the best in college football the previous two seasons.

The fallout: Frank Beamer’s program never really recovered from this — nobody could really take them seriously after they were so badly housed in such a high-profile setting. For LSU … hold that for a second.

Oct. 6, 2007: No. 9 Florida at No. 1 LSU

The stakes: Other than the defending national champs visiting the presumptive national champs, with the most high-profile athlete in the nation (and eventual Heisman Trophy winner) playing QB? Other than that?

The game: LSU 28, Florida 24

The famous “fourth and Les Miles” game — the Tigers fell behind by 10 points twice as Tebow shredded the number-one defense in the country, only to keep coming from behind. On their final drive — a 15-play, 60-yard journey — the Tigers converted on fourth down twice, ultimately finishing from a yard out with a Jacob Hester run at 1:09 on the clock.

The fallout: The game was a preview of what was to come for Miles and the Tigers in ’07 — LSU actually lost twice (to Kentucky and Arkansas), but finished in the national championship game anyway (2007 was weird) and whipped Ohio State to claim the crown.

Oct. 10, 2009: No. 1 Florida at No. 4 LSU

The stakes: Once again the defending national champs, Tebow and the Gators came to Baton Rouge two weeks after Tebow suffered a concussion at Kentucky.

The game: Florida 13, LSU 3

It was actually Florida’s defense that owned this game. The Gators sacked Jordan Jefferson five times, limited LSU to 162 total yards and simply never let Tiger fans into the game.

The fallout: Florida ambled through the remainder of an undefeated season, eventually winning the SEC East again but losing to Alabama in the SEC title game. LSU would finish 9-4, with all three of their subsequent losses — at Alabama, at Ole Miss and to Penn State in the Citrus Bowl — coming in the fourth quarter.

Nov. 25, 2011: No. 3 Arkansas at No. 1 LSU

The stakes: Most people remember this season for the BCS controversy at the end, in which LSU beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, only to watch the Tide rise back up to No. 2, to become LSU’s opponent in the BCS championship. Those same people probably forget about Arkansas, which came to Baton Rouge having lost only to the same Alabama team. There was speculation that the Hogs might upset LSU, and possibly force their way into the BCS discussion.

The game: LSU 41, Arkansas 17

The Hogs actually led this game 14-0 in the second quarter, before giving up a touchdown drive to LSU’s offense, then making the suicidal decision to kick to Tyrann Mathieu on their ensuing possession. It was basically a fait accompli after that.

The fallout: You know this tale — the Tigers won the SEC title, went to New Orleans and lost to Alabama in a rematch that remains a bone of contention today.

Oct. 13, 2012: No. 3 South Carolina at No. 9 LSU

The stakes: The Gamecocks came to Baton Rouge a week after crushing Georgia 35-7, the first leg of an October that included trips to LSU and Florida. LSU entered the game a week after a road loss to the Gators.

The game: LSU 23, South Carolina 21

An upset win, sure, but somewhat frustrating — LSU outgained the Gamecocks 406-211, but kept finding ways not to score. They ultimately still built a 9-point lead in the fourth quarter, then held off Carolina down the stretch.

The fallout: Miles got to utter the famous quote, Carolina lost again the next week in Gainesville, and LSU remained in the top-10 for Alabama’s visit in November.

Nov. 3, 2012: No. 1 Alabama at No. 5 LSU

The stakes: One of the bigger games at Tiger Stadium — Alabama entered the game as the defending BCS champs, seeking a second straight title and seeking to bury LSU in the process. The Tigers were seeking vengeance after the BCS embarrassment from the year before, as well as remaining in the race for the SEC and BCS titles.

The game: Alabama 21, LSU 17

One of the better college football games ever played — after LSU fell behind 14-3 at halftime, Zach Mettenberger got scalding hot to lead two touchdown drives, augmenting a defensive effort that shut Alabama down. They couldn’t put the Tide away, however — two fourth-quarter drives ended in a failed fourth down and a missed field goal — and with one more shot, A.J. McCarron led an epic 72-yard drive that ended in a 28-yard screen pass to T.J. Yeldon for the game-winning TD.

The fallout: Alabama went on to win the SEC title and the national title. LSU wound up in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year’s Eve, losing to Clemson and finishing 14th in the final Associated Press poll.