LSU is back from its bye week and walks straight into one of the biggest stages on the schedule: Alabama in Tiger Stadium. It’s the first true home test for the Tigers, and the Crimson Tide arrive ranked No. 5 in the country after the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season. It also marks the final meeting in this annual rivalry.
The matchup that jumps out first is LSU’s offense against an Alabama defense that has made a living on takeaways. The Tide have returned five interceptions for touchdowns and picked off 12 passes overall.
But that ball-hawking has come with some vulnerability on the back end, too. Alabama has given up 25 passing plays of 20 yards or more, which works out to three explosive completions per game, and it ranks 83rd nationally in allowing passes of that length.
Kane Wommack’s group has been steady overall, but not dominant. Alabama is 41st in total defense at 330 yards allowed per game and 45th in scoring defense at 21.3 points per game. The Tide also sit 86th against the pass, giving up 222.4 yards through the air, while ranking 27th against the run at 108 yards allowed per game.
That matters because LSU’s offense has been rolling at a level that puts it among the nation’s best. The Tigers are averaging 510 yards per game, good for sixth nationally, and 40.1 points per game, which ranks seventh. They’re also throwing for 317.9 yards per game, eighth in the country, while adding 192.1 rushing yards per game, 31st nationally.
One number could end up telling the story: third down. Alabama is allowing opponents to convert 33.3% of their third-down tries, which ranks 30th nationally.
LSU, meanwhile, is converting 51.7% of its third downs, ninth in the nation. If the Tigers can stay on schedule, run the ball, and keep extending drives, that edge could tilt the night their way.
There’s also a split worth watching. Alabama’s defense has been better away from Tuscaloosa, while LSU’s offense has been sharper at home.
On the road, the Tide are allowing 22 points per game, 77 rushing yards per game, and 209 passing yards per game. At home, LSU is putting up 45 points per game, 221 rushing yards per game, and 336 passing yards per game.
That sets up a clear path for LSU: lean on the run early and keep the pressure on Alabama’s front. Dilin Jones has gone several weeks without a 100-yard rushing game, and this looks like a spot where No. 13 should get back over the century mark.
The Tigers should not stop there, either. Getting him to 150 yards from scrimmage, while involving him in the passing game, would force Alabama to defend both the quick game and the ground attack.
Tempo should be part of the plan, too. LSU can use it to pin Alabama into certain defensive personnel groupings, then attack once the corners start creeping up. That’s where the deeper stuff comes in - crossing routes, double moves, and shots downfield after the defense starts reacting to the short game.
The message is simple: be aggressive, and don’t let Alabama turn the game into something bigger than it needs to be. Treat it like the next game on the schedule and play as LSU.
There is one more wrinkle on the Alabama side. The Tide could be without Zabien Brown, one of their better outside corners, and nickel corner Dre Kirkpatrick was dismissed a few weeks ago because of off-the-field issues.
So yes, there will be openings. But LSU can’t help Alabama by giving the ball away. If the Tigers run it well, use tempo and the quick passing game, and avoid turnovers, they should have a chance to cover the spread and keep their College Football Playoff push moving.
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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 🡒]