An LSU-Ohio State national championship game seemed like the matchup so many college football fans wanted — including Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow, who transferred from Ohio State in 2018.
The two teams are obviously among the best this season, they traded being No. 1 and No. 2 throughout the College Football Playoff rankings and they’re two squads that haven’t played in the title game in years. But while LSU rocked Oklahoma in the first playoff semifinal game, Ohio State lost to Clemson in a game with multiple controversial moments and a game-ending interception.
LSU and Clemson could still be a great game, but those who hoped the top-ranked teams would face off are surely a little disappointed.
During a conference call with the media Thursday, Burrow explained why he was looking forward to potentially playing his former team for a national title. The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner said, via ASAP Sports:
“You know, it would have been fun to play a lot of my old teammates and my old friends. 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.”
After throwing for a combined 287 yards and two touchdowns in the 2016 and 2017 seasons for Ohio State, Burrow transferred to LSU.
He followed up a forgettable 2018 campaign with an explosive season this year, and he enters the national championship game with a nation-leading 77.6 completion percentage. He’s also thrown for 5,208 yards so far this season, along with 55 touchdowns, including a record-breaking seven in the Tigers’ 63-28 win over Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl.
Ohio State and Clemson’s semifinal matchup followed, and Burrow said he watched. More via ASAP Sports:
“It was a fun game to watch. Everyone was battling their tails off, and 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. But I know they worked really hard to get there, and we’re excited to get the opportunity to play in this game.”
The national championship game between LSU and Clemson is Monday, January 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Both teams are undefeated this season, and Clemson is playing for its third title in four years while LSU is looking for its first since 2007.
