Perfection! How LSU capped epic season with national title
NEW ORLEANS — The biggest game of the college football season pinned the nation’s top-ranked team and the defending champions, and it certainly lived up to the billing and then some.
LSU, playing in a de-facto home game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome an hour away from its campus, overcame a slow start offensively to win its first national championship of the College Football Playoff era, beating Clemson 42-25. It also marks a perfect 15-0 for the Tigers under Ed Orgeron, the national coach of the year, as the Tigers defeated seven teams ranked inside the top 10 this season.
Here were the five plays that led LSU to a national title.
1. The screen game works to perfection
Clemson’s defense made a statement to open the second half, forcing back-to-back three-and-outs and scoring eight quick points to get within a field goal of LSU. Brent Venables’ unit looked to do it again, and with LSU facing a third-and-11, Joe Burrow connected with his top target, Ja’Marr Chase, for a 43-yard gain via a screen pass.
Credit LSU left tackle Saahdiq Charles for helping to clear a path for Chase, who finished the game with 221 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
That play completely shifted momentum back in LSU’s corner and set up the Tigers’ first score in the second half.
2. History made in the Dome
Moments after Chase picked up a colossal first down for LSU, Burrow connected with tight end Thaddeus Moss for a 4-yard touchdown, Moss’ second of the game. Interestingly enough, Moss had one touchdown in the team’s first 13 games, but came alive in the playoffs with three in the postseason.
As for Burrow, it marked his 59th touchdown pass of the season, which is a single-season NCAA record. Burrow finished with five touchdown passes in the game and 60 on the year as he continues to etch his name in college football history.
3. Burrow calls his own number to erase deficit
The Clemson defense was pressuring Burrow consistently all night, and the lack of time for him to navigate the field plagued the LSU offense in the first half. Clemson was able to run up a 10-point lead, which was LSU's biggest deficit all season.
In the second quarter, the LSU offense found its legs as Burrow continued to target Chase over and over. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Chase had four receptions for 101 yards in the quarter alone. Burrow capped that drive with a 3-yard scramble on third-and-goal and cut Clemson’s lead to 17-14.
4. Chase dominates in the 504
LSU has won every game in which it led this season, but the issue on Monday night was getting that coveted lead. Looking to find the right formula, Burrow began to target Justin Jefferson and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The offense upped the tempo and kept Clemson’s defense on its heels.
Burrow anchored LSU on a drive that ate up 73 yards in four plays and less than two minutes before turning to — you guessed it — Chase. His touchdown on an end-zone fade route put the Tigers on top, 21-17, for the first time in the game, a lead they would never relinquish.
5. The one right before the half
Part of the reason for LSU’s perfect season: The ability to get up big, but also hold on. The Tigers entered the contest 12-0 when leading at halftime and that stat continued to be true in the championship game.
Burrow was brilliant as the second quarter wound down, orchestrating a nearly four-minute drive ending with a touchdown pass to Moss to put LSU on top, 28-17, in the final seconds right before the first half expired. Burrow came up with a 29-yard rush on that series and picked on the Clemson cornerbacks in coverage. His 6-yard touchdown throw was part of 21 unanswered points on three consecutive series to close out the second frame that ultimately put LSU in a position to finish the season unbeaten.
