Game 610: LSU humbles Oklahoma on way to CFP championship, 63-28
Atlanta – 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow led No. 1 LSU over No. 4 Oklahoma, 63-28, throwing for 493 yards and seven TDs all in the first half. The Tigers led at intermission, 49-14. Burrow tied the all-time bowl record for TD passes in a game, and WR Justin Jefferson (14 catches for 227 yards) tied the all-time bowl record with his four touchdown receptions, again all in the first half. Burrow ran for another TD in the second half to punctuate his performance.
Take what we can get
We at Collegefootballfan.com achieved what we had hoped for despite not seeing a close, well-fought game that we always prefer to see. First, we sought to see the potential national champ although LSU still has tough, experienced Clemson ahead. It will be a great game, and the Bayou Bengals certainly have a shot against their fellow feline Tigers. Secondly, among 20 performances by Heisman Trophy winners seen over the past 40 years, we just witnessed the best and probably most memorable performance among all winners in games we’ve seen them play in since 1974.
What a play!
Despite the extraordinary stats achieved this evening by Burrow, one play stands out more than any other. On a third and two from his 22, under heavy pressure, Burrow rolled right. Nearing the sideline, in one motion he dove falling out of bounds, but he showed his accuracy to submarine a pass down field 24 yards to Terrace Marshall for a first down. The drive resulted in his second of four TD passes to Jefferson for a 28-7 lead. Jefferson caught this one from 35 yards out to add to his previous score from 19 and soon to be followed by two more from 45 and 30 respectively before the half.
Thanks for the memory
The last scoring pass for Burrow came in a connection for 62 yards on a nice, over the shoulder catch by his TE Thaddeus Moss. No disrespect to Thaddeus, but in 1997, we watched his Daddy, Randy, torch Army twice on short passes for an electrifying 80-yard score and another 90-yarder in one game (LOL! as we say nowadays) for Marshall in a 35-25 regular season win. Both plays appeared in highlight films shown of him on draft day into the NFL by the Minnesota Vikings.
Live and learn
CFF.com came away with two new take-aways from this game. Last year, we decided not to attend any more CFP semi-finals if Alabama or Clemson played unless Penn State turned out to be the competition. The same now goes for Oklahoma, but for the totally opposite reason. The two formers dominated (guess against who). OU doesn’t show up.
This bowl featured our fourth with Sooner Schooner on the field. Our first, the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, was a farce resulting on a dominant Sooner win over an out-matched 8-4 Big East champ Connecticut, 48-20. Don’t count this one. In 2015, Clemson defeated the Sooners in the CFP Orange Bowl, 37-17, on the way to their first championship match against Alabama where they fell, 45-40. Last year, we watched Alabama take a big lead on the Sooners before taking the CFP Orange Bowl, 45-34. Bama went on to fall to Clemson, 44-16. Here we are this year seeing Jalen Hurts, former QB of Alabama, now with Oklahoma getting held to two rushing TDs among 43 yards rushing and to only 15 of 31 for 217 passing yards and no TD passes. No more Oklahoma CFP games for us.
Our other take-away
Coincidentally, in all four bowl games involving OU, CFF.com saw four Heisman Trophy winners perform at quarterback – the Sooners’ Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield (before he won it), and Kyler Murray. Now we’ve seen Burrow from LSU pick them apart. The other take-away from this game for us, we can see why Saban made the transition from Hurts to Tua Tagovailoa long term. We watched Tua against OU last year and he impressed us with his very strong and accurate arm. Hurts has skills to lead and run and pass effectively, but as a pure passer, Tua is definitely head and shoulders above.
Sad note
Before the game, we met up with our friend and LSU fan Joe Rogers, formerly of the Bleacher Report, who drove to Atlanta from Pennsylvania to see his beloved Tigers play. Meeting for a few beers before the game at the Atlanta Braves All-Star Bar and Grill on Peach Tree Street, Joe remorsely noted a small plane with six passengers on board had left Louisiana that morning but crashed moments later, killing all aboard. Little did anyone know then that among those that perished included local sports reporter Carley McCord, daughter-in-law of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. Subsequent reports came out that Steve learned of this from HC Ed Orgeron before the game and coached his offense from the press box above the field with a heavy heart, to say the least. The team found out after the game. Our condolences to Carley McCord’s family and friends.
What a season!
The 2019 season over for us. We’re relegated for TV for the championship game on January 13 between LSU and Clemson. Despite our two blow-out bowl games to finish this year, we attended a lot of exciting college football games this year including six straight determined in the final minute – five of them on the very last play! And in the 150th anniversary season of college football, we got to celebrate our 600th game ever at The Birthplace of College football, New Brunswick, NJ, home of Rutgers, with about 100 friends and fans including 26 who came out from the University of Minnesota for a great tailgate party during their great season.
On top of all this, we got close to seeing all four NCAA national champs play in the 150th anniversary season of college football. We attended games featuring Slippery Rock (D-2) and Muhlenberg (D-3) who both remained undefeated until losing in their respective national semi-finals. We saw North Dakota State (FCS) play and of course LSU (FBS) who both remain undefeated and will play for national championships against James Madison and Clemson on January 12 and 13th respectively. We’ll settle for two of four champs and call it a fantastic season.
Team and Individual honors
We have to give notice to a great season of Navy football we followed closely. Finishing 11-2 and heading to the Liberty Bowl ranked No. 21, we watched the Mids win exciting last-minute victories against No. 24 Air Force, Tulane, and previously ranked SMU. In their finale against arch-rival Army, they triumphed 31-7 ending their three-game losing streak against the Cadets. Their record setting QB Malcolm Perry ended a fantastic career with 304 rushing yards in the win, and with over 200 in six games inclining their 20-17 win over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl. Fantastic season!
In addition to seeing the Heisman Trophy winner of 2019 in Joe Burrow, we also had the opportunity to see this year’s Harlon Hill Award winner – D-2’s version of The Heisman. QB Roland Rivers III of Slippery Rock set records including responsibility for 370 points and 52 touchdown passes for fourth best in D-2 history. He led the nation in passing yards and total offense while he ranked second in passing efficiency. He became only the fourth to put up total offense of 5,000 yards in a season in D-2 history.
More post season analysis to come from our great season! Already planning for next year. Check us out to find out more during the off-season.
Next!
LSU plays Clemson for all the marbles on January 13 against Clemson, of course. Oklahoma opens next season on September 5 at home hosting Missouri State. Collegefooballfan.com is already planning our vacation in Ireland in August of 2020 to attend the game in Dublin between Navy and Notre Dame to begin our season on August 29. Counting down the days now! Thanks for following us and Happy New Year!
