Defeating Clemson 42-25 on Monday night, LSU won its fourth national championship in program history. Texas faced the Tigers early in the season, narrowly losing 45-38. In an offensive shootout, both quarterbacks dominated throughout the entire game, each having over 400 passing yards.
Down the stretch of the season, it was LSU’s quarterback Joe Burrow who made play after play for them, securing a Heisman trophy. Nothing was different against the Longhorns, as he was clutch throughout the entire game.
His best play of the night came late in the fourth quarter and up a touchdown. It was 3rd and 17 for the Tigers with 3:30 left on the clock. With the Longhorn offense scoring on every second-half possession they had to that point, if LSU gave the ball back to Texas, they more than likely would have gone down the field and scored, making it a brand new ball game.
Instead, Burrow avoided the blitz sent by the Longhorns and found wide receiver Justin Jefferson open down the middle of the field just beyond the line to gain. Picking up the first down, Jefferson avoided a weak tackle from Caden Sterns to find his way into the endzone. It was the icing on the cake, giving the Tigers their first big win of the season.
Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson leave no doubt in LSU's matchup vs. Texas
Tigers beat the Longhorns, 45-38 🐯
(via @CBSSportsHQ)pic.twitter.com/SaOiKNQBO1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 8, 2019
After the national championship, head coach Ed Orgeron cited that play as the moment he knew his team was capable of winning a championship.
“When we made that third down and 17 against Texas, I felt like we had the players to win a championship,” said Oregon on the podium after the game.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron on the stage after winning the CFP: "When we made that third down and 17 against Texas, I felt like we had the players to win a championship."
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) January 14, 2020
A play that will more than likely haunt Texas fans’ dreams for awhile turned out to be a play that sparked a national championship for the Tigers. It jumpstarted their season and gave them the confidence to go up against anybody in the country.
Luckily for the Longhorns, they will have the opportunity to get their revenge on Sept. 12th in Death Valley. With LSU losing a lot of their national championship winning squad, Texas will have a great opportunity to do what the Tigers did. Get a big win early in the season and give them confidence throughout the entire year.