LSU vs. Alabama Rematch: Recapping the First Game Between the SEC Rivals

The 13-0 (9-0 SEC) No. 1 LSU Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on November 5th to take on the 11-1 (7-1 SEC) No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide in what was dubbed as the “Game of the Century.” The Tigers went into the game as the No. 1 team in the country, and they expected to stay there.

The hype building up to the game had various pundits and sports voices picking both teams. The college football world seemed to be split on who would win the biggest college football regular-season game since the 1970s.

Both teams knew that it was going to be a hard-fought defensive battle that would likely come down to the wire. It's unlikely that either team expected only field goals to make the only points that night however.

The major factor in this game was field position. Field position had to be expected to be crucial for both teams as they knew that their respective offenses are not the best in the country. The first quarter was a mixed bag of defensive stops, and the two teams battled to try and make it within scoring position.

Alabama drove to the LSU 27-yard line but stalled and attempted a 44-yard field goal. In what was a sign to come, Cade Foster missed the attempt. The Tigers punted away to see the Tide drive again into LSU territory down to the 33-yard line.

The Tide attempted another lengthy field goal with Cade Foster missing a 50-yarder with 2:17 left in the first quarter. An interception sealed the fate of Jarrett Lee for the season as it gave Alabama another shot at points early in the second quarter.

Jeremy Shelley went in to attempt the long 49-yard field goal after another somewhat efficient Alabama drive only to see it get blocked and returned to the Alabama 48. LSU stalled again, however, showing a terrible inefficiency on offense. Jordan Jefferson had not looked to be the answer for the Tigers at this point either during the second quarter.

The Tigers punted to Alabama giving Alabama the opportunity to strike first blood as they drove to the LSU 17 and hit a 34-yard field goal from Jeremy Shelley. LSU had to respond or the threat of entering halftime scoreless was very possible.

The Tigers took the ensuing drive to the Tide 2-yard line, and Drew Alleman hit a 19-yard field goal to tie the Tigers and Tide right before halftime.

Both teams went into the locker room looking like studs on defense, but both offenses looked so bad that neither team really had to show their best hand just yet. Alabama was able to move the ball more effectively in the first half than LSU, but the inability to score made it a wash for the Tide.

The third quarter was a trade of punts until Cade Foster hit a 46-yard field goal with 8:01 left in the third quarter. A big game-changing play came close to the end of the third quarter when Morris Claiborne was able to intercept an A.J. McCarron pass and return it to the Alabama 15-yard line.

With only :47 off the clock, the Tigers punched through their second score of the night when Drew Alleman hit a 30-yard field goal set up by the Claiborne interception. The game was tied at six a piece, and it would remain that way until the overtime period.

The Tigers and Tide battled and made some spectacular effort plays to finish the game, but by the end of regulation, neither team could edge out the other. Alabama and LSU were facing off to finish the game in overtime, something that neither team wanted.

Alabama had some miscues and fell victim to a LSU sack placing them on the LSU 35. Cade Foster marched in for his fourth field goal attempt of the night, and he missed the 52-yarder.

LSU wasted no time in moving the football swiftly and efficiently in the overtime period driving down to the Alabama 8-yard line. The Tigers looked their best on offense in the short overtime period and allowed Drew Alleman to hit his third field goal and take the Tigers to victory.

The one glaring gap that appeared in this game was coaching. LSU and the “Mad Hatter” took Alabama and Nick Saban to task. There were numerous miscues and bad coaching calls that led to Alabama losing this game.

Both team finished with less than 300 yards offensively, and both power rushing teams were held to less than four yards a carry. This game was a battle of grit and hard-nosed defense. Expect more of the same in the rematch in the BCS title game.

The one edge that may change is Alabama may wise up and play field position. There were two long field goals, including the block that led to LSU’s first score that should never have been attempted.

If the Tide buries LSU deep, they may have won the game. Hindsight is always 20/20, but I would expect much of the same this coming January.