Burrow puts on a record-tying show
Heisman Trophy winner throws for seven touchdowns to lead Peach Bowl rout.
Heisman Trophy winner equals the mark for any college bowl game with seven touchdown passes, all in the first half, and runs for one score to lead the Tigers’ lopsided victory in Atlanta.
ATLANTA — Joe Burrow turned in the greatest performance in his Heisman Trophy season, throwing for seven touchdowns and 493 yards as No. 1 Louisiana State romped to a 63-28 victory over No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl semifinal game Saturday.
The Tigers (14-0) are headed to the national championship game against No. 3 Clemson after dismantling the Sooners (12-2).
“What a tremendous job by everybody,” coach Ed Orgeron said. “One team, one heartbeat. Everybody in our organization. We got tremendous play by Joe Burrow and have a great coaching staff.”
Burrow tied the record for any college bowl game with his seven touchdown passes, which came in the first half in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Justin Jefferson caught four of the passes, tying a bowl record.
For good measure, Burrow scored on a three-yard run in the third quarter, dominating an expected duel with Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Heisman runner-up.
The victory came with heavy hearts. Shortly before the game, Tigers offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger learned that his daughter-in-law, broadcaster Carley McCord, was among five people killed in a plane crash in Louisiana.
The small plane went down shortly after takeoff for what was supposed to be a flight to Atlanta for the game.
Ensminger had tears running down his cheeks during warmups but was in his usual spot high above the field when the game kicked off, calling plays along with passing game coordinator Joe Brady.
Louisiana State needed only three plays to drive 42 yards for its first score, a 19-yard pass from Burrow to Jefferson less than three minutes into the game.
Oklahoma brief ly put up a fight. Hurts’ 51-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb set up a threeyard touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks that tied the score 7-7.
After that, the rout was on.
Hurts ran for two touchdowns but finished with only 43 yards rushing, and was 15 of 31 for 217 yards.
The former Alabama quarterback, who led the Crimson Tide to two national championship games but lost his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa, transferred to Oklahoma after graduating for a one-and-done final season.
“We needed to take advantage of every opportunity we had against a team like this,” Hurts said. “We failed to do that.”