This year, No. 1 LSU did what Oklahoma has done for several seasons now. They nearly cleaned house, taking home multiple awards and snagged the top offensive spot away in the final game of the season.
Fourth-ranked Oklahoma has been completely counted out of the game, especially down multiple players heading into it. But the Sooners still plan on playing the game, regardless of what the country might be saying. The top two offenses, the Heisman winner and runner up, and two up-and-coming coaches are all about to meet up on Saturday.
Here are the three biggest storylines for the Peach Bowl between Oklahoma and LSU.
Script, Flipped
For the past two seasons, Oklahoma has entered the College Football Playoffs with two big time advantages. Heisman winners. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray were incredibly reliable, and provided a spark few players that play the game have. This year, Oklahoma will be getting a piece of their own medicine however, as LSU’s Joe Burrow put together a Heisman-winning campaign that matched the Sooners duo. Burrow has rarely put himself in bad situations this year, and the Oklahoma defense certainly has a tall task ahead of them.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, questionable
The Tiger’s leading rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire, has accounted for 1,291 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns so far this year, but he is questionable to play Saturday. LSU has insisted that their offense won’t look different without him, but the bottom line is that no other running back on the team has been close to his production. In fact, their second leading rusher is Burrow with 289 yards.
One Last Chance
One of Jalen Hurts or Joe Burrow will play their final collegiate game on Saturday. Both have had storied and similar career, transferring into new roles that led them to where they are today. Hurts has amassed 4,889 yards and 51 touchdowns as a Sooner after his transfer out of Alabama, and Burrow has thrown for 4,715 yards on 77.9% completion in his senior year as a Tiger. The only thing remaining for both of them is chance at an extra game, by ending the other’s season.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]