Alabama–LSU football rivalry

The Alabama–LSU football rivalry, also known as the "First Saturday in November" and the "Saban Bowl", is an American college football rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the LSU Tigers football team of Louisiana State University. Both schools are charter members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and both universities' sports teams have competed in the SEC's West Division since the conference was split into two divisions in 1992.

Alabama–LSU football rivalry
First meetingNovember 18, 1895
LSU, 12–6
Latest meetingNovember 5, 2022
LSU, 32–31 OT
Next meetingNovember 4, 2023 in Tuscaloosa
Statistics
Meetings total87
All-time seriesAlabama leads, 55–27–5[1]
Largest victoryAlabama, 47–3 (1922)
Longest win streakAlabama, 11 (1971–1981)
Current win streakLSU, 1 (2022)

Series history

Sideline picture of Alabama vs LSU on November 5, 2011

The series started in 1895, with a 12–6 win for LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[2] The rivalry has been played in Baton Rouge; New Orleans, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Mobile, Alabama.

The teams began playing each other on an annual basis in 1964, (and the series is uninterrupted since then), with Alabama playing its home games at Legion Field in Birmingham and LSU playing its home games on campus at Tiger Stadium. The series has been marked by long stretches where the home team has struggled. Alabama is 29–9–2 against LSU in Baton Rouge; they went 16–1–1 from 1965–98. Since 1981, Alabama has gone 7–12 in games played in Alabama while LSU has gone 4–17–1 in games played in Louisiana. There have been five overtime games in total: two in Tuscaloosa (2005, 2011) and three in Baton Rouge (2008, 2014, 2022). Throughout the series, only 39% of games have been won by the team playing in its home state (excluding ties). In 1988, Alabama began playing its home game in the series on their Tuscaloosa campus at Bryant–Denny Stadium; LSU won the first game in the series after the move 19–18. Played without interruption now since 1964, the game alternates between the two respective campuses. Contests in odd-numbered years are played in Tuscaloosa, and even-numbered years in Baton Rouge.

While Alabama controlled most of the series' early history by going 31–11–4 against LSU, the intensity and competitiveness has grown during the last three decades. Since Bear Bryant's retirement in 1982, Alabama leads the series 23–15–1. Four games in the last ten seasons have also been decided in overtime. A 2009 poll of SEC fan bases found that over 60% of LSU fans singled out Alabama as their most bitter rival, while Alabama fans mostly did not consider it to be a rivalry, placing far more importance on the Iron Bowl vs. Auburn and the Third Saturday in October vs. Tennessee..[3]

In 2007, the meeting was even more heated following Alabama's hiring of head coach Nick Saban, who had coached LSU to a National Championship; many media outlets dubbed the 2007 meeting the "Saban Bowl."[4][5][6] Alabama leads the series 11–4 in the games played so far during the "Saban Bowl" era.

In their 2011 regular season matchup, No. 1 LSU beat No. 2 Alabama 9–6 in overtime at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, on November 5.[7] Later, during the 2011 post season, the two were selected by the Bowl Championship Series[8] to play each other again in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, which was the first time since 1986 that the two teams played in a location other than Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa. Alabama, a controversial selection to the game after failing to win the conference title, proved its legitimacy and won the game 21–0. The rematch was the first BCS Championship Game to feature two teams from the same conference (as well as the same division), and was also the first shutout of any BCS bowl game in the BCS's 14-year history.

In 2012, #5 LSU and #1 Alabama met each other at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2012. Alabama took a 14–3 lead into halftime, but LSU running back Jeremy Hill ran for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14–10. QB Zach Mettenberger threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Jarvis Landry early in the 4th quarter for a 17–14 lead. LSU held twice on defense, but kicker Drew Alleman, the hero of the last year's game, missed a key field goal. Alabama then quickly drove downfield on completion by quarterback A. J. McCarron to wide receiver Kevin Norwood of 18, 15, and 11 yards to the LSU 28. On 2nd and 10, McCarron threw a screen pass to running back T.J. Yeldon, who weaved through LSU defenders for a game-winning touchdown with 51 seconds left. LSU failed to do anything, and Alabama won 21–17.[9]

In 2014, the #16 Tigers met the #5 Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium on November 8, 2014. Alabama clawed to a 10–7 lead in a defensive battle, but LSU tied at 10 entering the 4th quarter. With 50 seconds left and following a Yeldon fumble in which he was injured, LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 13–10 lead. Facing a second loss, and elimination from the first College Football Playoff, Alabama drove to the LSU 10, aided by a Delahoussaye kickoff that went out-of-bounds, which gave Alabama great field position at the 35 yard line. There, sophomore kicker Adam Griffith made a 27 yarder to send the game into overtime tied 13–13. On the first possession of overtime, Alabama QB Blake Sims found DeAndrew White in the end-zone for a 20–13 lead. LSU threw 4 straight incomplete passes, and Alabama escaped Baton Rouge with a 20–13 win.[10]

In 2015, one of the biggest matchups in recent history involved LSU and Alabama. 7–0 #2 LSU was led by Heisman favorite Leonard Fournette, who ran for 200 yards against Auburn and Syracuse on national TV. 7–1 #4 Alabama had lost 43–37 to Ole Miss earlier in the season. Alabama had its own Heisman candidate in running back Derrick Henry. The Rebels had slipped up and lost 38–10 to Florida and 53–52 to Arkansas, meaning that the winner would have control of the SEC West. Alabama struck first with an Adam Griffith field goal and a 3–0 lead. After a punt, Derrick Henry had a 40-yard run to the LSU. He plunged in on the next play, and Alabama led 10–0. LSU struck back when QB Brandon Harris found wide receiver Travin Dural for a 40-yard TD to cut the Bama lead to 10–7. After a punt, LSU kicker Trent Domingue nailed a 39 yarder to tie the game 10–10. Adam Griffith then kicked a career long 55 yard field-goal, and Bama led 13–10 at the half. To open the 3rd quarter, Harris threw an interception to Dillon Lee. Henry then ran for a score to put Bama up 20–10. After 3 punts, Henry ran for a 7-yard TD for a 27–10 lead for Alabama. LSU never recovered. They scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter, but Alabama's Ashawn Robinson leapt over the center to block the extra point. Bama won convincingly 30–16.

Spectator view of Alabama vs LSU on November 9, 2019

In 2019, the two teams met for their second Game of the Century of the decade as #1 LSU faced off against #2 Alabama. The game featured the top two NFL quarterback prospects and Heisman Trophy candidates at the time in Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and LSU's Joe Burrow. Although the matchup was fairly even in the first quarter, the Tigers never trailed over the course of the game and outscored Alabama 23–6 in the second quarter to lead 33–13 at halftime. The Tide pulled within one score multiple times in the fourth quarter, but LSU's high scoring offense would prove to be too much for Alabama to overcome with the Tigers winning 46–41. The game snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series for LSU and virtually ensured both an SEC West title win and a College Football Playoff berth barring a total collapse.[11] For Alabama, it set up the first time since the founding of the Playoff that they would not make an appearance, which they not would not miss again until 2022. The 46 points given up by the 'Bama defense was the most points scored in the Nick Saban era (later surpassed in the same season in the 2019 edition of the Iron Bowl) and the most given up by any Alabama team since October 25, 2003 against Tennessee. The game was the most viewed match-up of the 2019 regular season by over four million viewers, it also topped all conference championship games by a significant margin.[12]

The 2022 edition of the "First Saturday of November" featured the sixth ranked Crimson Tide on the road against the tenth ranked Tigers. The Tide were led by reigning Heisman trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young and came into the game as a double digit favorite. With seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, LSU held a 17-15 lead. The following Alabama possession, Bryce Young reminded the country why he would soon be the number one pick in the NFL draft as he evaded the LSU pass rush and freshman stand out Harold Perkins to deliver a 41 yard strike to Ja'Corey Brooks with 4 minutes remaining. LSU would then return down the field and score a Touchdown to take the lead with less than two minutes left by way of senior transfer quarterback Jayden Daniels to freshman tight end Mason Taylor. Alabama would then respond as kicker Will Reichard would kick a game tying 46-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining. In overtime, Alabama would get the ball first score a touchdown on their first possession via a Roydell Williams rushing touchdown. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels would respond on the first play of drive with a 25 yard rushing Touchdown. The sold out Tiger Stadium erupted; the tiger faithful's cheers caused an earthquake to register on the LSU School of Science seismograph. After a timeout, LSU would choose to go for the two point conversion and the win. Jayden Daniels would roll to his right and pass to tight end Mason Taylor at the pylon to convert the conversion and give LSU an overtime win 32-31. The fan reaction would once again register on the seismograph and LSU fans would rush the field as the fall fog loomed over the stadium. For LSU, the win put them in the drivers seat in the SEC west which they would go on to win; they would play in Atlanta and lose to the inevitable National Champion, Georgia Bulldogs. The game lead to an exceedingly positive outlook on head coach Brian Kelly's first season at LSU, and set the stage for high expectations for 2023. For Alabama, the loss ruined their playoff hopes and ensured, for the second time, that Alabama would miss the college football playoff.

Notable games

2022 LSU-Alabama Game 2019 LSU-Alabama Game 2011 LSU-Alabama Game

Game results

Alabama victoriesLSU victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinning teamLosing team
1 November 18, 1895 Baton Rouge, LA LSU 12 Alabama 6
2 November 29, 1902 Tuscaloosa, AL LSU 11 Alabama 0
3 November 9, 1903 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 18 LSU 0
4 December 2, 1904 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 11 LSU 0
5 November 2, 1907 Mobile, AL Alabama 6 LSU 4
6 November 25, 1909 Birmingham, AL LSU 12 Alabama 6
7 November 15, 1919 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 23 LSU 7
8 November 11, 1920 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 21 LSU 0
9 October 29, 1921 New Orleans, LA Tie7Tie7
10 November 10, 1922 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 47 LSU 3
11 November 16, 1923 Montgomery, AL Alabama 30 LSU 3
12 October 10, 1925 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 42 LSU 0
13 October 30, 1926 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 24 LSU 0
14 October 8, 1927 Birmingham, AL Tie0Tie0
15 December 8, 1928 Birmingham, AL Alabama 13 LSU 0
16 November 15, 1930 Montgomery, AL Alabama 33 LSU 0
17 September 30, 1944 Baton Rouge, LA Tie27Tie27
18 October 6, 1945 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 26 LSU 7
19 November 9, 1946 Baton Rouge, LA #19 LSU 31 Alabama 21
20 November 22, 1947 Tuscaloosa, AL #8 Alabama 41 LSU 12
21 November 20, 1948 Baton Rouge, LA LSU 26 Alabama 6
22 September 29, 1951 Mobile, AL LSU 13 #9 Alabama 7
23 September 27, 1952 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 21 LSU 20
24 September 26, 1953 Mobile, AL Tie7Tie7
25 September 25, 1954 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 12 LSU 0
26 September 28, 1957 Baton Rouge, LA LSU 28 Alabama 0
27 September 27, 1958 Mobile, AL #15 LSU 13 Alabama 3
28 November 7, 1964 Birmingham, AL #3 Alabama 17 #8 LSU 9
29 November 6, 1965 Baton Rouge, LA #5 Alabama 31 LSU 7
30 November 5, 1966 Birmingham, AL #4 Alabama 21 LSU 0
31 November 11, 1967 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 7 LSU 6
32 November 9, 1968 Birmingham, AL Alabama 16 #20 LSU 7
33 November 8, 1969 Baton Rouge, LA #12 LSU 20 Alabama 15
34 November 7, 1970 Birmingham, AL #11 LSU 14 #19 Alabama 9
35 November 6, 1971 Baton Rouge, LA #4 Alabama 14 #18 LSU 7
36 November 11, 1972 Birmingham, AL #2 Alabama 35 #6 LSU 21
37 November 22, 1973 Baton Rouge, LA #2 Alabama 21 #7 LSU 7
38 November 9, 1974 Birmingham, AL #3 Alabama 30 LSU 0
39 November 9, 1975 Baton Rouge, LA #5 Alabama 23 LSU 10
40 November 6, 1976 Birmingham, AL #15 Alabama 28 LSU 17
41 November 5, 1977 Baton Rouge, LA #2 Alabama 24 #18 LSU 3
42 November 11, 1978 Birmingham, AL #3 Alabama 31 #10 LSU 10
43 November 10, 1979 Baton Rouge, LA #1 Alabama 3 LSU 0
44 November 8, 1980 Tuscaloosa, AL #6 Alabama 28 LSU 7
No.DateLocationWinning teamLosing team
45 September 5, 1981 Baton Rouge, LA #4 Alabama 24 LSU 7
46 November 6, 1982 Birmingham, AL #11 LSU 20 #8 Alabama 10
47 November 5, 1983 Baton Rouge, LA #19 Alabama 32 LSU 26
48 November 10, 1984 Birmingham, AL #12 LSU 16 Alabama 14
49 November 9, 1985 Baton Rouge, LA Tie14Tie14
50 November 8, 1986 Birmingham, AL #18 LSU 14 #6 Alabama 10
51 November 7, 1987 Baton Rouge, LA #13 Alabama 22 #5 LSU 10
52 November 5, 1988 Tuscaloosa, AL #13 LSU 19 #18 Alabama 18
53 November 11, 1989 Baton Rouge, LA #4 Alabama 32 LSU 16
54 November 10, 1990 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 24 LSU 3
55 November 9, 1991 Baton Rouge, LA #8 Alabama 20 LSU 17
56 November 7, 1992 Baton Rouge, LA #3 Alabama 31 LSU 11
57 November 6, 1993 Tuscaloosa, AL LSU 17 #5 Alabama 13
58 November 5, 1994 Baton Rouge, LA #6 Alabama 35 LSU 17
59 November 4, 1995 Tuscaloosa, AL #16 Alabama 10 LSU 3
60 November 9, 1996 Baton Rouge, LA #10 Alabama 26 #11 LSU 0
61 November 8, 1997 Tuscaloosa, AL #14 LSU 27 Alabama 0
62 November 7, 1998 Baton Rouge, LA Alabama 22 LSU 16
63 November 6, 1999 Tuscaloosa, AL #12 Alabama 23 LSU 17
64 November 4, 2000 Baton Rouge, LA LSU 30 Alabama 28
65 November 3, 2001 Tuscaloosa, AL LSU 35 Alabama 21
66 November 16, 2002 Baton Rouge, LA #10 Alabama 31 #14 LSU 0
67 November 15, 2003 Tuscaloosa, AL #3 LSU 27 Alabama 3
68 November 13, 2004 Baton Rouge, LA #17 LSU 26 Alabama 10
69 November 12, 2005 Tuscaloosa, AL #5 LSU 16 #4 Alabama 13OT
70 November 11, 2006 Baton Rouge, LA #12 LSU 28 Alabama 14
71 November 3, 2007 Tuscaloosa, AL #3 LSU 41 #17 Alabama 34
72 November 8, 2008 Baton Rouge, LA #1 Alabama 27 #15 LSU 21OT
73 November 7, 2009 Tuscaloosa, AL #3 Alabama 24 #9 LSU 15
74 November 6, 2010 Baton Rouge, LA #5 LSU 24 #10 Alabama 21
75 November 5, 2011 Tuscaloosa, AL #1 LSU 9 #2 Alabama 6OT
76 January 9, 2012 New Orleans, LA #2 Alabama 21 #1 LSU 0
77 November 3, 2012 Baton Rouge, LA #1 Alabama 21 #5 LSU 17
78 November 9, 2013 Tuscaloosa, AL #1 Alabama 38 #10 LSU 17
79 November 8, 2014 Baton Rouge, LA #5 Alabama 20 #16 LSU 13OT
80 November 7, 2015 Tuscaloosa, AL #4 Alabama 30 #2 LSU 16
81 November 5, 2016 Baton Rouge, LA #1 Alabama 10 #13 LSU 0
82 November 4, 2017 Tuscaloosa, AL #2 Alabama 24 #19 LSU 10
83 November 3, 2018 Baton Rouge, LA #1 Alabama 29 #3 LSU 0
84 November 9, 2019 Tuscaloosa, AL #2 LSU 46 #3 Alabama 41
85 December 5, 2020 Baton Rouge, LA #1 Alabama 55 LSU 17
86 November 6, 2021 Tuscaloosa, AL #3 Alabama 20 LSU 14
87 November 5, 2022 Baton Rouge, LA #10 LSU 32 #6 Alabama 31OT
Series: Alabama leads 55–27–5[1]

Series record sources: 2011 Alabama Football Media Guide,[13] 2011 LSU Football Media Guide,[14] and College Football Data Warehouse.[15]

See also

References

  1. "Winsipedia - Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. "The Record Book" (PDF). University of Alabama Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  3. "2009 Fan Survey Results for SEC". CNN.
  4. Carlton, Chuck (2007-11-02). "LSU, Alabama to meet in first Saban Bowl". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  5. "Bayou, LSU fans brace for Nick Saban Bowl". New York Daily News. 2007-11-01. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  6. "It's Saban Bowl for riled LSU fans". The Seattle Times. 2007-11-01. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  7. "LSU vs. Alabama - Game Recap - November 5, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
  8. Prisbell, Eric (December 5, 2011). "BCS: LSU, Alabama get rematch in title game over Oklahoma State". The Washington Post.
  9. "Alabama vs. LSU – Game Summary – November 3, 2012 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  10. "Alabama vs. LSU – Game Summary – November 8, 2014 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  11. Forde, Pat. "Forde-Yard Dash: It's LSU, Joe Burrow (and Ed Orgeron) and Everybody Else". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  12. "College Football TV Ratings". Sports Media Watch. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  13. 2011 Alabama Football Media Guide Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine, University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, pp. 176–195 (2011). Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  14. 2011 LSU Football Media Guide Archived 2012-10-25 at the Wayback Machine, LSU Athletic Department, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pp. 153–163 (2011). Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  15. College Football Data Warehouse, Alabama vs Louisiana State Archived 2011-10-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
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