Alabama trounces LSU 31-13 as Russell throws three TDs

Keelon Russell pushed through an ankle injury to pass for three touchdowns and Alabama pulled away for a 31-13 win over LSU in Baton Rouge, the AP reported via ESPN.

Russell was examined in an injury tent in the third quarter but stayed in the game. His touchdown passes went for 7 yards to Josh Ford, 25 yards to Cederian Morgan and 4 yards to Kaleb Edwards. Alabama improved to 7-2 and 5-2 in the SEC, keeping its College Football Playoff hopes alive.

LSU fell to 6-3 and 3-3 under first-year coach Lane Kiffin, who dropped to 0-6 in his career against Alabama. The Tigers went 0-for-4 on fourth down, missed a field goal and committed a turnover in Alabama territory.

Kiffin left his offense on the field on fourth-and-10 from his own 25 with eight minutes left. Quarterback Sam Leavitt was sacked, and Alabama scored three plays later. “At the end of the game you can play to try and just keep the score low or whatever when you are on your own 20, but you have no chance to win by punting analytically,” Kiffin said. “So, you go for it.”

What the coverage missed

Alabama won by 18 despite being outgained 457-285 and running 28 fewer offensive plays. That is not a typo. LSU had the ball more, gained more yards, and lost by three scores. The Tigers moved the ball between the 20s and could not finish. Four fourth-down stops, a missed field goal and an interception in Tide territory — that is five empty trips.

Leavitt threw for 380 yards. Wide receiver Jaden Harris caught 11 passes for 166 yards. Those are numbers that usually win. LSU’s problem was that it kept stalling in the red zone and Kiffin kept gambling instead of taking points. The gamble is defensible analytically. The execution was not.

Russell’s ankle is the thing nobody is asking about. He came out of the tent and stayed in, but he was limping visibly on the next series. Alabama plays Vanderbilt next week, which should be manageable. But if the ankle is worse than he let on, the Ole Miss game in two weeks is the one that decides the playoff resume.

First Lady Melania Trump, actor Kevin Costner, Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, WNBA star Angel Reese and Shaquille O’Neal were all at Tiger Stadium. Reese and Skenes are LSU alumni. Costner was there because Costner goes to football games.

What I think

Kiffin is right about the math and wrong about his team. Going for it on fourth down from your own 25 is the analytically correct call if you trust your offense to convert. LSU’s offense had not converted a single fourth down all afternoon. At some point the coach has to read what is in front of him and stop trusting the spreadsheet.

Alabama does not always outgain you. Alabama beats you by making you stop yourself. That is what happened here. LSU drove the field and kicked nothing. The Crimson Tide did not need to be great. They needed to be patient, and they were.

Kalen DeBoer is now 7-0 after bye weeks as a Division I coach. That is a real number. He gets his team ready when he has time to prepare, and Alabama had a bye before this game. The playoff committee will see a 7-2 SEC team with two close losses and a road win at LSU. That is a resume that travels.