Where does this LSU team rank all-time?
I resent any team that’s great that isn’t mine. Winners? Dynasties? I root against them.
But I’m a college football fan. This LSU team is a stunning story. And, off the top of my head, one of the three greatest teams of my lifetime (the others: 1995 Nebraska, 2001 Miami).
They played an extremely hard schedule and annihilated everybody. The offense was astonishing. The defense showed weakness at times, a mark against them, but by the playoff it was deadly.
I‘ve never seen anything like Burrow’s transformation this year.
I’ll have to let this marinate before I rank them firmly (hard for any team to top 95 Nebraska IMO) but this is quite the team. What do you think?
January 14th, 2020 at 12:42 AM ^
Not sure exactly where this team ranks all time yet, but I heartily agree that Burrow’s transformation in one year is unlike anything ever seen before. It really can’t be understated. Burrow went from Patterson-esque stats in 2018 to the greatest single season in the history of college football by a QB in 2019.
His 2 game stats in the CFP will likely NEVER be topped. Think about that. I mean never say ever but my goodness - 956 yards passing and 14 total TDs. That’s just stupid.
January 14th, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
Thank you for posting his two game total. Those stats are truly insane! I can't see anyone topping that.
January 14th, 2020 at 12:50 AM ^
This is my personal opinion, but I think OSU can take partial credit for Joe Burrows - Not because they molded him into who he was, but instead because they lit a fire in him thanks to burying him on the depth chart and forcing him to transfer to get playing time. This is something that many of the all time greats tend to possess - the chip on their shoulder that forces them to work harder than everybody else.
And to get a little inspirational, we all can take a little lesson from this. When life seems to treat you unfairly, prove it to yourself that "no" is not the final answer. And learn to be joyful in all circumstances - Your trials may be exactly what you needed in life to bring you closer to your potential.
January 14th, 2020 at 12:55 AM ^
Well said. Definitely some modern-day, transfer portal Tom Brady parallels.
January 14th, 2020 at 12:51 AM ^
Since I have been watching college football 2003 I believe. The 04-06 USC teams were probably the best I have seen. Not sure what the numbers like SP+ say.
January 14th, 2020 at 1:29 AM ^
03 ... you’re a pup!
January 14th, 2020 at 1:51 AM ^
I'm reluctant to compare teams across eras, but I'll be damned if there has ever been a better group of wide receivers than this LSU squad.
Nebraska '71 was the best team ever.
Miami '87 was a close second.
USC '04, Nebraska '95, Texas '05, and Georgia '80 were also excellent teams.
January 14th, 2020 at 2:27 AM ^
The 2000 Miami Hurricanes politely disagree on your best group of wide receivers.
January 14th, 2020 at 2:03 AM ^
I watched just about every LSU game this year.
I was reluctant to call it the best college football team I've ever seen, but I think I'm there now. Or, at the very least, the most effective offense I've ever seen. Never seen anything like Joe Burrow.
And for the record, OSU has no business claiming anything with this guy. LSU turned a reject into a HOFer.
January 14th, 2020 at 2:33 AM ^
It's impossible to rank teams separated by decades, but I've never seen anything like this LSU offense.
One thing that sticks out, particularly as a long time observer of M football, is LSU's merciless deployment of the passing game all season, every game, to score and score and score. They rarely needed to score, but by repping the way they did, they eliminated any fear or clunkiness that might appear when truly tested. Tonight they were truly tested, and they leaned right into their finely tuned and highly repped passing game. It rewarded them with the most legit NC possibly ever.
January 14th, 2020 at 2:41 AM ^
Agree.
LSU's transformation on offense in one off-season is borderline miraculous considering what LSU was known for before Joe Brady was hired: game-managers at QB, underutilized athletic WRs, and downhill power rushing.
I'm hopeful Josh Gattis can lead a similar transformation for Michigan.
January 14th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
I think this year's Indiana game showed we have the talent for a world class offense, when the QB is dealing. We scored at will on a pretty good Hoosier team on the road the week before a big showdown, when we'd usually expect a letdown.
Of course, Shea couldn't carry that momentum into the last 2 games, but that's another story. Our QB play has been disappointing for several years, if not decades at this point. Other than Denard or Devin Gardner when his ribs weren't dust, I haven't trusted a QB to go out and win a game for us since Chad Henne. And even he was outplayed by Troy Smith for several years.
January 14th, 2020 at 12:57 PM ^
Good comment, agree. I am awed by the execution by both Burrow and his receivers. Let's not forget how skillful they have been this season snagging deep passing in a very tight window. Add to that Burrow and run the ball, all made a lethal offense for LSU. Certainly unbeatable in 2019.
January 14th, 2020 at 3:03 AM ^
They easily played the toughest undefeated schedule in college football history. That alone makes LSU one of the greatest teams. Well deserved championship!!!
January 14th, 2020 at 3:22 AM ^
They said on the broadcast that Joe Burrow took his Masters classes online and was in the facility at least as much as the assistant coaches. I bet that has something to do with his transformational year.
January 14th, 2020 at 8:03 AM ^
I sure hope he wasn’t stretching while he was there.
January 14th, 2020 at 8:57 AM ^
Better make sure Brian knows
January 14th, 2020 at 5:55 AM ^
Looking at who this team played all year, I would have no issue with the 2019 LSU team going down as the greatest ever.
Congrats to the whole team, epic season.
January 14th, 2020 at 5:56 AM ^
They will rank as the number 1 team in the 2019-2020 season forever!
January 14th, 2020 at 6:00 AM ^
1 thing I do know, is Michigan is no where near either of these programs. There's only about 5 programs that are, and that's bad for college football.
January 14th, 2020 at 7:21 AM ^
Its bad for Michigan but as far as CFB is concerned its more like “business as usual”. The playoffs have just removed that ambiguity you could hide behind back in the day.
January 14th, 2020 at 6:05 AM ^
I've only been watching CFP seriously since the mid-2000s so my history is shorter, but I don't think I've ever seen a team dominate like that. Feels like even the peak of the Carroll USC years wouldn't stand a chance against this offense (Different eras I know). LSU's offense just dominated all season. Insane
January 14th, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
I will say 2004 USC is one of the better teams I've seen in the last few decades. Not the best, but near the top.
January 14th, 2020 at 6:15 AM ^
They are a better than average NC team, with a great story, but I wouldn’t put them with the all time elites. USC, Miami, and Nebraska had some very dominant teams that went on multi-year runs.
LSU is probably the best team to come out of the playoff era although last year Clemson was great too.
They were lucky to beat Alabama, and probably would have lost if the game continued or it Tua was healthy and didn’t make a bunch of mistakes in the first half.
January 14th, 2020 at 7:21 AM ^
What? They were up 3 scores on the road in Alabama in the 4th quarter and if I'm not mistaken never trailed for most of that game. That was about his dominating performance at Alabama by an opponent that I can remember.
January 14th, 2020 at 8:23 AM ^
They won by 5.
46-41. Alabama outscored them 28-13 in the second half. Total yards were 559-541, but Bama had one more turnover...one which was extremely costly near the LSU goal line early in the game.
And again, Tua was not healthy.
January 14th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
Not sure realistically how much more dominant LSU could have been on the road in Alabama than that.
LSU let the ENTIRE game mostly by multiple scores. Bama never once had the football in the second half with a chance to take the lead.
The last 85-yard touchdown by Bama was more or less meaningless as once lsu got the ball back on the onside kick game it was over.
Not at all buying the injury. We could sit here all day long with every single player and say that, won't get us anywhere though. One could use that excuse for every loss for every team in every game in college football. Bottom line we have no idea how injured anyone is out there so we have go with fact he's healthy enough to be on the field
That said I do think Bama was as good as any other team than lsu this year.
January 14th, 2020 at 10:24 AM ^
Some people look at scores. Some people watch games. Anyone who watched Alabama-LSU knows that game was not close at all. LSU beat Alabama up and down the field.
January 14th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
Lucky to beat Bama???? Keep hatin'.
January 14th, 2020 at 6:31 AM ^
Burrow looks like the next coming of Joe Montana.
January 14th, 2020 at 6:35 AM ^
For all you who bitch about Don Brown... Venables just got pantsed....I don’t wanna hear it. Sometimes you just get got.
January 14th, 2020 at 6:56 AM ^
....only BIG FUCKING DIFFERENCE is over the last 2 - 3 years Venables got "pantsed" ONLY 1 time.
January 14th, 2020 at 8:45 AM ^
And by the best QB in recent memory... with a few NFL receivers.
January 14th, 2020 at 7:11 AM ^
I guess in Don Brown's case, sometimes just means something a little different, huh?
January 14th, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
You homers use any excuse to make this about how Michigan is better than they actually are.
Getting “pantsed” by Clemson isn’t the same as getting pantsed by PSU, Wisconsin, and Florida within approximately 12 months.
January 14th, 2020 at 12:31 PM ^
BV was "pantsed" by Clemson? I grant you that Clemson's defensive performance wasn't the best last night, but to get "pantsed" by your own team is a bit harsh, no?
January 14th, 2020 at 6:39 AM ^
The 1901 Michigan Wolverines would demolish this LSU team.
January 14th, 2020 at 7:20 AM ^
I follow college football extremely close as I bet it at very high levels. I grade out every game and this year's LSU team is the best team I've ever graded in the ten years I've been doing this.
January 14th, 2020 at 7:38 AM ^
Amazing game by Burrow but watching his highlights it looks like he's playing 7 on 7 out there. The REAL MVPs are the OL ... kid seemingly was never under any pressure and his jersey looked fresh start to finish most games. Wonder what he would have done at Michigan with our OL? Probably not been able to deliver that kind of performance.
Good luck to the kid at the next level....I doubt Cincinnati's OL will be as good as LSU's!
January 14th, 2020 at 8:00 AM ^
Not bad for a coach the author of this blogged continuously ripped on. That didn’t age well.
January 14th, 2020 at 8:59 AM ^
Neck beard gonna neck beard.
January 14th, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^
We'll see how Coach O does post-Burrow and when Joe Brady probably gets poached. He had a pretty meh resume prior to this.
January 14th, 2020 at 8:10 AM ^
Still overrated till this day. Great team, tons of talent. They won 1 national title. The fact that the media hype train still wants to consider there 1 loss 03 team split champs even though they didn’t even play in the title game is laughable especially when you consider a much better and undefeated 04 Auburn team that played a much more difficult schedule was not only not given a split but has essentially been lost to history.
And how do people still rank USC over the Texas team they lost too?
Edit- this was supposed to be a reply to Gucci and 03-06 USC not sure why it ended up here
January 14th, 2020 at 8:11 AM ^
Burrow had the best QB season of all time in NCAA
everything flowed through Burrow, and as a team, LSU was a monster...they put up 628 yds on Clemson's D, and so-called 'best DC'
January 14th, 2020 at 9:00 AM ^
For comparison: Joe Burrow eclipsed the Michigan single-season passing TD record by a whopping 35 touchdowns. Wow. Let that sink in.
January 14th, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
Just because BPONE is chronic, I did a quick little look up after seeing Joe Burrow's CFP stats and it had me wonder how that compares to some of our previous QBs. The one hilarious comparison I found was this:
Joe Burrow CFP stats (2 games): 60-88 (68%) 956 yards 12 TDs 0 Int. 19 carries 80 yards 2 TDs.
John O'Korn 2017 stats (9 games) 84-157 (53%) 973 yards 2 TDs 6 Ints. 44 carries -54 yards 0 TDs.
January 14th, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
greatest team of all time
January 14th, 2020 at 9:24 AM ^
All I want is a 6'4" or taller QB at Michigan, can be mobile or a statue, don't care, just done, enough short QB's and I would like it if he were say slightly faster than Grbac but that's it, that's what I want.
Sorry, that wasn't the topic but when third string QB's from our competitor are winning NC's you have to take something from it and wonder why.