Alabama Wins BCS Title: Breaking Down How the Tide Rolled LSU, 21-0

Alabama won their ninth national championship (No. 14 if you count pre 1960s), and Nick Saban now has three national championships—two with the Tide.

This was the ultimate beatdown as LSU crossed the 50-yard line just four times for the entire ball game. Alabama allowed just 92 yards against LSU's offense, and the game was never in doubt once the fourth quarter had started (you could argue when the second half started).

A.J. McCarron developed into a tremendous game manager, and Trent Richardson put up enough numbers for the defense to lay the wood. It was a complete team effort, and they only committed one penalty all game long.

This was not just a great national championship victory for the Alabama faithful, it was as impressive of a victory as we have seen in a long time. So, what did Alabama do that LSU could not handle?

Take a look as I break down the BCS national championship game and attempt to put this game into perspective.

First Half Breakdown

LSU received the ball to open the game, and Alabama came ready to play. They threw a few licks at Michael Ford, and we expected the Crimson Tide to force Jordan Jefferson to make a play on the first drive of the game.

Instead, LSU went three-and-out right out the gates as Jordan Jefferson fumbled the snap on a critical 3rd-and-2 which was not the start the Bayou Bengals were looking for.

Brad Wing showed off why he's the best punter in America (59-yard punt!), but Alabama eventually punted back to LSU after picking up 36 yards and a first down.

The hits kept coming, and the Bayou Bengals offense was known as "failure to launch" after consecutive three-and-outs. 

The Marquis Maze Punt Return Was a Game-Changer

On the second punt from Brad Wing, Marquis Maze caught it on a line drive (from the 50) to bust one loose to the LSU 26.

Maze pulled up lame with a strained (pulled did not play in second half) hammy, but the punt return gave the Tide all of the momentum and the swagger to win the BCS national championship. 

A.J. McCarron picked apart the Tigers all night long, and the first half was the key. Had the Alabama signal-caller struggled out of the gates like Jefferson did, perhaps, Alabama's offense would have struggled just as bad.

McCarron went 18-of-25 with 156 yards passing compared to Jefferson, who went 6-of-7 with just 26 yards passing.

First Half by the Numbers

Tyrann Mathieu boosted the Bayou Bengals in the SEC championship against Alabama, but he never had the chance against Alabama in the first half.

Jordan Jefferson mishandled a few snaps, and it was costly against an elite Crimson Tide defense. Courtney Upshaw along with the entire game went bonkers on the backfield as they were unblockable when LSU tried the speed option.

Against Georgia, LSU totaled 12 yards and had zero first downs! Against Alabama, they only totaled for 43 yards with one first down.

Thank goodness Alabama was held to all field goals and could not get anything going inside the LSU 20, or else, it could have gotten ugly. 

Anyway you look at it, the LSU offense was atrocious. 

What Went Wrong for LSU in the First Half?

LSU lives and dies by their rushing attack, and it was held to a pedestrian 17 yards in the first half.

Alabama accounted for 13 first downs and 225 total yards of offense. Trent Richardson did play a factor with 63 yards, although Eddie Lacy stole essentially steal four carries from him.

Alabama attempted four field goals, one of which was blocked. However, Alabama had 21 plays in LSU territory (not counting the FG attempts) which led to nine points, whereas the Tigers had zero plays in Alabama territory.

It was not as if the Crimson Tide were lucky to get field goals; LSU was lucky their defense played outstanding to hold Alabama to nine points.

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart's defense flat-out tore LSU apart in the first half, and the scoreboard could have been a lot worse at halftime.

Alabama Ate LSU Alive, All Night Long

On the first eight possessions for LSU, six of the seven third downs were from four or more yards.

We all knew if LSU had any chance of winning this game, they needed to be able to get 3rd-and-shorts. Jordan Jefferson completed a few passes, but only one pass through three quarters went for more than eight yards. 

That may seem like a joke in the BCS national championship, but the Alabama defense had LSU's number all night long. There was really nothing LSU could have done.

Some wanted to see Jarrett Lee to replace Jordan Jefferson, but you knew that was not going to happen.

Jefferson struggled against Georgia, but the defense and special teams dominated like they had all season.

Nick Saban made it clear to the nation that his program is the baddest on the planet, and the 9-6 defeat they took in Tuscaloosa back in November was almost like a fluke (seems like that game never happened).

How Did This Happen?

Alabama was arguably the most intimidating defense in America not named LSU, but they proved to be all that and more.

LSU came in with one of the best offensive lines in the country, and they were flat-out dominated and looked like a high school offensive line compared to the swarming Tide front.

Courtney Upshaw and the entire linebacker corps balled, but how about the night from Mr. Gentry?

He flew into the backfield for a few tackle for losses, and LSU could not get anything going to save their lives. This was not just a bad night for the Bayou Bengals; it was an ALBATROSS!

Everybody anticipated LSU would be able to handle the pressure, and they were obliterated all night long. The offensive line was rocked, and Jordan Jefferson was rattled because his receivers could get little to zero separation.

It was not rocket science; Alabama's defense looked like the 1985 Chicago Bears defense against this LSU offense that looked like the 1985 New England Patriots offense (or worse perhaps 2007 BCS title UF-OSU).

Dominance from the Opening Kick

Let us say that LSU was deserving of playing in this BCS national championship because they dominated for their 13 games, plus they looked like the best team in America without any questions being asked.

However, they did not show up by any means against Alabama. It was ugly as LSU could not cross the 50 until late in the fourth quarter, and some argue this was the biggest blowout in decades! 

Ohio State managed only 82 yards of total offense against Florida in the 2007 BCS national championship, but they managed to score 14 points.

Alabama flat-out dominated LSU and shut them out for the very first shutout among BCS title games (Oklahoma technically shut out FSU, but OU allowed a safety).

Complete by the Numbers

In case you have not heard the complete numbers yet, let us talk about them.

Alabama allowed only 92 yards of total offense, and LSU ran for just 39 yards!

Jordan Jefferson was harassed by Nick Gentry and Courtney Upshaw all night long, and he had no room to hide. If he tried to escape on the perimeter, he was forced to step up in the pocket with the Tide in his face.

Once Jefferson fumbled (mishandled) a few snaps early on in the game, the offense sputtered severely. Alabama flexed their muscle offensively as well. They deserve huge props for being able to gash the Tigers with a ton of balance.

McCarron threw for 234 yards, and Trent Richardson helped run for 96 out of the 150 total yards. 

Alabama picked up their first penalty of the game in the final five minutes of the game, and let it be said that LSU was shut down for the entire ball game.

They looked like they had a solid chance of scoring because Alabama put together one of the most dominant performances in a long time.

Notes: Alabama went 3-of-14 on third downs, but they went 2-of-2 on fourth downs. LSU went 2-of-12 on third downs but only ran for 1.4 yards per rush! Alabama owned the time of possession (35-25), but they whooped LSU anyway you look at it (384 to 92 total yards, including just four plays past the 50-yard line).

Best Program in America?

I honestly thought LSU was going to put up double figures in this game, and instead, Alabama had LSU's numbers the entire night.

It wasn't until the eight-minute mark of regulation that Jordan Jefferson scrambled into Alabama territory.

Even if you were going up against the greatest defense to ever live, you better be able to cross the 50 before the final eight minutes—let alone the first quarter or half.

Everybody talks about the SEC and how dominant it is, and tonight, along with the Tide continuing that tradition, they also proved another—defense really does win championships. 

Nick Saban, the Best in the BCS Ever?

Nick Saban is now the first ever coach to win three BCS titles, and he's one of 10 to ever coach the game with three-plus national championships. 

We already knew Saban was among the top two or three coaches in America, but is there any doubt right now? 

Nick Saban gets his team up for bowl games better than any team in the nation, and it's astonishing on how well they play when it matters the most (4-1 in bowls now). Saban gets the studs you need in the 3-4 defense and his offense always has a tremendous ability to run the rock.

It should be stated that Alabama only has two titles under their belt with Nick Saban, but there could be more on the way in Tuscaloosa with the way Saban recruits.