Why LSU-Clemson CFP title game may be epic

QB duel for the ages

There have been some legendary championship game quarterback battles — USC's Matt Leinart vs. Texas' Vince Young in 2005; Florida's Tim Tebow vs. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford in 2008; Florida State's Chris Weinke vs. Virginia Tech's Michael Vick in 1999 — but in terms of NFL projections, this is the best matchup of all time. Burrow is likely to go No. 1 in April's draft to his home state Cincinnati Bengals; Lawrence could follow at No. 1 in 2020. 

Mighty Joe Burrow

In 2006, Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan rewrote the stat books, finishing his junior season with 5,549 yards, 58 touchdowns and a 186.0 passer rating that was more than four points better than the previous season high, set by Louisville’s Stefan LeFors two seasons prior. Since Brennan’s magical season, eight quarterbacks have topped his lofty mark.

Burrow is having a similarly revolutionary season. Entering the CFP title game, his 204.6 passer rating is best of all time, outdistancing No. 2 Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, who posted a 199.4 rating last season. Another peak performance by Burrow, who has 5,208 yards, 55 touchdowns and just six interceptions, will cement this season as the greatest individual QB performance in college football history.

Lawrence goes for two

And to think, Burrow might not even be the best quarterback in this game.

Trevor Lawrence has not put up the mind-numbing stats (3,431 yards, 36 touchdowns, eight interceptions) that his counterpart has, but with a win, he’d go down as one of just a handful of quarterbacks to win back-to-back titles and the first since Alabama’s AJ McCarron in 2011-12.

In 2017, Lawrence was the most coveted recruit in the country — a “once-in-a-generation” talent, according to many recruiting prognosticators. He received a 101 rating from 247 Sports, the recruiting site's highest possible rating. It called Lawrence "one of the best players to come along in years, if not decades.” The Cartersville, Ga., player, whose size (6-foot 6 and 220 pounds) and sprinter speed has NFL scouts drooling, chose the Tigers over Georgia.

Here's a "wow" stat: Counting high school, Lawrence has won 70 of the past 71 games he has played. 

Marquee matchups rule the day

Clemson's top-ranked defensive backfield, which has helped limit opponents to a nation's-best 151.5 yards per passing game, will square off with LSU's electric wide receiver corps.

Clemson's quintessential quartet of cornerbacks A.J. Terrell and Derion Kendrick and safeties K'Von Wallace and Tanner Muse must contain Biletnikoff Award winner Ja'Marr Chase (75 catches for 1,559 yards and 18 touchdowns), Justin Jefferson (102/1,434/18) and Terrace Marshall Jr. (43/625/12).

Up front, LSU's offensive line -- which won the Joe Moore Award as the best unit in college football, despite allowing 30 sacks (94th in the country) -- will have its hands full with defensive end Xavier Thomas and defensive tackle Tyler Davis.

(An aside: The Moore Award is a BIG deal -- literally.  It is the largest trophy in college football, standing nearly seven feet and weighing more than 800 pounds.)

NFL talent all over the field

Several LSU players are high on ESPN Draft analyst Todd McShay's board besides Burrow, who's his No. 2 overall prospect. Among McShay's top 40 prospects are safety Grant Delpit (No. 6), pass-rusher K'Lavon Chaisson (No. 12), WR Justin Jefferson (No. 19), CB Kristian Fulton (No. 27) and RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (No. 37).  McShay ranks Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons (No. 5) and WR Tee Higgins (No. 20) highly, too.

McShay’s NFL Draft counterpart Mel Kiper believes LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry III, tight end Thaddeus Moss and offensive tackle Saahdiq Charles are potential early picks, though all could return to the Tigers in 2020. Kiper said Clemson RB Travis Etienne and CB A.J. Terrell could be among the first players selected at their positions. 

CBS Sports also has Clemson safety K'Von Wallace and offensive tackle Tremayne Anchrum and LSU defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence and linebackers Jacob Phillips and Patrick Queen listed in its seven-round 2020 mock draft.

A new dynasty in town

Alabama’s rise to the top of the college football mountain was unsurprising this century under Nick Saban, who won a title at LSU in the 2003 season. The Crimson Tide has won national championships in eight different decades, including more than one in four (1925 and ‘26, 1930 and '34, 1961 and '64-'65 and 1973 and '78-'79). 

But Clemson? Before the 2010s, the Tigers had won 10 games in a season just seven times, with one national title, in 1981. Since 2011? Nine straight seasons of 10 or more wins. Two national titles, four national title game appearances.

Dabo vs. Ed-O

In one corner, you have Dabo Swinney (above right), the architect of one of the truly stunning rises in college football history. The recruiting master was 33-19 after three seasons at Clemson. Since then, he rattled off seasons of 10, 11, 11, 10, 14, 14, 12, 15 and 14 wins. Swinney is 69-4 in his past five seasons. 

In the other corner is Ed Orgeron, one of the game’s more colorful characters, whose ragin’ Cajun twang has made many a football fan forget his remarkable acumen for the game. Ed O. may be a bit cartoonish, but Hanna-Barbera could not have drawn up a better season for the Bayou boy.

Remember: Orgeron was LSU's third choice, after Jimbo Fisher and Tom Herman, for head coach in 2016.

He surely has quashed the naysayers who said he couldn't take a program to the elite level. This is the same guy who was fired as Mississippi head coach.

Mississippi.

Football’s future leaders take center stage

How many future college football head coaches will take part in Monday's mayhem? Clemson co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott, the 2017 Frank Broyles Award winner as the nation's top assistant coach, and Jeff Scott, a finalist for the award in 2018, are sure to be heading their own programs in the near future. Tigers quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter, defensive coordinator Brent Venables and defensive assistants Mike Reed (cornerbacks) and Todd Bates (defensive line) also could soon be in contention for head jobs.

LSU's Dave Aranda (associate HC, DC), Joe Brady (passing game coordinator, WRs) and Tommie Robinson (asstistant HC, RBs, recruiting coordinator) are on the rise too. 

Brady recently agreed to a three-year contract extension that reportedly will nearly double his current salary ($410,000). He has been linked to the Carolina Panthers, where newly named head coach Matt Rhule reportedly may consider him for the offensive coordinator opening.

Classic No. 1 vs. No. 1 matchup 

LSU has the best offense in college football, averaging almost two full points more than No. 2-rated Alabama (48.9 points per game to 47.2). The Tigers put up 66, 65, 58, 55 and 50 points in games during the regular season and then pasted 63 on a good Oklahoma team in their Peach Bowl CFP semifinal matchup.

Clemson, meanwhile, has the top-rated scoring defense (11.5 points per game). The Tigers have held opponents to three points (twice), seven (once), and 10 (four times).

Call it a draw?