3 takeaways as Alabama football defeats LSU at Tiger Stadium

A true College Football Playoff contender emerged from Death Valley on Saturday night, and it wasn’t the home team.

Not only did Alabama football stay alive in the playoffs, but it also showed that it can still overcome its opponents.

After an October full of stumbles, the Crimson Tide entered Tiger Stadium and ran over, through and around LSU while playing stifling defense. As a result, Alabama defeated the Tigers 42-13 to give Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer his first SEC road win.

Alabama remains alive in the CFP race with a 7-2 record, while LSU is all but eliminated with a third loss.

Here are takeaways from the game between No. 11 Alabama and No. 15 LSU.

Jalen Milroe hurts LSU with his legs: Pt. 2

The Tigers must be tired of watching Alabama’s quarterback run the football.

Milroe, who scored four touchdowns against LSU in Tuscaloosa a season ago, continued to have all sorts of success on the ground against LSU. He scored four goals again in 2024.

It started on the first drive when he rushed for a 39-yard score. He then ended the second quarter with a 10-yard rush to give Alabama a 21-6 lead before halftime.

Milroe’s second rushing touchdown gave him 14 points this season, a record for an Alabama quarterback. Jalen Hurts previously held the record with 13.

Before halftime, Milroe completed eight attempts for 98 yards, one yard more than he had in passes (10-15, 97 yards in the first half).

Milroe’s legs led the way for a high-octane Alabama offense.

Milroe continued his outstanding success in the second half. Late in the third quarter, he scored his third rushing touchdown, giving Alabama a 28-6 lead with a 19-yard rush.

Then Milroe had his best run of the day with a 72-yard score on third down. Alabama extended its lead to 35-6 right at the start of the fourth quarter.

Jihaad Campbell makes the difference in the middle

Campbell flew around the field and caused problems for the LSU defense.

The linebacker made plays in a variety of ways. On LSU’s first drive of the game, Campbell prevented the Tigers from scoring a touchdown when he broke up a pass on the goal line intended for LSU’s top receiver Kyren Lacy.

Then, in the second quarter, Campbell burst up the middle to chase down LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Then Campbell ripped the wet ball from Nussmeier’s hands and Tim Smith recovered the fumble. This was Alabama’s third touchdown. It was a much-needed play after the Crimson Tide had just turned the ball over on downs. Campbell and Smith immediately snatched the momentum back from the Tigers.

Campbell also combined to sack Nussmeier in the third quarter to end another LSU push.

The red zone defense is thriving

Twice the Tigers had the ball inside the Alabama 5-yard line when the game was still within LSU’s reach. In those two drives, LSU scored a total of three points.

The first stop resulted from Campbell’s pass breakup on third down during LSU’s first drive of the game. The next impressive stop in the red zone came in the third quarter.

LSU completed 14 plays for 71 yards and needed 6:16 to open the second half. But the drive ended just outside the goal line when linebacker Deontae Lawson picked off Nussmeier. Zero points for a strong performance by LSU.

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack had another impressive performance from his group after suffering a shutout in the previous game against Missouri.