Alabama left Baton Rouge with more than a win on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide left with a statement.
After LSU briefly flipped the game in the third quarter, Alabama answered with 21 straight points and pulled away for a 31-13 victory in Death Valley. The Tide had taken a 10-3 lead into halftime, then watched LSU score 10 unanswered to go up 13-10. From there, Alabama took control.
Keelon Russell sparked the turnaround with a 57-yard catch-and-run to Rico Scott, a play that set up a touchdown pass to Josh Ford a few snaps later and put Alabama back in front 17-13. After Ryan Coleman-Williams delivered a big punt return, Russell connected with freshman wideout Cederian Morgan for another score to stretch the lead to 11. Then, after a turnover on downs, Russell found Kaleb Edwards to put the game away.
The defense did plenty of heavy lifting too. Alabama was sharp in the red zone all afternoon, limiting LSU to just 10 points on four trips inside the 20.
The Tide also sacked Sam Leavitt four times, picked off a pass, and kept LSU off the board on all four of its fourth-down tries. A tip of the cap to Kane Wommack.
At 7-2, Alabama is sitting in strong College Football Playoff position with Vanderbilt, Chattanooga, and Auburn left on the regular-season schedule.
On the hardwood, Alabama basketball kept rolling Friday night with a 101-86 win over Arkansas State in Tuscaloosa. It was the final game of Aden Holloway’s suspension, and the Tide handled a challenge from the preseason Sun Belt favorite, a team led by former Alabama assistant Ryan Pannone, before taking over in the second half.
Amari Allen was the headliner. He posted the fifth triple-double in program history with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Alabama is now 2-0 and will get Holloway back Monday night when Oakland visits Coleman Coliseum.
The recruiting momentum kept building for Nate Oats, too. With 5-star prospects Chase Lumpkin and Zion Green already committed, Alabama added another major piece to its 2027 class on Sunday when 4-star center Yohane Kabongo chose the Crimson Tide over Mississippi State and Tennessee.
Kabongo is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound center from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who attends DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida. He may be a little shorter than the typical center, but his 7-foot-2-plus wingspan and elite athleticism make him stand out. He can jump out of the gym.
His commitment pushed Alabama up to No. 3 in the composite class rankings for the 2027 cycle.
The weekend also brought a road win for Alabama women’s basketball. In Pauline Love’s first road game as head coach, the Tide held off Tulane for a 68-63 victory in New Orleans.
Ace Austin powered the offense with a career-high 24 points, while Amirah Anderson added 12 and Naomi Jones chipped in 10.
Alabama stays on the road this week, heading to Memphis on Thursday for another early test against the Tigers.
In Other News...
Greg McElroy Just Gave Alabama Fans Fresh Playoff Ammo
Greg McElroys latest take has given Alabama fans plenty to latch onto as the College Football Playoff rankings approach, with the former Crimson Tide quarterback arguing the Tide should land at No. 3 and Tennessee at No. 8. His case leaned on Alabamas quality wins and the injury issues the program has had to navigate, a familiar kind of rsum debate this time of year when every detail gets magnified and every slot in the bracket feels up for argument.
For Alabama supporters, McElroys view is more than just a talking point from a former player with deep ties to the program. It adds another layer to the playoff conversation, especially with Tennessee still facing games that could reshape its own path. The reaction to McElroys comments has already sparked plenty of debate, and the next rankings will show whether his perspective matches the committees thinking or just fuels the argument a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces New QB Concern Heading Into Vanderbilt
Keelon Russells ankle became one more thing for Alabama to monitor coming out of the LSU game, even if the freshman quarterback finished the night and kept the offense moving. Kalen DeBoer said Russell is day-to-day after sustaining the injury, a status that keeps the Crimson Tides quarterback picture a little unsettled as Vanderbilt comes into view.
Russells return against LSU mattered because he did not just limp through the finish, he helped deliver a productive performance with three touchdown passes and 206 yards. Still, with the next game looming and no firm timeline beyond day-to-day, Alabama has a small but real concern to sort through as it prepares for the Commodores. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Still Waiting On Two Young Backs At Crucial Time
Late in the season, Alabama is still trying to get a full look at two young backs who have been on the fringe because of health issues. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said AK Dear and EJ Crowell are both working to recover and are not dealing with season-ending injuries, which at least keeps the door open as the Tide push through the final stretch. Neither player took part in the recent game against LSU, leaving the backfield picture a little thinner than Alabama would prefer at this point.
For a team trying to sort out depth and roles down the stretch, the timing matters as much as the injuries themselves. Alabama has been forced to keep waiting on two players who were expected to be part of the conversation, and the uncertainty around their availability lingers even as the season moves on. The encouraging part is that both backs are still in the mix, but the next step depends on how quickly they can get back to full strength. [Read more 🡒]