By JIM ENGSTER, PRESIDENT
It was the nonagenarian crooner Willie Nelson who said, “Ninety-nine percent of the world’s lovers are not with their first choice. That’s what makes the jukebox play.”
The quote from the red-headed stranger applies to recent LSU Heisman trophy winning quarterbacks. Joe Burrow’s first choice was Ohio State where his talents were almost invisible. Then the kid from Ohio arrives in Louisiana, tosses 60 touchdowns in 2019 and leads the Tigers down the stretch like no champ before or since.
LSU pummeled No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game by a margin of 37-10. The Bengals encore in Atlanta was a demolition of No. 4 Oklahoma. The Sooners led by Jalen Hurts were humiliated in a 63-28 blasting as Burrow fired for a school record seven touchdowns. No. 3 Clemson was next as LSU blasted the Tigers from South Carolina in a Poydras Street mauling, 42-25. And LSU was king of the world.
The record of the final trio of opponents in the 2019 season entering their dates vs. LSU was 38-2. Burrow’s stat line in his final 12 quarters as a collegian showed 88 completions in 126 attempts (69.8 pct.) for 1305 yards, 16 touchdowns and no interceptions. The fabled football factory in the Ohio Capital was Burrow’s dream destination. A benching there produced two storybook seasons 966 miles away.
Jayden Daniels arrived in Baton Rouge in the summer of 2022 after tossing ten touchdowns against ten interceptions for 8-5 Arizona State in 2021. Two years later, Daniels won the Heisman balloting with 40 passing touchdowns coupled with 1134 years rushing, ten touchdowns running with an average gain of 8.4 yards per carry.
Daniels found SEC competition more stimulating as he evolved from a player off the radar of NFL scouts to the second player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The ascension to greatness for Daniels occurred in a city located 1,762 miles from his high school in San Bernadino, California. The move from the Golden State to the Bayou State was not the preference of the lad from the west coast. Yet the bright lights of Tiger Stadium propelled Daniels to elite status.
Sam Leavitt is the heir to Burrow and Daniels as he starts his tenure at TigerTown, his third college choice. Leavitt first tried his luck in the Big Ten and played sparingly at Michigan State. He migrated to Arizona State and blossomed into a star in 2024 before a disappointing year three at Tempe. That brought him to LSU where Leavitt is the centerpiece to the offense under Lane Kiffin.
Leavitt has emerged as a Heisman contender as he prepares for an SEC adventure 2.500 miles from his home in West Linn, Oregon.
The parallels between Burrow, Daniels and Leavitt are curious. Burrow was born Dec. 10, 1996, while Daniels’ date of birth is Dec. 18, 2000. Four years and eight days removed from his Heisman predecessor at LSU.
Leavitt was born Dec. 20, 2004. Four years and two days after Daniels. Three prep phenoms born in December four years apar who share the sign of the Archer. Sagittarians are noted for exploration, travel, knowledge and optimism.
The transfer formula has worked twice before under two different coaches. Kiffin has a personality distinct from Ed Orgeron and Brian Kelly. Tiger fans are expecting a taller, younger mentor to generate similar results in production at quarterback.
Since the 15-0 2019 season, LSU is 47-29 in the not so roaring Twenties. Kiffin holds a 116-53 record as a coach at Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.
A decade ago, Les Miles was fired at LSU despite producing a superior record with the Tigers of 114-34. If Kiffin is to improve on the subpar LSU winning percentage of 61.8 over the past six seasons, Sam Leavitt’s performance will be critical.
Burrow Not at Top of This Chart
The passing yardage leader for LSU is not Joe Burrow, who finished his two-year blitz with 8,565 yards. It is Tom Hodson, who began his career as a starter 40 years ago this fall when he led the Tigers to their first SEC title in 16 years.
Hodson tossed for 9,115 yards in four years when the seasons were shorter and post-season games were not included in official statistics. His talent was immediately on display as Hodson led LSU to a 35-17 win over No. 7 Texas A&M in the season opener.
His is the evolution of the career passing yardage record for LSU quarterbacks since Y.A. Tittle was starring in WWII.
Evolution of LSU career
Passing Yardage Leaders
Y.A. Tittle: 2,525 yards…1944-47.
Bert Jones: 3.255 yards….1970-72.
Alan Risher: 4,585 yards…1980-82.
Jeff Wickerham: 6,921 yards…1982-85.
Tom Hodson: 9,115 yards…1986-89.
These are the most intercepted quarterbacks in LSU history.
Jamie Howard: 47 from 1992-95.
Tom Hodson: 41 from 1986-89.
Jeff Wickerham: 39 from 1982-85.
Josh Booty: 34 from 1999-2000.
Alan Risher: 24 from 1980-82.
Garrett Nussmeier: 24 from 2021 to 2025.
Jarrett Lee: 21 from 2008-2011.
JaMarcus Russell: 21 from 2004-06.
Pat Lyons: 21 from 1975-77.
Best Touchdown to Interception
Margin by LSU QBs
Joe Burrow: 76 touchdowns
and 11 interceptions…+65.
Jayden Daniels: 57 touchdowns
and 7 interceptions…+50.
JaMarcus Russell: 52 touchdowns
and 21 interceptions…+31.
Max Johnson: 35 touchdowns
and 7 interceptions…+28.
Garrett Nussmeier: 52 touchdowns
and 24 interceptions…+28.
Tom Hodson: 69 touchdowns
and 41 interceptions…+28.
Will LSU Capture SEC Glory?
Most LSU fans are anticipating no less than a SEC title for Lane Kiffin in 2026. LSU has captured the league title on twelve occasions in 1935, 1936, 1958, 1961, 1970, 1986, 1988, 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2019.
The list of LSU coaches to lift conference football trophies is small.
Bernie Moore 1935, 1936
Paul Dietzel 1958. 1961
Nick Saban 2001, 2003
Les Miles 2007, 2019
Bill Arnsparger 1986
Charles McClendon 1970
Mike Archer 1988
Ed Orgeron 2019
In recent years, it is harder to win the SEC championship than national title in many sports. Kim Mulkey is 0 for 5 in the SEC, but she has a national title with LSU in 2023. Jay Johnson is without a conference crown, yet he won the College World Series in 2023 and 2025.
No LSU football coach has won a national title without winning the conference in the same season.
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