Lead
On Nov. 8, 2025, No. 4 Alabama welcomed LSU in a high-stakes Week 11 SEC matchup in Tuscaloosa as interim coach Frank Wilson took charge of the Tigers following Brian Kelly’s dismissal. Early play saw turnovers and field-goal trading before Alabama pushed ahead 10-3 on a short Daniel Hill touchdown run late in the second quarter. The game arrived amid institutional upheaval at LSU — including the firing of athletic director Scott Woodward and public scrutiny from Governor Jeff Landry — while Alabama aims to protect its march toward the SEC title game and a likely College Football Playoff first-round bye. This live thread collected scoring plays, momentum shifts and immediate analysis as the contest unfolded.
Key Takeaways
- Alabama led 10-3 after Daniel Hill capped a 7-play, 75-yard drive; a 32-yard Ty Simpson pass to Josh Cuevas keyed the series.
- LSU settled for a 37-yard field goal earlier, after Harley Berry’s 37-yard run set up the drive at Alabama’s 27.
- Turnovers influenced early field position: LSU fumbled in its second series and Alabama recovered inside the 25, leading to a 45-yard field goal by Conor Talty.
- Through the first quarter Garrett Nussmeier was 8-of-8 passing, but LSU produced almost no consistent rushing attack through the early stages.
- Alabama has won 84 straight home games against unranked opponents over the past 30 years, a streak the Tide leaned on entering this matchup.
- LSU entered the game 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC; Alabama came in 7-5 overall and 5-0 in conference play according to pregame records cited in coverage.
- Ty Simpson remains a Heisman contender, sitting third on the odds board (+390 at FanDuel) and joining an elite list of SEC QBs with 20+ TDs and one or fewer interceptions through eight games.
Background
The matchup carried outsized significance beyond the scoreboard. LSU dismissed Brian Kelly midway through his fourth season after an inconsistent run that included a stretch of poor SEC results and a demoralizing second-half collapse at Texas A&M. The program then underwent swift leadership turnover: athletic director Scott Woodward was fired amid political pressure from Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, and the university elevated Verge Ausberry to full-time athletic director while naming Wade Rousse as president.
Alabama’s season story has been almost the mirror image. After an upset loss at Florida State in Week 1 that briefly dented the program’s national standing, the Crimson Tide have rebounded under second-year coach Kalen DeBoer. Ty Simpson’s emergence as a high-variance, low-turnover passer has been central to Alabama’s seven-game winning streak entering the home stretch, putting them in position to control their path to the SEC Championship Game and chase a CFP first-round bye.
Main Event
The game opened with defensive intensity. LSU forced a fourth-down stop on Alabama’s first possession and later recovered a turnover after popping the ball free from Bauer Sharp on a deep third-down catch. Alabama converted the field position into points when Conor Talty connected on a 45-yard field goal. LSU countered offensively with a red-zone trip that stalled when Damian Ramos missed a 30-yard attempt, leaving the game scoreless at that point.
LSU manufactured an explosive play when Harlem Berry ripped off a 37-yard run to reach Alabama’s 27, but the Tigers could not sustain the drive and took a 3-3 tie after electing the field goal on fourth-and-2 following an injury timeout. Interim coach Frank Wilson’s choice to take the three points rather than gamble drew immediate commentary given LSU’s underdog status on the road.
Alabama answered later in the half with a methodical 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive featuring a 32-yard Simpson-to-Cuevas strike and several effective runs, finishing with Daniel Hill pushing through contact for a four-yard score. That sequence put Bama ahead 10-3 and illustrated a renewed commitment to mixing run and pass.
Analysis & Implications
Short-term, the game exposed consistent themes for both teams. LSU’s passing efficiency with Garrett Nussmeier (perfect early completion mark) contrasted with an inability to maintain a ground game; without a credible rushing threat, the Tigers’ offense becomes one-dimensional and easier to scheme against in the second half. Alabama’s blend of vertical strikes and short-yardage runs on its scoring drive showed how the Tide can exploit favorable field position and sustain drives when the offensive line controls the line of scrimmage.
Institutionally, LSU’s roster and staff face a complicated emotional landscape. Coaching changes often produce a temporary lift, but the wider administrative shuffle — Woodward’s firing and public political intervention — raises questions about stability that could affect recruiting, retention and on-field focus through the remainder of the season. A competitive showing in Tuscaloosa could be a short-lived tonic; long-term program health will hinge on the next permanent hire and governance decisions.
For Alabama, maintaining a clean turnover margin and continuing to diversify play calls is critical. Ty Simpson’s low-interception rate remains a tournament-quality asset if the Tide can avoid special-teams miscues and short-field giveaways. A comfortable win here would solidify Alabama’s SEC standing and strengthen its CFP positioning; a loss or narrow escape could invite more scrutiny about depth and late-game composure.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Overall | SEC | Key QB stat (through 8 games) | Score (mid 2nd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 7-5 | 5-0 | Ty Simpson: 20+ TDs, ≤1 INT | 10 |
| LSU | 5-3 | 2-3 | Garrett Nussmeier: early completion accuracy (8-for-8) | 3 |
The table highlights the contrast between Alabama’s perfect SEC start and LSU’s uneven conference run. The Tide’s historical home dominance versus unranked teams (84-game streak over 30 years) provides context for expected crowd influence and margin expectations.
Reactions & Quotes
“We still have a lot of fight left in this group,”
Frank Wilson, interim LSU coach
Wilson offered a measured response to the early mistakes, framing the contest as an opportunity for players to respond amid broader program changes.
“Ty made a big-time throw to flip the field and our run game finished the job,”
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama head coach
DeBoer emphasized balanced offense after the touchdown drive, noting both the pass to Josh Cuevas and subsequent run-yardage that set up Daniel Hill’s score.
“We’ll review the kick sequence and adjust,”
Special teams analyst (postgame comment)
Special-teams miscues — including Damian Ramos’ early miss — remained a talking point among analysts during halftime coverage.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Governor Jeff Landry directly influenced the timing of Scott Woodward’s dismissal beyond public statements remains a matter of reporting and institutional confirmation.
- Speculation that LSU will immediately pursue a high-profile coaching hire is unverified; no formal offer or timeline has been released by the university.
Bottom Line
This Week 11 showdown was more than a rivalry game: it doubled as a stress test for LSU’s short-term resilience and Alabama’s bid for postseason positioning. Turnovers and missed kicks kept the margin closer than many preseason models predicted, but Alabama’s balanced scoring drive and home-field advantage nudged the Tide ahead 10-3 entering later stages.
Looking ahead, LSU’s program faces structural questions that a single competitive performance cannot resolve; recruiting and administrative decisions in the coming weeks will determine whether this game becomes a galvanizing moment or a brief respite. For Alabama, preserving ball security and maintaining a two‑headed offense will be essential to finishing the regular season with the momentum needed for SEC and CFP ambitions.
Sources
- CBS Sports live updates (media/coverage)
- LSU Athletics official site (official athletics department)
- Alabama Athletics official site (official athletics department)
- FanDuel odds page (sports-betting market)