The “underdog” Clemson Tigers are showing why they are the defending national champs early on Monday night.
Clemson pulled off a wild reverse play that went for a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship against LSU, that you can see below.
The TD by wide receiver Tee Higgins capped a four-play, 96-yard drive and gave Clemson a 17-7 lead early in the second.
Higgins received the ball on a reverse from running back Lyn-J Dixon, broke a tackle and then absolutely trucked an LSU defender on his way into the end zone. The 6’4, 215-pound junior WR was determined not to be stopped on this play.
LSU quickly responded with a five-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a Joe Burrow 3-yard TD run to make it 17-14 Clemson in a fast-evolving championship thriller.
The 14-0 Clemson Tigers are dueling with the 14-0 LSU Tigers in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in one of the most highly-anticipated college football championship games ever held.
UPDATE: LSU overcame the slow start to blow past the defending champions, taking down Clemson 42-25 in Monday’s title game.
The win capped a perfect 15-0 season for LSU, completing one of the most dominating seasons in recent college football history.
Clemson saw their 29-game win streak snapped and QB Trevor Lawrence tasted defeat for the first time as a college starter.
LSU finished the game with a whopping 628 yards to Clemson’s 394.
The nation’s most prolific offense ended the year totaling 142 points in three games against top-five teams.
Clemson Blasted Alabama 44-16 in Last Season’s Championship Game
Winners of two of the last three national title games, Clemson is certainly no stranger to college football’s big stage.
Clemson scored 30 unanswered points in last year’s College Football Playoff National Championship game against Alabama, en route to a 44-16 win.
Trailing the Crimson Tide 16-14 in the second quarter, QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne rallied the Tigers for 17 points to take a 31-16 lead at halftime. Lawrence, who was a freshman at the time, threw two TD passes in the third quarter, including a 74-yard bomb to Justyn Ross, to stun then-top ranked Alabama. When the spotlight shone brightest, Lawrence threw for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20-of-32 passing.
Etienne finished the game with 86 rushing yards and two TDs on 14 carries.
Two years prior, Clemson defeated Alabama in the 2017 championship game, 35-31.
Clemson has become a constant in the College Football Playoff, qualifying for the last five editions, including this season.