In a Saturday night showdown at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, the No. 5 College Football Playoff‑ranked Alabama Crimson Tide pulled away from No. 14 LSU with a 31‑13 victory. The win keeps Alabama firmly in the CFP picture while leaving the Tigers with only a slim chance of postseason play.
Russell’s three‑touchdown performance
Quarterback Keelon Russell was the offensive catalyst, delivering three touchdown passes. He connected on a 7‑yard strike to wide receiver Josh Ford, a 25‑yard toss to Cederian Morgan, and a short 4‑yard toss to Kaleb Edwards. Each score helped extend Alabama’s lead and demoralize the LSU defense.
Defensive stands and key turnovers
Alabama’s defense made several pivotal fourth‑down stops, including a crucial sack on LSU’s Sam Leavitt on fourth‑and‑10 deep in Tiger territory late in the fourth quarter. The Tide also forced a turnover in LSU’s own half, further limiting the Tigers’ scoring opportunities.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 35 of 47 passes for 380 yards but was intercepted for the first time in three games. The Tigers went 0‑for‑4 on fourth‑down attempts and missed a 56‑yard field‑goal try by kicker Scott Starzyk, underscoring Alabama’s defensive dominance.
Scoring summary
Alabama opened the scoring with a 1‑yard rushing touchdown by Ryan Coleman‑Williams on a misdirection play. The Tide added a field goal by Conor Talty to take a 10‑3 lead at halftime.
LSU briefly seized the lead early in the second half when Dilin Jones broke free for a 5‑yard touchdown run, capping a 90‑yard drive that featured a pass‑interference call against Alabama.
Alabama answered quickly, with Russell’s 7‑yard touchdown pass to Ford coming just 2:08 after the LSU score. The drive began with a 57‑yard catch‑and‑run by Rico Scott, setting up the quick response.
Statistical overview
Despite being outgained in total yards (457‑285) and running 28 fewer offensive plays, Alabama’s efficiency and defensive stops proved decisive. The Crimson Tide’s record at Tiger Stadium now stands at seven wins in the last eight visits.
Celebrity presence
First Lady Melania Trump joined a small group of celebrities on the sidelines, including actor Kevin Costner, former LSU pitcher Paul Skenes, WNBA star Angel Reese, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, and former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne.
Looking ahead
Following the victory, Alabama will travel to Vanderbilt for its next matchup on Saturday, while LSU will look to regroup under first‑year head coach Lane Kiffin, who remains winless against Alabama after six attempts.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
