The 2019-2020 college football season was certainly one to remember. We had a once in a decade season from LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who accounted for 65 total touchdowns en route to leading the LSU Tigers to a national championship. With all of the hype about LSU going into the game, it was easy to forget about the Clemson Tigers. However, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence had not lost a game in his career before Monday night’s matchup.

It seemed as if it was a home game for LSU, who made the 60-minute drive from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Despite all of that hype, Clemson came into the game ready to pull off an upset, holding LSU to 0 points during their first 3 possessions. No team had done this the entire year. Clemson took a 7-0 lead until Joe Burrow found wide receiver Jamar Chase for a 52-yard bomb down the right sideline to tie the game up on LSU’s fourth possession near the end of the 1st quarter. After a field goal by Clemson kicker BT Potter, Clemson felt as if it needed a spark to start the second quarter, calling a reverse to wide receiver Tee Higgins for a 36-yard touchdown. Although their backs were against the wall, LSU dominated until halftime. The Bayou Bengals scored 3 touchdowns in 10 minutes, including a 6-yard touchdown to Thaddeus Moss, son of NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss, with 14 seconds left in the 2nd quarter to make it a 28-17 game going into the half. It was very evident though that both teams knew it was going to take all they had to win the game.

Clemson opened up the second half scoring with a bruising run by star running back Travis Etteine followed by a two-point conversion to make it a 25-28 game. It seemed as if Dabo Swinney had brought his team back into the game until a key targeting penalty called against Clemson linebacker James Skalski moved the ball inside the 5-yard line, where LSU has been dominant all year long. Burrow quickly capitalized with a 4-yard strike to Moss. The game went quiet until Burrow found sophomore Terrace Marshall Jr., who made a spectacular catch in the endzone to make the score 42-25. After Lawrence fumbled with a little under 5 minutes left, LSU ran out the clock, and Burrow took a knee to secure the win. 

After the game, Coach Ed Orgeron graciously turned the spotlight to his players. “I’m so happy for our team, it’s about our team, about our coaching staff; it’s about the great state of Louisiana.” He talked about how everyone involved deserves this, and Joe Burrow did much of the same. “So many people put in so much work for this, Athletic Trainers, Equipment staff, players, coaches, chefs.” Coach O’s motto for the year was “One Team, One Heatbeat,” and this years team truly lived up to that. They were all for being the best for one another and got the ultimate result, a National Title. The Bayou Bengals finally got over the hump, and it will be interesting to see if they can do it again next year. For now though, “Geaux Tigers” reigns supreme throughout the college football landscape.