Alabama heads to Baton Rouge on Saturday with plenty on the line, and the margin for error is thin. The Crimson Tide are trying to avoid a third regular-season loss in what will be the final yearly meeting with LSU before the SEC schedule separates the teams next season.
That makes this a game built around a few big swing points, and Alabama’s answers will go a long way toward deciding whether it leaves Tiger Stadium with a win.
The biggest one starts with Keelon Russell. The young quarterback has shown he can create when a play breaks down, but that same instinct can get him into trouble if he tries to do too much. Alabama doesn’t need to take that edge away entirely - his playmaking is part of what makes him dangerous - but it does need him to know when to get rid of the ball instead of forcing something risky.
That responsibility doesn’t fall on Russell alone. Alabama’s offensive line has been dealing with injuries over the last few games, and both Racin Delgatty and Will Sanders are questionable for LSU.
If the Tide can keep Russell protected, it should help him stay settled. That’s easier said than done against an LSU pass rush that figures to make life difficult.
Ryan Grubb also plays a role here, and Alabama would benefit from an offense that feels a little less complicated for its young quarterback.
Then there’s the question of big plays. Ryan Coleman-Williams is working his way back, but he was still listed as questionable after missing the Tennessee and Texas A&M games. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday that the junior wideout will play, though that still isn’t certain.
If Coleman-Williams is out there, he gives Alabama an explosive element it badly needs. The absence of that kind of production was obvious against Tennessee, and it was part of why the Tide came up short.
Even if Coleman-Williams can’t go, Alabama has to find another way to generate chunk gains. Lotzeir Brooks and Rico Scott can do that at receiver, and Derek Meadows and Cederian Morgan are other names who could provide a spark.
The run game may need to pitch in as well. Daniel Hill or another Alabama back could be the one who delivers a few explosive runs and changes the feel of the offense.
The final question is whether Kalen DeBoer can get Alabama ready after the bye. His teams have typically responded well in that spot. Since 2021, he’s 8-0 coming off a bye, including 4-0 since arriving at Alabama ahead of the 2024 season.
This week carries extra weight because of where Alabama sits in the first College Football Playoff rankings. The Tide were slotted at No. 5, a surprisingly high spot, but that doesn’t mean much if they stumble. If Alabama loses and Tennessee beats Kentucky, the Tide’s loss to the Volunteers could carry even more weight if the committee views those teams as comparable.
Alabama could still reach the field with three losses, but a win over LSU would make life much simpler. After Saturday, the Tide still have Vanderbilt, Chattanooga and Auburn left on the schedule.
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Keelon Russell sits at the center of Alabamas hopes, while LSU brings a pass rush that can force a quarterback into hurried decisions and ugly mistakes. Add in the Tides issues with penalties and injuries, and the margin for error gets thin fast, especially against a rival that has made a habit of turning high-stakes games into pressure cookers. [Read more 🡒]