LSU beats Alabama in OT, takes control of SEC West

A matchup between a pair of Top 10 teams more than lived up to the billing.

With the No. 6 Alabama entering the game as 13.5 points favorites over No. 10 LSU, the game played out until the final minutes as the two teams changed leads seven different times in regulation.

LSU’s defense more than held its’ own for much of the game, forcing the Tide to punt four times, settle for three field goal attempts and score just a pair of touchdowns that were followed each time by a failed two-point conversion.

Meanwhile, the LSU offense got touchdowns from running backs John Emery and Josh Williams before freshman tight end Mason Taylor was on the receiving end of a perfect throw by Jayden Daniels for a touchdown with less than two minutes to play – which gave the Tigers the 24-21 lead.

Alabama took the ball back with 1:55 to go, and Bryce Young led the Tide across midfield and inside the 30-yard line with 37 seconds left to go.

After LSU forced a fourth down field goal, attempt Reichard hit the 46-yard field goal to tie the game at 24-24. With 21 seconds to play and the ball on LSU’s own 25-yard line, the Tigers kneeled it out and headed to overtime.

Alabama drove down the field first and got into the end zone for seven points.

Then, one play is all it took.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels took the snap and ran it 25 yards to score the touchdown, cutting the lead to 31-30.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly elected to go for the two-point conversion and win instead of the extra point attempt to tie.

Jayden Daniels went to freshman tight end Mason Taylor on the throw to the pile on, which he secured and got across the goal line to get the win.

It was the first time LSU has beaten Alabama in Baton Rouge since 2010.

*******

FIRST QUARTER

Alabama won the toss and elected to defer to the second half.

LSU moved the ball to midfield on the opening drive of the game, but a holding call on right guard Anthony Bradford forced the Tigers behind in the chains, which led to a punt.

Alabama made quick work on offense by moving from the Tide’s 20-yard line all the way to the LSU 5-yard line in just seven plays. But on 2-and-4, Bryce Young scrambled out of the pocket and tried to find JoJo Earle on a short pass to the end zone, but LSU defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse grabbed the interception and kneeled it down for a touchback.

After it appeared certain the Tide would get points, the score remained 0-0 thanks to the first turnover of the game.

The Tigers crossed midfield again on the offense’s second drive, but once again were forced into a punt.

That became the theme of the first quarter when the Tide started the next drive from inside its own 10-yard line, going three-and-out and punting it back to LSU.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels hit Malik Nabers for a quick first down, but then it was LSU’s offense that sputtered into a punt following four snaps.

No matter, the Tigers forced a three-and-out on defense for the second series in a row, thanks in large part to some hurries from edge rushers BJ Ojulari and Harold Perkins.

LSU got the ball back and ran a pair of plays before the quarter ended.

First Quarter: LSU 0, Alabama 0

SECOND QUARTER

The swapping of punts continued into the second quarter after the Tigers punted it away after driving near midfield. The big play on the drive came on a Mason Taylor 14-yard grab up the sidelines.

Alabama took the ball back with 13 minutes left until halftime, and the penalties continued to stack up for the Tide on a hold on the first snap from inside its own 10-yard line. The LSU defense didn’t give an inch from there, and the Tide were forced into the team’s third punt of the game.

So far, the drives have resulted in:

LSU: Punt, Punt, Punt, Punt

Alabama: INT, Punt, Punt, Punt

With a little more than 10 minutes until halftime, LSU finally found life on offense.

The Tigers got a John Emery run for nine yards, popped a 15-yard pass to freshman tight end Mason Taylor, and then found the end zone following a Jayden Daniels sack. On 2nd-and-15, Daniels found Emery on a wheel route for a 30-yard touchdown that saw him make a move, stay inbounds and find his way into the end zone for the first points of the game.

OH MY @Emery4____ 

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/y4ZPEMGwks
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 6, 2022
 

LSU 7, Alabama 0 – 9:46 remaining in the second quarter

Alabama answered with the Tide’s biggest play on offense when Young found Jace McClellan matched up on Major Burns. McClellan took it 65 yards for what appeared to be a game-tying touchdown, but Burns chased him down and made the tackle at the 11-yard line.

After getting the ball to the 5-yard line, LSU’s defense came up with yet another red-zone stand, this time capping it off with a phenomenal play by freshman linebacker Harold Perkins when he chased down Young on third down to force the field goal.

HAROLD PERKINS AGAIN!

LSU gets a stop on third and goal and forces a field goal. Tigers lead 7-3, 5:567 2Q. pic.twitter.com/kYog5AIkKy
— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) November 6, 2022
 

LSU 7, Alabama 3 – 5:49 remaining in second quarter

LSU went conservative on the following drive, and despite getting near midfield, the Tigers were forced to punt.

After starting at the 19-yard line, the Tide crossed midfield and appeared en route to points with a minute until halftime, but Sage Ryan stripped Cameron Latu to force a fumble that Greg Brooks recovered. LSU was awarded the football, but the official took another look at the play and ruled that Latu, who had lost the ball, touched it while out of bounds and before Brooks gained possession – meaning the ball was blown dead and Alabama stayed on offense.

Once again, LSU buckled in on defense and forced the field goal as time expired.

Fumble Alabama!

They're reviewing to see if Brooks had the ball first or if Latu touched it when he was out of bounds... pic.twitter.com/chkJhY7UUu
— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) November 6, 2022
 

HALFTIME: LSU 7, Alabama 6

THIRD QUARTER

Alabama received the ball first and went on a methodical 7-minute drive into LSU territory, but the story of the first half remained the same for LSU’s defense. Whether it’s a forced punt, making the Tide settle for a field goal or turning the ball over, the Tigers continued to keep LSU out of the end zone.

Will Reichard stepped in to hit his third field goal of the game, which gave the Tide the lead for the first time.

Alabama 9, LSU 7 – 8:11 remaining in third quarter

The LSU offense needed to answer following a long drive by Alabama’s defense that kept the defense on the field for more than seven minutes, and they answered the bell.

After a quick catch by Kayshon Boutte, Jayden Daniels scrambled for a 21-yard gain to cross midfield. Running back Josh Williams then popped a six-yard run and a 16-yard run to put the Tigers in the red zone for the first time in the game.

Facing a 3rd-and-7, Daniels stayed in the pocket despite pressure and hit Boutte for a first down. After another pass to Boutte put LSU inside the 5-yard line, a throwaway by Daniels led to 3rd-and-4. The Tigers were tagged with a false start, which moved it to 3rd-and-Goal at the 8-yard line.

Daniels went to Malik Nabers in the end zone, and a pass interference on Alabama cornerback Eli Ricks gave the Tigers the fresh set of downs. From there, Josh Williams punched it in on third down to give LSU the lead, again.

.@kingjosheee punches it in for the TOUCHDOWN 

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/4v6Tnz8Blk
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 6, 2022
 

LSU 14, Alabama 9 – 3:30 remaining in the third quarter

Both teams traded punts before Alabama took over the ball to begin the fourth quarter, and the Tide drove quickly into LSU territory.

The Tigers were able to force Alabama into a third-and-long that resulted in a sack on Young, but LSU was hit with a pair of costly penalties on both a defensive holding and a face mask. That put the Tide from deep field goal range to a fresh set of downs in the red zone. Jahmyr Gibbs picked up 14 yards on a run to put the ball near the goal line, and Roydell Williams punched it in from two yards out to give the Tide the lead. Alabama then failed the two-point conversion, keeping the game at a one-point deficit for LSU.

Alabama 15, LSU 14 – 12:37 remaining in the fourth quarter

Malik Nabers took center stage on the following drive with a huge catch along the sidelines for 22 yards to get LSU to midfield.

Nabers caught another pass, then got a pass interference drawn on Alabama cornerback Eli Ricks on third down. A 12-yard run by Jayden Daniels got the ball to the 20-yard line that resulted in a flag being thrown for a personal foul on the late hit, but the referees convened and pulled the flag away.

The Tigers ultimately settled for a field goal, which Damian Ramos hit from 32 yards out to give LSU the lead with less than seven minutes remaining in the game.

LSU 17, Alabama 15: 6:52 remaining in the fourth quarter

The following drive can best be summed up by what Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was able to do on 3rd-and-10 from the LSU 41-yard line.

After it appeared LSU’s blitz had wrapped Young up for a sack – and likely punt – the reigning Heisman Trophy winner escaped multiple tacklers, left the pocket and hit Jacorey Brooks on the run for a wide open 41-yard touchdown.

The Tide missed the two-point conversion, keeping it at a four-point LSU deficit with just under five minutes to play.

Alabama 21, LSU 17 – 4:44 remaining in the fourth quarter

The following drive can then best be summed up by what Jayden Daniels did with his legs and arm, then what Josh Williams did on the ground and what freshman tight end Mason Taylor did in the biggest moment of his young career.

After driving into the red zone, Daniels went to Taylor on a perfectly thrown ball, and the freshman hauled it in between two defenders to secure the touchdown.

It was the sixth lead change of the game, and it gave LSU the 24-21 lead with less than two minutes to play.

TOUCHDOWN TIGERS

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Fjpp24bEUu
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 6, 2022
 

LSU 24, Alabama 21 – 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter

Alabama took the ball back with 1:55 to go, and Bryce Young led the Tide across midfield and inside the 30-yard line with 37 seconds left to go.

After LSU forced a fourth down field goal, attempt Reichard hit the 46-yard field goal to tie the game at 24-24.

LSU 24, Alabama 24 – 0:22 remaining in the fourth quarter

LSU kneeled out the clock from its’ own 25-yard line to send the game into overtime.

END OF FOURTH: LSU 24, Alabama 24

LSU won the toss and went on defense, giving the Tide the ball first.

Bryce Young quickly escaped and made a play to get the first down, and another run put the Tide at the six-yard line on second down. The Tigers forced an incompletion, which set up third-and-four from the six-yard line.

That’s when more hectic moments involving the officials.

After LSU was flagged for a pass interference in the end zone that would have given Alabama a fresh set of downs at the goal line, the refs reviewed the third down play to see if LSU tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage before the pass interference flag was thrown. The refs stayed with the call on the field, and Alabama scored on third down to take the 31-24 lead.

It's a game of inches.

Did Mekhi Wingo get his fingertip on the pass?

The refs say no. The pass interference stands. 

Alabama goes from 4th down to 1st-and-Goal in OT. pic.twitter.com/HFkJ9yoRN4
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) November 6, 2022
 

Alabama 31, LSU 24

One play is all it took.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels took the snap and ran it 25 yards to score the touchdown, cutting the lead to 31-30.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly elected to go for the two-point conversion and win instead of the extra point attempt to tie.

Jayden Daniels went to freshman tight end Mason Taylor on the throw to the pile on, which he secured and got across the goal line to get the win.

It was the first time LSU has beaten Alabama in Baton Rouge since 2010.

Jayden Daniels is HIM

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/XMgP9Sryiw
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) November 6, 2022
 

FINAL: LSU 32, Alabama 31