LSU quarterback Joe Burrow capped his record-breaking, Heisman-winning season by leading the Tigers to a national championship Monday night.
The senior quarterback threw five touchdown passes and ran for another as he capped off an incredible season by leading the top-ranked Tigers to a 42-25 victory against No. 3 Clemson — the defending national champions.
Burrow, who will likely be taken with the first pick in the NFL Draft in April, became the first college quarterback to throw 60 touchdown passes in a single season. The Ohio State transfer also helped the Tigers end Clemson’s 29-game winning streak. For the first time in his college career, Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence was on the losing team. The Tigers (14-1) had won in his first 25 starts.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve stood in front of a team after a loss,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said after the game.
The victory was even more special for the LSU program as the Tigers were able to win the championship in their home state of Louisiana inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome — home of the New Orleans Saints.
“He’s one of the greatest players in LSU history,” Tigers coach Ed Orgeron said of Burrow. “He’s done so much for the state of Louisiana and LSU. We are so grateful to Joe Burrow.”
The senior quarterback led LSU to its first national title since 2007 and he broke few more records along the way. Burrow’s five touchdown passes and 463 yards passing are the most in a national championship game, not to mention his six total touchdowns.
LSU’s Joe Burrow Wins The 2019 Heisman Trophy In Record-Breaking Fashion
“This is what I wanted to do from the time I was 5 years old, was hoist this trophy, and bringing it back to Louisiana,” Burrow said, then caught himself. “I guess we’re in Louisiana, but staying in Louisiana, we weren’t going to let someone come in here and steal this from us in our home state.”
Clemson got out to a hot start with a 17-7 lead early in the first half to push LSU into its deepest hole this season. But by the end of the night, Clemson was no match for LSU as the Tigers showed everyone why they came in as the top-ranked team.
