Alabama’s 20-9 win over LSU on Saturday night lacked the usual high stakes and intensity that accompanies this age-old rivalry.
After all, these two programs reside in very different realities at the moment. The Crimson Tide are primed for a return to the College Football Playoff if they can close out their season strong, while the Tigers are just hoping to take some form of positive momentum into an offseason that will be defined by change.
Alabama didn’t light up the scoreboard as it has in other games this season, but the Tide passing attack was still efficient while its defense stifled both Garrett Nussmeier and LSU backup quarterback Michael Van Buren when he entered the game.
Following the matchup, ESPN’s Peter Burns shared his four main takeaways:
- “Ty Simpson + Ryan Grubb is the perfect match of confidence.
- Bama still not able to run the ball on demand is bit concerning.
- LSU needs to do whatever they can to make sure DC Blake Baker stays in Baton Rouge.
- I miss when this game felt epic.”
Burns referenced the tangible chemistry between Simpson and his coordinator Grubb, as the Alabama offense has reached new heights ever since the former Washington OC reunited with his boss, Kalen DeBoer.
However, Burns did make note of the one weakness still plaguing this team: the ground game. The Crimson Tide only managed 56 yards on 2.2 per touch, numbers that will need to improve against higher quality opponents.
And on a related note, Burns’ third point referenced how defensive coordinator Blake Baker should be a high atop the list of potential returning staff members for the next head coach in Baton Rouge, as LSU’s defense has remained fairly consistent throughout this season’s struggles.
And lastly, Burns called attention to a fact that all football fans can relate to: This game has lost some of its luster. The “Game of the Century” days are far gone, as LSU’s up-and-down eras following the departure of Les Miles has made this series a hit-or-miss in recent years.
Parker is currently the sports editor for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
