With more than 700 all-time wins, 11 conference titles, three national championships and countless outstanding players, LSU has a star-crossed past. Which teams in the school’s 110-year football history stand out above the rest?

Here are the top five teams in LSU history:

5. 2001 (10-3): There are plenty of teams to choose from for the last slot on our list — 1961, 1936 and 1959 all come to mind — but Nick Saban’s 2001 team had too much talent to leave off, and when you add in the SEC title the team won it pushes it over the top. LSU won its first SEC title since 1988, when it shared a championship with Auburn. The three losses that season were offset by the SEC championship game upset and a Sugar Bowl romp. This is the team that established LSU as a perennial national power.

Notable: LSU made its first appearance in the SEC championship game, while Josh Reed became the first Biletnikoff winner in SEC history and set several receiving records along the way.

Best players: WR Josh Reed (All-American, Biletnikoff Award), QB Rohan Davey

Memorable game: LSU went into the SEC title game against No. 2 Tennessee as a heavy underdog, but LSU hung tough. Even when Davey went down with an injury, backup Matt Mauck stepped in led a comeback, bringing LSU back from a 17-7 hole to knock off the Volunteers and keep them out of the BCS title game.

4. 2011 (13-1): The 2011 Tigers may well have been the most talented team in school history, but their defeat in the national title game knocks them a peg below LSU’s three championship winners. There’s no questioning the otherwise dominant season the 2011 team had. The Tigers had a powerful rushing attack, a terrifying, turnover-forcing defense and one of the most stocked teams in recent SEC history en route to an SEC championship.

Notable: The BCS title game that year, which LSU lost 21-0 to Alabama, was the first time two teams from the same conference met in the BCS title game, as well as the first time the game featured a rematch.

Best players: DB Tyrann Mathieu (All-American, Bednarik Award, Heisman finalist), WR Reuben Randle (first-team All-SEC), DT Bennie Logan

3. 2007 (12-2): LSU dropped two games en route to its second BCS title, the first BCS champ to do so, but both losses came in overtime thrillers. They weren’t quite as dominant as the first BCS champion in school history, with offense and defense both ranking outside of the top-10 nationally. LSU overcame the loss of 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell and rode Matt Flynn to the title.

Notable: Aside from being the first and only two-loss BCS champion, LSU became the first school to win two BCS championships.

Best players: DT Glenn Dorsey (All-American, Outland, Lombardi and Nagurski Award winner), S Craig Steltz (All-American)

Memorable game: With Matt Flynn sidelined by injury, backup quarterback Ryan Perriloux stepped in to lead the Tigers to a 21-14 win over Tennessee, vaulting them from No. 7 to No. 2 in the BCS standings. The game is well-remembered for another reason; not long before kickoff, Les Miles called a press conference to refute an erroneous report that he’d accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater, Michigan.

2. 1958 (11-0): Paul Dietzel led LSU to its first national championship and the second — and most recent — undefeated season in school history. The Tigers started the season unranked in the AP poll, but rose to No. 1 by the start of November. The defense was best in the country, allowing just 4.8 points per game. The Tigers were known that year for running out line changes on defense to minimize fatigue, split into “White Team,” “Go Team,” and “Chinese Bandits.”

Notable: Iowa was awarded the FWAA national championship in 1958, but the AP and coaches polls both awarded LSU the title, giving the Tigers the first recognized championship in school history.

Best player: HB/FB/TE Billy Cannon (All-American, UPI Player of the Year)

Memorable game: LSU played its closest game in the Sugar Bowl against No. 12 Clemson. Cannon broke a scoreless tie with a pass to Mickey Mangham, showing off his do-it-all ability. LSU held on to win, 7-0, to clinch the national title.

1. 2003 (13-1): LSU’s won  its first national championship season in 45 years in a one-loss season. The sole defeat was actually a rare home defeat at the hands of cross-divisional rival Florida. Outside of that loss, Saban’s Tigers rolled over everyone in their path. The coaching staff was as loaded as the roster; the defense, coached by Will Muschamp, was the best in the nation and allowed just 11 points per game, while future national champion Jimbo Fisher ran the offense. Seven players were drafted away from the team in 2004, but many other contributors went on to star at the next level.

Notable: The tradition of passing down jersey No. 18 to a team leader began with this team. Matt Mauck was No. 18 on the 2003 team, passing it down to fullback Jacob Hester the next season.

Best players: CB Corey Webster (All-American), WR Michael Clayton, DE Marcus Spears (first-team All-SEC)

Memorable game: LSU’s season teetered on the brink when it traveled to play Ole Miss in Week 11. The Rebels, ranked No. 15, could have clinched the SEC West with a win. Instead, LSU beat up on quarterback Eli Manning and held off a fourth-quarter rally for a 17-14 win.