BATON ROUGE — LSU pulled out all the stops for Saturday night’s matchup inside Death Valley.
The Tigers had former gridiron greats like Leonard Fournette in attendance and top recruits, fireworks and even had a caged live tiger on the field during pregame festivities. The celebratory mood would sour as visiting Alabama came in and handed LSU a 42-13 defeat.
The loss likely kills any chances of LSU making the College Football Playoff.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Alabama struck first as the Crimson Tide went 75 yards on eight plays, as Jalen Milroe found Ryan Williams open for a 19-yard completion, a 10-yard pass to Kendrick Law and then a nine-yard pass to Justice Haynes. The Crimson Tide quarterback then capped the drive with a designed run play as he raced in for a 39-yard touchdown.
LSU responded as Zavion Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff back 50 yards. Caden Durham then took a handoff and ran down the sideline 45 yards to give the Tigers the ball at the five-yard line. LSU was unable to punch it in and settled for a 23-yard field goal by Damian Ramos.
Alabama’s second drive went 75 yards on 15 plays and ended with a one-yard touchdown dive by Haynes. With 2:06 left in first, Alabama held a 14-3 lead.
After both teams punted on their next drives, LSU got on the scoreboard with a 64-yard drive, that featured Garrett Nussmeier connected with Mason Taylor for a 26-yard gain, a 12-yard rush by Thomas and then a 16-yard pass to Josh Williams.
The drive stalled and the Tigers had to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Ramos.
Alabama’s offense took the field and moved the ball but a fourth-down run was stuffed. LSU’s offense though gave it right back as Nussmeier was sacked and stripped of the football. Crimson Tide’s Tim Smith recovered it.
Alabama took advantage of the short field as Milroe rushed for 22 yards and then two plays found the end zone on a 10-yard run.
LSU opened up the second half with a promising drive as the Tigers went 71 yards on 14 plays, including picking up a fourth down. LSU got the ball down the five-yard line but Nussmeier’s pass in the end zone was intercepted by Deontae Lawson.
Alabama took advantage as the Crimson Tide went 80 yards, highlighted by 22-yard run by Williams. The drive was capped by Milroe scoring his third rushing touchdown of the game, the one from 19 yards out.
After another LSU punt, Alabama wasted little time scoring again as Milroe took a designed run 72 yards for the touchdown to start the fourth.
Nussmeier threw his second interception of the game and Alabama took advantage. The Crimson Tide went 47 yards on nine plays and Richard Young scored on a eight-yard touchdown run.
LSU finally got into the end zone as Nussmeier found Kyren Lacy for a 12-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left.
BIG NUMBER I: 311
Alabama leaned on its run game in Saturday’s victory as the Crimson Tide rushed for 311 yards on 48 carries. Jalen Milroe did the most damage as he rushed for 185 yards on 12 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns.
BIG NUMBER II: 3
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had a game to forget on Saturday night. The Tigers quarterback was held under 300 yards passing, one touchdown but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: DAMIAN RAMOS
LSU’s lone bright spot was kicker Damian Ramos who made field goals of 23 and 43 yards in the game.
UP NEXT: LSU (6-3, 3-2) returns to action next week when it travels to Gainesville to take on Florida. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and you can listen to the action live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles — Southwest Louisiana’s Sports Station.