Nick Saban didn’t wait long to make his pick for the national championship race.
On Saturday morning’s edition of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” the seven-time national champion and former LSU head coach named the Tigers his sleeper to win it all. He made the call with No.
15 LSU set to host No. 10 Alabama a week later.
Saban pointed to the way LSU has been piling up points, the strength of its defense and the fact that six of its wins have come by 20 points or more.
“This could be the team to go all the way,” Saban said.
The numbers back up why LSU has landed in that conversation. The Tigers are 6-2 in Kiffin’s first season, scoring more than 40 points per game while giving up only 16. Through eight games, they have put up 321 points and allowed 128.
Their six victories have all come by at least 21 points. That list includes a 51-10 win over Clemson to open the season, a 35-6 blowout of Texas A&M and a 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State.
Against Mississippi State, Sam Leavitt turned in one of his best performances of the season, completing 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns.
LSU’s offense has done more than just score quickly. It has put together long drives, stayed on schedule and let the defense take over from there. The Tigers lead the SEC in both total offense and total defense.
Still, Saban didn’t ignore the part that could keep LSU from making a real title push. Leavitt, the Arizona State transfer, has had a turnover issue. He threw eight interceptions in LSU’s first six games, including three in a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech.
He also threw a pick in each of LSU’s first six games, making him the only quarterback in the FBS to be turned over in every game during that stretch.
That has changed lately. Leavitt has not thrown an interception since the Kentucky game, and LSU has outscored opponents 69-17 without a turnover over that span.
Turnovers have been a major focus during the bye week because LSU’s turnover margin is still negative. Alabama, meanwhile, leads the SEC with 12 interceptions and has forced at least one in every game.
The Crimson Tide enter at 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC after back-to-back losses to Georgia and Tennessee. They bounced back with a 31-20 win over a struggling Texas A&M team.
Even with Alabama dealing with its own recent setbacks, the matchup has Saban’s attention. Kiffin put it plainly: “These guys really are loaded.”
The game carries extra weight beyond the standings. Kiffin’s arrival brought hope of a new era at LSU, especially for a matchup like this one.
Alabama has won the last three meetings, and LSU’s last win in the series came in a 32-31 overtime thriller in 2022.
This will also be the final annual meeting between the schools, ending a run that has lasted more than 60 years. With the SEC moving to a nine-game schedule format, LSU and Alabama will not meet next season.
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The post suggested Brown might be moving to the offensive line, a possibility that would certainly change the conversation around his development and where LSU sees his long-term value. Nothing has been officially confirmed by the program or coaching staff, but even the hint of a role change is enough to make Brown a player worth watching as the Tigers continue sorting out their roster. [Read more 🡒]
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Young picked LSU over several other schools and already has a clear runway in mind, planning to spend at least two years in Baton Rouge before turning his attention to the NBA. For LSU, his decision only strengthens a class that now features four highly regarded prospects and sits at the top of the 2027 rankings, giving the program more momentum as it keeps stacking talent for the future. [Read more 🡒]