ATLANTA — The past seven times LSU and Alabama have met (including the January 2012 BCS National Championship Game), the Tide have won.

However, unlike Alabama’s scores against other foes, the games against the Tigers are usually competitive, so why can’t LSU get over the hump against its biggest rival?

That was a hot topic for LSU’s SEC Media Days appearance Monday, with TE Foster Moreau, LB Devin White and coach Ed Orgeron all speaking about what it will take to turn things around against Nick Saban and Co.

First of all, Coach O noted, his two games against the Tide haven’t been lopsided; LSU lost by 14 last season and 10 in his interim year. However, he quickly added, close isn’t what LSU is shooting for.

“Obviously, they’re a very good football team, coached well by coach Saban,” Orgeron said. “They’ve had the No. 1 recruiting class many years. But you know what? We’ve had some battles with them. But close is not good enough.

"We understand, I understand as the head coach at LSU, that you have to beat Alabama. That’s the benchmark."
LSU coach Ed Orgeron

“Back two years ago, we’re tied 0-0 with them going into the fourth quarter. Give them the credit — they made plays, we didn’t. Last year, it was a physical ballgame, we went toe-to-toe with them. They made plays, we didn’t. We understand, I understand as the head coach at LSU, that you have to beat Alabama. That’s the benchmark.”

In order to start making those big plays when the moment matters most, Moreau said LSU needs to try to prepare for the Alabama game like it is just another week.

“In the past, what I’ve seen is that we’ve always been really, really hyped up for that game,” he said. “From a team standpoint, in the past, that’s kind of been the circled game on our schedule. From a mental standpoint, I think we need to treat that like we would any other game. We need to go into that game with the same mindset, or else it will become too big. It’ll become too big for us and we’ll become overwhelmed by what happens.”

Indeed, the Tigers often make the Alabama game a huge deal. Alabama has had a bye week before the LSU game every year since 2013 and LSU has entered the rivalry game coming off a bye every year since 2010.

White said the important thing for 2018 will be to focus less on Alabama and more on LSU. To get over those late-game collapses, White said the Tigers need to play “five quarters,” which has become his catchphrase for preparing to go the extra mile.

“I think the thing we need to do is come out and play five quarters for complete domination,” he said. “We need to focus on ourselves and not focus on the other team. I feel like you get distracted when you focus on the other team. You need to focus on what you need to do as a team. I feel like a couple times, we lost sight of what we need to do and we’re just going to focus on executing what we need to do.”

LSU had a big comeback to beat Auburn last year and also took care of business against Texas A&M once again, so it’s not like the Tigers can’t compete at a high level. But Coach O and his players will ultimately be measured on how well they do against the Crimson Tide.

Moreau senses a change in Baton Rouge coming this year, and he thinks things will be different when the defending national champions come to Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3.

“What we did last year, I think we’re getting closer,” he said. “We’ve been getting closer over the years on not making it such a big deal and kind of hyping it up as much as we always have. I’m excited to see how it goes this year. I love that game. It’s a great game because it’s college football at its highest level.”