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Home , Ed Orgeron, Travis Etienne

VS DREAM MATCHUP LSU-Clemson is the epic title game deserves for its 150th season

BY DAVID LEE

onight’s game is about game. One team has the preseason On the other side, Clemson Tigers. Two sets of Tigers favorite, while the is Tbattling to be crowned other boasts the actual Heisman orchestrating arguably one of the the king of college football. winner. One began the season ranked greatest college careers of all time. It’s an all-Tigers National No. 1, while the other currently He’s never experienced defeat. Championship, with Clemson in holds the top spot. They have faced The true sophomore comes in its fourth off just three other times. Their 25-0 as a starter and continues to final and LSU reaching its first. This last meeting? Clemson eked out a find ways to win. After throwing clash of undefeated, star-studded one-point victory in the 2012 Chick- five interceptions in the first three squads requires no hype. It’s the title fil-A Bowl. Both rosters are flush games of the season, he tossed 31 game fans deserve, fittingly capping with award-winning players—each touchdowns to just three picks the college football’s 150th season. believing his team will win this game. rest of the year. He used his legs to These two teams are unrelenting. There’s LSU’s Heisman-winning defeat Ohio State in the PlayStation Their similarities, uncanny. Aside quarterback , who put , rushing for 107 yards, from mirroring mascots, both claim on a mind-blowing magic show including a 67-yard touchdown a Death Valley as home. LSU brings in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl dash with the game on the line. the nation’s best offense with a with CFP records for yards and LSU boasts a trio of future pro gaudy 48.9 points and 564.1 yards touchdowns. He’s thrown for more receivers, including Biletnikoff per game. Clemson matches with than 5,200 yards, 55 touchdowns, Award winner Ja’Marr Chase. He the top defense, allowing a stingy and completed a national-best 77.6 and each totaled 18 10.5 points and 244.7 yards per percent of his passes this season. touchdowns and more than 1,400

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Ja’Marr Chase, Biletnikoff Award winner, leaps into the end zone.

receiving yards this season. Terrace as the nation’s best linebacker, machine, LSU had to overcome tight Marshall can be just as potent. Then but he also can line up at safety in contests this season, winning three there’s versatile running back Clyde coverage or rush the quarterback games by seven points or fewer. Edwards-Helaire, who produced more as a defensive end. He may be the “It’s incredible what this coaching than 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns. most versatile player in the country. staff has done, what these players Lawrence’s backfield buddy, Cornerback A.J. Terrell is a first- have done, the connection they have running back Travis Etienne, scored team All-ACC selection. Defensive with the receivers, the protection five touchdowns in last year’s title tackle is so talented on the offensive line,” Orgeron game. As an encore, the Louisiana that he’s starting as a freshman. said. “I’ve been a part of some native racked up nearly 2,000 yards And, of course, there are the good football teams, but I’ve never from scrimmage this year. Receiver masterminds guiding each program. been part of an offense like this.” has scored eight LSU’s Ed Orgeron was named Swinney has his team in the CFP for touchdowns over the last three games. Coach of the Year. If there were the fifth year in a row, this time with the Each defense delivers more elite a College Football Playoff Mount sense that they’re underappreciated. athletes and national award winners. Rushmore, it would include “Focused” was the word he used LSU boasts , the Clemson’s . Both are to describe this year’s team. Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s former interim coaches, with Orgeron “Easy group to coach, to best defensive back. If Lawrence tries taking over the program in 2016. As prepare,” he said. “Every single avoiding him, he’ll have to contend a native Louisianan, he’s the perfect week they’ve been focused on with freshman cornerback Derek fit. Knifing through a stacked SEC trying to get the job done. That Stingley, Jr., who led the SEC with with a revamped, deep and dynamic has not wavered all year long.” six interceptions. Linebacker Jacob offense, Orgeron’s squad bested To fully appreciate the magnitude Phillips led the SEC in tackles. Pass Alabama, Auburn and Georgia—the of this matchup, we should rush specialist K’Lavon Chaisson will last three teams to represent the look at how we got here. be one of the most formidable foes SEC in a national title game. When This year’s College Football Lawrence has faced all season. asked to use one word to describe Playoff semifinal games featured Clemson’s is his team, “grit” was his quick answer. three undefeated teams for the this year’s Butkus Award recipient Even with its high-powered scoring second year in a row. All four

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Easy group to coach, to prepare. Every single week they’ve been focused on trying to get the job done. That has not wavered all year long.” DABO SWINNEY

Travis ETIENNE

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Isaiah Simmons, 2019 Butkus Award recipient, gets ready for the next play.

Heisman finalists brought the star OU in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. of 227 yards and four scores. When power—LSU’s Joe Burrow, Oklahoma Burrow hit Jefferson on a 19-yard the clock hit zeroes, it was a 63-28 quarterback Jalen Hurts, and Ohio touchdown to cap a quick three- Tiger mauling, setting another CFP State’s quarterback play drive that gave LSU a 7-0 lead. record for most points in a game. and defensive end Chase Young. Oklahoma answered two drives Next came the PlayStation Fiesta The three all took later with a rushing touchdown to Bowl, which marked the first CFP unlikely, winding roads to reach tie the game. Then, in a blink, it semifinal to feature a pair of 13-0 college football’s elite stage. Try turned into a Tiger touchdownfest. teams. Clemson marched into the to stay with us here: Burrow left LSU’s record-setting first-half game as the defending national Ohio State and became the record- numbers: 49 points, 495 yards of champions and carrying a national- setting starter at LSU, winning the offense, 403 passing yards and best 28-game winning streak, yet SEC Championship over Georgia, seven touchdowns from Burrow, four Ohio State was the higher seed. whose backup quarterback, Fields, receiving touchdowns by Jefferson. It was Lawrence’s 24-0 record transferred to Ohio State. Meanwhile, That’s right, first half. against Fields’ 13-0 record. Hurts transferred from Alabama to For the game, Burrow set CFP Unlike the Peach Bowl, this one Oklahoma and led the Sooners to records for touchdowns (eight total) took all four quarters to decide. their third CFP appearance. Then and passing yards (493). In the The Buckeyes controlled there was Lawrence, a Heisman pocket, out of the pocket, on the things early, using three field finalist a year ago as a freshman. run… the Heisman winner was dialed goals and a blazing 68-yard First up was No. 1 LSU and No. 4 in. Jefferson’s record day consisted touchdown run by running back

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J.K. Dobbins to jump ahead, 16-0. upping their career total to 55. The Tigers, though, rallied for The College Football Playoff has two touchdowns in the final 2:45 never seen a No. 1 or No. 3 seed win of the half. Although they trailed the title. We’ll see it this year. It’s the at halftime for the first time in 15 first CFP Championship game in New months, they shifted the momentum. Orleans—practically LSU’s backyard. It’s incredible “One of the things I told them The last time the purple-and-gold what this coaching at the half, I thought we took Tigers were here with a (BCS) title on their best punch,” Swinney said. the line (2012), they lost to Alabama. staff has done, “I don’t think we could have “Louisiana is gonna be played worse, but we took their rockin’,” Burrow said. what these best punch, and it was 16-14.” The orange-purple-and-white players have done, Midway through the third quarter, Tigers, however, will be ready a 53-yard touchdown pass from for the raucous atmosphere. the connection Lawrence to Etienne gave Clemson “We know what we’re kind of going they have with the lead for the first time. Ohio into,” Lawrence said. “It’s a big stage, State, though, reclaimed the but knowing we’ve been there before the receivers, the lead, 23-21, three minutes into the definitely does help a little bit.” fourth quarter. That was still the It’s a clash of perfect seasons. protection on the score when the Tigers started a Tigers vs. Tigers. Defenders vs. offensive line. series at their 6-yard-line with less contenders. The best offense against than three minutes remaining. the best defense. Burrow and I’ve been a part of In just four plays, and a little Lawrence. Orgeron and Swinney. more than a minute, Lawrence The one commonality among some good football reclaimed the lead with another these outstanding performers? They teams, but I’ve never touchdown pass to Etienne. A 2-point always show up when it matters conversion bumped the lead to most. And it matters most right now. been part of an 29-23. The Buckeyes answered with Because only one Tiger can be king. a valiant drive down the field, but offense like this.” Fields’ pass into the end zone was David Lee is a Dallas-based writer ED ORGERON intercepted by Clemson’s Nolan who has covered college football and Turner with 37 seconds left. the NFL for more than 15 years. Game over. Make it 29 straight wins for the Tigers, with their seniors

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