In which BracketCat simulates the national championship game for the 16-team playoff bracket for 2019.
Welp, back to the usual pattern of having the same national championship games as reality — 2020 was a fun diversion, but we now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
We will rewind back to 2018 next week and answer the eternal question: Can Clemson avenge both this loss and its unexpected national championship defeat in 2020?
Check in at noon Sunday to see how the 2018 Protest Playoff unfolds!
Today’s Game
2020 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T:
No. 1 LSU (16-0) vs. No. 3 Clemson (16-0)
So after all those close, exciting games, we end up with the same title game blowout? Figures. However, LSU was clearly the best team all year. Thus, all of you nailed this one.
No. 1 seed LSU Tigers (16-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #1): SEC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): #9 Florida, #12 Auburn, @ #13 Alabama, vs. #5 Georgia, #17 Memphis, vs. #9 Florida, vs. #13 Alabama
Losses: none
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (3rd season)
Offensive Style: Pro spread
Quarterback: Joe Burrow
Running Backs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Chris Curry
Wide Receivers: Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase
Tight End: Thaddeus Moss
No. 3 seed Clemson Tigers (16-0; AP/BCS/Coaches #3): ACC Champion (auto-bid)
Notable Wins (CFP Rankings): vs. #24 Virginia, #14 Michigan, vs. #6 Oregon, vs. #2 Ohio State
Losses: none
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney (11th full, 12th overall season)
Offensive Style: Spread
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence
Running Backs: Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon
Wide Receivers: Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross
Tight End: Braden Galloway
Final Score: LSU 38, Clemson 13
(True Result: LSU 42, Clemson 25)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 – 7 PM CST / 8 PM EST
Precipitation: None
Temperature: 74
Wind: None (indoor stadium)
Player of the Game: LSU QB Joe Burrow
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow capped off one of the most dominant seasons in modern college football history by throwing for 384 yards and three touchdowns as No. 1 LSU rolled past No. 3 Clemson, 38-13, in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Burrow led the Tigers (17-0) to touchdowns on five of their first eight possessions and finished the season with an FBS-record 60 touchdown passes. He also was named Player of the Game, adding yet another milestone to his remarkable senior campaign.
LSU jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back, controlling the line of scrimmage and time of possession in a game in which Clemson failed to get to within single digits after the first quarter.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson hauled in all three of Burrow’s touchdown passes, all coming on short strikes of 1, 6 and 2 yards. Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 112 yards and added a 67-yard score in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Clemson (16-1) struggled to sustain drives early and was held scoreless in the first half.
Running back Travis Etienne managed 47 yards and a short touchdown in the third quarter, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence was picked off twice and held to just one touchdown through the air — an 8-yard pass to Braden Galloway in the final period.
LSU outgained Clemson 593-434, converting 12 of 18 third downs and averaging 6.3 yards per play. The win secured LSU’s first national title since 2007 and completed a 17-0 season in which the Tigers defeated eight top-25 opponents.
Final 2019 Playoff Bracket and Results
Tomorrow’s Post
On Saturdays, I compile and share a variety of stats with you on these playoff simulations.
Some of them are fun and silly (coaches’ hypothetical playoff records, for instance), while others are more fact-based and relevant (total number of playoff bids for each conference — both pre- and post-realignment). Stay tuned for more tomorrow!
BracketCat’s Protest Playoff Archives
2024: Kickoff | Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2023: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2022: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2021: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2020: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | NC | Data
2019: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4
2008: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange
2007: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2006: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2005: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2004: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data
2003: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data
2002: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data
2001: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Rose | Data
2000: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Orange | Data | Encore
1999: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Sugar | Data | Encore
1998: Selection Sunday | Sweet 16 (1) | Sweet 16 (2) | Elite 8 | Final 4 | Fiesta | Data | Encore