Joe Burrow Throws 4 TDs as No. 6 LSU Outlasts Sam Ehlinger, No. 9 Texas 45-38

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow completed 31 of 39 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns as the No. 6 Tigers defeated No. 9 Texas 45-38 on Saturday.

Texas Highlights vs. LSU | Week 2

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Wide receiver Justin Jefferson led the 2-0 visitors with nine receptions, 163 yards and three touchdowns.  Ja'Marr Chase caught eight passes for 147 yards, and Terrace Marshall Jr. snagged six Burrow passes for 123 yards and another score.

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger went 31-of-47 for 401 yards and four touchdowns for Texas, who fell to 1-1. Wideout Devin Duvernay led the Longhorns with 12 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and Brennan Eagles put up five catches for 116 yards and one score.

Joe Burrow Gives LSU Chance to Crash CFP Party

The four participants of the 2019 College Football Playoff almost seem pre-ordained given numerous predictions that have Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma headed to college football's version of the Final Four, with a little Ohio State mixed in.

Burrow and the Tigers have other ideas after an explosive road win over a Top 10 team.

LSU has typically enjoyed stout defensive play, with the team finishing in the top in scoring defense seven times since 2009. However, the offense has been hit or miss with numerous quarterbacks struggling behind center.

That isn't an issue this year, as the Ohio State transfer looks like the real deal. In fact, he just did something no other LSU quarterback has done since the 2002 Sugar Bowl, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Burrow is playing smart and efficient football, completing 81.8 percent of his passes and throwing nine touchdowns versus just one pick in his first games.

And the ex-Buckeye put that turnover behind him real quick.

In the first quarter, Burrow tossed a pick that Texas returned to the LSU 4-yard line. The Tigers stopped Texas on downs to give Burrow another chance, however, and the senior bore down and was nearly flawless on his 15 attempts, per LSU reporter Cody Worsham:

Burrow saved his best drive for the end of the second quarter, completing three passes for 58 yards in a 26-second touchdown drive to help put LSU up 20-7:

And he delivered in the clutch when his team needed him most, tossing a 61-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson on 3rd-and-17 while facing five rushing Longhorns late in the fourth quarter:

The Tigers just passed what looks to be their second-toughest test on paper. A peek ahead at LSU's schedule reveals a manageable slate minus a road date with No. 2 Alabama.

The Tigers should be favored in every game otherwise, with no road matchups against Top 25 opponents and face-offs against No. 10 Auburn, No. 11 Florida and No. 12 Texas A&M taking place in Baton Rouge.

Of course, a slip-up is possible in any given week, but if the Tigers go 11-1 with the lone loss to Alabama, they can point to the Texas road victory and an undefeated SEC record outside the Crimson Tide matchup.

And with the way Burrow has been playing, running the table isn't out of the realm of possibility.

Texas' Pass Defense Limits Longhorns' New Year's Six Chances

Texas opened its season with a dominant 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech in which the Longhorns led 38-0 in the fourth quarter.

The favorites were never in any danger of losing the game, but a problem that occurred in Week 1 reappeared in Week 2.

The Longhorns pass defense is a work in progress after allowing Burrow and Louisiana Tech quarterback J'Mar Smith go 65-of-90 (72.2 percent) for 802 yards and seven touchdowns through two games.

In Week 1, Louisiana Tech didn't encounter much trouble moving the ball down the field despite the score indicating otherwise. The Bulldogs threw for 340 yards overall, but the problem was three of their first-half drives ended in two missed field goals and a fumble. Overall, six of Louisiana Tech's 13 drives went for 42 or more yards.

The Longhorns offense did more than enough to win the game, but it couldn't keep up Saturday as the LSU passing attack proved too strong.

Texas started well, forcing Burrow to toss an interception in addition to a couple incomplete passes on three of his first six attempts.

But the LSU passing attack took over from that point forward, with Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall Jr. combining for 433 receiving yards. That trio also combined for seven catches of 20 or more yards.

Granted, it didn't help that the Tigers have a receiver in Chase who can pull off an excellent Randy Moss impersonation:

The Longhorns pass defense is also young: Of note, B.J. Foster, Jalen Green, Brandon Jones and D'Shawn Jamison are all sophomores. They just faced a difficult test against one of the best teams in college football and should improve as they gain more experience.

But Burrow faced little resistance, playing pitch-and-catch for much of the night. After his 3-of-6 start, the senior completed 28 of 33 passes en route to leading LSU to 573 total yards of offense.

He also dominated on throws 10 or more yards downfield, most notably in the first half, per ESPN Stats and Info:

LSU's final blow symbolized how far Texas' defense needs to go. Despite five Longhorns rushing him, Burrow stepped up and found a wide-open Jefferson on a crossing route, who then saw nothing but green grass down the field for his 61-yard score.

Texas' slate won't get much easier: Its Big 12 schedule features a few excellent, fast-paced offenses that include some of college football's best wideouts.

Of note, Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace and Texas Tech's T.J. Vasher are all ranked in the top 54 of drafttek.com's 2020 NFL draft prospects.

Wallace and the Cowboys are first up for Texas on the Big 12 slate, with that game taking place on Sept. 21. After a visit to West Virginia, the Longhorns battle No. 4 Oklahoma on Oct. 12.

In other words, the Texas defense will need to improve quickly if it wants to return to a New Year's Six bowl.

What's Next?

LSU will host FCS school Northwestern State next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Longhorns will welcome Rice on Saturday at 8 p.m.