Matchups: Breaking down the Sooners and Tigers.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR OU
1 Running back Kennedy Brooks:
With Rhamondre Stevenson among the players suspended, Brooks' role — which was already big — will be magnified. Brooks' biggest games came late in the year — 132 yards and a touchdown against Iowa State, 149 yards against TCU, 160 and a score in Bedlam. Controlling the tempo on the ground figures to be a priority.
2 Defensive lineman Jalen Redmond:
With Ronnie Perkins suspended, the redshirt freshman is the Sooners' most effective pass rusher. Whether it's from the defensive tackle spot he's played this season or if he's moved outside to take Perkins' spot, Oklahoma is going to need to find a way to get pressure on Joe Burrow. Redmond has made three starts this season, including two of the last three games.
3 Quarterback Jalen Hurts:
No one on the Sooners — or in college football — has more big-game experience than Hurts. This will be his seventh playoff game. He's also had plenty of big moments in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including coming off the bench to lead Alabama to a win over Georgia in the 2018 SEC Championship Game. Hurts doesn't necessarily need to match Joe Burrow on the other side but he certainly needs to perform close to the level of Burrow to give the Sooners a chance.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR LSU
1 Receiver Ja'Marr Chase:
Chase beat out CeeDee Lamb for the Biletnikoff Trophy, making plenty of plays that were similar to the explosive, elusive plays that Lamb made throughout the season. The Tigers' receiving corps is deep but Chase is the clear top option, with 73 catches for 1,498 yards and 18 touchdowns.
2 Safety Grant Delpit:
Delpit will be a big key to LSU's efforts to try to slow down the Sooners' offense. He'll help in pass coverage, trying to defend CeeDee Lamb and co. and against the run, figuring to play a big role in trying to keep Jalen Hurts from breaking off big runs. Delpit won the Jim Thorpe Award as college football's top defensive back. The Tigers have plenty of talent on the back end of their defense, most notably in freshman corner Derek Stingley Jr., but Delpit is the one who sets the tone.
3 Quarterback Joe Burrow:
LSU's offense took a massive step forward this season, averaging 554.4 yards per game to lead the country after averaging 402.1 last season. That mark last year was good for 68th in the country. Burrow is the biggest reason why, as he's led the Tigers' charge into an offense that has shown similarities to both the structure and production of Oklahoma's offenses under Lincoln Riley.