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How it Happened: LSU keeps it close for four quarters vs. Alabama

by: Shea Dixon9 hours agosheadixon

The recap from LSU vs. No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa (Photo: © David Leong-Imagn Images)

The post-Brian Kelly era for LSU began on the field with a matchup vs. No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

While the Tigers tied the game at 3-3 in the second quarter, a big momentum swing in favor of the Tide saw Alabama take a 17-3 halftime lead.

The Tigers trimmed the lead to 17-6 to start the third quarter, and thanks to stops on defense and a turnover forced by linebacker Harold Perkins, LSU was able to make it a one-score game with a little more than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

LSU, sticking with backup quarterback Michael Van Buren over starter Garrett Nussmeier, got back in the red zone before grabbing a field goal to make it a one-score game with more than 10 minutes left on the clock.

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But after holding the Tide to zero points in the second half, Alabama’s offense found a way to grab three points on a late field goal to push the score back to a two-possession game with less than five minutes to play.

LSU played inspired football under interim head coach Frank Wilson, and the Tigers hung around into the fourth quarter, but the inability to convert red zone trips into touchdowns proved to be the downfall of a strong showing in Tuscaloosa.

Here’s how a 20-9 home win unfolded between LSU and No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

LSU, Alabama kicks off at 6:44 pm. CT in Tuscaloosa

11/08/2025 06:35:16 PM

The LSU vs. Alabama matchup is televised on ABC, and ESPN’s Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath are on the television broadcast. The Tigers are 5-3 after back-to-back losses and the firing of head coach Brian Kelly, while the Tide have reeled off seven straight wins after a Week 1 loss to Florida State. BetMGM listed Alabama as 10-point favorites over LSU ahead of kickoff in Tuscaloosa.

LSU wins the toss, defers to second half

11/08/2025 06:44:20 PM

LSU had not won a coin toss dating back to the 2024 season a year ago, but that streak ended on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers won the toss and deferred to the second half, putting the LSU defense on the field first for the lone time outside of the Ole Miss game earlier this season.

LSU’s defense stops Alabama on fourth down

11/08/2025 06:52:49 PM

Alabama’s opening drive resulted in a turnover on downs thanks to some big stops by the LSU defense. After the Tide crossed midfield, the Tigers forced a 3rd-and-1 before stopping Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson short of the first down. Another stuff of Alabama’s rush attempt on fourth down got the Tide offense off the field gave LSU the football near the 50-yard line.

Missed FG ends an impressive LSU drive

11/08/2025 07:03:09 PM

LSU’s offense erased a false start before the first snap of the drive with 10-plus yard gains on back-to-back plays from running back Harlem Berry and wide receiver Nic Anderson. On 3rd-and-8, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier went to wide receiver Aaron Anderson through the air for a first down, and the Tigers moved the sticks again on the next play with a 10-yard pass to Barion Brown. With Nussmeier sitting at 4-for-4 passing on the drive, the Tigers got into the red zone before facing 3rd-and-7. Following an LSU timeout, Nussmeier couldn’t find an open receiver before tucking the football and running for a short gain. LSU sent out the field goal unit, but Damian Ramos – the program’s all-time scoring leader – missed the 30-yard attempt to keep the score 0-0 with less than five minutes left in the first quarter.

Alabama takes a 3-0 lead, but LSU’s defense hangs tough

11/08/2025 07:18:35 PM

The LSU defense had already forced a turnover on downs and punt on Alabama’s first two drives, and the Tigers stepped up big again following a turnover by LSU tight end Bauer Sharp. After a tight end screen resulted in a first down, Alabama stripped Sharp and recovered the fumble. Simpson and the offense took the field with first down at LSU’s 24-yard line, but the defense didn’t buckle. After forcing a loss on the first snap of the drive, Alabama had back-to-back incompletions as LSU’s defense forced a quick field goal after being sent onto the field deep in their own territory.

End of 1st Quarter: Alabama 3, LSU 0

11/08/2025 09:16:55 PM

Alabama’s offense was on the field for three possessions in the first half, but LSU’s defense stood tall by giving up just three points – which came off an Alabama turnover that gave the Tide the football near the red zone. The first two Alabama drives resulted in a turnover on downs and punt. For LSU’s offense, the first quarter came to an end at the start of the unit’s third drive of the game. The second drive ended quickly off a turnover, while LSU’s opening drive saw the Tigers drive into the red zone before kicker Damian Ramos missed a 30-yard attempt. LSU put up 88 yards of offense across the first 15 minutes, while Alabama’s three drives resulted in just 67 total yards.

LSU ties the game to start the 2nd Quarter

11/08/2025 07:35:33 PM

On LSU’s third drive of the game, the Tigers put together another scoring drive opportunity, and this time kicker Damian Ramos converted on the field goal attempt to tie the game. The field goal came after LSU freshman Harlem Berry’s 37-yard run gave the Tigers the ball near the red zone. Nussmeier’s third down throw to wide receiver Aaron Anderson put the ball two yards short of a first down, but Anderson left the game with an arm injury. Coming out of the injury timeout, the Tigers elected to kick the field goal on 4th-and-short to tie the game at 3-3.

Alabama gets game’s first TD with 9 minutes until halftime

11/08/2025 07:45:12 PM

The LSU defense had buckled in well to hold Alabama’s offense to just three points on the team’s first three drives, but a penalty flag in the red zone on third down gave the Tide another chance at six points. One play later, Alabama running back Daniel Hill carried it across the goal line for the 4-yard touchdown. The third down pass interference was called on LSU cornerback PJ Woodland following Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson’s incomplete pass to wide receiver Germie Bernard. With a little more than nine minutes until halftime, the Tide took a 10-3 lead.

Alabama misses a chip shot FG before halftime

11/08/2025 08:01:45 PM

LSU missed a 30-yard field goal on the offense’s first drive of the game, and Alabama did the same with a little more than two minutes until halftime. The Tide started the drive at the 40-yard line following a punt by the Tigers, and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson quickly found wide receiver Germie Bernard for a 31-yard gain. Five plays later, LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn came up with a timely tackle for loss to force 3rd-and-long, and the defense stopped the Tide short of the sticks to force a field goal attempt. With Conor Talty’s 26-yard attempt missed, Alabama’s lead remained 10-3 just before the 2-minute warning.

The momentum swings in favor of the Tide before half

11/08/2025 08:09:26 PM

Alabama’s missed field goal resulted in a three-and-out for LSU’s offense, and despite a 59-yard punt from Grant Chadwick, the Tide had no trouble getting points with less than a minute until halftime. First, Ty Simpson hit wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks for a 53-yard gain that gave Alabama the ball at the LSU 13-yard line. With 22 seconds until halftime, Simpson delivered another strike to wide receiver Ryan Williams, who came down with the catch in the end zone to give the Tide the 17-3 lead.

HALFTIME: Alabama 17, LSU 3

11/08/2025 08:12:45 PM

After LSU tied the game at 3-3 early in the second quarter, Alabama delivered a pair of touchdown drives across the final 10 minutes of the first half. Meanwhile, after scoring attempts came from two of LSU’s first three drives on offense, the Tigers went three-and-out on back-to-back possessions before kneeling the ball and heading to the locker room down 14 points. LSU outgained Alabama in the first quarter, but the second quarter brought far different results as the Tide put up 177 yards and two touchdowns while the Tigers came away with three points on just 43 yards of total offense.

LSU’s opening drive of the second half results in a FG

11/08/2025 09:09:04 PM

The Tigers had already put together multiple nice drives on offense in the first half, and after getting the ball to start the second half, LSU marched across midfield and into scoring position. The play that helped keep the drive alive came on a personal foul called on Alabama after Jordan Renaud got flagged for grabbing LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s face mask. A first down run by freshman Harlem Berry gave the Tigers first-and-goal, but things went sideways from there. After a short run by Berry, Nussmeier threw an incomplete pass, took a delay of game, called a timeout, and turned into an Alabama defender on a third down sack for a 14-yard loss. Ramos stepped in to salvage the drive with points on a 44-yard field goal, cutting Alabama’s lead to 17-6 with nine minutes left in the third quarter.

LSU backup QB Michael Van Buren subs in for Nussmeier

11/08/2025 09:13:34 PM

LSU got a field goal and forced an Alabama punt to start the second half. Down 17-6, LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson sent backup quarterback Michael Van Buren in for starter Garrett Nussmeier, marking the first meaningful snaps Nussmeier has been sidelined for this season. On the second drive of the second half, LSU kept Van Buren in the game for the offense’s drive at the midway point of the third quarter. Prior to Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Van Buren – a transfer from Mississippi State – had played in garbage time of a win over Southeastern Louisiana and blowout loss to Texas A&M.

End of 3rd Quarter: Alabama 17, LSU 6

11/08/2025 09:17:16 PM

LSU got on the board with a field goal to start the third quarter before LSU interim head coach made the move to bench starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in favor of backup Michael Van Buren. Van Buren’s first drive brought LSU to a 4th-and-1, and the Tigers kept the offense on the field. But a false start by tight end Bauer Sharp, who previously fumbled the ball to give Alabama the game’s first points, forced LSU to punt it away on 4th-and-6 to close out the third quarter in Tuscaloosa.

Harold Perkins strips Ty Simpson to start 4th quarter

11/08/2025 09:21:31 PM

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins has had a quiet senior season, but No. 7 on defense came through with a big turnover to start the fourth quarter. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson dropped back to pass on second down and Perkins not only got to the quarterback, but hit Simpson’s arm to force the fumble before he recovered the loose ball. With LSU’s defense forcing the turnover, the Tigers got the ball back at Alabama’s 38-yard line just eight seconds into the fourth quarter.

What a play from Harold Perkins to get the strip and the recovery!

LSU with a chance to make this interesting pic.twitter.com/Qd1bm2LDKA
— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) November 9, 2025

LSU’s third FG makes it a one-score game in 4th quarter

11/08/2025 09:31:21 PM

A forced fumble and recovery by LSU linebacker Harold Perkins gave the Tigers the ball in Alabama territory. Once again, LSU got into the red zone and wasn’t able to come away with six points. The silver lining: Van Buren flashed his arm on a pair of throws to Chris Hilton and Barion Brown to get the Tigers to first-and-goal. Ramos hit his field goal attempt down the middle of the uprights to make it a one-score game. With a little more than 10 minutes left in the game, Alabama’s lead was trimmed to 17-9.

Van Buren, LSU get the ball back after another Alabama punt

11/08/2025 09:40:37 PM

The Tigers made it a one-score game with a third field goal from Damian Ramos minutes into the fourth quarter. On the following drive, LSU’s defense came away with another big stop on third down. The Tide, after crossing midfield, were forced to punt it back to the Tigers. The punt was downed near the goal line, and LSU backup Michael Van Buren remained in the game as starter Garrett Nussmeier remained on the sidelines with Alabama ahead 17-9 with more than 8 minutes left in the game.

Alabama’s FG makes it a two-score game late

11/08/2025 09:49:28 PM

LSU’s defense held strong in the second half, keeping the Tide off the scoreboard until a field goal came with less than five minutes left in the game. Unfortunately for LSU, a pair of second half field goals weren’t enough to keep it to a one-score game following the Tide’s 44-yard field goal with 4:25 left on the clock. LSU got the ball back down 20-9, sticking with backup quarterback Michael Van Buren for a final swing at pulling off an upset in Tuscaloosa.

FINAL: Alabama 20, LSU 9

11/08/2025 09:57:14 PM

LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson switched up the offensive line, turned to backup quarterback Michael Van Buren over starter Garrett Nussmeier, and let interim play-caller Alex Atkins take the reigns in shaking up the approach on offense. LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s defense played well enough to keep the Tigers in the mix for all four quarters, and by game’s end the Tide managed just 20 points in a home win over LSU. But on a night when the Tigers were flagged 10 times for 74 yards and Alabama was called for just two penalties for 25 yards, LSU’s three trips into the red zone resulting in no touchdowns proved to be the difference in a game that remained competitive for far longer than most anticipated.