Alabama cut into LSU’s lead on Saturday with a long catch-and-run touchdown by DeVonta Smith in the second quarter. It turns out Smith was able to get so wide open because LSU’s coaches distracted their own player.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to change the 1st-and-10 play. Right after he changed the play, a few LSU defenders turned towards the Tigers’ sideline as if they were getting instructions from their coaches. As cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. looked over to his sideline, Tagovailoa snapped the ball, allowing Smith to beat the cornerback.
CBS showed a replay of Stingley’s reaction, and he appeared to motion to his sideline in disgust after the touchdown, like he knew his coaches blew it.
If you look at the way Tagovailoa clapped for the ball, it’s almost as if he did it intentionally to trick LSU and catch them just the way he did. If so, that’s a great trick utilized by Bama, and a flaw LSU needs to fix.
More must-reads: