It happened again. If you were looking for a high-flying shootout in Tuscaloosa this past November, you probably walked away a bit surprised—or maybe just exhausted. Alabama beat LSU 20-9, and honestly, the score doesn't even tell the whole story of how gritty and, at times, ugly this game felt.
Walking into Bryant-Denny Stadium, everyone expected the usual fireworks. But instead of a track meet, we got a defensive masterclass that felt more like a 1990s slugfest. The Crimson Tide (8-1, 6-0 SEC) didn't just win; they essentially built a brick wall around the end zone and told LSU they weren't invited in.
What Really Happened with the LSU Alabama Game
The headline is simple: Alabama's defense was the star. They held LSU out of the end zone for the entire sixty minutes. That hasn't happened to the Tigers since the 2012 National Championship game. Think about that for a second. In an era where college football scores look like basketball tallies, Bama's defense allowed exactly zero touchdowns.
LSU moved the ball, sure. They had four different trips into the red zone. But every single time they got close to the goal line, the drive stalled out. It was field goal, field goal, and more field goals. Damian Ramos did his best, hitting three kicks, but you aren't going to beat a top-5 Alabama team on the road with three-pointers.
The Ty Simpson and Ryan Williams Connection
Alabama’s offense wasn't exactly a well-oiled machine either. They only put up 344 total yards, which is "modest" by their standards. But they hit when it mattered. Ty Simpson finished with 277 yards and a touchdown, mostly because he wasn't afraid to take shots.
The turning point? Right before halftime.
With only 22 seconds left in the second quarter, Simpson found the young phenom Ryan Williams for a 13-yard touchdown. That score pushed the lead to 17-3 and basically took the air out of the LSU sideline. Williams continues to prove he’s one of the most dangerous weapons in the SEC, even when the run game is struggling—and it was struggling. Bama only managed 56 rushing yards all night.
Why the LSU Alabama Game Score Flipped in the Second Half
If you’re wondering who won the LSU Alabama game based on the second-half momentum, it was almost a different story. LSU actually fought back. Under interim coach Frank Wilson—who took over after Brian Kelly was let go—the Tigers tried to spark something by benching Garrett Nussmeier in the third quarter.
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Nussmeier was efficient (18 of 21), but he wasn't vertical. He couldn't get the ball downfield. Enter Michael Van Buren Jr. The sophomore brought some energy, but he also coughed up a fumble in the fourth quarter that basically sealed the deal.
- LSU Total Yards: 232
- Alabama Total Yards: 344
- Turnovers: LSU 2, Alabama 1
- Penalties: LSU was flagged 10 times for 74 yards.
Those penalties were killers. Every time LSU got a rhythm, a false start or a holding call would set them back. You can't play "behind the sticks" against a Kalen DeBoer-coached team and expect to survive.
Defensive Standouts You Might Have Missed
While the quarterbacks get the TikTok clips, Deontae Lawson and Yhonzae Pierre were the real reason Alabama stayed at No. 4 in the polls. Lawson was everywhere, leading the team with nine tackles. Pierre was a nightmare off the edge, recording two sacks and forcing a fumble.
On the LSU side, the defense actually played well enough to win. They held Bama to zero points in the third quarter. They forced a turnover on downs early. But when your offense is "allergic to the end zone," as some local reporters put it, your defense eventually gets gassed.
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What This Means for the Rest of the Season
Alabama kept their home winning streak alive—17 games and counting. They’re still very much in the hunt for the SEC Championship and a prime spot in the College Football Playoff.
For LSU, it's a "back to the drawing board" moment. Falling to 5-4 (2-4 SEC) isn't where this program expected to be. The quarterback situation is now officially a question mark heading into their matchup against Arkansas. Do they stick with the veteran Nussmeier, or is it the Van Buren era now?
Key Takeaways for Your Next Tailgate Debate
- Red Zone Failure: LSU went 0-for-4 on touchdown opportunities inside the 20.
- Home Field Advantage: Bryant-Denny remains a house of horrors for unranked opponents; Bama has won 87 straight there against unranked teams.
- Explosive Plays: Even though Bama's offense was inconsistent, Simpson had four passes of 30+ yards in the first half alone.
If you’re tracking the playoff race, keep an eye on how Alabama handles their next few games. This win wasn't "pretty," but in November, style points matter less than the "W."
Check the injury reports for LSU receiver Nic Anderson, who left the game on crutches. His absence could be a massive blow for a Tiger offense that already can't find the end zone. Alabama, meanwhile, needs to find a way to run the ball before they face higher-ranked opponents in the postseason.