HALFTIME: Alabama leads LSU, 45-14

The Crimson Tide couldn’t have made it look much easier through the first two quarters of action against LSU.

The Alabama Crimson Tide came into this one favored by four touchdowns, and it took them little time to show just why that was in the first half of Saturday night’s game against LSU.

Largely off the efforts of Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith, Alabama had already made its way to midfield in roughly a minute-and-a-half, and a 24-yard reception by wide receiver John Metchie from quarterback Mac Jones followed by a pair of rushes from Najee Harris saw Alabama find the end zone in just over three minutes of action.

The LSU offensive line looked improved on the first drive, protecting true freshman quarterback TJ Finley well enough for the Tigers to move deep into Alabama territory, but there was a turnover on downs after LSU went for it on fourth down with one yard to go.

Alabama didn’t look back.

As the Tigers failed to get to the scoreboard, Alabama tacked on two more touchdowns between a a 14-yard scoring rush from Najee Harris and a one-yarder, also from Harris, on a play that was originally called an LSU fumble recovery.

LSU got to the scoreboard for the first time of the night in a rather unconventional manner, with 44-yard reception by Kayshon Boutte that should have been his touchdown, but instead became Jontre Kirklin’s after Boutte dropped the ball outside of the end zone.

It didn’t take long, though, for Jones to throw it on a dime to Smith for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 28-7.

The Tigers recorded their second touchdown of the evening with a 54-yard rush that injected a new sense of life into a team that was beginning to fall behind in an ugly way.

That didn’t last long, though, as Jones found Smith for a 61-yard touchdown that made it 35-14, Alabama early on in the second quarter.

Alabama threatened to score again with over three minutes left in the half, but the LSU defense managed to hold its opponent to a 30-yard field goal.

The LSU offense was unable to get anything going for the remainder of the half, as Alabama marched down the field yet again and Smith made a one-handed grab to boost Alabama to a 45-14 lead the Crimson Tide walked into the locker room with, along with a ridiculous 469 yards of total offense.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable highlights midway through the contest: