No. 9 Alabama dealt a blow to No. 15 LSU’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff in Lane Kiffin’s first season as head coach.
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell threw three touchdowns as Kalen DeBoer led his team to a 31-13 victory Saturday in Death Valley.
Kiffin is now 0-6 in his head coaching career against Alabama.
The Crimson Tide and Tigers were ranked 5th and 14th, respectively, in the CFP selection committee’s first rankings. LSU now risks missing the playoffs altogether after conceding its third loss of the season.
Here’s a look at the top offensive players and highlights from Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge.
LSU started strong by forcing the Crimson Tide to go three and out on their second play of the game.
However, it was Alabama that scored the first touchdown of the day, after a successful fake handoff allowed Ryan Coleman-Williams to run into the end zone on his first play back from knee surgery.
LSU’s final two offensive drives of the first half ended with Sam Leavitt throwing an incompletion on 4th and 4 followed by an interception.
LSU opened the third quarter on a 10-point run capped by a Dilin Jones rushing touchdown to secure its first lead of the game.
This advantage did not last long. It took Alabama just five plays to advance 75 yards on a responding drive that ended with a Russell touchdown pass.
LSU’s comeback hopes dashed as the offense and defense struggled in the fourth quarter.
Russell found Cederian Morgan in the end zone on a 25-yard dime. The Alabama defense then sacked Leavitt to force a turnover on downs and set up another Crimson Tide touchdown.
LSU outgained Alabama 457 yards to 285 yards, but went 0 for 4 on fourth down attempts in the loss.
Alabama will look to secure a playoff spot by taking the momentum from Saturday’s win into another road game next weekend at Vanderbilt.
LSU has no room for error and a difficult schedule lies ahead. The Tigers, who have yet to earn a ranked victory this season, are scheduled to play a home game against No. 7 Texas and a road game against No. 13 Tennessee over the next two weeks.
Gn sports
