The streak is finally over and a new one may have begun.
No. 1 LSU dominated arch rival No. 2 Alabama in a 46-41 victory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With the victory, the Tigers snapped a eight-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide.
LSU will likely vault to the top position in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. LSU was ranked behind Ohio State in the initial rankings which were released last week. Alabama was ranked No. 3.
How it Happened: Alabama marched down the field going 63 yards on 7 plays and appeared ready to score first but Tua Tagovailoa had the ball spurt out while running towards the end zone.
LSU wasted no time to capitalize as the Tigers needed a mere 2:36 to score a touchdown as Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 33-yard touchdown.
LSU then took advantage of another Alabama miscue as the Crimson Tide muffed a punt attempt giving the Tigers short field and added a 40-yard field goal by Cade York.
Alabama got a shot in the arm a few minutes later when Jaylen Waddle returned a punt back 77 yards for a touchdown. LSU answered right back as Burrow found Terrace Marshall Jr. for a 29-yard touchdown.
Alabama closed the gap with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith. The extra point was no good and the Tigers held a 16-13 lead.
LSU though would close out the first half by scoring 17 unanswered points.
York booted a 45-yard field goal, Clyde Edwards-Helaire scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and then Edwards-Helaire caught a 13-yard pass from Burrow.
At halftime, LSU held a 33-13 lead.
Alabama got on the scoreboard first in the second half.
The Crimson Tide went 95 yards on 10 plays and capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to running back Najee Harris. With the extra point, Alabama cut the lead down to 33-20.
After forcing LSU to punt, Alabama answered once again with a 9-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, which featured a key fourth-down conversion, and capped with a 1-yard Harris run. After the extra point, LSU’s lead was down to 33-27 with 14:33 in the fourth quarter.
LSU would respond with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive as Edwards-Helaire scored from five yards out. The Tigers went for two but Burrow’s pass was incomplete. With 10:07 left in the game, LSU led 39-27.
Alabama responded with a 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped with a 5-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy from Tagovailoa.
LSU then answered right back with 7-play, 75-yard drive that took 3:55 off the clock as Edwards-Helaire scored from 7 yards out.
Alabama quickly responded with a 85-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith. The extra point was good and Crimson Tide cut the lead down to 46-41.
Alabama tried the onside kick but Justin Jefferson recovered it. LSU though was able to run the ball out as Tigers for the win.
Big Number: 1,100
That was the total number of yards by the two teams in the game. LSU had 559 total yards of offense with 393 yards passing and 166 rushing. Alabama meanwhile had 541 total yards with 418 passing and 123 yards rushing.
Player of the Game: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The LSU running back put the game on his back in the second half as Edwards-Helaire had 200 yards of offense. Edwards-Helaire rushed for 103 yards on 20 carries with 3 rushing touchdowns while also adding 9 catches for 77 yards and another touchdown.
Next Up: Saturday, at Ole Miss; Kickoff at 6 p.m.