Alabama powers past LSU: Keelon Russell erupts late as Crimson Tide bolster CFP resume

Alabama's injury report was an X-factor coming into this game, as several starters missed the last couple of games and were hoping to return. The extra week off to prepare did indeed do the Crimson Tide well, as Racin Delgatty was able to return to his position of starting center the Alabama offensive line could shift back into a rotation something closer to its early-season form. Ryan Coleman-Williams also made his return after missing two games and had an immediately impact in the red zone and on special teams, showcasing again how dangerous his unique combination of speed and athleticism can be when he's given space on the field. 

All of this sets up well for Alabama to rightly feel like it has endured its time with the injury bug for 2026, and now is time to take aim at the national championship. Even Keelon Russell had to get his left ankle taped in Saturday's win against LSU, but his immediate on-field responses of extending drives with his legs showed that his effectiveness had not been slowed. 

A home stretch of Vanderbilt, Chattanooga and Auburn could give more opportunities for Alabama to get itself as healthy as possible for the postseason, which would only improve Kalen DeBoer's chances to deliver on the national title expectations that hang in the air every fall in Tuscaloosa.

While Keelon Russell's three passing touchdowns and Ryan Coleman-Williams' explosive performance will receive deserved attention, the game ball for Alabama's latest win against LSU goes to the defense. The Crimson Tide were outstanding limiting LSU's explosive plays and forcing Sam Leavitt to dink and dunk their way down the field. Every yard and every first down felt so difficult for LSU in this game, and when Alabama started winning those third down and fourth down battles things started to slide away from the home team. 

It does seem confusing to think that Sam Leavitt had the short end of a battle where he finished with 391 passing yards, but when LSU needed to execute on key plays it did not look like the Tigers were in control. The Alabama defense was buzzing around pass deflections and quarterback hurries, muddying the picture for Leavitt and forcing difficult throws into dangerous windows. Combined with a stout showing against the run, it made for a brilliant game plan and execution by Kane Wommack's defense.

While Keelon Russell did not have an overwhelmingly dominant statistical performance, he certainly delivered the kind "moments" that Heisman Trophy voters like to see out their stars when looking to name the most outstanding player in college football. Russell completed 17-of-24 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns, a couple dozen rushing yards as well with some key scrambles throughout the game. Though the game plan did not have Russell stretching the field often, he capitalized on opportunities when LSU's defense got too aggressive near the line of scrimmage. Key throws over the defense in the middle of the field and to the perimeter in the red zone showed a total mastery of Ryan Grubb's system, which point to Russell's continued maturity as Alabama's starting quarterback. 

Russell is now up to 18 touchdowns and five interceptions for the season, with passing stats that grade out consistently as a top 10-15 quarterback this season. The question is whether the Heisman race will wander enough to prop up the star quarterback of a national title contender. Russell's stats aren't going to win him the stiff-arm trophy alone, but more moments like the three-touchdown performance against LSU could add his name to plenty of ballots come December.

While Alabama and LSU has been properly held up as one of our great modern rivalries, the scoreboard points to a one-sided series. The Crimson Tide have now gone 14-2 in their last 16 games against Alabama, including a 7-1 run across their last eight in Baton Rouge. LSU has not taken a lot of losses in Tiger Stadium over the last two decades, but the frustrating piece for LSU fans is that most of those home losses have come to Alabama. 

Perhaps that helped Alabama at the margins when the Crimson Tide took hold of the game late in the third quarter and started to pour on points late. A feeling of quiet dread seemingly swept over Death Valley, with ghosts of rivalry losses haunting every bad bounce and fourth down failure. The only LSU teams to win against Alabama in this this last run of the rivalry were led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, with Joe Burrow leading the Tigers to a win back in 2019 on the way to a national championship and Jayden Daniels leading an overtime walk-off win in 2022. Every other game has felt like some version of Saturday night to an LSU fan, with the Tigers bringing a competitive fight but ultimately falling short to their rivals in crimson.

While some of college football might have questioned Alabama's spot at No. 5 in the first set of College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, no one is doubting the Crimson Tide's bona fides after a thunderous 31-13 win against No. 14 LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. 

In fact, college football fans may be asking bigger questions: like whether this Keelon Ruseell-led group should be among the top picks to win the national championship. 

It's unlikely that Alabama, with two losses already this season, are going to seriously challenge for No. 1 in the rankings before other teams take losses. But in a 12-team College Football Playoff world the key is to make the bracket playing your best football, and while it took a while for Alabama to get rolling the Crimson Tide seem to be getting healthy at the right time with a quarterback who can make plays against anyone.

Keelon Russell and the Alabama offense were mostly bottled up in the first half before cashing in on some explosive plays late in the game to pull away for the win. Russell finished with just 206 passing yards but three passing touchdowns, connecting with three different pass catchers for each score. Star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams also made a multi-purpose splash in his return from injury, running in a touchdown and delivering a field-flipping punt return in the fourth quarter. 

What's particularly frustrating for LSU was how it moved the ball effectively but failed to convert that success into points. The Tigers were stopped on fourth down four times, missed a field goal and ended the first half with a Sam Leavitt interception as LSU was driving into Alabama territory. LSU out-gained Alabama (366-to-286), but with an 18-point deficit on the scoreboard it's hard to get too excited about winning in the box score. 

Moving forward, Alabama is set up well to finish the season in the thick of the College Football Playoff race with games against Vanderbilt, Chattanooga and Auburn left on the schedule. If Alabama was considered by the selection committee to be the No. 5 tam before this win, then certainly their stock is only going up after winning by this margin on the road in Baton Rouge. 

For LSU, the path to the playoff has just become much more complicated as the Tigers fall to 6-3 overall. The bad news is having three losses at this point in the schedule does not make finishing at 9-3 or better a likely proposition. The good news is there will be opportunities to prove that LSU is the best three-loss team in the country. Next week's home date against Texas is clearly a must-win, but so is the following week's trip to Knoxville for Lane Kiffin to face off against another former employer in Tennessee. If LSU wins out, it has done so beating multiple ranked teams and thus will have a decent argument for an at-large bid. 

The issue is considering whether LSU has the team to win out against that schedule given some of the shortcomings on display against Alabama. If LSU cannot get better cashing in on scoring opportunities then all the pomp and circumstance about the Lane Kiffin hire and their multi-million dollar portal class will only result in an 8-4 record and an early start on the next portal cycle. 

4Q: Alabama 31, LSU 13 

LSU did have a lead in this game, as late in the third quarter, but that advantage is unrecognizable as Alabama continues to pour on late touchdowns to extend their lead. The Crimson Tide are on a 21-0 run, with two fourth-down stops and a three-and-out as LSU's offerings to respond during this onslaught. The Tigers are careening towards another crushing defeat in this series, which has gone Alabama's way in 13 of the previous 15 meetings and seems to be trending toward improving that count to 14 out of 16. 

4Q: Alabama 24, LSU 13 

What a massive swing for Alabama to hold LSU to a three-and-out and then respond with a quick touchdown to extend the lead. Ryan Coleman-Williams had an electrifying punt return to set up Alabama in a short field, then Keelon Russell delivered an absolute dime of a touchdown pass to Morgan to extend the lead. Alabama now holds an 11-point lead, and considering how hard it's been for LSU to get to 13 on the scoreboard, that might be enough to hold on for the win. 

End 3Q: Alabama 17, LSU 13 

Alabama is getting beat in the box score but leads on the scoreboard as the game heads into the fourth quarter in Baton Rouge. LSU is outgaining Alabama 360-220, but that edge is not translating into points because of long, successful drives that have reached Alabama territory but failed to yield touchdowns. The Crimson Tide, on the other hand, had been held scoreless since early in the second quarter but exploded back into the game with a 57-yard catch-and-run by Rico Scott. Keelon Russell's ability to find a rhythm late in this game is a challenge for LSU and Sam Leavitt to match, as the Tigers will start the fourth quarter with the ball, looking to take the lead. 

3Q: Alabama 17, LSU 13 

A 57-yard catch-and-run from Keelon Russell to Rico Scott set Alabama up with an opportunity for an immediate response to LSU's touchdown. Then a third-down conversion from Russell with his legs (while nursing a heavily taped left ankle) preceded a touchdown pass to give Alabama the lead again. What an absolutely massive swing just after LSU had brought the Tiger Stadium crowd to its feet with its first lead of the game. Alabama has now been tied or in the lead for all but 2:08 of game time, and it's done so without having to ask too much from its offense thanks to key defensive stops and timely explosive plays. 

3Q: LSU 13, Alabama 10 

LSU finally punches in its first touchdown of the day to cap arguably the most important drive of the game. The Tigers had the ball all the way back on their 10-yard line after a penalty on their punt return, and marched 90 yards down the field while chewing up a ton of clock and taking advantage of an Alabama pass interference penalty that extended the drive. The opportunity was so unique, LSU absolutely had to cash it in for a touchdown and did so with a solid run from Dilin Jones, who is now up 51 yards on 13 carries for the game. 

3Q: Alabama 10, LSU 6

The Tigers got the opening drive moving, much like their first-half possessions, but, as with those first-half possessions, they struggled to get the ball across the goal line. Dilin Jones had a couple of quality runs, and the Tigers got the ball down just outside the red zone before stalling out with another field goal. 

HALF: No. 5 Alabama 10, No. 14 LSU 3 

Sam Leavitt is picked off in the final minute of the second quarter, as Alabama comes up with a massive defensive stop for the second time in this heavyweight fight. The Crimson Tide have been an attacking defense all season long, and now they've got a fourth-down stop and an interception in their efforts against LSU. Leavitt and the Tigers' offense have racked up 204 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes of play but have just three points to show for it because of that Alabama defense.

"We're moving it, but we're stalling," Lane Kiffin explained to ESPN's Laura Rutledge before heading into the locker room, acknowledging the team's inability to turn success into more points. 

Prior to the game, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer discussed the importance of getting off to a good start in a hostile road environment. Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is one of the best home-field environments in the country, but those fans are getting their halftime snacks, wondering whether LSU will be able to cash in on the scoring opportunities they'll need to get back in this game.  

2Q: Alabama 10, LSU 3 

A massive fourth-down stop from Alabama's defense in the red zone has momentum swinging in the way of the Crimson Tide. Sam Leavitt's fourth-down pass was batted away at the line of scrimmage, leaving LSU with nothing to show for a long and otherwise successful drive. With Alabama taking over on downs and just a couple of minutes left, there's no guarantee LSU will get another opportunity to score more favorable than the one just squandered. 

2Q: Alabama 10, LSU 3 

Keelon Russell takes advantage of aggressive LSU linebackers to connect with tight end Kaleb Edwards over the middle, setting up a short touchdown from Ryan Coleman-Williams. The score has Alabama back in front thanks to some slick play calls in the red zone, and the Crimson Tide now have two scores on three drives to start their afternoon in Baton Rouge. 

End 1Q: LSU 3, Alabama 3

A fairly low-key first quarter in Baton Rouge has wrapped up with each team having just a single field goal to show for some otherwise strong starts. The opening script worked for both Sam Leavitt and Keelon Russell, but once each team got near the end zone, the opposing defense gained the upper hand with wins at the line of scrimmage. Keeping the quarterback upright and avoiding a costly turnover seem to be early keys in this one, which could be even more impactful if the game remains low-scoring. 

1Q: LSU 3, Alabama 3 

LSU answers with a field goal drive of its own, making a long march deep into Alabama territory before having to settle for three. Credit Alabama's defense for standing tall and taking away the easy options near the goal line, as Sam Leavitt's mobility was even accounted for by the Crimson Tide in the red zone. We've seen balanced success from both offenses so far, but not many points to show for it.  

1Q: Alabama 3, LSU 0 

The Crimson Tide opened the game with points thanks to an eight-play, 50-yard drive after the opening kickoff that was capped off by a 43-yard field goal from Conor Talty. Alabama's offense looked much better with its starting center back, sparking a couple of successful runs, including a big one from Daniel Hill. But that group was still overwhelmed at times by LSU's defensive front, which had already forced Keelon Russell to scramble a bit on passing downs. Still, it's a good start for Alabama to score points on the road early in the game, even if it's just a field goal. 

After extensive pregame festivities, we are finally set for a kickoff to our much-anticipated battle. Alabama will get the ball first, with LSU opting to defer to the second half after winning the coin toss. That we means we see good-on-good right away, with Keelon Russell against LSU's defense. 

Lane Kiffin brought out all the stars for today's Tiger Walk. Kevin Costner, Shaq, Angel Reese and Paul Skenes were all among the luminaries that joined Kiffin and the team for the game day tradition in Baton Rouge. 

No one in the SEC had a more productive passing attack in the month of October than LSU, which averaged 339.5 passing yards across all four games last month. The Tigers went 3-1 across those games, only losing to top-10 Kentucky by one point in Lexington on a walk-off two-point try. LSU now leads the SEC and ranks tied for 7th nationally on the season, averaging 318.0 passing yards per game, and the improvements have come with both Sam Leavitt's improved play and the emergence of Jackson Harris as a go-to receiver. A transfer from Hawaii, Harris played three whole games before scoring his first touchdown of the season but has exploded ever since with seven touchdown catches across the last five games. That includes four multiple-touchdown games and a yards-per-reception average (17.6) that ranks 4th among all SEC pass catchers. 

With about 90 minutes to kickoff the betting odds on this game have settled in with LSU now listed a 6-point favorite and the total is now around 53.5. That's about a 30-24 implied score, which would be the closest Alabama-LSU game since the Tigers last win in the series, back in 2022 in overtime. 

While the combination of LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt and Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell provides the potential for plenty of points, this game could end up being decided by both defenses. Alabama's offensive injuries have clearly limited their ability to execute on schedule, and LSU's defense represents the best test they've faced since the loss at Tennessee. In the same manner, LSU's pass attack could set them up for some of the turnovers that have powered Alabama's excellence this season (+7 turnover margin is tied for 11th nationally) and prevent touchdowns even after successful drives. All in all, it points to a lower-scoring classic, where I'll favor the home team to make big plays late. Pick: Under 52.5 

Alabama has scored 17 or fewer points in back-to-back games against ranked teams for the 1st time since 2005-06. Those results, a 26-10 loss at Tennessee at a 20-17 loss to Georgia, have set the stage for a massive challenge against an LSU defense that has allowed a total of 17 points combined in each of its last two games. 

The Crimson Tide hold a 58-27-5 advantage overall, but it's the 13-2 record in the past 15 meetings that has given them the upper hand in a battle between programs that would otherwise be considered peers. This is, after all, set to be the 25th time that both schools are inside the top 15 of the AP Top 25 poll and with Alabama's recent crowning as a top-five team in the College Football Playoff rankings, there's even more ranked-on-ranked intrigue. LSU is hoping that the home field advantage of Death Valley can play a role in the game, as the Tigers are 32-3 in their last 35 home games in Tiger Stadium. 

- WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (ALA): Probable due to knee injury (Missed past 2 games)

Coleman-Williams underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair meniscus injury earlier this season. At the time of the injury, he was the team leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. 

- OC Racin Delgatty (ALA): Probable due to lower-leg injury (Missed past 2 games)

Delgatty's injury has lined up with a steep drop-off in rushing production from the Crimson Tide offense. His replacement has been a true freshman (Mal Waldrep) and the line has missed Delgatty's experience up front. 

- LG Williams Sanders (ALA): Questionable due to lower-body injury sustained in last game

A starter in every game this season at left tackle, Sanders was injured last time out in the win against Texas A&M. 

- CB Zabien Brown (ALA): Questionable due to undisclosed injury (Missed past 2 games)

The Alabama starter is one of the best players in the secondary but has not returned to action since getting injured against Georgia in Week 6. 

When Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer away from Washington to take over in Tuscaloosa after Nick Saban's retirement, his track record as a big-time, high-leverage coach met the demands of the job. Since Alabama is almost always playing in high-pressure games against quality opponents, the school needed to know that Saban's successor would be ready for those moments. Currently, DeBoer is 21-8 against AP-ranked teams as a head coach, which is the fourth-best record in AP poll history with a minimum of 20 games coached (.724 winning percentage). His company on that list, for those unaware, is one spot behind Urban Meyer (.746) and one spot ahead of Kirby Smart (.710). DeBoer has also won eight straight games after a bye, with the last defeat in this spot coming in 2020 as the head coach of Fresno State.