LSU offense has been unstoppable. Clemson defense respects that, ready for challenge
If there’s one thing No. 1 LSU won’t lack heading into Monday’s national championship game against No. 3 Clemson in New Orleans, it’s confidence.
The SEC Tigers have been flashing plenty of it along the road to a 14-0 record, and coming off a 227-yard, four-touchdown performance in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, LSU junior receiver Justin Jefferson feels awfully good about the No. 1 offense in college football.
“I don’t really see how a defense can stop us,” Jefferson said.
Clemson, the second-ranked team nationally in total defense, gets it.
“Confidence is the main thing in this sport. If you don’t have any confidence, I don’t know why you’re playing,” Clemson defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney said Monday at Clemson’s on-campus media day. “Confidence helps (Jefferson) play better and we know what we have in the locker room. All we’ve got to do is our jobs and hopefully the outcome ends up in our favor.”
LSU’s offense has been an animal that few have come close to even containing, much less stopping. They’re averaging 48.9 points and 564.1 yards per game, both tops in the country.
“I guess (Jefferson) can say that because nobody really has stopped them,” Clemson safety Nolan Turner said. “I guess Auburn played them pretty well, a couple other teams did some things. Their stats and numbers speak for themselves. We’ll have to prove it to say otherwise.”
Auburn, which held LSU to a season-low output of 23 points, still allowed over 500 total yards and over 300 through the air.
Led by Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Joe Burrow, LSU has gone over 600 total yards in five games, including posting 692 in a 63-28 victory over Oklahoma in their semifinal.
“They’ve got a great offense. They’ve got a lot of weapons, receivers, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks, offensive linemen. You name it, they’ve got it,” Clemson linebacker Chad Smith said. “We have a lot of respect for their offense. It’s going to be a challenge for our defense and we’re excited for that challenge.”
Behind defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ master schemes, Clemson has shut down high-powered offenses before. Alabama was averaging over 45 points per game in last year’s national championship game, but the Crimson Tide scored just 16 in Clemson’s victory.
“Really, we don’t think there’s any offense out there that can’t be stopped, in our opinion,” Smith said. “And I’m sure they think there’s no defense that can stop them. That’s their own player’s opinion. That’s our opinion. Everyone has their own opinion. It doesn’t change how we look at their offense. We respect them to the fullest. They’ve got a lot of talent.”
Clemson has talent, too. Despite losing four defensive linemen to the NFL, including three drafted in the first round, Venables put together a unit in 2019 that allowed the fewest points per game (11.5) in the nation.
“I don’t have a response,” Clemson defensive end Logan Rudolph said when asked about Jefferson’s quote. “They’re a great team and it’s going to be a very competitive match. We’re looking forward to it. If we bring our ‘A’ game and do the best we can, maybe we can stop them.”
When do LSU and Clemson play?
Who: Clemson vs. LSU
What time: 8 p.m. Monday
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans
TV channel: ESPN
Betting spread: LSU by 5.5