It’s no secret that the annual matchup between LSU and Alabama is quickly becoming one of the most heated rivalries in all of college football. The “spark” that you could say ignited the rivalry was when Nick Saban, the former Head Coach of LSU, spurned the Tigers to take a job with the Miami Dolphins. After a mediocre season in Miami, Saban returned to the SEC to coach, only this time with the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban has gone onto win five national championships with the Tide since taking over the mantle as head coach in Tuscaloosa, and many Tiger fans feel that those should be LSU National Championships. Alabama enters tonight’s game riding a seven game win streak against the Tigers dating all the way back to the 2011 National Championship Game.
Both LSU and Alabama entered tonight’s game vying to stake their claim for the SEC West title. LSU defensively has one of the best secondaries in the nation and have not given up and a first quarter touchdown dating back to their game last year against Alabama. Alabama has been scoring in bunches all year in the first quarter. The match up has been like chess for defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.
From the start of the game the crowd was intense and loud, causing the Tide to have back-to-back false start penalties on third down, something that a Nick Saban coached team is not known to do. Equipment in the press box was rattling, I could not even hear the person that was sitting next to me speaking.
Alabama would get on the board first tonight with a touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailova to speedy receiver Henry Ruggs III. The ensuing extra point would be missed by the Tide giving them the lead 6-0. LSU’s defense held their own, killing drives against the Tide and forcing them to punt and settle for a field goal late in the first half, even forcing Tagovailova to throw his first interception of the season. The Tide would get the ball back late in the second quarter, and Tagovailova found Tight End Irv Smith in the back of the end zone with just over a minute left in the half, this would give the Tide a 16-0 lead going in to halftime.
The Tigers would receive the kickoff to start the second half, and would also get a spark on defense that looked to be missing during the first half. Linebacker Devin White would have served out his suspension from the previous game for a targeting penalty and would be allowed to rejoin the team. The stadium erupted in cheers when White entered the field, the Tiger’s leader had an immediate impact on defense registering a tackle on Bama’s next possession and forcing a three and out.
The offense struggled tonight, not getting inside the red zone until there was about twelve minutes left in the fourth quarter. Even then kicker Cole Tracy who has been pretty much automatic this season for the Tigers missed on his attempt from 33 yards out. Then on the Tigers second red zone trip, set up by a great reception by Dee Anderson to the seven yard line, they failed to score and quarterback Joe Burrow threw a costly interception to end the game.
This will not end bowl dreams for LSU, since they currently sit at 7-2 overall and are bowl eligible. But, the chances of them making the College Football Playoffs are unfortunately very slim. There would have to be a major shakeup in the college football world for that to happen. The Tigers could use this loss as a learning experience, and “Tell the Truth Monday” is coming up and LSU still has the opportunity to have a great season and end up in a great bowl game.
The Tide win streak now sits at eight.
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