Saturday night’s game between LSU and Alabama in Tuscaloosa pits a quarterback who was once in the conversation for the top overall selection of the 2026 NFL draft — Garrett Nussmeier of the Tigers — and a quarterback who is now a possibility for the No. 1 pick — Ty Simpson of the Crimson Tide.
Simpson is a redshirt junior who could decide to return for a final season in Tuscaloosa, but this rivalry that for years had implications on the former Southeastern Conference West Division still serves as a Talent Bowl when it comes to the NFL. Crimson Tide offensive linemen Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford and receiver Germie Bernard likely will be competing at the sport’s highest level this time next year, as will LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, and there will be many more.
When these two programs played twice in 2011, with the Tigers winning a 9-6 overtime slugfest in Tuscaloosa and the Tide winning the rematch 21-0 in New Orleans for that season’s BCS national championship, 45 players who competed in those games went on to get drafted. Nine starters from the 9-6 contest would eventually become first-round selections: LSU defensive backs Eric Reid and Morris Claiborne, and defensive lineman Michael Brockers, and Alabama running back Trent Richardson, offensive linemen Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and defensive backs Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick.
Current LSU interim coach Frank Wilson was the running backs coach of the Tigers in 2011.
“There was an embarrassment of riches in that 9-6 game,” Wilson said on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “There were first-rounders and second-rounders on both teams, respectively, and I think that’s harder to do now because there is so much parity in today’s football. I do think LSU and Alabama possess some of the more talented teams in the country and in the conference.
“I also think it’s a game that fits the billing, but does it match those 2011 and 2019 teams that competed against each other? That would be tough. I don’t think many schools could top that other than the old-school Miami and USC teams, and maybe a Texas here or there.”
The 2019 game in Tuscaloosa, which LSU won 46-41, topped the 2011 matchup by having 55 players from that contest drafted. Of the 44 starters in that game, 37 were drafted, including nine in the first round in 2020: LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, receiver Justin Jefferson, and linebackers K’Lavon Chaisson and Patrick Queen, and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, tackle Jedrick Wills, and receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs.
It’s a small sample size, but it’s an impressive one.
Since taking over for Nick Saban at Alabama, second-year coach Kalen DeBoer is 3-0 following open dates during the regular season with two wins over Georgia and a 42-13 blowout of LSU in Baton Rouge. The Tide had last weekend off before hosting the Tigers.
“It really goes into having a great staff that puts a great game plan together and gets it dialed in quickly,” DeBoer said. “When you have players who can make plays and can get those extra days on a great game plan and can go execute, that’s really what matters and what it comes down to.
“Our staff is focused and has the routine down as far as the timeline of when we want to install certain things and having practices that are fresh.”
In Georgia’s 44-41 overtime victory at Tennessee on Sept. 13, the Bulldogs allowed 72- and 56-yard touchdown receptions to Chris Brazzell II, a 32-yard touchdown catch to Braylon Staley, and a 27-yard run by Star Thomas.
Surrendering those gargantuan gains to the Volunteers apparently has been the exception to the rule.
“We had some explosive plays given up in that game, but when you chart the entire year, we’re first in the SEC in terms of the least given up,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “It’s something to be proud of, but what we’ve got to do is get more turnovers, affect the quarterback, tackle better and do all those things.”
Texas A&M continues to lead the nation in third-down defense, holding opponents to a 22.2% conversion rate.
The Aggies have been even stingier against SEC opposition, holding those five foes to a 14.5% clip. Of course, the better a defense performs on first and second down, the longer offenses are required to travel to convert.
These are the staggering average distances that Texas A&M’s league opponents have faced so far this year on third downs: Auburn (10.7 yards), Mississippi State (11.4), Florida (9.5), Arkansas (10.1) and LSU (10.2).
When Bobby Petrino was the Arkansas coach during the 2010-11 seasons, the Razorbacks were 7-2 in one-possession games and made consecutive trips to the Sugar and Cotton bowls.
As the offensive coordinator and now the interim coach for this season’s 2-7 Razorbacks, he has come up short in all five one-possession outcomes.
“We’ve been right there this season and haven’t been able to get it done in the fourth quarter,” Petrino said. “We haven’t been able to make the play under pressure in all three phases, and that has hurt us in the inability to win in the fourth quarter. That’s when you’ve got to be able to make those plays.”
With an open date last weekend, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack took a brief break from football and tried to live like the rest of us on Halloween.
“Watching the trick or treating and people go crazy for a candy bar really concerns me about the moral fiber of our country moving forward,” Wommack said. “I don’t look at the news. I don’t look at anything, so that was the only chance I got to see the outside world, and it wasn’t pretty.”
Pasquali’s Pix
Georgia at Mississippi State: These two sets of Bulldogs were charter members of the SEC in 1933, but this will mark just the eighth time Georgia will be traveling to Starkville. UGA 29, MSU 24.
Furman at UTC: Rusty Wright has never had a losing season with the Mocs, and a triumph Saturday will go a long way in extending that stat. Mocs 30, Paladins 27.
The Citadel at Ole Miss: The Rebels are looking to improve to 20-0 under Lane Kiffin in regular-season games against nonconference foes. Rebels 48, Bulldogs 13.
Texas A&M at Missouri: The Aggies have started out 5-0 in SEC play the past two seasons but have never been 6-0. Aggies 27, Tigers 22.
Auburn at Vanderbilt: Clark Lea’s Commodores are seeking the program’s first three-game sweep of the SEC’s Tigers, having already tamed LSU and Missouri. Commodores 16, Tigers 13.
LSU at Alabama: Judging solely by the season openers of these two teams, look for LSU to win by three touchdowns. Crimson Tide 27, Tigers 20.
Florida at Kentucky: These two 3-5 programs have fan bases who are already in basketball mode. Gators 20, Wildcats 17.
Navy at Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are playing the Midshipmen for the 98th time, the most-played series in Notre Dame history. Irish 33, Midshipmen 14.
Other picks:
South Florida 29, UTSA 26
Memphis 31, Tulane 28
USC 28, Northwestern 19
Indiana 26, Penn State 21
Texas Tech 35, BYU 32
Ohio State 34, Purdue 15
MTSU 30, Florida International 23
Oregon 22, Iowa 17
Miami 27, Syracuse 10
Washington 23, Wisconsin 14
North Carolina 21, Stanford 16
Virginia 20, Wake Forest 13
Louisville 33, California 22
Clemson 25, Florida State 24
UCLA 21, Nebraska 20
West Virginia 48, Colorado 27
SMU 14, Boston College 9
Winners — 17
Deep Freezes — 8
Pasquali is 193-57 overall (77.2%) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.