The Tide Machine

INSTANT REACTION @AlabamaFTBL 31, @LSUfootball 13 LSU dominated in yardage, first downs and time of possession, but it didn’t dominate in clutch plays as Alabama continues its winning ways in Death Valley.

When Nick Saban made his first return to Baton Rouge as the @AlabamaFTBL coach 18 years ago today, enraged LSU fans had burned a Saban scarecrow the night before, but the only ashes that remained postgame were the scorched hopes of those on the Bayou. No. 1-ranked Alabama upended No. 15-ranked LSU, 27-21, on Nov. 8, 2008 as the Crimson Tide intercepted LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee four times and won on a 2-yard sneak by John Parker Wilson in overtime. “It was a great college football game,” Saban said afterwards. “The players on both sides played their hearts out. LSU’s team played an outstanding game. Our players played hard in the game with a lot of tenacity and overcame a lot of adversity.” Safety Rashad Johnson had three of the four interceptions with the final occurring on LSU’s first play of overtime. Johnson also returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Rolando McClain added the other interception and finished with eight tackles. The Crimson Tide had an opportunity to win the game on the final play of regulation, but Ricky-Jean Francois blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt by Leigh Tiffin. Glen Coffee led Alabama in rushing with 132 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.

Something has to give this afternoon when No. 5 @AlabamaFTBL (6-2) visits No. 14 @LSUfootball (6-2) in Baton Rouge. Will Kalen DeBoer’s remarkable success coming off bye weeks continue? Will Alabama’s long history of winning in Tiger Stadium hold up? Or will Lane Kiffin finally break through against the Crimson Tide? With both teams fighting for College Football Playoff positioning, today’s showdown is about much more than bragging rights. It’s a defining opportunity for two head coaches with plenty to prove. For DeBoer, the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. Since 2021, DeBoer is a perfect 8-0 following bye weeks. Kiffin is 9-6 following bye weeks. Alabama also has history on its side, owning a 30-10-2 record against LSU in Baton Rouge. Can that crazy trend continue, or is something about to change? For Kiffin, a victory over Alabama would not only represent a personal breakthrough but also provide the Tigers with the signature win their playoff résumé desperately needs. Alabama should be healthier following its week off, with wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, center Racin Delgatty and defensive lineman Terrance Green listed as available. However, two important pieces remain questionable: cornerback Zabien Brown and running back EJ Crowell. Having three starters back is a major boost, but the uncertainty surrounding Brown and Crowell remains a significant concern heading into kickoff. So who needs this game more? Based on the initial CFP rankings, the answer is LSU. Despite identical 6-2 records, Alabama sits at No. 5, comfortably inside the projected playoff field, while LSU is No. 14 and on the outside looking in. A third loss would most likely end LSU’s postseason hopes, while a victory over a top-five opponent could dramatically improve the Tigers’ position. Alabama has a slight margin for error, but a third defeat would create considerable uncertainty about its own playoff future. DeBoer’s bye-week perfection, Alabama’s Baton Rouge dominance or Kiffin’s long-awaited breakthrough — which trend wins out today?

🏈 ALABAMA-LSU: OUR PICKS ARE IN! @AlabamaFTBL heads into Death Valley as an underdog against @LSUfootball and CFP implications on the line. @CBranchIV and @msouthern17 both pick the Tide to pull the upset! But why and by how much? 🎯 Watch our predictions and tell us yours!

In circumstances that seem eerily familiar, 89 years ago today a highly-ranked and undefeated @AlabamaFTBL team needed a last-second field goal to beat a team from Louisiana, but the actual opponent on Nov. 6, 1937, is the twist ending to this college football mystery. Hayward “Sandy” Sanford kicked a 41-yard, game-winning field goal to keep the Crimson Tide unbeaten with a 9-6 victory over the Tulane Green Wave before 30,000 fans in New Orleans. Under legendary coach Frank Thomas, Alabama finished the regular season undefeated and won its third SEC championship in the first five years of the conference’s existence. The Crimson Tide finished No. 4 nationally and only a loss to No. 2 California in the Rose Bowl blemished the overall record. Ironically Sanford’s kick provided the winning margin after both team’s failed to make an extra point following their touchdowns earlier in the game. Tulane took a 6-0 lead into halftime after capitalizing on a blocked punt that led to a first-quarter touchdown. Alabama answered in the third quarter and tied the game 6-6 on a 2-yard run by Victor Bradford. While it’s hard to imagine, Tulane was a charter member, along with Georgia Tech and The University of the South (Sewanee), of the SEC when it transitioned from the Southern Conference after 1932.

🏈 @AlabamaFTBL vs. @LSUfootball Could Racin Delgatty be the key to Alabama’s offense in Baton Rouge? Protecting Keelon Russell starts up front, and getting Delgatty back could make a huge difference. 🎙️ @CBranchIV and @msouthern17 break it down on The Tide Machine! 👇 Full podcast link in reply.

The legendary defense of the 1966 @AlabamaFTBL team made sure the No. 4-ranked Crimson Tide remained undefeated 60 years ago today as it shut out the LSU Tigers, 21-0, on Nov. 5 in Birmingham. Alabama’s stalwart unit held LSU to a paltry 90 yards of total offense (52 rushing, 38 passing) and six first downs. Mike Hall started the scoring with a blocked punt that rolled out of the end zone for a safety to give the Crimson Tide a peculiar 2-0 lead. Two field goals by Steve Davis increased the lead to 8-0 by halftime. In the third quarter, Bobby Johns returned an interception 33 yards for the game’s first touchdown to make the score 15-0. Alabama added a late touchdown in the fourth quarter after an interception by Stan Moss.

🏈 PLAYOFF STAKES IN BATON ROUGE! No. 5 @AlabamaFTBL vs. No. 14 @LSUfootball Can Kalen DeBoer take another step toward the CFP or will Lane Kiffin shake up the rankings? 🎙️ @CBranchIV & @msouthern17 preview the showdown on The Tide Machine Podcast! 📺 DROPS THURSDAY!

Just three years ago today Jalen Milroe scored four touchdowns and finished with 374 total yards (155 rushing, 219 passing) to lead No. 8-ranked @AlabamaFTBL to a 42-28 victory over LSU on Nov. 4, 2023 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Milroe scored two touchdowns in the first quarter on runs of 23 and 4 yards before adding another touchdown in the second quarter on a 21-yard run as the teams battled to a 21-21 halftime tie. LSU took a 28-21 lead early in the third quarter, but the Crimson Tide answered with three touchdowns to pull away for the victory. Roydell Williams scored on a 16-yard run with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter, while Milroe followed with an 11-yard run. Jase McClellan finished the offensive outburst with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Wow @AlabamaFTBL is No. 5

Down by three points with just 1:34 left to play, things looked bleak 14 years ago today for @AlabamaFTBL but then the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide put together a frantic 72-yard drive to turn Death Valley into Death Rally in a wild 21-17 victory over LSU on Nov. 3, 2012. Trailing 17-14 following a missed field-goal attempt by LSU, AJ McCarron orchestrated the five-play drive for the Crimson Tide that culminated in a 28-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Yeldon, who eluded defenders on his game-winning play. “We told our players, and it’s kind of ironic, that they would have to overcome a lot of adversity to win a game here,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “And when things went bad and the momentum of the game changed, that’s what we kept talking to them about. I’ve never been prouder of a bunch of guys to overcome adversity.” Before the pass to Yeldon, McCarron had moved Alabama down the field with three passes to Kevin Norwood (18, 15 and 11 yards). The stunning comeback negated a strong performance from LSU quarterback Zack Mettenberger, who passed for 296 yards, including 206 in the second half, as the Bengal Tigers turned a 14-3 halftime deficit into a 17-14 advantage. Alabama took its first-half lead on touchdown runs from Eddie Lacy and McCarron.