OSU fans Have Long-Distance Love for LSU's Joe Burrow

When it comes to former Buckeye Joe Burrow's popularity with Ohio State fans, there is nothing he can do to get on their bad side.

Yet.

Burrow was beloved by Buckeye Nation last season after he transferred from OSU to LSU and his career-best passing performance last Saturday in a statement win at Texas was met in Columbus with almost as much enthusiasm as Ohio State's 42-0 win over Cincinnati.

“Seeing his mom and dad in the stands, seeing him go about beating a good Texas team on the road like that, I couldn’t be happier for him," OSU coach Ryan Day said. "He’s playing at a high level. Give him credit. He's throwing the ball. He looked like an NFL quarterback out there.”

Burrow threw for 471 yards and four touchdowns, including a 61-yard clincher against heavy pressure in the the fourth quarter, to give LSU the biggest win of the season by any playoff contender.

But let's flash forward and imagine a scenario where Burrow and the Tigers are the College Football Playoff semifinal opponent for Ohio State in either the Fiesta or Peach Bowl.

Well, then Burrow certainly won't get the support from OSU fans that he's received since leaving Ohio State after losing a quarterback competition to Dwayne Haskins following spring practice in 2018.

Ohio State fans in Dallas for the Buckeyes' September game against TCU last year cheered Burrow heartily on the Jumbotron at Cowboys Stadium as he rallied LSU to a victory over Miami.

They were likewise thrilled for him last weekend as he thrust himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation with the win over the Longhorns.

The affinity for Burrow among OSU faithful traces in large part to the fact that he's from Athens, about 70 miles from Columbus, and that an injury played significantly in him sinking behind Haskins on the depth chart.

Burrow was the No. 2 in fall camp in 2017 before he broke a bone in his hand in late August when he hit the helmet of a teammate after throwing a pass.

Haskins played so well in relief of J.T. Barrett before Burrow returned that it whet the appetite of fans and the coaching staff to see Haskins as Barrett's successor.

Burrow saw the future (Haskins throwing for 50 TDs in 2018) before it happened and found a new home at LSU.

Because Burrow left, Ohio State had a quarterback shortage, so it went after Justin Fields when he entered the transfer portal.

That, in turn, convinced Tate Martell and Matthew Baldwin to transfer, leaving little depth behind Fields.

Day, though, holds no grudges against Burrow setting the revolving door in motion.