Alabama at LSU: Live updates, score, highlights
One of the biggest games in college football this week has arrived, with No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC) set to take on No. 15 LSU (6-2, 3-1) under the lights in Death Valley. It’s a game that will carry massive College Football Playoff implications.
Both teams already have two losses on the season, so this is essentially an elimination game of sorts. Both teams are coming off a bye week, but Alabama’s last time out was a win, while LSU’s was a loss.
Can the Tigers bounce back and rally behind the home crowd to tame the Tide? We shall see. Live updates below throughout the game, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Alabama figuring things out?
11/09/2024 10:24:13 PMAlabama has had a bit of an up-and-down season under coach Kalen DeBoer, but the Crimson Tide looked like their typical dominant selves on Saturday night in Death Valley. The head coach, though, was already looking ahead and wanted his guys to mirror what worked leading into tonight’s big game.
“Well, we’re going to enjoy it for about two seconds here,” DeBoer said. “We know we’ve got a lot left in the month of November here to reach our goals. It was another step. I think a couple weeks ago we took one step and we took another (tonight). We’re understanding how important the process is to go out and play really good football on Saturdays. We’ve just got to keep getting better and there’s more out there.”
Recapping Jalen Milroe’s huge night in Death Valley
11/09/2024 10:21:48 PMAlabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was the difference in the game, a huge factor on the ground with his legs. He finished 12-of-18 passing for 109 yards, while adding 12 carries for 185 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. After the win, he credited his teammates.
“I think the biggest thing was trusting our blocks,” Milroe said on ABC. “It comes from preparation, just reading the gaps and trusting the offensive line and also the running backs when it comes to quarterback runs. I think it’s so important just to trust the guys up front, and I know they’re going to do all in their power to help our offense.”
Coach Kalen DeBoer also credited him.
“Just the different elements, the noise, lot that you’ve got to manage when you’re the quarterback,” DeBoer said. “And for him to go make all those plays just says a lot about the fight he has, so I’m very proud of him.”
FINAL: Alabama 42 – 13 LSU
11/09/2024 10:14:14 PMThe game has gone final after a kickoff and a knee from Alabama. The win for Alabama should keep the Crimson Tide firmly in the hunt for both the SEC title and the College Football Playoff. LSU, for all intents and purposes, is probably eliminated. So what’s next for both?
Alabama will get a bit of a breather with a final non-conference game against Mercer. LSU now heads to Florida, facing a team that is also struggling and may or may not have quarterback DJ Lagway.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 42 – 13 LSU, 0:11 4Q
11/09/2024 10:13:13 PMLSU puts together a few nice plays in a row with Alabama having mostly backups in on defense and playing soft coverage. Garrett Nussmeier comes up limping with about 20 seconds to go, but he’s not looking to come out of the game. He stays in there and winds up throwing a perfect back-shoulder throw to Kyren Lacy for a late, garbage-time touchdown.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 42 – 6 LSU, 2:07 4Q
11/09/2024 10:02:34 PMAlabama has put its backups into the game, with the contest well under control and no need to get any key starters hurt in a blowout. The backups are pretty good, too. The team marches right down the field behind a strong running effort and Richard Young takes a carry off the left side for an 8-yard touchdown to cap the drive.
INTERCEPTION: LSU gives it away again
11/09/2024 09:52:56 PMLSU has a hiccup on a route, as a receiver slips and Garrett Nussmeier fires into the open Alabama secondary instead. Bray Hubbard gets his hands underneath it for the pick and now the Crimson Tide can well and truly coast to the finish line.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 35 – 6 LSU, 14:50 4Q
11/09/2024 09:33:20 PMForget taking a bunch of time off the clock. Alabama strikes on the first play of the fourth quarter, with Jalen Milroe taking a run off the right side and finding a crease. He sprints his way between multiple defenders in the secondary and simply outruns everyone for a 72-yard touchdown … his fourth rushing touchdown on the evening.
And get this: TV cameras are picking up Alabama fans in the stands singing “Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, goodbye.”
END OF 3RD QUARTER: Alabama 28 – 6 LSU
11/09/2024 09:28:11 PMLSU has had another drive go awry, as Garrett Nussmeier just can’t escape the pressure tonight. Alabama has a chance to salt away the game, sitting on a possession with a lot of yardage available to eat up down the field. We reach the end of the third quarter and at this point LSU needs a miracle.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 28 – 6 LSU, 5:05 3Q
11/09/2024 09:13:24 PMLSU looks to have Alabama stopped on a sack of Jalen Milroe on third down, but wait… officials have called a facemask penalty. And oh boy, the fans in Baton Rouge DO NOT like the call. Trash is being thrown into the end zone, forcing officials to briefly halt the game. Alabama adds insult to injury moments later with Jalen Milroe’s third rushing touchdown of the day, a 19-yard touchdown run in the middle of the field. If LSU has any gas left in the tank, now’s the time to put the pedal to the metal.
INTERCEPTION: LSU gives it away after promising drive
11/09/2024 09:01:00 PMLSU looked like it might just be settling into the game a little bit, putting together a 14-play, 71-yard drive to reach the low red zone against Alabama. Then quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw a head-scratching interception right to Deontae Lawson, who was dropping back into coverage. That’ll put a significant damper on a comeback bid for the Tigers…
INJURY: Alabama OLB Que Robinson heads to locker room
11/09/2024 08:55:25 PMLSU’s opening drive of the second half has been a lengthy one and along the way it collected an Alabama player with an injury. Outside linebacker Que Robinson was shaken up and tended to by trainers before walking off the field. He’s headed to the locker room.
HALFTIME: Alabama 21 – 6 LSU
11/09/2024 08:25:36 PMLSU is unable to score before halftime after working it narrowly into Alabama territory. The half will end with Alabama sporting a 21-6 lead and, perhaps more importantly, a quiet crowd. LSU was outgained 236-150 in the first half, and the Tigers were just 2-of-6 on third down, versus 6-of-8 for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama’s pass rush has been a significant factor; LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has looked uncomfortable and rushed for much of the evening. Meanwhile, the Tigers haven’t been able to figure out the Tide’s quarterback run game.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 21 – 6 LSU, 2:35 2Q
11/09/2024 08:13:34 PMAlabama wastes absolutely no time capitalizing on the fumble, driving a stake into the heart of LSU. It was Jalen Milroe who did the finishing honors, rushing in for a 10-yard touchdown right up the middle. He now owns the Alabama school record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with his 14th.
SUDDEN CHANGE: Turnover on downs, fumble
11/09/2024 08:11:00 PMShortly after the Roberts injury, Alabama faced fourth-and-1 in no man’s land on LSU’s side of the field. The Crimson Tide went for it but were stuffed short by the Tigers. No matter, seconds later, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was chased down by linebacker Jihaad Campbell and fumbled, with Tim Smith recovering it to give the Tide the ball right back.
INJURY: Alabama OL Jaeden Roberts shaken up
11/09/2024 08:09:22 PMAlabama offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts stayed down after a failed third-and-short play with time in the second quarter winding down. He was tended to by team trainers, then aided off the field, walking very gingerly. He appeared to be heading to the locker room.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 14 – 6 LSU, 8:26 2Q
11/09/2024 07:59:43 PMLSU takes advantage of the Alabama miscue by driving into Crimson Tide territory. The drive ultimately stalled out, but not before the Tigers were able to kick a 43-yard field goal to cut it to a one-score game again.
Something to watch as the game progresses: Alabama is dominating time of possession. After that LSU drive it’s 14:11 – 7:23 in favor of the Crimson Tide.
MISHAP: Delay of game forces Alabama to punt, 10:54 2Q
11/09/2024 07:55:56 PMAlabama drove down the field and LSU finally came up with its first third-down stop of the game, forcing the Crimson Tide to attempt a long field goal. Instead, a delay of game penalty hit Alabama and pushed it back out of reasonable range. For what it’s worth: kicker Graham Nicholson missed the 51-yard attempt wide right before the delay of game penalty was assessed. Now we see if LSU can mount a drive to make the game a little more interesting…
FUN FACT: Jalen Milroe catches Jalen Hurts
11/09/2024 07:42:28 PMWith his 39-yard touchdown run earlier in the game, Jalen Milroe scored his 13th rushing touchdown of the season. That matched Jalen Hurts for the most by an Alabama quarterback in a single campaign. And Milroe still has a few games to add to the tally…
The rain is intensifying at Tiger Stadium
11/09/2024 07:33:38 PMThere’s been a light drizzle for much of the game so far, but the skies have opened up in Baton Rouge as the second quarter gets set to begin. We’ll see if it impacts either team’s ability to throw the ball… or hold onto it.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: LSU trying to answer
11/09/2024 07:30:14 PMLSU hasn’t had much offensively outside of Caden Durham, with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier starting off 0-of-3 passing. He finally completes a short one for a first down, though, and LSU will have the ball at its own 35-yard line looking to put something together as the first quarter concludes. At the very least, stringing together a couple first downs here is a must.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 14 – 3 LSU, 1:56 1Q
11/09/2024 07:23:19 PMSo far it doesn’t look like there will be a whole lot of defense in this one, as Alabama marches right down the field and scores again. One thing that is standing out so far is that the Crimson Tide are 4-for-4 on third down. Only one of them has been longer than third-and-5. If LSU can’t have a bit more success on early downs it’s going to be a long night in Death Valley.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 7 – 3 LSU, 9:00 1Q
11/09/2024 07:06:12 PMLSU gets a big kick return out to the 50-yard line to set up its first drive of the game. Two plays later, running back Caden Durham breaks out a 45-yard run off the right side to put the Tigers into the low red zone. But the Crimson Tide defense stiffens up and forces a 23-yard field goal from Damian Ramos. A nice answer from LSU but a better defensive stand in the red zone from Alabama.
SCORE ALERT: Alabama 7 – 0 LSU, 10:49 1Q
11/09/2024 07:06:26 PMAlabama puts together a methodical opening scoring drive, capped by a bit of brilliance by quarterback Jalen Milroe. And the drive started with a penalty induced by the crowd, too. Well, a 39-yard touchdown run by Milroe is certainly one way to turn down the noise. Milroe went 3-of-3 passing for 38 yards on the drive before capping it with his scoring run. And off we go…
LSU WR CJ Daniels listed as probable
11/09/2024 05:47:58 PMAll signs point to LSU receiver CJ Daniels playing in Saturday’s game against Alabama. Daniels has been dealing with an injury for the past month but has managed to play the past two games. He was listed questionable on the injury report Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to probable on Friday. With the final injury report being released a little more than an hour before kickoff, he is still listed as probable.
Daniels has 29 catches for 342 yards so far this season.
Final Alabama vs. LSU spread, over/under
11/09/2024 05:19:01 PMAlabama is coming off a 34-0 stomping of Missouri prior to its bye week, while LSU suffered a tough loss on the road at Texas A&M. Las Vegas likes the Crimson Tide, with Alabama entering the game as a 2.5-point favorite. The over/under for the contest has been set at 58.5 points.