Keelon Russell kept Alabama in control when LSU kept threatening, and the No. 5 Crimson Tide walked out of Baton Rouge with a 31-13 SEC win over the No. 14 Tigers on Saturday.
Russell finished with 206 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Alabama’s defense spent the night slamming the door on LSU in the biggest moments. Ryan Coleman-Williams chipped in a touchdown run and a pivotal punt return for the Crimson Tide, who improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC.
LSU had the ball in dangerous territory more than once, but the Tigers never found a clean answer. They were stopped twice inside Alabama’s 10-yard line and twice more at the Crimson Tide’s 36. Sam Leavitt completed 35 of 47 passes for 380 yards, but LSU came away without a touchdown through the air and was blanked over the game’s final 21 points.
Alabama set the tone early with the opening drive, finishing it with Conor Talty’s 43-yard field goal. LSU answered with Scott Starzyk’s 23-yard field goal to tie it 3-3 after the first quarter.
The Tide grabbed more separation right away in the second. After Starzyk missed wide left from 56 yards on LSU’s first snap of the quarter, Alabama turned that break into Coleman-Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run for a 10-3 lead.
LSU had chances to flip the game before halftime. The Tigers reached the Alabama 9 on one drive, but Leavitt’s pass was batted down on fourth-and-4. On the next possession, LSU moved to the Alabama 36 before Luke Metz picked off Leavitt and preserved Alabama’s 10-3 halftime edge.
LSU finally got some momentum after the break. The Tigers opened the second half with a drive capped by Starzyk’s 41-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 10-6. Then Dilin Jones punched in a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left in the third quarter to put LSU in front 13-10 for its only lead of the day.
Alabama answered immediately and decisively. On the first play after the kickoff, Russell hit Rico Scott for 57 yards. Four plays later, he found Josh Ford on a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Tide back on top 17-13 with 36 seconds left in the third.
From there, LSU kept pushing but couldn’t finish. The Tigers drove to the Alabama 36 and came away empty when Leavitt threw incomplete on fourth-and-3. Three minutes later, Coleman-Williams returned a punt 32 yards to the LSU 25, and Russell followed with a touchdown pass to Cederian Morgan to make it 24-13 with 9:44 left.
LSU’s next possession ended with a turnover on downs at its own 18, and Alabama closed it out with Russell’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Kaleb Edwards.
For LSU, the yards were there. The finishing touch wasn’t. And Alabama made sure the game’s final 21 points belonged to the Crimson Tide.
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One drive flipped the feel of the night, sparked by Rico Scotts 57-yard reception and finished with a touchdown pass from Keelon Russell to Josh Ford. Ryan Coleman-Williams also made his presence felt in his return from injury, giving Alabama another needed piece as it found a way to answer LSU and protect its postseason hopes. [Read more 🡒]
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The biggest moment came late, when Kiffins fourth-and-10 decision turned into a sack and effectively shut the door on LSUs chances. It was the kind of call that invites second-guessing immediately, especially in a game already tilted by Alabamas steadier execution. For the Tide, the win was about more than just another conference result. It was also another reminder that Kiffins frustration against Alabama continues to pile up, one loss at a time. [Read more 🡒]