Sam Leavitt has been rolling, but Alabama is set up to make the LSU quarterback earn every clean throw on Saturday.
The Tigers come into the rivalry game on the back of wins over Mississippi State and Auburn, and Leavitt has been sharp throughout that stretch. Over those two games, he completed 63 of 83 passes for 677 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. On the season, he has topped 2,100 passing yards with 17 touchdowns, a sign of how productive LSU’s offense has been when he’s operating efficiently.
Alabama’s answer isn’t just about collapsing the pocket. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack wants to cloud Leavitt’s picture before the ball is even snapped, using a 4-2-5 scheme that lets defenders shift between rushing and coverage. The goal is simple: make the quarterback hesitate, second-guess, and hold the ball a beat longer than he wants to.
That’s where the Crimson Tide can change the game without blitzing recklessly. Instead of loading up pressure, Alabama can disguise where help is coming from and force Leavitt to sort out the real coverage after the snap. Safety Bray Hubbard put it plainly Tuesday: "We got to do a great job disguising and making sure they can't just tip our coverages off of just our alignment," Hubbard said.
That matters because LSU’s offense, led by Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., leans on tempo and pre-snap movement to find favorable matchups. If Alabama can muddy those reads, Leavitt may be pushed into tougher decisions once the play is live.
The numbers show why that matters. According to Pro Football Focus statistics published by LSU Wire, Leavitt has an 89.5 passing grade, a 79.5% adjusted accuracy rate and an average time to throw of 2.82 seconds.
His 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate points to a quarterback who usually protects the football, even though he has thrown eight interceptions this season. Havoc Football also lists his sack rate at 3.8% of dropbacks, with an expected points added per dropback of +0.40.
Those are strong efficiency markers, but they don’t tell the whole story when pressure and disguised coverage start to collide. Alabama doesn’t need to win with pure speed off the edge if it can force Leavitt to pause and process longer than usual.
There is a possible roadmap for LSU in what Texas A&M did against Alabama on October 24. In the first half of that game, the Aggies found success with run-pass options and slant routes over the middle.
Luke Metz and Caleb Woodson were pulled toward the line by run action, which opened space behind them. Marcel Reed took advantage and piled up nearly 100 passing yards on two first-half touchdown drives.
But Alabama adjusted after halftime. Wommack’s defense shut down those RPO slant looks, and Reed’s effectiveness faded as the Crimson Tide finished off a 31-20 win. That’s the warning for LSU: the openings may be there early, but they may not stay there.
If those middle-of-the-field throws aren’t available, Kiffin and Weis can still test Alabama with quick outs, shallow crossers and other underneath routes. Tight end Trey'Dez Green also gives LSU another option, especially on routes that attack the space between zone defenders. His size and versatility could make him a useful outlet if Alabama takes away Leavitt’s first read.
The danger, though, is obvious. Alabama intercepted Reed twice before Texas A&M could score, and Dijon Lee Jr. turned the first one into a touchdown before Chuck McDonald III picked off the next possession. That’s the risk when a quarterback commits to a window before confirming where the defense has rotated.
Leavitt will have to be careful with throws over the middle, especially if Alabama spins a defender into a lane that looked open pre-snap. The same goes for run-pass options. If the linebackers stay disciplined and don’t bite on the run fake, the space can disappear in a hurry.
Saturday’s matchup will ask Leavitt to do more than just deliver the ball accurately. Alabama is trying to make him play patient football against a defense built to change the picture on him. The challenge isn’t only whether he can throw it - it’s whether he can recognize when the throw is actually there.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has Another Big Alabama Availability Concern
LSU is still dealing with a thin margin for error heading into its matchup with Alabama, and the latest availability report did not do the Tigers many favors. Linebacker Whit Weeks remains doubtful for the game, while tight end TreyDez Green is listed as questionable because of a knee injury, adding more uncertainty to a roster already missing several players on season-ending injuries.
Alabama, meanwhile, got a cleaner update on its side of the ledger, with receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and center Racin Delgatty both moved from questionable to probable. For LSU, the concern is less about one injury and more about how many moving parts remain in flux this late in the week, especially against a rival that is trending in a more stable direction. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Get A Huge Boost For Alabama At The Perfect Time
The timing could hardly be better for LSU. Tiger Stadium is set to host Alabama in a Week 10 SEC matchup after a bye week for both teams, and the Tigers appear to be getting a key piece back in tight end Trey'Dez Green after his injury absence. For an LSU offense that can use every available weapon in a game of this size, his return adds another layer to a matchup that already carries plenty of weight.
LSU's defense will also have a chance to lean into one of its biggest strengths against an Alabama quarterback who has taken plenty of punishment this season. Keelon Russell has been sacked 22 times, and the Tigers have built a reputation around getting after the passer. With both teams still chasing playoff positioning, this one in Baton Rouge has the feel of more than just another SEC showdown. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Have Several Week 10 Games Worth Watching Closely
Week 10 brings a slate that should keep LSU fans glued to the scoreboard even before the Tigers take the field, with several matchups carrying real weight for the playoff race and the national rankings. Utah-BYU, Texas-Missouri, Ohio State-Oregon, Georgia-Ole Miss and Miami-Notre Dame all have something at stake, whether it is a chance to improve a resume, protect a spot near the top of the poll or survive a tricky conference test that could reshape the postseason picture.
For LSU supporters, the appeal is not just the quality of the games but the ripple effect they could have on the road ahead. Injuries to key players and the way each team handles those absences could matter as much as the matchup itself, especially with so many contenders clustered together and every result carrying extra weight. By Saturday night, the Tigers may have a clearer sense of which teams are separating themselves and which ones are about to make the playoff conversation even messier. [Read more 🡒]