Jalen Milroe rages as No. 11 Alabama defeats No. 15 LSU 42-13

No. 11 Alabama’s chances of making the College Football Playoff look strong after a 42-13 win over No. 15 LSU on Saturday night.

Jalen Milroe rushed for four touchdowns while the LSU defense struggled against a running quarterback for the second straight game. Milroe opened the game with a 39-yard TD and then opened the game in the fourth quarter with a 72-yard run.

Two weeks ago, the LSU defense was caught off guard by Texas A&M’s quarterback change in the second half. Marcel Reed replaced Conner Weigman as the Aggies scored TD drives on Reed’s first four possessions. Reed scored three of his own on quarterback runs as the Aggies rushed for 242 yards.

Alabama clearly wanted to test the LSU defense again. Milroe’s ability to make magic with his speed and elusiveness is a key part of Alabama’s offense, and LSU had great difficulty stopping designated QB runs.

Milroe finished the game with 185 rushing yards on just 12 carries. Thanks to the Crimson Tide’s big lead, he was able to watch the final minutes from the bench.

The loss is LSU’s third loss of the season and permanently eliminates the Tigers from playoff contention. LSU opened the season with a loss to USC – a loss that looks worse with every Trojans loss – and has a great chance to win. But a 9-3 season likely won’t be enough to advance to the expanded postseason.

Since LSU’s defense couldn’t stop the run, the offense wasn’t explosive either. QB Garrett Nussmeier struggled with two interceptions on a rainy night in Baton Rouge. Nussmeier’s first pick came on the first drive of the second half when Alabama led 21-6.

The Tigers drove to the Alabama 4-yard line, but Nussmeier’s pass on second down was intercepted by Deontae Lawson at the goal line. For the Tigers, it was the second trip inside Alabama’s 10-yard line and the second time they failed to score a touchdown. In the first half, LSU was forced to kick a field goal after reaching the Alabama 6.

Is Milroe back in the Heisman conversation?

Through the first 11 weeks of the season, there are four clear favorites for the Heisman: Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Miami’s Cam Ward and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. But Milroe has put himself back in the conversation with his performance Saturday night and Alabama’s chances of winning the SEC.

There’s gridlock at the top of the conference, but the Crimson Tide are still alive for the SEC title game. And Milroe has stats that fit together well. He has thrown 16 rushing touchdowns and 13 passing TDs. Only two players — North Texas’ Ward and Chandler Morris — have accounted for more than 30 touchdowns this season.

It’s unlikely that Milroe will win the Heisman Trophy at the end of the season. But don’t write him off as a Heisman finalist.