Nick Saban vs. Les Miles: The SEC’s defining matchup, with epic finishes
By Nick Cole
Published:
The outlook of the 2015 SEC season will be defined by the outcome of the LSU-Alabama showdown on Saturday night.
Don’t believe me? Recent history is on my side.
Alabama coach Nick Saban and LSU coach Les Miles have crossed paths nine times since Saban took the helm of the Crimson Tide program for the 2007 season.
The winner of the eight regular-season games went on to participate in the BCS Championship or College Football Playoff five times.
The ninth meeting? That was in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game.
In the eight years with both Saban and Miles coaching in the league, one of these two programs has won the SEC West six times, and represented the league as champion five times. Only Auburn (2010, 2013) and Florida (2008) have been able to disrupt the dominance of Saban and Miles during this era.
Simply put, more times than not, the winner of the Saban-Miles matchup is destined to do some really special things.
With both of these teams sitting in the Top 10 this season, they are still very much in the College Football Playoff discussion. Only Ole Miss stands in the way of the winner and another trip to the league championship.
So while we wait to watch Saban and Miles do battle for the 10th time, here’s a look back at some of the drama and magic involved in their first nine battles:
2007: LSU 41, Alabama 34
Recap: Matt Flynn threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns and LSU scored 17 fourth-quarter points, including a 1-yard touchdown run by Jacob Hester in the final seconds to grab the win.
The winner went on to: Win the SEC West, beat Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game and beat Ohio State in the BCS National Championship.
2008: Alabama 27, LSU 21 (OT)15
Recap: LSU RB Charles Scott scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to force overtime, but it was Alabama QB John Parker Wilson who ran in the game-winning score.
The winner went on to: Win the SEC West, lose to eventual national champion Florida in the SEC Championship Game and lose to Utah in the Sugar Bowl.
2009: Alabama 24, LSU 15
Recap: Alabama scored 14 fourth-quarter points, highlighted by a 73-yard touchdown reception by WR Julio Jones, to overcome a 15-10 deficit.
The winner went on to: Win the SEC West, beat Florida in the SEC Championship Game and beat Texas in the BCS National Championship.
2010: LSU 24, Alabama 21
Recap: Les Miles ate grass and successfully gambled on fourth down in the fourth quarter. A 73-yard touchdown reception by LSU WR Reuben Randle propelled the Tigers to 21 second-half points on the way to a three-point win at Tiger Stadium.
The winner went on to: Win 11 games and cap the season by beating Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
2011: LSU 9, Alabama 6 (OT)
Recap: Despite just 242 yards of total offense, the Tigers won the battle of field goal kickers in overtime when Drew Alleman connected from 25 yards away.
The winner went on to: Win the SEC West, beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and face off with the Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship
2012 BCS Championship Game: Alabama 21, LSU 0
Recap: Alabama avenged a regular-season loss to claim the national championship, shutting out the Tigers and holding them to just 118 yards of total offense.
The winner went on to: Win the national championship in spite of finishing second in the SEC West.
2012: Alabama 21, LSU 17
Recap: Alabama QB AJ McCarron found RB T.J. Yeldon for a 28-yard, game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of the game.
The winner went on to: Win the SEC West, beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and beat Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game.
2013: Alabama 38, LSU 17
Recap: T.J. Yeldon ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and QB AJ McCarron threw for three more as the Crimson Tide cruised to a victory.
The winner went on to: Win 11 games, but lost in the “kick-six” debacle at Auburn and then to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
2014: Alabama 20, LSU 13 (OT)
Recap: Alabama answered LSU’s go-ahead field goal with 50 seconds remaining with a kick of its own to force overtime. QB Blake Sims found DeAndrew White for the game-winning score in overtime.
The winner went on to: Win the SEC West, defeat Missouri in the SEC Championship and lose to Ohio State in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
