NEW ORLEANS — LSU is king after beating Clemson 42-25 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in New Orleans.
Quarterback Joe Burrow passed for 463 yards and five touchdowns, and also ran for a score, as top-ranked LSU finished 15-and-0 to claim its first national title since 2007. He said it took a while for their offense to get going in the first quarter.
“I honestly couldn’t figure out where they were blitzing from all night,” Burrow said. “This was a long time coming. Kind of speechless right now. This was fun.”
LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase hauled in nine passes for 221 yards and two TD’s in the win.
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence threw for 234 yards and ran for a score for #3 Clemson, which led 17-7 early in the second quarter. Lawrence said he wasn’t as sharp as he needed to be.
“LSU did a great job,” he said. “They brought a lot of pressure. They did a good job mixing up the coverages. At the end of the day, I just didn’t play well enough for us to win. Didn’t make enough plays, missed a lot of receivers. Just wasn’t my night.”
Clemson ends its season 14-1.
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said his team is now among the game’s all-time elites.
“This team is going to be mentioned among some of the greatest teams in college football history,” Orgeron said. “15-0, one of the greatest teams in LSU history led by some of the greatest players. Give them all the credit.”
This is LSU’s fourth national championship in the school’s history and their first in the College Football Playoff-era.
(PHOTO: Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
