By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Burrow recently had one of the great games in modern SEC history, then, in terms of his passer rating, responded with an even-better showing.

What an encore performance.

One week after Joe Burrow completed 31-of-39 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns in a historic 46-41 win at Alabama, the LSU superstar followed that showcase up with 489 passing yards and five passing touchdowns in a 58-37 victory at Ole Miss. The final tally was a new career high in passing yards for the overwhelming Heisman Trophy frontrunner and a new all-time high in total yards in an SEC game for LSU with 714. Furthermore, for just the fourth time ever, the top-ranked Tigers are 10-0.

Burrow, after nearly 500 yards in Oxford, broke Rohan Davey’s single-season LSU passing record, tying his own program mark with a fourth-consecutive 300-yard outing. Though one of the best outings from any quarterback this season, it was a mere continuation for Burrow, who is on pace to set a new NCAA single-season completion record and a set a new SEC high for touchdown passes as well. Burrow, expectations for the College Football Playoff aside, is finishing up one of the great runs in the history of the game.

On Saturday, Burrow became just the seventh SEC quarterback ever to throw for over 485 yards in leading his team to a win over a Power Five opponent.

Big plays were once again the theme at Ole Miss. Burrow averaged 11.6 yards per pass attempt and scored five times, including on touchdown throws of 61, 51 and 34 yards to Ja’Marr Chase. He and Burrow have been college football’s top passing tandem; Chase stands third in the country and leads the entire P5 with 124 receiving yards per game, ranking second nationally with 13 scores. Furthermore, he is the only wideout in the game with more than 1,000 yards averaging over 19.5 yards per catch.

With Burrow, the current numbers are almost unparalleled. He trails only Washington State’s Anthony Gordon, with 3,687 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. Burrow’s aforementioned 78.6% completion percentage not only leads the nation, but is on par to become college football’s best rate ever. For good measure, he ranks third in passer rating, fourth in yards per pass attempt and has the second-most completions of at least ten and 20 yards. All of that — and he hasn’t lost yet.

The end result, with LSU fresh off 714 yards and 58 points, is the Tigers averaging both the second-most points and yards per game in college football at 556 yards and 47.8, respectively; the latter, if trends continue, will become the new SEC standard.

One week after a signature showcase and triumph at Alabama, Burrow avoided a celebratory letdown. He, instead, opted for one of the ten-most productive passing games of this season with 489 yards and five touchdowns. Burrow’s effort in Oxford shows that, in his mind, all that was done in Tuscaloosa simply wasn’t enough. Already a story for the ages, Burrow’s tale will soon take him to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation and, perhaps, New Orleans for the College Football Playoff Final.

Burrow recently had one of the great games in modern SEC history at Alabama, then, at least in terms of his total passer rating, responded with an even-better showing against Ole Miss. With prominent stops still to come, the journey, for Burrow, continues.