For a while it looked like LSU’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow had a chance face his former team, Ohio State, in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
No. 3 Clemson, however, was able to hang on and earn a victory in the Semifinal, the Playstation Fiesta Bowl, and that left Burrow a bit disappointed.
“I know a lot of those guys worked so hard to get to that moment, and being with them for three years, it was kind of sad a little bit to see their season end like that,” Burrow said.
Burrow also admitted that he wouldn’t have minded facing his old team.
“You know, it would have been fun to play a lot of my old teammates and my old friends,” Burrow said. “There would have been some trash talk and some friendly trash talk and it would have been a lot of fun, but we'll play whoever.
“We're excited to get the opportunity to play.”
The Bayou Bengals are set to face the Tigers Monday, Jan. 13, in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and LSU heads into that matchup playing some of its best football.
“Our defense has become one of the best in the country, and they've worked really hard to get there,” Burrow said. “I think as an offense, obviously, there's still some room to improve, but I think we're very explosive right now, and our O-line is playing their best ball of the season.”
The Tigers’ offense has been the talk of college football after shattering SEC records, and dominant 63-28 victory against the Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff Semifinal which saw Burrow account for eight touchdowns only boosted LSU’s reputation.
The offense was a collaboration between offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and first-year passing game coordinator Joe Brady, who joined LSU after serving as a member of the Saints staff the past few seasons.
Burrow said Thursday morning that he studied the Saints’ offense all offseason as the Tigers switched made the move to a spread.
“That's basically what we do. We do a lot of the same stuff with Coach Joe coming from there,” he said. “So yeah, I watched a lot of Drew (Brees), a lot of the Saints in the off-season to kind of figure out his footwork and his eyes, certain concepts.”
Burrow said the Tigers were very excited for the chance to capture a national championship in their home state in the arena the Saints play in, but said LSU will have to remain focused on this game.
“You can really pump yourself up and get a little too excited, but I'm just going to stay in my routine, do what I've been doing, and treat it like any other week,” he said.
