LSU may have spent much of this season fighting through injuries, but heading into Saturday’s game against Alabama, the Tigers could finally have a matchup swing in their favor.
Both teams are coming off bye weeks with identical overall records, and LSU is still searching for that signature win over the Crimson Tide. Tiger Stadium gives the Tigers a real edge on its own - LSU is 5-0 at home and has outscored opponents 225-44 there - but Alabama’s first injury report might open the door even wider.
The biggest concern for the Crimson Tide is up front. Center Racin Delgatty and left guard William Sanders are both listed as questionable.
Sanders had a TightRope procedure on his right ankle from last week’s game, while Delgatty has been dealing with a lower-body injury. Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams is also questionable.
That matters because LSU’s pass rush has been one of the most dangerous in the country. The Tigers rank second nationally with 34 total sacks, and Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross give Blake Baker’s defense the kind of edge that can wreck a game plan fast. Alabama, meanwhile, is fourth in the SEC in sacks allowed with 23.
If Sanders and Delgatty can’t go, Alabama’s offense could be forced to juggle a reshuffled line in a game where communication and protection calls are already under pressure. That would affect pass protection, run blocking and the ability to handle LSU’s defensive line movement. The Crimson Tide already have issues running the ball, and losing more stability up front would only make that problem worse.
That’s where LSU’s defense can really lean in. The Tigers need to push Keelon Russell into obvious passing situations and make this potentially patched-together offensive line think on the fly. If LSU can generate pressure with four rushers, Blake Baker gets more freedom to dial up extra defensive backs and make Russell settle for shorter throws.
Of course, this game isn’t just about one side of the ball. Alabama’s secondary has shown it can create extra possessions, while LSU’s front is built to hunt for negative plays and turnovers. The defenses figure to shape the outcome.
Lane Kiffin and Kalen DeBoer are two of college football’s best coaches, but both teams are banged up heading into Saturday. That makes Alabama’s injury report a major storyline - and possibly the detail that tilts the night.
In Other News...
TreyDez Greens Alabama Outlook Could Change LSUs Passing Attack
LSUs passing game has a familiar Week 10 wrinkle as TreyDez Green comes into the matchup with his production tied closely to both health and the opponent across from him. The tight end has been part of the Tigers aerial plan, but the combination of injury risk and a difficult defensive matchup has made his receiving outlook a cautious one in DFS circles, where the expectation is for him to stay below a modest yardage threshold.
For LSU, that kind of projection matters because Greens role can shape how the passing attack is distributed elsewhere, especially if the Tigers need to lean on other options to move the ball. It is the sort of situation that can quietly alter a game plan before kickoff, and it leaves the bigger question hanging over how much of LSUs offense will flow through the tight end if the matchup turns as expected. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Will Love What This Alabama Simulation Suggests
A fresh offseason simulation has LSU fans dreaming big, and this one came with a result that would play well in Baton Rouge. EA Sports College Football 27 ran an LSU-Alabama matchup and handed the Tigers a convincing 46-24 win, with the virtual offense rolling from start to finish and a few familiar names driving the action.
Sam Leavitt and Dilin Jones were at the center of it, as the simulation leaned heavily on LSUs ability to move the ball and control the game. It is only a video-game projection, of course, but when a simulated rivalry game tilts that far in LSUs favor, it is the kind of outcome that will get attention from fans looking for any sign that this matchup could break their way. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Will Feel Major Alabama Game-Day Changes This Weekend
With Melania Trump set to attend Saturdays LSU-Alabama game, LSU is bracing for a much different scene around Tiger Stadium than fans are used to. The school said it will have increased traffic, additional security checks and new tailgating restrictions in place for the matchup, all part of the buildup to a high-profile visit that also includes an on-field honor during the game.
The appearance is tied to the launch of a $5 million endowment for the Fostering the Future scholarship fund, giving the weekend an added layer beyond the usual SEC stakes. LSU has also formed a Football Tailgating Steering Committee to guide future game-day planning and help oversee safety measures, a sign that this weekends changes could shape how the program handles big events going forward. [Read more 🡒]