LSU would win the toss and defer to the second half of play. After a touchback Clemson would take over on its own 25. Right off the bat, Clemson tried a trick play to see if they could catch LSU asleep at the wheel. LSU sniffed out the play and tackled the runner for a loss.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be the hero of the first quarter scoring on a one yard keeper for those Tigers. Clemson would be the first to get on the board, and LSU would answer back immediately with a touchdown of their own.
Both Tiger teams would be locked in to exchanging punts again. Then on their next possession, Clemson would come away with points. Kicking a 52 yard field goal after a nine play 40 yard drive.
LSU would get the ball back and in a very rare turn of events not score to answer their opponents scoring drive. They would punt and give Clemson an opportunity to extend their lead over the Bayou Bengals. That happened, Clemson scored, and for the first time this season LSU was down by more than a touchdown in a game.
Joe Burrow and the Tigers would take their next possession 75 yards in just five plays, ending in a three yard plunge by the quarterback himself. The Tigers were back within striking distance of Clemson. Defensively, LSU would keep Clemson off the field and the offense for the Tigers mounted back to back scoring drives. Tossing a touchdown to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and to tight end Thaddeus Moss with just 10seconds left in the first half.
LSU looked like it was going to run away with the game going into to halftime. They had just scored three straight touchdowns, and they would receive the opening kick of the second half. It seemed like LSU had all the momentum swinging its way. But on their opening drive of the second half, LSU was forced to punt. Clemson on the legs of running back Travis Etienne would find their way to the end zone, and convert a two point try after. Bringing Clemson within three of LSU.
Thaddeus Moss would again score for LSU with just over five minutes left in the third. The transfer tight end for LSU is having the best receiving season for a tight end at LSU ever. Moss now has the most catches (49) and receiving yards (570) by an LSU tight end in a single season.
Terrace Marshall would seal the victory for LSU scoring on a 24 yard pass from Burrow. The Tigers would then hold off Clemson one final drive to reach a victory for LSU.
Quarterback Joe Burrow would finish the game with 463 yards passing, and five touchdowns. Both records for the National Championship game. Burrow has now finished off the season with 5,671 yards passing. This puts him at number three all-time in the NCAA single season passing record holders, and number one in the SEC.
Shutting down the running game against Clemson was a key in tonight’s victory. “I think the one thing is we stopped Etienne.” Ed Orgeron said. “I thought our guys did a tremendous job of not letting him run the football on us. We knew Trevor was going to make some plays. They made some plays downfield, but I talked to Coach Aranda, had a tremendous plan to give pressure, but we never panicked, and those three-and-outs and those punts were critical to the ballgame. This guy here Patrick Queen had a great game and we had to tackle in space. Had great athletes in space, and this guy made some great tackles tonight.”
LSU completed its amazing run this season going 15-0, being only the second school in NCAA history to do so in a single season.
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