5 keys that made the difference in Clemson’s national championship loss against LSU
Clemson threw quite a first punch, and then LSU swung back.
The 29-game winning streak is over. The dream of three titles in four years is as well. The Bayou Bengals and their Heisman winner prevailed Monday, topping Clemson’s usually stifling defense, 42-25.
Joe Burrow finally got rolling
It took a few drives. Clemson’s defense and a defensive line a little light on top-end star power was getting to him.
Then Burrow started throwing darts, and running. He put up more than 180 yards in the second quarter. He had 55 yards on the ground in the first half. He looked every bit as good as the hype.
Burrow completed 31 passes for 463 yards and five touchdowns. He broke Colt Brennan’s NCAA FBS single-season passing touchdown record Monday (60).
Picking on A.J.
Part of Clemson’s defensive DNA is getting extremely good corners and letting them blanket folks. A.J. Terrell is a very good corner, a first-team All-ACC pick.
But he couldn’t keep up with Ja’Marr Chase. He just couldn’t. Terrell’s No. 8 got a lot of airtime chasing Chase. He also was on the wrong end of a picturesque move from LSU tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Trouble for Trevor Lawrence
Part of what powered Clemson’s win last year was its receivers winning 50-50 balls and Trevor Lawrence putting passes in the right spot. He didn’t have that early Monday night.
For the first half, his yards-per-attempt average was solid, but he hit fewer than 55 percent of his passes. His passer rating came in lower than 122, and in a game where he was facing the worst unit on the field, that wasn’t enough.
He did take some pressure at times, but there were also plays where his ball was just off. And in a can’t-blink contest, that proved to be an issue.
Lawrence passed for 234 yards and no touchdowns and lost a fumble late in the fourth quarter.
Third and a problem
Lawrence’s struggles created another throwback contrast to last season’s national championship. With a freshman QB, Clemson went nuclear on third-and-long, averaging better than 33 yards per play on five crucial ones.
Clemson converted exactly one of its first seven third downs Monday. It had three of its first eight drives end inside LSU territory, two at the LSU 40 or closer, without points.
Not enough gas
After halftime, Clemson went in and made it a game. Dabo Swinney’s squad got their stop, got their touchdown, got within three points.
And then Clemson could get no closer. LSU struck back. LSU gave Clemson chances, dropped a touchdown and then missed a field goal. But the defending champs didn’t have that one last push.
This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 12:14 AM.
