Sigh.
Well, it could have been worse.
Alabama jumped out to a 21-0 lead and really, it was all killing time from that point on. There might have been a chance to hang with Bama early on, but a seemingly converted third down conversion wasn’t, followed by a failed fourth down run (always QB sneak on 4th and inches, kids), and well… whatever slim hope LSU had of pulling the upset was gone early on.
LSU needed everything to go right to pull off the miracle, and things didn’t go right. LSU failed to get that early score to keep pace with Alabama and… well, you know.
To give the Tigers credit, they didn’t immediately give up. Kayshon Boutte capped off a huge gain by dropping the ball at the one yard line, but Jontre Kirklin astutely picked up the ball for a one yard fumble recovery and score. Ty Davis-Price followed up on the next possession with a 54-yard run for a score, the kind of run he’s been threatening to break all year.
So, LSU actually had things at a somewhat manageable margin of 28-14. A minute and fifteen seconds later, Bama had pushed the lead back to 21. LSU would go three and out twice while Bama scored ten more points, including a touchdown in the half’s final minute.
There it was, LSU was down 45-14 at the half, primarily because Bama scored on all seven of its first half possessions.
The second half? Well, they decided to play it, but that’s about all you can say for it.
Bama essentially ran out the clock for the next 30 minutes while LSU was unable to move the ball at in the third quarter, going three and out twice, followed by another short drive capped off with a field goal.
LSU managed to have long time-eating drives on its next two possessions, going 115 yards on 25 plays, but they only had three points to show for it, but mercifully burned nine minutes of game clock.
No one really looked particularly terrible, but no one really looked all that great. Bama got their empty revenge against an LSU team that is playing out the string, though they didn’t lie down, which is nice to see.
This was what happens when the #1 team in the country plays a mediocre team late in the year. They get thumped, but it doesn’t really mean anything. It’s hard to be mad about losing to a team that is a lot better than you are right now.
If anything, LSU showed some spirit by not simply running and hiding. They made at least somewhat of a game of it for a quarter and half, and that’s with spotting Bama a 21 point lead. But it got real ugly real fast, as LSU fans all looked for other entertainment options.
The season is over, but no one has told Ed Orgeron yet.
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