LSU makes statement in 45-38 win over Texas

Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers made their mark in Austin.

The sixth-ranked Bayou Bengals picked up a huge 45-38 victory over the ninth-ranked Texas Longhorns at DKR Memorial Stadium Saturday night. The victory is one of the biggest in the early goings of the 2019 season, and is even more pronounced when you consider just how prodigious the Fighting Tiger offense was.

For the first time in school history, LSU had three receivers post 100+ yard games. Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall Jr. were the triad to pull off this feat. Jefferson led with 163 yards receiving, Chase pulled in 147 and Marshall scampered for 123.

61 of Jefferson’s 163 receiving yards came on LSU’s penultimate offensive play of the game. Staring down 3rd and 17 and the possibility of handing the ball back to Texas with a one-possession lead, Burrow found the star receiver crossing over the middle. Jefferson caught it and sprinted on up field for a dramatic touchdown that put the cap on a dazzling offensive performance.

Burrow’s clutch throw to Jefferson was also the cap on a marvelous showing for him. He completed 31 of 39 passes, threw for 471 yards, the second-most for any LSU QB in a single game. He threw four touchdowns — three to Jefferson, one to Marshall. And while he did throw an INT, that was a mere blip on a spectacular night. As a team, LSU ran for just 102 yards on 29 carries. Clyde Edwards-Helaire though was able to pick up 87 yards on 15 carries, good for 5.8 yards per carry. He also was able to find the end zone as well.

While LSU gave up 409 yards through the air, it’s worth noting perhaps that they came on 48 attempts. The Y/A of 8.5 that was collected by quarterback Sam Ehlinger wasn’t all that close to the 12.1 that Burrow amassed. Ehlinger was certainly good himself. He threw four touchdown passes, two going to Devin Duvernay who dominated with 12 receptions for 154 yards. Brennan Eagles also hauled in a touchdown pass, and so did Jake Smith. But, LSU’s defense probably shouldn’t be too particularly concerned with this output.

They did give up 121 yards on the ground, but again, the attempts were high as that came on 37 carries. They gave up just 3.3 yards per carry, a much more delightful number to look at. Ehlinger led with 60 rushing yards while Roschon Johnson and Keaontay Ingram had 32 and 29.

This was, by any measure, a fantabulous performance by LSU. Any superlative in the book, it applies here. Both these teams played extremely well and the point differential would reflect that. But LSU certainly was GREAT. And a great LSU team with an offense like this may be poised for huge things down the road.