Aaron Murray ranks LSU over Alabama in 2023

Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray recently explained why he thinks LSU is going to be better than Alabama in 2023.

This comes a season after LSU upset Alabama in just Brian Kelly’s first year in Baton Rouge. That was a major step on the Tigers’ path to the SEC Championship game.

“The difference between LSU and Alabama this year is Alabama has more depth,” Aaron Murray said on the 3 and Out podcast. “I mean, they’re two deep, which is just them recruiting at a high level for a long time.”

As Murray explained, Alabama does have better depth on its roster but he thinks LSU is more talented.

“LSU has built depth this offseason. They’ve done a great job in the portal. They’ve done a great job recruiting, but it’s not to the level of Alabama,” Aaron Murray said. “But, if you asked me today, if you just want to compare starter vs. starter, LSU has more, I would say if you did a whole point category, LSU would get more points for me than Alabama if we want to break it down.”

One of the biggest differences between the two teams is the quarterback position. LSU has a quarterback in Jayden Daniels that has proven he can compete in the SEC. Alabama is looking to find a quarterback who can do that.

“Especially at the big-time areas. I think they’re better at quarterback. I think with their transfer running back that they have in there, which is kind of a coin flip, I think they’ve got better tackles, I think they’ve got better receivers, got a better tight end. Offensively, they’re better and they’ve got the quarterback. I mean, that’s the big hiccup. You know this. In today’s game, you need a QB, and right now for Alabama, we don’t know who that quarterback’s gonna be,” Murray said.

“And whoever it is of those three guys that they have on the roster right now, it’s not going to be to the same level as Jayden Daniels is.”

Aaron Murray also pointed out the talent on LSU’s defense, explaining that the Tigers have more top-tier talent than Alabama right now. So, as long as they stay healthy, the Tigers should be better than the Crimson Tide.

“Then you look at LSU on defense. They’ve got Maason Smith back at defensive tackle, who is probably gonna be a first-rounder. They’ve got Harold Perkins. The best linebacker in the country. Like position by position starter-wise, LSU is as talented as anyone in the country. It’s the two-deep. It’s all of a sudden if those starters get hurt at a couple key positions, they don’t have the depth to compete,” Murray said.

“And the problem is you face Alabama at the end of the season, how healthy are you going to be by the time you go to Tuscaloosa? That’s the only question, but if LSU is healthy, they’re the better football team this year.”

Jayden Daniels on what’s different in year two at LSU

One of the most important pieces to LSU’s success is quarterback Jayden Daniels. Now in his second season with the program, Daniels broke down what’s different in 2023 for him.

“I know how to maneuver, not just within football, but living in Louisiana now,” Daniels said. 

“My guys know me now. Last year when I came in, I was just the new guy, spring practice was barely starting … I was just trying to learn the playbook and know the guys and the coaches all at one time. So it was pretty fast for me. But now I’m more comfortable with the guys, they know me and how I am as a leader and as a person. Makes it for a better transition.”