No. 11 Alabama Blows Out LSU In Road Test With Big CFP Implications

TUSCALOOSA, AL — In a game with serious College Football Playoff implications, No. 11 Alabama leaned on its running game to pull out the win in a major Southeastern Conference road test Saturday night, 42-13 over No. 14 LSU in Baton Rouge.

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Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe made the most of Alabama's opening drive, breaking loose on a 39-yard run for Milroe's 13th rushing touchdown of the season — tying Jalen Hurts for the most in a season by a quarterback.

Milroe finished the first half 10-for-15 through the air for 97 yards, while adding 98 yards on the ground.

LSU (6-3, 3-2 SEC) then used a long kickoff return on its opening offensive position to set up a short field and a 23-yard field goal at the 9:00 mark to bring the score to 7-3.

As the first quarter came to a close, Alabama drove the field for a 15-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a rushing score by Justice Haynes to put the Tide up 14-3.

LSU again leaned on special teams to close the gap, ending a 64-yard drive with a 43-yard field goal to shrink the deficit to 14-6.

After turning the ball over on downs, Alabama found new life as Jihaad Campbell forced a fumble deep in LSU territory with 3:30 left in the first half. This set up Milroe's second rushing touchdown to break the single-season school recording for rushing scores by a quarterback.

The Crimson Tide out-gained the Tigers 236-152 in the first half, while also dominating the time of possession — 19:55 to 10:05.

Down by two scores, LSU came out swinging on its opening drive to start the second half, grinding 14 plays to the red zone before Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson made his first career interception on a Garrett Nussmeier pass in the end zone to snuff out the drive.

Milroe went back to the ground game on the following drive, capping it off with a 19-yard touchdown run for his third score of the night to put the Crimson Tide up 28-6.

The junior from Katy, Texas, saved his best individual play for the fourth quarter, when Milroe found daylight for a 72-yard touchdown run to extend Alabama's lead.

Milroe finished the night 12-for-18 passing for 109 yards while putting up a legacy game on the ground with 185 rushing yards on 12 carries for four touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide topped the Tigers in total yardage 420 to 343, while also winning the time of possession battle 33:55 to 26:05.

Alabama (7-2, 4-2 SEC) will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 16, as Mercer comes to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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