No. 11 Alabama Football Throttles No. 15 LSU 42-13

The Crimson Tide dominated on both sides of the ball on Saturday night in Baton Rouge

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe runs against LSU / Obtained from Alabama Football's X/Twitter

BATON ROUGE, La. — No. 11 Alabama dismantled No. 15 LSU 42-13 in a must-win game in Baton Rouge on Saturday night in front of a hostile crowd of what was once 102,083.

This win helped Alabama avoid immediate College Football Playoff elimination, as a third loss would almost certainly keep the Crimson Tide out of the inaugural 12-team format.

Alabama needed to get hot early in an esteemed Tiger Stadium environment and that it did as the Crimson Tide scored two touchdowns in the first quarter and another in the second period.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe set the tone on the opening possession with a 39-yard rushing touchdown, and on the Tide’s next drive, running back Justice Haynes punched it in from one yard out after 15 plays and nearly seven minutes. Milroe’s second touchdown of the half gave him 14 on the year—a new Alabama single-season record.

The Crimson Tide was also stout on the defensive side of the ball in the first half, as SEC completions leader and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier totaled 82 yards on 10-of-17 attempts, which resulted in just two field goals. Cornerback Domani Jackson prevented a touchdown after a 54-yard run and linebacker Jihaad Campbell forced a fumble and recorded a pass breakup.

The second half was relatively more of the same on both ends as Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson ruined the Tigers’ opening 14-play drive with an interception in the end zone. Milroe went on to score his third rushing touchdown of the night a few minutes later.

From there, the Alabama defense continued to feed off of the offense’s momentum with heavy pressure and tight pass coverage and Milroe reciprocated with an unbelievable 72-yard rushing score.

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How it Happened

Most recent events are on top.

Fourth Quarter

• The Crimson Tide backup defenders allow the LSU starting offense to get into the redzone. Garrett Nussmeier finds Kyren Lacy for a 12-yard touchdown pass for the first Tigers touchdown of the game. LSU scores on an eight-play, 75-yard drive that took 1:56 off the clock. Alabama 42, LSU 13. :11 4th Quarter.

• Crimson Tide backup running back Richard Young finds the endzone from eight yards away for another Alabama touchdown. The Crimson Tide backup offense scores after a nine-play, 47-yard drive that consumed 5:36 on the clock. Alabama 42, LSU 6. 2:07 4th Quarter.

• Alabama subs its backups into the game as Ty Simpson enters flanked by backup running back Richard Young.

• Alabama safety Bray Hubbard intercepts Garrett Nussmeier for the Crimson Tide's third turnover of the night. Alabama willl take over on offense first-and-10 from the LSU 47 with 7:43 left to play leading 35-6.

• LSU starts with ball at 47-yard line: Numerous short gains plus a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Alabama defensive lineman Jordan Renaud puts the Tigers in the redzone. However, they'd be stopped on fourth-and-5 by Domani Jackson and James Smith.

• Milroe finishes possession on the first play of the final period with an exploding 72-yard touchdown run. Alabama 35, LSU 6 (4 plays, 85 yards, 2:14).

Third Quarter

• Alabama starts with ball at 15-yard line: A 12-yard catch by CJ Dippre opens the possession but two plays for one yard closes the third quarter.

• LSU starts with ball at 32-yard line: Nussmeier finds Lacy for 29 yards, but a third-down sack by Campbell and defensive back DaShawn Jones a few plays later ends the drive.

• Alabama starts with ball at 20-yard line: Milroe is sacked on a third-down but a roughing the passer is called to extend the drive. This resulted in numerous beers and objects to be thrown on the field. Williams took a sweep 22 yards on the next play and then Milroe ran 19 yards for another score. Alabama 28, LSU 6 (8 plays, 80 yards, 3:39)

• LSU starts with ball at 25-yard line: Nussmeier runs for a 14-yard gain on third-and-4. Alabama WOLF linebacker Que Robinson is injured a couple of plays later and went to the locker room with a sling. The Tigers were able to convert on 4th-and-short, but a 19-yard connection to Taylor was wiped out due to a holding. However, the duo connected again for a 12-yard gain on fourth-and-4 and wide receiver Kyren Lacy followed it with a 21-yard catch-and-run. But it would be all for none as linebacker Deontae Lawson picked it off in the end zone to eliminate LSU's momentum (14 plaus, 71 yards, 6:16).

HALFTIME: Alabama 21, LSU 6

Alabama at LSU Halftime Stats / Statbroadcast

Second Quarter

• Alabama starts at LSU 32-yard line: Milroe opens the possession with a 22-yard run and then scores on a 10-yard rush a couple of plays later. Alabama 21, LSU 6 (3 plays, 32, yards, 0:55)

• LSU starts at 40-yard line: Nussmeier is strip-sacked by Campbell and Smith recovers on the first play of the possession.

• Alabama starts at 25-yard line: The Tide run for six-straight plays, but Miller is stopped before the line to gain on fourth-and-1.

• LSU starts at 11-yard line with 10:54 remaining the second quarter: Nussmeier and LSU gain three straight first downs, including 27-yard strike to Taylor. Alabama defensive lineman Tim Smith commits a roughing the passer but an LSU holding a couple plays later eventually leads to fourth-and-15 and LSU kicker Damian Ramos hits a 43-yard field goal. Alabama 14, LSU 6 (7 plays, 64 yards, 2:28)

• Alabama starts at LSU 48-yard line after 28-yard punt return by Williams: Milroe and Williams can't connect for an open deep-ball touchdown on the first play of the possession (ball may have been too slippery). Milroe finds Miller for an 11-yard gain on third-and-9 to extend the drive. Alabama used its final timeout of the half with over 11 minutes remaining ahead of another third down and after another false start, Milroe overthrew Emmanuel Henderson and after a delay of game on the field goal attempt, James Burnip punted to LSU's 11-yard line.

First Quarter

Alabama Stat Leaders:
Passing: Jalen Milroe - 9/11 for 86 yards
Rushing: Jalen Milroe: 4 carries, 56 yards, TD
Receiving: Jam Miller - 4 receptions, 39 yards
Defense: Jihaad Campbell - 2 tackes, 0.5 for loss, 1 PBU

• LSU starts at the 17-yard line with two minutes remaining first quarter and to the 14-minute mark of the second quarter: Nussmeier completes his first pass late in the opening period to tight end Mason Taylor for a seven yard gain, but the Tigers would punt after six plays. The rain is really starting to come down in Baton Rouge.

• Alabama starts with the ball at the 25-yard line with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter: Following a combined seven scrimmage yard by Miller on the first two plays, Milroe keeps and runs outside to the right for a 5-yard gain and first down. Miller hauls in yet another screen pass and Milroe runs for a short gain to grab another first down. Williams gets hit hard but somehow holds onto the ball for a 12-yard gain shortly after. An offsides call gives Alabama some momentum to throw to Miller again underneath who ran for a 20-yard gain to inside LSU's 10-yard line. Miller gets his fourth reception of the drive to give Alabama first-and-goal inside the 3-yard line and running back Justice Haynes runs in for a 1-yard score. Alabama 14, LSU 3 (15 plays, 75 yards, 7:04)

• LSU starts at the 50-yard line after a 50-yard return by Zavion Thomas: Running back Caden Durham rushed for 45 yards on the second play of the Tigers' opening possession (Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson saved the touchdown). Following a second-downs stop in the backfield by a plethora of Crimson Tide defenders, linebacker Jihaad Campbell breaks up a pass in the endzone to force a 23-yard field goal. Alabama 7, LSU 3 (6 plays, 44 yards, 1:39)

• Alabama starts with ball at 25-yard line after touchback: The Crimson Tide commits a false start on the first play of the game and running Jam Miller runs for a 1-yard gain after. Milroe escapes pressure on the next play and finds wide receiver Ryan Williams wide open for an easy first down gain of 19 yards. Short passes to wide receiver Kendrick Law and running back Justice Haynes combine for 19 yards a couple plays later and then Milroe finds a lane up the middle for a 39-yard rushing score. Alabama 7, LSU 0 (The drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:11)

Pregame

• LSU wins the coin toss and defers.

• 6:45 p.m.: LSU and Alabama officially run out onto the field. A ton of fireworks has caused a foggy view of the field.

• 6:32 p.m.: The Tiger is taken onto the field in an LSU-themed cage and LSU's band begins to march.

LSU brings out a live Tiger 15 minutes before kickoff pic.twitter.com/2LOVMmySnf

— Hunter De Siver (@HunterDeSiver) November 10, 2024

• An interesting note: Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer often followed quarterback Jalen Milroe around during pregame warmups rather than his typical even split of the position groups.

• 6:25 p.m.: Both teams head to the locker room with under 25 minutes until kickoff. The crowd is absolutely electric.

• Alabama scholarship players not in uniform with the 74-player SEC travel roster also in effect: wide receiver Cole Adams (out for season), safety Keon Sabb (out for "a while") wide receiver Jalen Hale (has been injured since before the season), outside linebacker Keanu Koht, defensive lineman Hunter Osborne, wide receiver Amari Jefferson, tight end Jay Lindsey, interior offensive lineman Casey Poe, offensive lineman William Sanders, outside linebacker Jayshawn Ross and inside linebacker Sterling Dixon

• 6:09 p.m.: Each team's full roster for tonight's game is present on the field and warming up with under 40 minutes until kickoff.

• 6:02 p.m.: Alabama offensive linemen/blockers and linebackers are on the field.

• 5:55 p.m.: LSU returners walk onto the field and practice kick and punt returners alongside the special teamers who've been outside for about 15 minutes. Tigers skill players come out five minutes later.

• Alabama meteorologist James Spann announced a weather update in Baton Rouge. A big storm should miss Tiger Stadium but there will still be some rain.

A few showers are likely for the Bama/LSU game, but it looks like the heaviest rain will stay to the northwest… pic.twitter.com/9JUjhtruRg

— James Spann (@spann) November 9, 2024

• 5:48 p.m.: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe leads offensive skill players and special teamers onto the field in full uniform to a booing crowd.

• 5:43 p.m.: LSU special teamers trot out in white uniform, which leads to a crowd eruption and music by The Golden Band of Tiger Land.

• As is usually the case when Alabama plays at LSU, the Crimson Tide will be wearing its crimson jerseys that it traditionally wears at home.

• 5:23 p.m.: Storm clouds still loom overhead, but the rain has held off so far in Death Valley.

• The LSU student section has already almost reached capacity 90 minutes before kickoff.

• Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is the last Crimson Tide player to stay out on the field for the initial round of pregame warmups.

• They are currently showing the Georgia/Ole Miss game on the jumotrons at Tiger Stadium.

• According to the in-stadium game clock in Tiger Stadium, the game between Alabama and LSU will kick off closer to 6:50 than 6:30

• 4:50 p.m. CT: Alabama quarterbacks, offensive linemen and special teamers are the first members of the Crimson Tide on the field. Pass catchers and defensive players trot onto the field for initial warmups a few minutes later.

• Throughout the week leading up to this SEC showdown, Saturday evening's weather forecast has been a major question mark. Thunderstorms were a common expectation but there's currently a 45 percent chance of rain at 5 p.m. CT. It's currently 78 degrees and cloudy around Tiger Stadium with 85 percent humidity and an inconsistent breeze of nine miles-per-hour.