This was the perfect ending to the storybook season; LSU wins the CFP National Championship.

Finishing at 15-0, this LSU Tigers team may be the most successful college football team of all time. Joe Burrow likely just had the best season a QB has ever had in college football history. Ed Orgeron completes his redemption story and proves the doubters wrong. There are many angles to take in this game, making it obvious that LSU was a team of destiny.

Towards the beginning of the game, the LSU offense looked overmatched. They punted on their first three possessions, mustering only 14 yards of offense. Things then turned around once LSU was able to get that first big play off their backs, a 52-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to sophomore Ja’Marr Chase.

Clemson continued to look dominant, going up 17-7 with 10:50 remaining in the second, but then LSU’s offense started moving. Burrow led a five play, 75-yard drive and capped it with a three-yards touchdown run to put them within three. The Bayou Bengals would then score two more touchdowns before half, heading into halftime up 28-17.

Second Half

Now things began to look dire for Clemson. LSU would receive the ball to begin the second half. However, we have seen many times before that Dabo can make the necessary adjustments coming out of the break. It appeared this was the case as Clemson got a quick stop and then went on a six-play drive that ended in a Travis Etienne three-yard rushing score to bring the score to 28-25 LSU.

What we didn’t know is that Lawrence and his offense would be stymied for the remainder of the game. Joe Burrow and this relentless LSU attack continued to just run over Clemson’s defense while Clemson’s offense also had no answer for the great coverage and constant pressure.

Controversial Calls

A big moment in the game changed when Clemson’s James Skalski was ejected for a targeting call and ejected. While this was the correct call by the rule, the ejection tied to the rule is too harsh and arbitrary for the actual offense that occurred. Later in the game, Tee Higgins appeared to throw his defender to the ground, catching a long TD pass to bring the game within ten, but was flagged for offensive pass interference. Upon further inspection, there was not actually OPI and the defender had actually caused himself to fall down. This would have made the game closer at the start of the fourth but ended the drive in a punt.

Closing It Out

Following their touchdown in the first drive out of halftime, Clemson ended up punting on five straight possessions before fumbling on their sixth. In this stretch through the last 28 minutes of gametime, Clemson ran 23 plays for 28 yards.

The Heisman-winning Burrow finished with 463 passing yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore stud Ja’Marr Chase had a stellar day with 9 catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Both of these players, as well as many others, had amazing performances.

Seeing Orgeron, Burrow, Joe Brady, Steve Ensminger, and everyone else involved with LSU football enjoy this moment was special. This LSU team is one for the ages. We always said to watch out if LSU were to ever develop a passing game and that they did. LSU wins the CFP National Championship in dominant fashion. They bring the title back from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, making it their first championship since 2007.

For right now, it is time to celebrate in the champagne and cigars, but some are already looking at the 2020 National Championship and Heisman odds.