Clemson, Trevor Lawrence will learn from humbling loss to LSU and return to playoff next season

No, it was not the result they were hoping for, but the Clemson Tigers will learn from this soul-crushing loss to the LSU Tigers and be better in 2020.

For the first time in two seasons, Clemson experienced what it feels like to lose.

It was a terrific season for the 2019 Clemson Tigers, but one where they came up one game short. Clemson had its shot to repeat as College Football Playoff National Champions, but ultimately, ran into the offensive buzzsaw that is Joe Burrow the LSU Tigers. Clemson had won a ridiculous 29 games in a row, but now that ledger has gone all the way back to zero after losing 42-25.

This is the first loss for Trevor Lawrence in his college career, and he looked mortal for the first time in college. Lawrence was off, often overthrowing his receivers vs. LSU, finishing with 234 yards and zero touchdowns on 18-of-37 passing. He did run for a score to give Clemson the first score of the National Championship but it didn’t look like the player we’ve come to expect.

Coaches and players often say you can learn more in the losses than the wins, so if that’s the case, Lawrence will learn from this game to have his best season next year.

“Tonight was about LSU, Dabo Swinney said after the game. I thought they played a beautiful game. Joe Burrow was tremendous and their receivers made incredible plays. Give them credit, they played a great game and deserved to win. I’m very happy for Coach O. This was their night.”

“We all hurt, we’re all disappointed,” Swinney said. “But we’re not defined by that. I’m incredibly thankful for our team. Such a special group of people.”

2020 is about redemption. It’s about unfinished business.

Sure, Clemson can feel sad and completely deflated after losing the national championship. But guess what? Clemson has the best odds to win the national championship next year. They still have Lawrence at quarterback, Justyn Ross at wide receiver and Dabo Swinney as their head coach. It’s all good.

Not only does Clemson have two of its most important offensive players returning, but the Tigers will also be getting the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2020 cycle, according to 247Sports. They have 23 rising freshmen committed, including six five-stars and 11 four-stars. Many of them, especially five-star defensive linemen, Brian Bresee, Myles Murphy and Demonte Capehart and five-star running back Demarkcus Bowman who will step in for the departed Travis Etienne will make an immediate impact as freshmen.

Most importantly, we all know how Swinney loves to play the underdog card as Clemson’s head coach. This loss will stand as fuel to next year’s fire. Anybody who was a part of this 2019 team that will return in 2020 will give their all to make sure Clemson gets back to the national championship and goes 15-0 for the second time in three seasons.

They will grow from this. And that’s terrifying for the rest of college football.

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