Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jonathan Zenon ran an interception back for the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter, as fifth-ranked Louisiana State held on to defeat 14th-ranked Tennessee, 21-14, to capture the SEC title in a surprising defensive struggle at the Georgia Dome.

Ryan Perrilloux completed 20-of-30 passes for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception and Jacob Hester rushed for 120 yards for the Tigers (11-2), who avoided the controversy surrounding head coach Les Miles to clinch a likely spot in the Sugar Bowl. However, the door remains open for the Tigers to head to the BCS national championship game after losses by Missouri and West Virginia Saturday night.

On Saturday morning, ESPN reported that Michigan was set to name Miles as its new football coach as early as next week, but Miles angrily denied the reports at a press conference hours later.

"There's no wiggle room. I just want you to know," said Miles after the game. "It's very difficult for me to take another job if I'm not talking to anybody, and I said that. I'm very fortunate to represent LSU. It's a great place. It's got everything.

"It's a very special place," added Miles. "I'm glad to be home."

LSU, which easily could have finished the season undefeated had it not been for a pair of triple-overtime losses to Kentucky and Arkansas, picked off Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge twice in the fourth quarter and came up with a huge fourth-down stop.

"I'm excited for this team," said Miles."When you stand on top this conference, you have done something. When you work extremely hard and compete as a team, you put things in front of yourself."

The Tigers came into Saturday seventh in the BCS, also behind Ohio State, Georgia, Kansas and Virginia Tech.

Ainge finished with for 249 yards in the air and two touchdowns. Josh Briscoe caught eight passes for 79 yards and a touchdown while Arian Foster added 57 yards on the ground for the Volunteers (9-4), who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

Tennessee held a 14-13 early in the fourth quarter, but on 3rd-and-5 from its own 14-yard line, Ainge tried to force a throw toward the right sideline that Zenon stepped in front of and ran back untouched to give LSU the lead.

"We knew when they lined up in that formation, what they would run," said Zenon. "We had prepared for that situation and we know they would run that play. That's exactly what they did."

Perrilloux ran in the two-point conversion to make it a seven-point game with 9:54 to play.

Ainge and the Volunteer offense went right back to work on their ensuing possession, driving into LSU territory. However, the Tigers held at the 21-yard line and Denarius Moore dropped Ainge's throw on 4th-and-4 to give the ball back to LSU.

Tennessee's defense responded with a quick three-and-out as the Volunteers took over on their own 33-yard line with just over four minutes to play. LSU stopped Foster for a seven-yard swing pass, but on 2nd-and-17, Foster made up for the loss when he caught an Ainge pass and ran 46 yards to the LSU 15-yard line.

However, on the very next play, Darry Beckwith picked off Ainge and LSU ran out the clock to clinch the conference title.

"I mean, with the exception of those two (interceptions), I made pretty good decisions about all day," said Ainge. "It takes one play to get you beat."

Tennessee took advantage of good field position on their first drive of the game, marching 62 yards on six plays as Ainge hooked up with Chris Brown for an 11-yard touchdown reception.

LSU answered with a drive to the Volunteers seven-yard line, but Tennessee sacked Perrilloux and the Tigers settled for Colt David's 30-yard field goal. After a Tennessee punt, LSU again drove deep into Volunteer territory and again had to settle for a 30-yard David field goal to make it 7-6.

In the second quarter, Tennessee stuffed Hester on a fourth-down run and David missed a 30-yarder right before the break.

LSU came out strong to start the second half as Perrilloux hooked up with Brandon LaFell for a 48-yard gain to the Tennessee 21-yard line. Three plays later on 3rd-and-16, Perrilloux found a wide open Demetrius Byrd for a 27-yard touchdown that put LSU up 13-7.

Tennessee then took advantage of a Trindon Holliday fumble to drive 66 yards on nine plays for the go-ahead score. On 3rd-and-goal from the LSU six-yard line, Ainge threw to a covered Briscoe, who broke a tackle at the goal line and walked into the end zone to make it 14-13 Tennessee.