Alabama Overcomes LSU's Passing Attack to Secure 31-13 Victory
The Crimson Tide held the Tigers to one touchdown despite LSU gaining 380 yards through the air, extending their winning streak at Tiger Stadium to seven of the last eight visits.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Keelon Russell connected on three touchdown passes to guide No. 9 Alabama to a 31-13 win over No. 15 LSU on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. The victory keeps the Crimson Tide, who now stand 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. LSU falls to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play, leaving first-year coach Lane Kiffin with slim hopes for a bowl bid.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 380 yards on 35 of 47 completions, yet the Tigers scored only once. Alabama’s defense forced four fourth-down failures and a missed field goal, limiting the visiting team to a single touchdown. The Tigers also suffered a turnover in Alabama territory, which further stifled their offensive momentum.
Russell found Josh Ford on a 7-yard strike, Cederian Morgan on a 25-yard play, and Kaleb Edwards on a 4-yard reception. In the first half, Alabama’s Chuck McDonald III batted down a Leavitt pass on fourth-and-4 from the Tide 10-yard line, and Luke Metz intercepted another pass at the Alabama 24. Those stops prevented LSU from gaining any real offensive traction before the break.
LSU briefly took the lead when Dilin Jones ran for a 5-yard touchdown, capping an 11-play, 90-yard drive that included a pass interference call against Alabama. Alabama answered in just two minutes and eight seconds, starting with Rico Scott’s 57-yard catch and run that moved the ball to the LSU 18. Ford then caught Russell’s touchdown pass to seal the second-half scoring burst for the Crimson Tide.
Kiffin made a controversial decision late in the game, leaving his offense on the field on fourth-and-10 from the LSU 25 with eight minutes remaining. Leavitt was sacked on the play, and Alabama reached the end zone three plays later. The Tigers were also hurt by the injury to right tackle Weston Davis, who exited the game in the third quarter favoring his right leg.
Alabama now holds a seven-game winning streak in its last eight visits to Tiger Stadium. The Crimson Tide will visit Vanderbilt next Saturday, while LSU hosts No. 10 Texas at home. First Lady Melania Trump attended the game, joining other public figures including Kevin Costner, Paul Skenes, Angel Reese, Shaquille O’Neal, and Livvy Dunne for the Tiger Walk.
