Greg McElroy explains why LSU game is a 'must-win' for Alabama in 2023

Alabama will enter the 2023 season in an unfamiliar position. Nick Saban has a ton to prove not just on the national stage but also in the SEC. For the first time since 2019, the Crimson Tide were not in Atlanta representing the West in the SEC Championship game. A loss to LSU in early November was the kiss of death in Death Valley.

Now, LSU will be heading to Tuscaloosa for what should be an incredible showdown. In fact, despite the calendar just reading May, ESPN’s Greg McElroy has declared it a must-win game for Alabama. Dropping two in a row to Brian Kelly could show a shift in the division’s power dynamic.

“LSU is going to be really, really good,” McElroy said. “Alabama has been the standard in the SEC West for the better part of the last 15 years. With Nick Saban approaching what might be the finish line — there was a clear pecking order. One is Alabama, two is LSU in any given year… But if LSU were to get a victory in Bryant-Denny Stadium and win two in a row against Nick Saban, would that indicate a bit of a shift in the way teams are perceived in the SEC West?”

Saban has dominated LSU since taking over at Alabama. Just five losses have occurred since the 2007 season and the wins have been dominant. One was even a national championship game in an epic 2011 rematch.

But a new era is underway for LSU. Kelly got a win against Alabama in his first season as the head coach and made a real statement. At first, everyone thought the Tigers would need some time to build. Taking down their biggest rivals accelerated the timeline.

“Alabama, coming off a loss on the road in Baton Rouge last year,” McElroy began. “It announced that Brian Kelly and frankly, the LSU Tigers, had arrived. Not only had they arrived but they had arrived ahead of schedule. Very few people believed that game would be competitive for four quarters. A lot of people thought this game would get sideways in favor of Alabama.”

Mark your calendars for Nov. 4 for what should be the SEC’s most hyped matchup of the season. Both teams are going to have an OPEN the week prior, only building up to the drama.

Saban has always been able to answer the bell when called upon. Doing so against LSU might be one of the biggest signs of where things stand in the SEC.