On January 13, 2020, the LSU Tigers capped off a historic season by defeating the Clemson Tigers 42-25 in the College Football Playoff National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. With the win, LSU completed a perfect 15-0 season, securing their fourth national title in school history.
The game began with Clemson seizing early momentum. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence led an impressive opening drive that resulted in a 52-yard field goal by B.T. Potter. In the second quarter, Clemson extended their lead to 17-7 after a one-yard rushing touchdown by Travis Etienne and a 36-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to Tee Higgins. However, LSU, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow, responded emphatically.
Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 52-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 17-14. With LSU’s defense adjusting and applying pressure, Clemson’s offense began to stall. Burrow took full advantage, throwing another touchdown pass to Thaddeus Moss before capping off the first half with a quarterback sneak for a score, giving LSU a 28-17 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Clemson briefly regained momentum when Etienne punched in another short rushing touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion to make it 28-25. But LSU quickly silenced any comeback hopes. Burrow continued his dominant performance, connecting with Moss for his fourth touchdown pass of the night, then finding Terrace Marshall Jr. for another score, extending LSU’s lead to 42-25 by the end of the third quarter.
Defensively, LSU’s unit, led by linebacker Patrick Queen and safety Grant Delpit, stifled Clemson in the final quarter. Lawrence, who had been instrumental in Clemson’s 29-game winning streak, struggled under LSU’s relentless pressure, completing just 18 of 37 passes for 234 yards and no touchdowns.
Burrow finished his night with a record-setting performance, completing 31 of 49 passes for 463 yards and five touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. His efforts earned him Offensive MVP honors and solidified his place in college football history. Ja’Marr Chase had a career night, hauling in nine catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
Following the game, Burrow reflected on the victory, saying, “We worked so hard for this moment. This team is special, and I’m so proud of everything we accomplished.”
With the victory, LSU cemented themselves as one of the greatest teams in college football history, closing out a dominant season in emphatic fashion.