Who was better: 2019 LSU Tigers or 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide?
The two College Football Playoff semifinal games are almost upon us. The SEC is well represented with both participants of the conference title game making the top four.
Two years ago the LSU Tigers were gearing up to take on the Oklahoma Sooners in the Chick Fil A Peach Bowl. That game was a one-sided affair as the Bayou Bengals ran away with it before halftime. Justin Jefferson and Joe Burrow were absolutely lethal in that game.
Burrow and the Tigers went on to take out the defending champions, Clemson in the CFP national championship game 42-25. That gave LSU the perfect 15-0 campaign and their third title since 2000. Each time they won it with a different head coach. Brian Kelly will be looking to make it four before his time is up on the Bayou.
With the annual tournament about to kick off, we look at where that magical run ranks among every CFP team since the playoff began. According to ESPN (subscription required), it was a top-two performance.
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
What ESPN Says…
Plenty of coaches have attempted to modernize their offense in the hopes of giving their program a shot in the arm. Ed Orgeron’s 2019 team set the bar impossibly high for any future modernizers. With help from an elite skill corps, Joe Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns (!!!). Once LSU’s defense got healthy late in the year, the Tigers were untouchable, beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa, then winning their last six games by an average of 30 points.
The Tigers came in at No. 2 behind last year’s champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. An argument could be made for these two teams to be No. 1 overall. This debate won’t go away any time soon.
Where do you stand in the battle of 2019 LSU Tigers vs 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide?
As far as the new head coach is concerned, Brian Kelly’s Irish teams ranked No. 29 and No. 31 on the list. At least they weren’t No. 32, sorry Spartans Wire.
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Comment below with your pick for the No. 1 CFP team of all-time
