Jalen Milroe had a lights-out performance in Tiger Stadium, rushing for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries for Alabama’s latest win in Baton Rouge. All-time, the Crimson Tide have lost nine times at Tiger Stadium since it first opened 100 years ago this season.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum teed off on the Tigers and third-year coach Brian Kelly. Finebaum labeled LSU’s performance against Alabama as “embarrassing” during an appearance on ESPN’s ‘SportsCenter.’ He also said the Tigers’ “relevancy is over.”
“Dearly beloved, let us say goodbye to LSU for the season. Their relevancy is over. Truly one of the most embarrassing performances I have seen from a major contender in a long time. They had everything. How many times did we hear (that) Brian Kelly hasn’t lost at night in Tiger Stadium? Well, that happened (Saturday). I mean, they were only down 42-6. I’m sure they had a chance to come back and they did — with 11 seconds to go to make the score, well, not really respectable.”
Finebaum said the game was “all about Jalen Milroe.”
“Nobody is burying him,” Finebaum said. “He is alive and kicking, and so is Alabama’s chances of getting to the playoffs.”
Alabama will host the Mercer Bears from the FCS ranks at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on SEC Network+/ESPN+.
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Takeaways from Jalen Milroe and Alabama’s dominant 42-13 beatdown of LSU.
The Alabama Crimson Tide demolished the LSU Tigers, 42-13, Saturday night in Tiger Stadium in what for all intents and purposes was a College Football Playoff elimination game.
It was also an Alabama blowout for the ages. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Alabama fans could be heard at various points singing “Na Na Na (Goodbye)” to departing LSU fans on their way out of a stadium “Where Opponents Dreams Come to Die.”
Tell that to Jalen Milroe, who rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries and completed 12 of his 18 passes for another 109 yards. The Crimson Tide rushed for 311 yards total.
With the win, Alabama (7-2 overall, 4-2 SEC) kept its Playoff hopes alive. The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 11 in the first CFP rankings of 2024, released last Tuesday.
Here are some day-after thoughts and takeaways on the latest in a long history of victorious Saturday nights for Alabama in Baton Rouge.
Alabama was in control from the very start
Jalen Milroe hands the ball off to Jam Miller at Tiger Stadium. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Alabama picked up three first downs on their opening drive thanks to Milroe converting a 2nd and long with a 19-yard pass to Ryan Williams. The Tide also picked up a 3rd and 9 with a 10-yard completion to Kendrick Law. Then came the first of many electric runs.
Milroe torched the LSU defense by taking off for a 39-yard touchdown run for a quick 7-0 lead barely four minutes into the contest. The Crimson Tide marched 80 yards on eight plays in 4:11.
‘The Jalen Milroe Game’
Jalen Milroe rushes for a touchdown during the second half at Tiger Stadium. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Milroe went right back to work on Alabama’s next series after the opening-drive touchdown. He found Williams for another 10-yard catch and a first down to the LSU 39, then hit Jam Miller on a screen pass that went for 20 yards to the 12.
Milroe picked his way through traffic for six yards down to the 7-yard line. Miller caught another check-down pass at the 1 on third down to set up first and goal. On second down, Justice Haynes capped off a 75-yard drive with a one-yard rush to put Alabama up 14-3 after Graham Nicholson’s extra point with 1:56 left in the quarter.
It was a 15-play drive that took 7:04 off the clock. Alabama converted four third-down conversions on the drive. The Tide closed the first quarter with nine first downs to LSU’s two and totaled 150 yards to LSU’s 62. They held the ball for 11:05 to LSU’s 3:55.
Milroe was 9-of-11 fir 86 yards through the air with four runs for 56 yards. Alabama held LSU to only nine offensive plays in the first 15 minutes. Talk about a statement first quarter.
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama’s defense made its own statement
Jihaad Campbell celebrates a broken up pass during the first half at Tiger Stadium. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
LSU’s first drive of the game started promisingly enough. After freshman running back Caden Durham got around the right end for a 45-yard gain to set up a first and goal at the 5-yard line on just the Tigers’ second offensive snap, Brian Kelly’s team seemed destined to find the end-zone. Then, Alabama tightened its belt.
Justin Jefferson led the way on a key second-down stop before Jihaad Campbell broke up a pass in the end-zone to force a 23-yard field goal from Damian Ramos to make it 7-3. It was a huge stop for Alabama’s defense early, and it would be the start of an even bigger night for Campbell in particular.
With around 3:30 to play in the first half, after Alabama had failed to pick up a first down on a 4th and 1 try from the LSU 40-yard line, Campbell came in untouched on a blitz to drill Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and force a fumble back at the LSU 32-yard line that was recovered by Tim Smith.
With the ball deep in LSU territory, Milroe took it 10 yards to the house for touchdown run No. 2 of the night and a 21-6 Alabama lead with 2:35 to play until halftime.
As for Campbell, the outside linebacker led the Crimson Tide’s defense with 12 tackles that included three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and the pass break-up at the goal line. Campbell could be playing his way into a first-round NFL Draft selection in his junior season.
Alabama took advantage of LSU’s blunders
Caden Durham runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Alabama did a good job of capitalizing on LSU’s mistakes. While the Tide was finishing off drives in the red zone, the Tigers were being forced to settle for field goals throughout the first half.
And in the second half, LSU opened with another promising start — just as it had on its first series to start the game. Nussmeier drove the Tigers all the way to the Alabama 4-yard line.
Deontae Lawson then recorded his first career interception, picking off Nussmeier in the end-zone for a touchback. It was a 14-play, 71-yard LSU drive that led to zero points.
On Alabama’s next drive, the Tigers had Alabama stopped on a third-down sack of Milroe but committed a facemask penalty with the Tide quarterback going to the ground. The call prompted the latest in a growing line of college football fans throughout the country throwing trash onto the field and delaying the game.
The latest incident caused Kirk Herbstreit to unload on fans during the game’s broadcast on ABC. After the debris was cleared, Ryan Williams took a reverse 22 yards to the LSU 25 for a first down.
On third down, Milroe took the balls 19 yards for a touchdown to put Alabama up 28-6 after Nicholson’s extra point. It was another successful drive for the Tide, spanning 80 yards in 3:39 in eight plays.
Milroe kept running… and running
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
How explosive was Milroe against LSU? To put it into perspective, he became just the second player in the history of Alabama football to have multiple four-touchdown games, joining legendary Crimson Tide running back Shaun Alexander on that list.
Milroe’s back-breaking moment came on the first play of the fourth quarter. He got behind the defense and raced 72 yards for his fourth touchdown to empty the Tiger Stadium crowd.
Alabama still controls College Football Playoff destiny
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As was mentioned all throughout the lead-up to Saturday’s showdown, this was a College Football Playoff elimination game. Alabama still controls their destiny after burying LSU on Saturday night. The Tide’s No. 11 ranking in the initial CFP rankings could improve after some higher-ranked teams lost in Week 11.
Alabama football schedule 2024: Who’s up next?
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama will host the Mercer Bears next Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on SEC Network+. Mercer improved to 9-1 with a 34-0 shutout victory of VMI over the weekend and lead the Southern Conference.
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Take a look at how far Alabama climbed in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll after routing LSU.
A day after dismantling the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, Jalen Milroe and the Alabama Crimson Tide moved up in the new US LBM Coaches Poll after a wild Saturday of college football finishes.
Alabama (7-2 overall, 4-2) moved up two spots No. 9 in the new Week 11 Coaches Poll after their 42-13 thrashing of Brian Kelly and LSU. The Crimson Tide jumped past the previously unbeaten Miami Hurricanes (9-1) and the Georgia Bulldogs (7-2).
Alabama is the highest-ranked two-loss team and are ranked one spot below the No. 8 BYU Cougars (9-0) and one spot ahead of Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs. The Crimson Tide will host the Mercer Bears Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 12. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on SEC Network+/ESPN+.
Miami slid eight spots from No. 4 to No. 12 after falling 28-23 on the road to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Georgia fell eight spots as well, from No. 2 to No. 10 after their 28-10 loss to Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss rose one spot to No. 11.
The Oregon Ducks (10-0) remained No. 1 for the fourth consecutive week after their 39-18 win over the Maryland Terrapins in Eugene. The Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1) moved up one spot to No. 2 after routing Purdue, 45-0, at Ohio Stadium.
The Indiana Hoosiers were one of the biggest risers this week, moving up four spots to No. 6 after holding off the Michigan Wolverines to improve to 10-0. The Hoosiers have a bye in Week 12 before facing Ohio State in Columbus on Nov. 23.
LSU (6-3) had the biggest drop of any ranked team, falling nine spots to No. 22. The Tigers allowed 420 yards of total offense to Alabama, which got a banner night from Milroe. The Crimson Tide quarterback rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries and threw for another 109 on 12-of-18 passing in Alabama’s rout.
Jalen Milroe dominates LSU with four-touchdown performance to keep Playoff hopes alive.
It rained most of the game Saturday night, but that didn’t stop superstar QB Jalen Milroe and the Alabama Crimson Tide from hammering the LSU Tigers 42-13 on the road to keep their Playoff hopes alive.
Milroe’s Heisman Trophy talk had gone a bit cold with two losses on the season, but after a four-touchdown performance in Baton Rouge, he should be back into the mix. The four scores bring Milroe’s season total to 16 on the ground, good for a Crimson Tide single-season record. He also became the second player in school history to have multiple four-score rushing games alongside Shaun Alexander.
The Crimson Tide defense was outstanding again, holding the LSU offense to just 104 yards on the ground and 343 total while forcing three turnovers and putting relentless pressure on Nussmeier all night long.
Both Alabama and LSU entered the contest with two losses, so the Tigers chances at making the first 12-team Playoff are likely over. For Alabama, they just need to win their three remaining games against Mercer, Oklahoma and Auburn and they will surely be in.
Across the SEC, Georgia dropped their second game of the year against Ole Miss opening up a path for Alabama to the SEC Championship. Three teams have just one loss in conference play, while Alabama is one of five with two losses, so we still have no clue who will be headed to Atlanta in a few weeks.
Alabama got out to a slow 2-2 start in SEC play, but it feels like Kalen DeBoer and his staff is starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together as he picked up his first career SEC road win. The Tide have now outscored Missouri and LSU 76-13 combined in their last two games.
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Jalen Milroe sent LSU fans home early on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
Two years ago, LSU Tigers fans stormed the field after a thrilling overtime win over their hated nemesis, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
On Saturday in Baton Rouge, Alabama (7-2 overall, 4-2 SEC) sent the purple-and-gold clad faithful to the exits early in a 42-13 beatdown of LSU (6-3, 3-2) on a rain-soaked night in Tiger Stadium.
The Crimson Tide took a 35-6 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when quarterback Jalen Milroe, already having a banner night, ran 72 yards for his fourth touchdown of the game. Milroe finished with 185 rushing yards on 12 carries.
He threw for another 109 yards on 12-of-18 passes. Alabama led from the opening possession of the game and never looked back.
Asked how satisfying it felt to see LSU fans filing out of the stadium just two years after storming the field following a win over Alabama in Baton Rouge for the first time in 14 years, Milroe offered:
“Forgive, never forget. I think that’s something we do as a football team. You’re going to have losses, you’re going to have wins, and all your losses can turn into a lesson. We just try to look internally at what we need to do so that we can be our best us.”
Milroe was quick to offer praise to LSU players.
“Preparing against these guys, they’re a tough team offensively and defensively. They’re a really good offense, physical defense with a great defensive coordinator. So, it was all about doing it the right way and doing what was required with our game plan and just attacking them on all cylinders because I think that was going to be so important when we approached them this weekend.”
You’ve heard that infamous Nick Saban clip probably a thousand times by now. Saban delivered the line to his players in a fiery pregame speech before Alabama’s electric 2008 win at Tiger Stadium, his first trip back to LSU since leaving the Tigers for the Miami Dolphins.
So, did Alabama make LSU quit Saturday night? Milroe more or less said as much, albeit with a slightly different choice of words.
“I think what we try to do is just make the other team tap out. Just not worry about external factors, which is the stadium and what’s around us.”
LSU and its fans certainly tapped out Saturday night.
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Everything Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said about Jalen Milroe after the Crimson Tide demolished LSU.
The Alabama Crimson Tide kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive Saturday night at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge while also delivering a knockout punch to those of the LSU Tigers.
Jalen Milroe had a game for the ages. The Alabama quarterback rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries. Milroe threw for another 109 yards and completed 12 of 18 passes as the Crimson Tide (7-2 overall, 4-2 SEC) delivered a 45-13 beatdown of LSU (6-3, 3-2). Alabama was in control virtually from the very beginning.
After the game, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer called it the Crimson Tide’s most complete game performance of the season.
“I felt like that was probably the most complete game we’ve played. To some extent, we’ve done that the past two games — against Missouri and tonight. Coming into a tough environment, play after play, just staying the course. Then coming out in the third quarter and getting an interception, just going back down the field and playing good, complementary team football.”
On Milroe’s performance in particular, DeBoer said there was plenty of credit to go around after the QB’s unforgettable night. He also talked about Milroe’s “superpower” ability when running the ball.
“I think there’s a lot of guys that helped him get to those spots where we were ahead of the chains. A lot of smaller gains that gets you into positions where your whole playbook is available to you. Honestly, he’s got a superpower when it comes to running the football. You can see him be a guy who not just gets first downs but finishes in the end zone. Him doing what he did early on just kind of got the ball rolling there. He made the throws that were timely when needed and other guys continued to step up. Again, when we stay ahead of the chains and the whole playbook is available to you, a lot we can do.”
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe makes history with incredible four-touchdown performance.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe may have just re-entered the Heisman Trophy race after guiding the Crimson Tide to a 42-13 victory in Baton Rouge against the LSU Tigers on Saturday night.
It rained most of the evening, so it was a pretty calm night for Milroe through the air as he finished 12/18 for 109. However, he torched the Tiger defense with his feet as he carried the ball 12 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns.
Milroe becomes the second player in Alabama history to have multiple four-touchdown games alongside legend Shaun Alexander.
Going into the 2024 season, Jalen Hurts held the Alabama record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a QB with 13 back in 2016. But, Milroe just blew that record out of the water as his four scores on Saturday brings his season total up to 16. With three games left in the regular season and a potential SEC Championship ame, Milroe should only continue to extend his record.
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A lot is at stake for both teams, as it is almost every year when the Crimson Tide and Tigers meet in November. Both LSU (No. 13, US LBM Coaches Poll) and Alabama (No. 11) are 6-2, and a third loss would almost certainly spell doom for the losing team’s hopes of reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff.
On Thursday, Fox Sports analyst and broadcaster Joel Klatt gave his thoughts on Alabama vs. LSU headed into weekend, along with a score prediction. Klatt predicted last week that Jalen Milroe would lead the Crimson Tide to a win in Tiger Stadium, and he stuck to that prediction again this week.
“Bama is favored for a reason, and maybe by not enough… I like ‘Bama on the road at night against LSU to win this game, 35-28. I just don’t think LSU is going to be able to overcome the ‘one-dimensionalness’ of their offense, and the fact that they do not stop a running quarterback. For those two reasons, I’ve got Bama 35, LSU 28.”
Klatt noted that LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had thrown seven interceptions in the Tigers’ last four games, including three in their most recent game, a 38-23 loss at Texas A&M on Oct. 26.
Klatt also pointed out that Texas A&M had shut down LSU’s run game, holding the Tigers to only 24 rushing yards on 23 carries. “That’s what Alabama’s gonna have to do,” he said. “Nussmeier has thrown it 50 times in (two of his last three games). That would favor, in my mind, an Alabama team.”
Alabama football has structural deficiencies on defense
Klatt said that he expected a shootout because Alabama’s defense had given up plenty of its own explosive plays this season.
“There are structural deficiencies to Alabama’s defense,” Klatt said. “You can run on the edge and you can create explosives down the field that’s still available. Can LSU do that? Remains to be seen, but I think what’s more important is the fact that Nussmeier needs to take care of the football.”
Jalen Milroe key to Alabama beating LSU
When the Tide and Tigers met last November at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Milroe rushed for four touchdowns and 155 yards on 20 carries. He threw for 219 more yards on 15-of-23 passing.
Klatt reiterated that LSU had their own deficiencies when playing against mobile quarterbacks this year, highlighting Marcel Reed of Texas A&M and LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina.
Reed rushed nine times for 62 yards and three touchdowns against LSU while Sellers ran for 88 yards and two scores on 10 carries in the Tigers’ 36-33 win over the Gamecocks back on Sept. 14.
Klatt said:
“Death Valley at night cannot overcome deficiencies when you do not stop the opposing team’s quarterback and in particular when he’s running the football. And by the way, Milroe is not their only weapon running the ball. (Alabama) is really dynamic running the football outside of their quarterback. Last time out, they ran it for 271 yards on seven per carry against Mizzou. So, do I believe that LSU is all of the sudden going to fix their problems with mobile quarterbacks and show up and play great defense? I do not see that.”
Kickoff for Alabama-LSU is set for 6:30 p.m CT Saturday. The game can be seen on ABC. The network’s No. 1 broadcast crew of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game for ABC.
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After a sluggish start to the game, the Alabama Crimson Tide are starting to roll against the Missouri Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Jalen Milroe opened the second half with a 14-yard completion to Kendrick Law. But as is often the case, it’s what Milroe proceeded to do with his legs that had everyone talking afterwards.
Facing 2nd and 8 from the Alabama 36-yard line, Milroe took off for 32 yards to the Missouri 32-yard line — the fifth play of 20 yards or more for Alabama.
Milroe was just getting started.
After hitting tight end CJ Dipree for 23 yards to set up first and goal at the Mizzou 9-yard line, Milroe took off again — going to his left and then reversing field for a breathtaking nine-yard touchdown run.
Alabama had scored on each of its previous three possessions to that point.
Graham Nicholson’s extra point gave Alabama 20-0 lead with 12:33 to play in the third quarter. It was Milroe’s fifth rush of the day for 32 yards. He was 12-of-17 for 146 yards through the air to that point.
Kalen DeBoer provided an update on injury speculation Monday.
A topic that has been speculated across the fanbase after the program’s loss at Tennessee this past Saturday has been the status of Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, in particular as to if he is playing with an injury.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer commented on this speculation as well during his Monday afternoon press conference entering the Missouri week, providing some insight to a question that was asked on if Milroe was dealing with an injury.
“I think at this point in the year, I don’t think there is many guys that play a lot of snaps who don’t have something, and just working through it,” DeBoer said. “He’s more than capable. As he goes through the week, you’re just ready to play on Saturday. So, there’s nothing that’s going to be holding him back and going out there and help us get a win. I’m confident of that.”
Against Tennessee, Milroe had one of his lesser performances of the year so far, as he completed only 25-of-45 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, but also threw two interceptions. Milroe also posted one of his lowest passer rating and QBR’s of the season, and rushed for only 11 yards on 14 attempts.
Looking ahead, Milroe will certainly be key to Alabama’s offensive success Saturday against Missouri.
