An old-school, hard-nosed football coach who was forced to update his coaching philosophy and perhaps the most innovative offensive mind in college football will clash in the Peach Bowl December 28 in Atlanta.
And Oklahoma has suspended starting defensive end Ronnie Perkins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and receiver Trejan Bridges for unnamed violations.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the players — starting defensive end Ronnie Perkins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and receiver Trejan Bridges — would also miss the CFP National Championship on Jan. 13 if the No. 4 Sooners defeat the No. 1 Tigers in their semifinal game.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron played defense and spent most of his time as an assistant coaching the defensive line. OU coach Lincoln Riley who wasn’t good enough to play quarterback for Texas Tech but was recognized early in his career for his dynamic offense.
No. 4 OU and No. 1 LSU will face each other in the 52nd annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in a College Football Playoff Semifinal televised by ESPN with a 3 p.m. kickoff.
The winner advances to play the winner of the Ohio State/Clemson semifinal in the national championship game.
“I think our team’s bought in,” said Riley. “We were and are very young or new, totally new defensive system, new quarterback, offensive line. There’s a lot new around our program.
“For guys to grow like they have through the year, respond to different challenges, I think says a whole lot about the whole team.”
This is the first trip to the playoff for LSU while OU has played in three in a row and four of the last five.
“We’ve got a showdown between two storied programs that have combined for 10 National Championships and 65 conference championships, and feature two of the nation’s most prolific offenses led by two of the country’s best quarterbacks,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl CEO and president.
This is the first trip to the Peach Bowl by OU while LSU has played in it six previous times. The Tigers are 5-1 in this bowl. This game is only the second Big 12 vs. SEC matchup in the Bowl’s 52-year history, and the first since 2014 when No. 6 TCU defeated No. 9 Ole Miss.
The location should be an advantage for LSU, who just played Georgia in Atlanta in the SEC title game.
“Obviously it’s going to be a familiarity with the Dome,” Orgeron said. “It’s our first time in the dome, but a great place. Our guys are going to stay in the same hotel. I think they’re going to feel comfortable come game time.”
The last time OU played LSU, it was in the BCS National Championship in 2004. LSU won 21-14.
Oklahoma (12-1, 8-1 Big 12) has one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country (43.2 ppg – fifth in the nation), the Sooners average 8.2 yards per play, a figure that is second-best all-time, just behind their mark of 8.6 yards per play set last season. Oklahoma’s 11.4 yards per pass attempt (min. 10 attempts) is the best in the country. The Oklahoma offensive attack is led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is top-three in the country in total offense (376.1, third), passing efficiency (200.3, third) and points responsible for (308, T-first).
Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb ranks third in receiving touchdowns (14) and seventh in receiving yards (1,208).
LSU (13-0, 8-0 SEC) jumped from the No. 2 to the No. 1 spot in the final rankings after a 37-10 win over No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship game. LSU is first in the country in total offense and is the first team in the history of the SEC to feature a 4,000-yard passer (Joe Burrow), a 1,000-yard rusher (Clyde Edwards-Helaire), and two 1,000-yard receivers (Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson).
Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and Hurts came in second.