Clemson And LSU To Play For The National Championship

Last season Clemson beat Alabama by a score of 44-16 to win the national championship.

This season third ranked Clemson will look to defend their national title when they take on top ranked LSU on Monday in the home of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

Clemson out of the Atlantic Coast Conference and LSU out of the Southeastern Conference both come into the national title game with identical overall records at 14-0 but their paths to the National Championship couldn’t have been more different.

Clemson had to comeback to beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on December 28th to advance to the National Championship.

Trevor Lawrence connected with Travis Etienne with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter to give No. 3 Clemson the lead and Nolan Turner intercepted Justin Fields in the endzone with 37 seconds remaining, as the Tigers (14-0) erased a 16-point first half deficit to defeat No. 2 Ohio State 29-23 in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff on Saturday night. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/bowl/

The win extended Clemson’s nation’s-best 29-game winning streak. The Tigers trailed 16-0 in the first half before two touchdowns in the second quarter cut into the Buckeye lead to 16-14. Clemson scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take a 21-16 lead into the fourth quarter.”according to https://clemsontigers.com/bowl/

Ohio State retook a 23-21 lead with 11:46 remaining on a fourth-down touchdown. With 1:49 remaining, Lawrence found Etienne for a 34-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead. Turner recorded Clemson’s second interception of the contest, picking off Fields in the endzone to seal the 29-23 victory. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/bowl/

Lawrence completed 18-33 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore ran for a career-high 107 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, the longest rush of his career. Lawrence also threw a touchdown pass in his 24th consecutive game, the longest active streak in the nation.”according to https://clemsontigers.com/bowl/

Etienne recorded his third and fourth receiving touchdowns of the season, taking a pass from Lawrence 53 yards to the endzone in the second quarter and a 34-yard touchdown in the final minutes of the game to put the Tigers ahead. Etienne led Clemson in receiving with three receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Etienne finished with 36 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. “according to https://clemsontigers.com/bowl/

The Clemson defense intercepted Fields two times, one by Butkus Award winner Isaiah Simmons and one to seal the game by Turner. Fields entered the game with just one interception in 2019.”according to https://clemsontigers.com/bowl/

While LSU meanwhile made quick work of their opponent in fourth ranked Oklahoma.

Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow tied an NCAA record with seven first-half touchdown passes, as top-ranked LSU imposed its will on No. 4 Oklahoma to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship, 63-28, in the 2019 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. “according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

LSU (14-0) earned its first College Football Playoff National Championship berth in the sixth season of the current format. The Tigers will face No. 3-seed Clemson in the title game scheduled for Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. CT in New Orleans. LSU has won three football national championships (1958, 2003, 2007). “according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

LSU's road to the national championship game hasn't come easy, as the Tigers recorded a record sixth victory over an AP Top-10 opponent in 2019. “according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

Burrow, who won virtually every major college football award earlier this month, finished 29-of-39 passing for 493 yards and an SEC-record tying seven touchdowns - all in the first half. He added another rushing touchdown in the second half, as LSU built a 49-14 halftime advantage and never looked back.

With 71 passing touchdowns in two seasons in Baton Rouge, Burrow also passed Tommy Hodson (1986-89) for LSU's career record.”according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

Four of Burrow's touchdown passes were caught by junior wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who finished with 14 catches for 227 yards. Terrace Marshall Jr. added six receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns, while Thaddeus Moss catch four passes for 99 yards including a 62-yard touchdown catch-and-run. “according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

With leading rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire being used sparingly due to an injury, LSU turned to running back Chris Curry, who led LSU with 90 yards on 16 carries.”according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

LSU dominated the contest from the start.”according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

The Tigers outgained Oklahoma (12-2), 692-322, and set countless program postseason, Peach Bowl, New Year's Six and CFP records along the way. “according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

Defensively, LSU was led by linebacker's Jacob Phillips (eight tackles; now 105 in 2019), Patrick Queen (eight tackles, 1.5 for loss), and defensive MVP K'Lavon Chaisson who had six tackles including two sacks.

LSU held Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts to 15-of-31 passing for 217 yards with an interception. Hurts ran 14 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb led the Sooners with four catches for 119 yards including a 51-yard reception. “according to https://lsusports.net/news/2019/12/28/football-burrow-jefferson-lead-lsu-to-cfp-title-game.aspx

Kick-off is set for 8:00pm from  Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The game will be televised on ESPN.