In a powerful display of offensive grit and defensive resilience, No. 11 Alabama steamrolled No. 14 LSU 42-13 in Tiger Stadium on a rainy Saturday night. Alabama’s dynamic quarterback Jalen Milroe delivered a performance for the ages, running for a career-high 185 yards and four touchdowns, leaving a mark on the Crimson Tide’s SEC campaign and firmly positioning them in the race for a College Football Playoff berth.
The night belonged to Milroe, who capped his spectacular evening with a memorable moment, sprinting through the south end zone with arms raised in victory before leaping into the stands, where jubilant Alabama fans celebrated near the visitor’s locker room. It was a fitting finale for a game in which Milroe’s play had broken LSU’s will, as he outran defenders, broke tackles, and consistently found daylight to keep Alabama’s offense marching forward.
Milroe’s four-touchdown night included scoring runs of 39, 10, and 19 yards, consistently showcasing his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback. His 185 rushing yards eclipsed his previous career-high of 155 yards, achieved just a season ago against LSU in a 42-28 victory in Tuscaloosa. This year, with LSU’s defense struggling to contain mobile quarterbacks, Milroe found ample opportunity to showcase his speed, vision, and explosiveness.
This win is significant for Alabama‘s postseason ambitions, solidifying their place among playoff contenders as they now boast an 8-2 record (5-1 in the SEC). Head coach Nick Saban’s squad once again displayed the discipline and intensity characteristic of championship-caliber teams, dominating possession with nearly 34 minutes of ball control and outgaining LSU 420 yards to 343. By the end of the third quarter, Alabama had built a commanding 28-6 lead, sending Tiger Stadium’s stands empty as LSU fans departed early.
Alabama‘s defense also rose to the occasion, containing LSU’s offense and capitalizing on critical mistakes by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. The Tigers’ turnover troubles have recently haunted them, and combined with their inability to handle Milroe’s relentless running, LSU’s chances crumbled in the second half.
The defeat is a harsh setback for the Tigers, who now sit at 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the SEC. With their third loss of the season and a second straight defeat by a margin of 15 or more points, LSU’s playoff hopes have all but vanished. Nussmeier’s struggles continued, plagued by turnovers and a lack of defensive support, especially when facing Alabama’s running attack. Head coach Brian Kelly’s team has faced mounting challenges since a 38-23 loss to Texas A&M the previous week, where their defense was exposed by another mobile quarterback.
This performance marks another chapter in Alabama’s dominance over LSU, as the Crimson Tide have now won 12 of the last 14 meetings between the two rivals. Milroe’s heroics and Alabama’s defensive pressure had the game wrapped up by the end of the third quarter, a testament to Alabama’s comprehensive game plan and execution.
For the Tigers, the season’s promising start has rapidly unraveled. Turnover issues, combined with defensive breakdowns, have prevented LSU from maintaining any consistency in the second half of the season. The team’s inability to defend against dual-threat quarterbacks has emerged as a glaring vulnerability, and it was glaringly evident as Milroe tore through their defense time and again.
Alabama will look to keep the momentum going as they host Mercer next Saturday, a game that should allow them to refine their strengths before another challenging SEC matchup. Meanwhile, LSU faces a tough road game at Florida, hoping to end their skid and recapture some of the early-season promise they showed.
As Alabama’s playoff path stays intact, the Crimson Tide has much to celebrate, thanks to Milroe’s unforgettable, game-changing performance in Baton Rouge.
