BATON ROUGE, La. — The traditional Alabama-LSU game that played out this past weekend is a perfect example for what the new College Football Playoff format has done with new definitions to ‘big games’ in November.
Florida and LSU have identical two losses records and both teams are unranked in the current AP Top 25 poll; however , the winner of the Saturday night match-up in Tiger Stadium will stay on the course to become one of twelve teams that will play for the national championship in January.
“We’re right in the middle of it,” said LSU coach Brian Kelly. “There are so many games to be televised and so many points to be scored that the first (CFP) rankings is only the field getting ready for the horses.”
“It would be nice to be a part of that inside track and be number one, but definitely there is much race for us to run,” added Kelly. “Now you have to play well for the other four weeks of the season.”
No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 15 CFP) didn’t play great during the second half of its game at Texas A&M on Oct. 26. The Tigers headed to the dressing room for the break with a 17-7 advantage and only returned to College Station worse off with a 38-23 defeat.
The No. 11 Crimson Tide (6-2, 3-2 SEC, No. 11 CFP) lost a couple of weeks ago at Vanderbilt and last week at Tennessee, but exactly a week ago, they beat Missouri 34-0.
And I think you saw our response, I think with the Missouri game,” first-year Alabama coach, Kalen DeBoer said. That was more experience you have together, with you back to the wall. For instance, he said, “There’s different things that different teams respond well to.”
As has been customary for both teams, the Power Five foes took a bye in the week before their typically early November meeting, which helps with the health of the teams and the preparation that is always a focus for what has been one of the marquee games on both the schedules.
Milroe vs. LSU
It was probably the first match when the college football cosmos learned that Milroe was also a dangerous runner from the position of a quarterback. Against LSU last season he rushed for 155 yards and four TDs as well as passing for 219 yards.
When Texas A&M faced LSU, Marcel Reed rushed for three scores, and Milroe adds another dual-threat quarterback.
“That’s just hard for any defense to go against,” Milroe said. “It’s just difficult for any defense to control the facet of pass and run.”
Riding the “Nuss bus”
Replacing a Heisman Trophy-winning QB always comes with challenges, and that’s exactly what Junior QB Garrett Nussmeier has been facing most of the season — until the second half of the previous game. He had three second-half interceptions in the LSU’s territory against the Texas A&M — a significant reason why the Tigers lost big to the Aggies.
However, he stands second in SEC and eighth in America in TDs passing with 20. They scored their 328.4 yards passing per game second only to Michigan’s passing offenses and fifth best in the country.
“He’s a coach’s kid; you can tell he’s been very well trained,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said, referring to the fact that the LSU QB’s dad is former NFL QB and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier.
“This is the best we’ve seen him all year — with the ball in his hands,” Wommack said. “I know sometimes that’s gotten him in trouble, but it’s also bought a lot of deep plays.”
Road Bama
In its prior one road trip to Vanderbilt and Tennessee, the Alabama team has lost its last two games. A common denominator: The ability to get slow starts before a hostile crowd. In the first seven minutes the Commodores scored two touchdowns one of which was a pick six. It wasn’t that bad in Knoxville, but Alabama did have two punts and an interception on its first three offensive series.
“You just can’t dig yourself a hole, especially when you’re giving the opponent momentum in an environment we are going to be in at LSU,” DeBoer added. “So it’s critical. We preach it every day.”
No Nick
Cliche or no, every few years there was just that little extra bit of juice in the house because Saban had coached LSU’s 2003 title winner and then had taken Alabama to 24 titles from 2007 to 2023.
‘They definitely do and while Saban is enjoying his retirement the impact he had on the state of Alabama, especially during his six national titles run, continues and is present this year as per Kelly.
“This football team still looks like the foundation that was laid by coach Saban,” Kelly said. “The program was in good shape when Kalen came in, is what I am trying to say here. Thus, many of the fundamentals remain and, of course, a rather talented squad.
“So, there is still that perception that there is someone at the helm, as it were,” Kelly said. “You get a feeling that in regard to the whole program.”
