The Joe Burrow Touchdown Bracket: Day 25

One final vote in the opening round of Get the Nat region. We’ve yet to have any upsets (what’s the matter with you people, don’t you like chaos?) so let’s see if chalk holds one more time before we advance to the next region.

No. 8: Burrow’s three-yard run vs. Clemson

The context:

This might have been the most crucial touchdown scored all season long. Clemson, already up 10-7 on LSU, extends its lead to 10 thanks to a 96-yard drive. Clemson has the ball at the four but Trevor Lawrence completes a 24-yard pass to Justyn Ross, Travis Etienne rips off a 29-yard run and 7-yard run, and the other Tigers find the end zone thanks to a 36-yard reverse by Tee Higgins.

The LSU offense responds immediately. Burrow finds Ja’Marr Chase for 16 yards putting LSU at the 41; he then hits Chase again for 56 and LSU is at the Clemson three. Burrow tries calling Chase’s number one more time but the ball’s incomplete; Clyde Edwards-Helaire can’t get anything on second and goal. On third and goal, Burrow takes matters in his own hands, and powers the ball into the end zone. With LSU down 17-7, the Tigers score touchdowns on the next three possessions. This run by Burrow got the momentum rolling.

No. 9: Ja’Marr Chase’s 37-yard vs. Arkansas

The context:

Talk about exponential growth, this was LSU’s first drive of the Arkansas game. Here’s the yards gained for each play on that drive: 5, 9, 11, 0, 13, 37.

The drive featured a healthy dose of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who picked up nine yards on the ground and caught a pair of passes for 24 yards out of the backfield. Ja’Marr Chase takes it from there, beating his man off the line —what else is new?— and catches a bomb from Burrow in stride.

Also shoutout to the referee for being a total herb and giving Chase and Justin Jefferson a stern don’t dance in the end zone lecture. Thanks for putting Chase and Jefferson on the straight and narrow officer.