BATON ROUGE, La. — Jalen Milroe showcased his extraordinary talent by rushing for a career-best 185 yards and scoring four touchdowns, leading No. 11 Alabama to a commanding 42-13 victory over 14th-ranked LSU on Saturday night.
Milroe accelerated his team’s momentum with a sensational 72-yard touchdown run, marking the fourth of his evening and establishing a 29-point cushion for the Crimson Tide (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) early in the final quarter. This match was crucial for both teams’ aspirations for the College Football Playoff.
Alabama’s win solidifies their position in the playoff hunt, while LSU (6-3, 3-2) found itself significantly diminished in its playoff chances, suffering its third defeat of the season and second consecutive loss by a margin of 15 or more points.
Milroe’s three additional touchdown runs covered distances of 39, 10, and 19 yards, surpassing his previous personal best of 155 rushing yards and four touchdowns achieved in last year’s meeting against LSU, where Alabama triumphed 42-28 in Tuscaloosa.
For LSU, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier struggled with turnovers yet again. A fumble early in the first half led directly to Milroe’s second touchdown. Additionally, Nussmeier was intercepted by Deontae Lawson on Alabama’s goal line early in the third quarter, which was a missed opportunity for the Tigers to narrow the deficit. The LSU quarterback’s struggles continued as he faced another interception in the fourth quarter, resulting in a total of six turnovers over his last two games.
Alongside his rushing exploits, Milroe also passed for 109 yards without any turnovers, contributing significantly to his team’s offense. Meanwhile, other Alabama players made their mark as well, with Justice Hayes scoring from one yard out in the first half and Richard Young adding another touchdown from eight yards in the final quarter.
Before the game kicked off, there was a notable spectacle involving a caged Bengal tiger that was paraded onto the field at the request of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. This move elicited mixed reactions, with some fans expressing delight, while animal rights advocates voiced their disapproval. LSU had stopped this practice since 2015, opting instead to have another tiger transported from Florida for the occasion.
Alabama wasted no time seizing the lead, with Milroe running for a 39-yard touchdown on the opening drive. As the game progressed and Milroe added his second touchdown to extend the lead to 21-6 just before halftime, LSU attempted to create momentum but faltered at midfield, leaving the field to the discontent of their fans as they heard boos echoing around the stadium.
**Takeaways**
Alabama: The Crimson Tide’s impressive display led fans to leave the stadium early in the third quarter as Alabama held a commanding 28-6 advantage. The team outperformed LSU with a total of 420 yards compared to 343 and dominated possession with 33:55 of the game clock.
LSU: The team has struggled significantly due to Nussmeier’s turnovers and the defensive unit’s inability to stop running quarterbacks, culminating in a series of disappointing performances since their last match against Texas A&M, a game they lost 38-23.
**Looking Ahead**
Next week, Alabama will host Mercer, while LSU is set to take on Florida away from home a week later.