Final score of Alabama and LSU: Why the Tide's 20-9 Win in 2025 Still Smarts

If you were looking for a high-flying shootout when No. 4 Alabama hosted LSU on November 8, 2025, you probably left Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium feeling a little bit confused. Or maybe just cold. It wasn't the offensive explosion we saw back in the 2019 "Game of the Century" or even the 2024 blowout. Instead, the final score of Alabama and LSU ended at a gritty, defensive 20-9 in favor of the Crimson Tide.

It was ugly. It was beautiful. Honestly, it was a classic SEC slugfest that felt like it belonged in the 1990s.

Alabama didn't just win; they strangled the game. They held LSU out of the end zone for the entire 60 minutes. That hasn't happened in this rivalry since the 2012 National Championship game. Think about that for a second. In an era where everyone is putting up 40 points, LSU couldn't find the paint even once.

The Night the Defense Took Over Tuscaloosa

The Tigers came into the game with a lot of hype, even under interim coach Frank Wilson. Garrett Nussmeier was supposed to be the guy to slice up the secondary. But Bama’s defense had other plans. They limited LSU to a measly 232 total yards.

You've got to look at the red zone stats to really see how this went down. LSU made four trips inside the 20. They came away with nine points. Three field goals. Basically, every time the Tigers got close enough to smell a touchdown, Deontae Lawson or Yhonzae Pierre slammed the door shut. Pierre was a nightmare all night, racking up two sacks and forcing a fumble that felt like the air leaving a balloon.

Why Ty Simpson was the Difference Maker

Jalen Milroe owns the 2024 highlight reel, but 2025 belonged to Ty Simpson’s steady hand. He didn't put up video game numbers—21-of-35 for 277 yards—but he made the big throws when it counted.

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The turning point? A 53-yard bomb to Lotzeir Brooks right before halftime.

That one play flipped the momentum entirely. It set up a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Williams just 22 seconds before the break. That made it 17-3. In a game where points were harder to find than a parking spot in downtown Tuscaloosa on a Saturday, a 14-point lead felt like 50.

A Look Back at the 2024 Destruction

To understand why the 20-9 score in 2025 was so surprising, you have to remember what happened just a year prior. On November 9, 2024, the final score of Alabama and LSU was a lopsided 42-13.

That night in Baton Rouge was the Jalen Milroe show.

• Milroe's Rushing: 185 yards.
• Touchdowns: 4 (including a soul-crushing 72-yarder).
• Total Offense: Alabama gashed LSU for 311 rushing yards.

It was a rainy night in Death Valley, and the Tigers simply had no answer for the quarterback run. LSU fans were heading for the exits before the fourth quarter even started. It's funny how things change in twelve months. In 2024, Bama ran for over 300 yards; in 2025, they were held to just 56 yards on the ground.

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Football is weird like that.

Breaking Down the Scoring in 2025

If you missed the game and just saw the box score, it looks like a lot of kicking. Because it was.

Alabama started things off with a 45-yarder from Connor Talty after a forced fumble. LSU answered with a Damian Ramos field goal. Then came the Daniel Hill four-yard plunge to make it 10-3. After the Simpson-to-Williams connection right before half, the scoring basically dried up.

LSU added two more field goals in the second half to cut it to 17-9. There was a brief moment of "wait, could they actually do this?" from the LSU faithful. But the Tide's defense stayed disciplined. Talty iced it with a 44-yard field goal with about four minutes left. 20-9. Game over.

What the 20-9 Result Means for the Rivalry

This win pushed Alabama's home winning streak to 17 games, which is currently the longest in the nation. It also meant the Tide had won three straight against the Tigers.

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People always talk about the " Saban Era," but the post-Saban years are proving that the DNA of this program hasn't changed much. They can still win with a dominant quarterback (2024) or a suffocating defense (2025).

LSU, on the other hand, is in a bit of a soul-searching phase. Moving on from the Brian Kelly era into the Frank Wilson transition hasn't been seamless. They have the talent—Nussmeier and Kyren Lacy are legitimate stars—but the execution in the red zone was non-existent in this latest matchup.

The Key Takeaways

1. Defense wins championships (still): Holding a high-powered SEC offense to zero touchdowns is an incredible feat in 2025.
2. Home field is everything: Bryant-Denny remains the most difficult place to play in the country.
3. The gap is widening: Three straight wins for Alabama suggests the rivalry is currently leaning heavily toward the Tide.

If you’re looking to analyze the final score of Alabama and LSU for future betting or just to win an argument at the bar, focus on the defensive trench play. Alabama’s ability to generate pressure with just four rushers allowed them to drop seven into coverage and take away Nussmeier's primary reads.

The next time these two meet is November 7, 2026. If history tells us anything, it won't look anything like the last two games. It never does.

Actionable Insights for Fans:

• Watch the replay of the 2025 game specifically to see Yhonzae Pierre's technique; his first step is why LSU couldn't establish a rhythm.
• Keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting classes for both schools, as LSU is currently targeting several defensive linemen to match Alabama's physicality.
• Check the injury reports for the next matchup; these games are so physical that depth usually decides the fourth quarter.