The LSU Tigers came into the 2019 College Football Playoff semifinals as a 13-point favorite over the Oklahoma Sooners. It didn’t take too long to understand why.
Oklahoma got the ball first but quickly went three-and-out thanks to a stout Tigers defense that started things off with a sack and shut the Sooners down on 3rd-and-17. Oklahoma muffed the punt, giving Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow a great field position. He and the Tigers took just three plays to score on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson.
LSU wastes no time‼️
Justin Jefferson scores on a 19-yard TD and the Tigers go up 7-0. #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/NHzrR3Mw0t
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2019
However, just when it looked like the Tigers might run away with one early, the Sooners turned things around and reminded everyone why they’re here. LSU lost All-American guard Damien Lewis, which seemed to signal a shift in momentum. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts was able to break free on multiple occasions to move the Sooners down the field before launching a bomb to CeeDee Lamb for 51 yards.
https://twitter.com/ReverseKSports/status/1211040252611182595
That set up an easy touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks to make it 7-7 with 7:34 to go in the first quarter.
Oklahoma strikes back! #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/Glmn7KiMKr
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2019
Not to be deterred, Burrow and LSU got back on track, driving right down the field to set up a second touchdown. This one came courtesy of Terrence Marshall, who caught a pass in the endzone from a scrambling Burrow.
LSU and Joe Burrow are ROLLING #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/skkOVkc0qN
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2019
Oklahoma wasn’t able to match that score and LSU got the ball back (though not without some controversy over a non-call on what appeared to be clear pass interference).
This was not called pass interference #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/giHfSgLT0n
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2019
Burrow continued to work his magic, specifically on a 3rd & 2 deep in LSU territory where he scrambled to the sidelines and somehow found Terrace Marshall for a back-breaking first down that kept the drive alive.
Joe Burrow making it happen! pic.twitter.com/EpIkRDx3JS
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2019
A few plays later, Burrow got all the time in the world and lofted a beautiful pass 35 yards down the field to a waiting Justin Jefferson who eased into the endzone. The kick made it 21-7 Tigers.
35-yard dart from Joe Burrow 🎯 #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/McC8iUuOf8
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2019
Oklahoma is far from out of this one but they’re going to have to figure out how to either keep pace with a red-hot Joe Burrow or find a way to shut him down. Neither sounds too promising.