Alabama powers past LSU behind Jalen Milroe’s career-defining performance

Nov 4, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) carries the ball in for a touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
By Kennington Smith III and more

The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide powered past the No. 14 LSU Tigers 42-28 at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday night. Here’s what you need to know:

  • With LSU leading 28-21 with 11:14 remaining in the third quarter, Alabama responded with 21 unanswered points. Roydell Williams, Jalen Milroe and Jase McClellan all recorded rushing touchdowns in Alabama’s second-half scoring surge.
  • Milroe went 15-of-23 passing for 219 yards and added 155 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He is the first quarterback in Alabama history to score four rushing touchdowns in a single game.
  • LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels absorbed a big hit from Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner with 12:54 left in the fourth quarter. Turner was assessed a roughing the passer penalty while Daniels went to the blue tent and entered concussion protocol.
  • Alabama improved to 8-1 with the win, while LSU fell to 6-3.

Career-defining game for Jalen Milroe

In a game where both quarterbacks shined and both offenses ran up the score,  Milroe delivered the complete performance that fans have been looking for.

Milroe paced the Alabama offense to scores on all but two possessions (two missed field goals) and did so while playing turnover free. What was most impressive about Milroe’s day is that his success came without his calling card this season: deep ball passing. He made the plays needed in the short-intermediate part of the field then took over the game with his legs.

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Milroe’s athleticism is one of his distinguishing traits but he’s been relatively non-existent in Alabama’s rushing attack, but that changed dramatically on Saturday. Milroe recorded seven rushes of 10-plus yards on Saturday and it was in a variety of ways: his first touchdown of the game was on a designed zone read option, his second arrived on a scramble when taking what the defense gave him, and his fourth, to give Alabama a 35-28 lead, came on a run-pass option play where he stalled the defense out then took it in for a score.

The best game of Milroe’s young career arrived in the biggest moment of Alabama’s season: with SEC West and College Football Playoff implications on the line and more than rose to the occasion. The rapport with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is growing and as a result, his confidence is growing too. Alabama’s explosive dual-threat quarterback is putting together the pieces at the right time. — Kennington Smith III, Alabama beat writer

Alabama’s rush offense was the story of the game

The Crimson Tide’s rushing offense ranked 77th nationally in rush offense entering Saturday at 147.1 yards per game, the fewest per game output of the Nick Saba era. Against an LSU defense that ranked 13th in the SEC in rush defense, establishing consistency was a key point. On Saturday the offense rushed for 288 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and took over the game in the second half.

Alabama’s offense carried a near 70-30 run/pass play split in the second half to the tune of eight yards per carry. The entirety of the 70 yards on the touchdown drive in the third quarter that tied the game at 28 points apiece were gained on the ground. The run game was also elite situationally, Alabama was a perfect 5-for-5 on third downs of four yards or less; overall the offense converted 11 third down tries.

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More so than just the raw rushing output, the diversity in the run game was notable. Milroe led the way with _ rushing yards but running backs McClellan, Williams and Jamarion Miller each got their share of opportunities. The challenge for Alabama’s offense will be to carry this rushing momentum against stingier defenses, but Saturday represented the physical, downhill rushing offense that was the preseason expectation for this group. Also of note for the offensive line: just two sacks allowed. — Smith

Alabama’s defense rose to the occasion when needed

The box score won’t be pretty: over 400 total yards and 8.4 yards per play allowed, but Alabama’s defense made important stops down the stretch. With the score tied 28-28 midway through the third quarter and five straight possessions of touchdowns on both sides, it appeared that whichever offense blinked first would lose the edge. From that point on Alabama’s defense didn’t surrender another point.

Alabama’s defense forced the first LSU punt of the game at the 3:54 mark in the third quarter, the next possession for Alabama’s offense: nine plays, 70 yards and a touchdown. LSU’s offense only had the ball for two plays on its next possession when a Terrion Arnold interception set Alabama’s offense just outside of LSU’s red zone; three plays later McClellan ran in a 10-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 42-28.

LSU’s next possession: another punt, this drive was highlighted by a hard hit by Dallas Turner that took Jayden Daniels out of the game and LSU’s offense never regained rhythm. — Smith

The highs and lows of Jayden Daniels

Daniels showed the world what everyone in Baton Rouge had seen all season: that he is among the elite quarterbacks of college football. Daniels went 15-of-25 for 219 yards and two touchdowns passing, along with 163 yards and another touchdown rushing. It was a near-virtuoso performance, but of course, the end of Daniels’ night is what will haunt LSU until further details emerge.

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On a first-and-ten, Dallas Turner drove his helmet under Daniels’ chin strap and thence into the ground. Turner was flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty, and after attempting to come back in the game, Daniels was sent to the injury tent. It was reported that he was in concussion protocol. One wonders if that’s the last we see of Daniels in an LSU uniform. — Catherine Briley, contributing college football writer

LSU’s defense continues to struggle

The LSU defense was once again the bête noire of coach Brian Kelly, but there was a new flavor to the poor performance. If you had said before the game that LSU’s secondary would not concede a passing touchdown in the game, you might have thought that the Tigers had managed to cure their defensive bugaboos, especially considering that true freshman Javien Toviano and safety-turned-cornerback Sage Ryan were playing along the edges.

But Alabama didn’t need to throw the ball, instead running it down LSU’s throat. In particular, Milroe stepped up in every way possible for the Tide, rushing for 155 yards and FOUR touchdowns. LSU’s defense was particularly woeful on third down, allowing Alabama to convert an incredible 11-14 and extend drives. — Briley

Highlight of the game

Required reading

(Photo: Butch Dill / USA Today)