Tale of two Tigers

Defending champion Clemson faces Heisman Trophy winner Burrow in LSU’s backyard

WHEN LSU HAS THE BALL

What can Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables cook up to stop LSU’s hyper-aggressive passing game that often attacks with five receivers? Clemson is playing a 3-3-5 defensive alignment and using lots of eight-man coverage. Lacking dominant defensive lineman, Venables has needed to be creative to pressure the quarterback.

The stars of Clemson’s defense are versatile back-seven players such as All-America linebacker Isaiah Simmons and strong safety Klavon Wallace, both of whom can play multiple positions, and free safety Tanner Muse.

LSU has five players who can consistently win oneon-one matchups in the passing game in wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall Jr., tight end Thadeus Moss and running back Clyde EdwardsHelaire. All have more than 40 catches, allowing Burrow to feast on a defense’s weak links.

In the semifinal against Oklahoma, Chase, an All-American, was locked down by the Sooners. No big deal: Justin Jefferson caught 14 passes and scored four touchdowns, mostly working from the slot.

WHEN CLEMSON HAS THE BALL

Over his last seven games, Lawrence has been the highestgraded quarterback in college football by Pro Football Focus.

As prolific as LSU has been offensively, Clemson has the weapons to keep pace, with two-time Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year Travis Etienne at running back and wide receivers Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross (both 6-foot-4) and Amari Rodgers. Higgins has been dominant, averaging 19.9 yards per catch with 13 touchdowns. Ross has been good, but not quite the breakout

star he was during last season’s playoff. LSU has its own $2 million per year defensive coordinator in Dave Aranda, who will

try to frustrate Lawrence with a plan built around two of the best cornerbacks in the country: Kristian Fulton is a possible first-round NFL draft pick while freshman

Derek Stingley Jr., an All-American, was PFF’s highest-graded cornerback. Safety Grant Delpit also grades well in coverage, but his tackling has been spotty. The LSU defensive line is huge, with three 300-pounders usually on the field at once.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson is on a 29-game winning streak, including 25-0 with sophomore QB Trevor Lawrence starting. The Tigers can become the 13th team in the history of major college football to win 30 straight games, and just the seventh team to accomplish the feat since 1950 . ... Burrow has completed 77.6% of his passes. The NCAA record is 76.7% by Texas’ Colt McCoy in 2008 . ... LSU won its last two national championships at the Superdome in New Orleans (2003 vs. Oklahoma and 2007 vs. Ohio State), and lost its last title game appearance there to Alabama after the 2011 season.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Clemson: The Atlantic Coast Conference champion is trying to repeat as national champion and become the first team to do that since Alabama in 2011-12. The Tigers would also enter even more exclusive college football company with a third national title in four years. In the AP poll era (starting in 1936), only Alabama (2009, 2011-12), Nebraska (1994-95, 97) and Notre Dame (1946-47, ‘49) accomplished that feat. It would stamp the Tigers as a true dynasty.

LSU: The Southeastern Conference champion is looking for its first national championship since 2007 and fourth overall (2003 BCS, 1958 AP).

THEY SAID IT

“We go into every game thinking nobody can stop us.”

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow

“These are the games you dream of You never want to dream about a championship game where everything’s going to be simple. You want to have a good matchup.”

Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons

“Obviously, it’s going to be a great day, going to be a purple and gold crowd in that Superdome. The state of Louisiana is going to be on fire.”

LSU coach Ed Orgeron

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow