LOS ANGELES: Heisman trophy winner Joe Burrow threw seven touchdowns and ran for another to pilot top-ranked Louisiana State University to a crushing 63-28 triumph over the University of Oklahoma on Saturday and into US college football’s championship game against Clemson.
The LSU Tigers improved to 14-0 on the season with the dominant victory in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia.
They will play for a national title against Clemson who beat Ohio State 29-23 in Saturday’s second semifinal of the College Football Playoff (CFP).
In Atlanta, Burrow tied the record for any collegiate bowl game with his seven touchdown passes — four of them caught by Justin Jefferson.
All of those came before halftime, as LSU took a 49-14 lead at the break.
After Oklahoma knotted the score at 7-7 midway through the first quarter LSU scored touchdowns on six straight drives to seize control as LSU’s defense stymied Jalen Hurts and the Sooners’ offense.
Hurts, runner-up to Burrow in voting for the Heisman as the top collegiate player in the country, appeared overwhelmed in his fourth straight appearance in
the CFP. Burrow opened the second half with a running touchdown that put LSU up 56-14.
He departed the contest early in the fourth quarter having passed for 493 yards and run for 22. His eight TDs were the most ever in a collegiate bowl game, but Burrow said he was only focused on the title. “January 13 is the record we’re worried about,” he said.
Hours before the game, the LSU coaching staff were rocked by news that offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s daughter-in-law, sports broadcaster Carley McCord, was among five people killed when the private plane they were taking to the game crashed shortly after takeoff from Lafayette, Louisiana.
“Obviously, he was distraught, but he called a great game today,” LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said. “So just goes to show you the integrity and the grit and character of the men on our football team.”
Reigning national champions Clemson are making their fourth trip to the title game in five seasons.
In 2015, Clemson crushed Ohio State 31-0 in the CFP semifinals on the way to lifting the title with a win over Alabama.
Ohio State were trying to reach the title game for the first time since they won the inaugural CFP crown in 2014.
Burrow’s eight TDs power Louisiana State into title game against Clemson
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Burrow’s eight TDs power Louisiana State into title game against Clemson
Bangladesh will not play T20 World Cup matches in India, says sports adviser
- The development follows release of Mustafizur Rahman by IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders
- Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month
Bangladesh will not play their Twenty20 World Cup matches in India after Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League team amid growing tensions between the countries, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said on Sunday.
Kolkata Knight Riders said on Saturday they had released the Bangladesh bowler after being told to do so by India’s cricket board (BCCI).
Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month, with the February 7-March 8 tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
“Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken this decision today,” Nazrul, who is an adviser to the Ministry of Sports, said in a statement.
“We welcome this decision taken in the context of the extreme communal policy of India’s cricket board.”
Last month, hundreds protested near Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi after Hindu factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and set on fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district by a crowd that accused him of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
A total of 12 people were arrested in connection with his death.
WORSENED RELATIONS
The incident worsened relations between India and its neighbor, with ties already strained after Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi following protests against her.
After Mustafizur’s release on Saturday, the BCB had held an emergency meeting and were planning to write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their matches and raise concerns about player safety.
“The board said that where a Bangladesh cricketer can’t play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladesh cricket team can’t feel safe to go to the World Cup,” Nazrul had said.
“I have also instructed the board to request Bangladesh World Cup games to be held in Sri Lanka.”
Last year, the ICC allowed India to play Champions Trophy matches in the United Arab Emirates due to soured relations with hosts Pakistan.
On Sunday, cricket news site Cricbuzz reported that the BCB would ask the BCCI for a formal explanation regarding Mustafizur’s release.
The ICC and BCB did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Bangladesh are due to play West Indies, England and Italy in Kolkata before ending the group stage against Nepal in Mumbai.
