The LSU Tigers (5-3, 2-3 SEC) will begin the tenure of interim head coach Frank Wilson on Saturday night when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC).
LSU was blown out at home by Texas A&M two weeks ago in a 49-25 loss. That led to the firing of Brian Kelly, and Wilson was appointed to take over. They used the bye week to prepare, and now face a top five opponent on the road.
Alabama has been rolling ever since their season-opening loss to Florida State. Seven straight wins, including most recently a 29-22 win over South Carolina in Columbia. They also enjoyed a bye to prepare for this matchup.
Kickoff between LSU and Alabama from Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 8th.
FIRE A COACH, WIN A GAME?
For some reason, teams seem to play with an inspired level of confidence after a coach is fired. Maybe it’s a result of increased focus after a big change. Perhaps its an emotional response.
Regardless, we have seen it countless times. Just this season, UCLA rattled off an upset of top-ten ranked Penn State after firing their coach. Florida came within four points of upsetting Georgia after they fired Billy Napier.
It remains to be seen if LSU can get the “fired-coach” bump this week. If they are, however, it could lead to an interesting Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.
END OF AN ERA
Since Nick Saban’s arrival at Alabama, the LSU-Bama rivalry has reached incredible peaks. Each year, it has been a game circled on the calendar for the entire college football world.
It has been a game so big that each team typically gets a bye the week before in order to prepare.
While Saturday will not be the last time they play, it does mark the last time they will play on an annual basis. The SEC is going to a new rotating schedule model next season, and Alabama is not one of LSU’s annual protected games. That puts extra emphasis on this final annual meeting.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT?
With all the coaching changes LSU has endured in the past two weeks, one question everyone is asking is simple: “What will change?”
Frank Wilson has vowed to run the football more, and new offensive coordinator Alex Atkins is an offensive line coach by trade. That may be one of the big changes.
It will also be interesting to see if and how Michael Van Buren is used. The backup quarterback will not start, but Wilsom has suggested that he could see the field in certain situations. We will have to see if Alabama is the game where we see his potential new role.
SERIES RECORD: Alabama Leads 57-27-5
Last 5 Meetings:
2024: Alabama 42 – LSU 13
2023: Alabama 42 – LSU 28
2022: LSU 32 – Alabama 31
2021: Alabama 20 – LSU 14
2020: Alabama 55 – LSU 17
STAT LEADERS:
LSU
Garrett Nussmeier: 176-267, 1,806 Yards, 12 TD, 5 INT
Caden Durham: 79 Carries, 378 Yards, 2 TD
Aaron Anderson: 29 Catches, 382 Yards
Damien Shanklin & Harold Perkins: 2 Sacks
AJ Haulcy: 64 Tackles (35 Solo)
Tamarcus Cooley, AJ Haulcy & Dashawn Spears: 2 INT
Damian Ramos: 14-of-17 Field Goals, Long of 52, 20-of-21 PAT
Alabama
Ty Simpson: 177-261, 2,184 Yards, 20 TD, 1 INT
Jam Miller: 80 Carries, 308 Yards, 2 TD
Germie Bernard: 38 Catches, 526 Yards, 6 TD
Yhonzae Pierre: 4 Sacks
Justin Jefferson: 47 Tackles (29 Solo)
Bray Hubbard: 3 INT
Conor Talty: 9-of-13 Field Goals, Long of 46, 30-of-30 PAT