Fournette’s 5 TDs lead No. 22 LSU over Texas Tech 56-27

The sophomore Heisman hopeful, whose individual-award opportunities faded during a three-game Novemeber losing streak, set LSU’s bowl scoring record with 30 points while the Tigers total of 56 was its all-time high in the postseason. Fournette took the pass and then just turned upfield and went 44 yards without much of any resistance.

LSU, which had not scored in the 20s since October, scored 21 points in the third quarter alone on consecutive possessions to take a commanding, 42-20 lead. Trey Quinn had a 46-yard reception to set up that score.

If the outside receivers are not a factor, LSU will be able to bracket Jakeem Grant and Ian Sadler with safety help making the Texas Tech offense far less potent. He had 10 catches for 125 yards. Deion Jones leads the Tigers with 92 tackles with four sacks and two interceptions, Kendell Beckwith has 76 tackles, and Jamal Adams has 60 tackles and four interceptions. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN.

In addition, the Red Raiders must not allow the Tigers to make special teams plays. But on 2nd and 9 from the LSU 16, Mahomes’ pass ricocheted off his would-be receiver’s shoulder pad and into the arms of LSU defensive back Rickey Jefferson.

LSU sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris was 8 of 11 for 103 passing yards in the first two quarters. With one more rushing touchdown, he will tie the single-season school record as well. This gave LSU a 21-6 lead in the second quarter. Texas Tech beat an Arkansas club that whipped LSU late in the season, and the Red Raiders are fully capable of beating the Tigers if their offense is clicking.

Fournette ran for 40 yards on that first series, including a 35-yard scramble while bowling over a Tech defender and hurdling over his own teammate. Overall, the Red Raiders are giving up 42.6 points and 540.2 total yards per game. Anything the wide receivers have done have been a bonus for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Cam Cameron strutted along the sideline with play sheet in hand, and D.J. Chark raced 79 yards for a touchdown. Texas Tech is going to score some whether LSU is ready to play or not, but they could push 50 if LSU isn’t focused defensively.

Since the Red Raiders are playing in their home state one would think that they’d have the home-field advantage in this game.

1,455 Rushing yards have been gained by Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington this season, the most in the Big 12. Fournette rushed for score and caught a 44-yard touchdown on a screen pass in the first half.

Texas Tech defensive coordinator David Gibbs admitted before the game that his team was “overmatched defensively” and he was right on cue as any chance that Tech and the nation’s third-worst rushing defense had at stopping LSU’s ground game went out of the window the first time the Tigers had the ball.

With LSU receiving the kickoff, the teams traded punts on the first two drives of the second half.

North Carolina tried to match Baylor’s scoring output but had a key fumble in the third quarter that stifled its comeback efforts.