One Monday Night Football contest is bound to draw a large LSU crowd, as the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals contest features two of the more decorated players in Tigers history.
The program’s only Heisman Trophy winners in its 120-year history will meet for the first time in an NFL setting. Jayden Daniels, the intriguing rookie and 2023 winner of the coveted collegiate trophy, will finally share the field with Joe Burrow, the first-ever LSU Heisman winner.
However, which of the two quarterbacks had the more decorated college career? Or did both end up with similar production? It’s time to take a dive back into the stellar college tenures of both QBs in Baton Rouge, La.
Joe Burrow’s LSU Career Stats
Burrow first arrived at LSU having no ties to the state of Louisiana. Yet, he didn’t take long to become a beloved son in The Pelican State.
The native of Ames, Iowa, who was the state of Ohio’s Mr. Football Award winner in high school, got lost in the QB shuffle at Ohio State. In trekking nearly 970 miles south, Burrow witnessed a career explosion.
Burrow played in 13 games total for LSU in 2018. But he began to slowly win over the Tigers fan base by leading his new school past Auburn in its Southeastern Conference opener. Two weeks later, Burrow fired three touchdown passes against another SEC Western Division rival in Ole Miss, leading the Tigers to another victory there.
He ended his 2018 campaign with 2,894 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. But the kid from Ames ascended to stardom from there.
He started 2019 by shredding his first two opponents with a combined nine touchdown passes — including four against Texas. Burrow also surgically tore apart the Longhorns with 471 passing yards.
Burrow never fell below 293 passing yards in a game after that. He ended 2019 as the national leader in passing yardage with 5,671 and touchdowns (60) while leading LSU to a historic 15-0 season.
He set a high bar for future LSU quarterbacks. Burrow then achieved another first for the Tigers: Becoming the school’s first-ever No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Cincy, meet your newest QB, Joe Burrow 🔥#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/GOtF1HiCLB
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) April 24, 2020
But along came a newcomer via the Pac-12 to take up the mantle of stardom Burrow left behind.
Jayden Daniels’ LSU Career Stats
Daniels became the second high-profile transfer QB to arrive to LSU three years after Burrow. The native of San Bernardino, Calif., came as a reject from Arizona State — which included a viral video of his teammates rummaging through his ASU locker.
The once-struggling Sun Devils QB would respond by destroying SEC defenses.
Daniels combined for 313 total yards in his Tigers debut on Sept. 4, 2022 — which was against annual national power Florida State. Then he led LSU to victories in six of its first seven conference games — which included knocking off Alabama on No. 5 on a night Daniels racked up 277 total yards and scored three times (two through the air) in the upset of the No. 6 team in the nation.
At the end of the ’22 season, Daniels’ passing numbers nearly looked identical to Burrow’s first season in Baton Rouge: 2,913 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes, but just three interceptions. The difference, though, was Daniels added 885 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns while showing his dual-threat side.
Like Burrow, Daniels’ second LSU campaign skyrocketed him to stardom. He unleashed 410 total yards in the rematch against Florida State despite a season-opening loss. After settling for one touchdown pass in the Week 1 defeat, Daniels never fell below two touchdown throws in a game after that.
Daniels posted back-to-back four-touchdown-pass outings against Arkansas and Ole Miss. He then proceeded to deliver three straight three-touchdown nights versus Missouri, Auburn, and Army. Many across the nation, though, believed the Nov. 18 non-conference game against Georgia State help solidify his case for the Heisman.
He not only amassed 509 total yards that afternoon, but also totaled eight touchdowns in the 56-14 romp. But if that performance wasn’t enough, Daniels unleashed 120 rushing yards and four touchdown passes the following week versus No. 23-ranked Texas A&M.
1st round pick Jayden Daniels can do everything on the football field ‼️🐯
(At LSU)
• 78 Total TDs
• 7 INTs
• 8,749 Total Yards
• 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner
• 1x All-American pic.twitter.com/ABMNQaL7w6— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 11, 2024
Burrow and Daniels created profound legacies on the LSU campus. Daniels needed just four seasons after Burrow to give the university another Heisman winner.
LSU is now a place that high-profile quarterback recruits consider — with former four-star Garrett Nussmeier officially in control. He’s already drawn comparisons to Burrow.
Meanwhile, LSU has prized 2024 four-star commit Colin Hurley, who’s a dual threat like Daniels, waiting in the wings.
Now, both are having the first of what could be multiple showdowns in their pro careers. They’ve already had one friendly encounter before the MNF contest.
Joe Burrow 🤝 Jayden Daniels 🐯#WASvsCIN | 8:15 ET | ABC, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/qwq8tJxgAa
— ESPN (@espn) September 23, 2024
One thing is certain — fans who proudly say “Geaux Tigers” will be watching closely as the highest draft picks in LSU history and Tiger legends finally share the field.