TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 2 Alabama lost 46-41 to No. 1 LSU on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium to fall to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in Southeastern Conference play.
LSU is 9-0, 5-0.
SATURDAY'S STAR
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow led a six-play, 92-yard touchdown drive to start the game and completed his first 13 passes. Burrow was 18-of-20 in the first half for 252 yards and three touchdowns in guiding the Tigers to a 33-13 lead, and he finished 31-of-39 for 393 yards and the three scores, staking his claim for the Heisman Trophy.
SATURDAY'S STAT
In Nick Saban's 12-plus seasons in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide have never lost by more than a touchdown inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. LSU almost became the first team to make that happen, racing out to that surprising 33-13 halftime advantage and leading 46-34 before an 85-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith with 1:21 remaining.
TURNING POINT
After withstanding LSU's initial onslaught that produced a 16-7 lead, Alabama was within 19-13 and had possession before going three-and-out and allowing an eight-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. When the Tide got the ball back, Tagovailoa was intercepted and Burrow captalized with a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 33-13.
HIGHLIGHT PLAY
With LSU leading 10-0 late in the first quarter, Alabama's Jaylen Waddle nearly had his helmet ripped off by Racey McMath on a punt return but managed to break free and head up the left sideline. Needing an inside cut near the LSU 20, Waddle capped a 77-yard return for a touchdown that energized the home crowd.
WHAT IT MEANS
After a recent run in which either Alabama (five times) or Auburn (twice) has represented the Western Division at the SEC title game, LSU now has the inside track. The Tide, meanwhile, need to look impressive down the stretch, especially at Auburn, to warrant at-large consideration for the College Football Playoff.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.