Alabama heads into Saturday’s showdown at No. 14 LSU with several important names hanging in the balance.
Per the Crimson Tide’s final Game Day Report, Zabien Brown, EJ Crowell, Jett Thomalla and William Sanders are all set to be re-evaluated right before kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET. That puts each of them in game-time-decision territory for one of Alabama’s biggest tests of the season.
Brown hasn’t been on the field since Alabama’s loss to Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on October 17. Kalen DeBoer previously described the defensive back’s issue as a lower body injury after the defeat to the Volunteers.
Crowell’s injury also came in that Tennessee game, when he left in the first half while favoring his left knee. The former 5-star prospect has flashed the athleticism that made him such a highly touted recruit, and he has worked as Alabama’s third option at running back this season. Through his freshman year, he has 32 carries for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Alabama could certainly use every available body in Baton Rouge. LSU enters Week 10 with one of the league’s top defenses and the boost of a Death Valley crowd, even if the Tigers don’t have a signature resume win after losses to Ole Miss at Kentucky.
There’s also a clear consequence attached to the result. The loser will fall to 6-3 with only a few games left in the regular season. Alabama is ranked No. 5, so even a loss would still leave the Crimson Tide with a path to the postseason.
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 🡒]