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LSU Seeks Refuge from Bye Week at Alabama

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Louis Johnson | Last updated Nov 7, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Ideally, bye weeks serve as strategically placed rest periods after strenuous stretches of play or before big games. For LSU, the upcoming game at Alabama could not come any sooner, considering all that’s transpired since its last game. The unfortunate truth is that the Tigers need a vacation from their vacation. First, Texas A&M manhandled LSU so thoroughly in Baton Rouge that former athletic director Scott Woodward fired Brian Kelly the day after the game. This was only the beginning of the circus. The LSU Board of Supervisors promptly fired Woodward days later after Governor Jeff Landry publicly criticized him. Recently acquired school president Wade Rousse quickly removed the interim tag from Verge Ausberry on Tuesday, only to backtrack his seemingly rushed statement on the matter the next day. Thursday, Rousse clarified the previously ambiguous decision, declaring that Ausberry would move forward as the full-time athletic director. Now 5-3 with a myriad of off-the-field questions, this LSU team can take over the news cycle with the opportunity to face off against a bitter rival in Alabama.

LSU Seeks Refuge from Bye Week at Alabama

Don’t Expect a Warm Welcome

Regardless of the state of the programs, the LSU vs. Alabama game is always highly anticipated. This year’s version will be no different. The Playoff Committee rewarded the Crimson Tide with a number four ranking after its impressive hot streak. Alabama has won seven straight after a surprising loss to Florida State in week one. In an age where parity is more prevalent than ever in college football, Alabama hasn’t regularly blown teams away. However, wins don’t come easy, so beating ranked teams in four consecutive weeks should be commended. Ty Simpson has been one of the biggest reasons for the Crimson Tide’s success. Simpson averages 273 passing yards per game, good for second in the SEC. He also has the fourth-best Heisman odds in the country. Not to take away from his accomplishments, but it doesn’t hurt to have two of the conference’s most dangerous receiving threats in Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. Defensively, Alabama doesn’t have the established stars on the edge that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing annually. But its pass rush has thrived lately with six sacks in the past two games. This is a sound defense with no obvious vulnerabilities at any level. The secondary is outstanding with Domani Jackson, Zabien Brown, and 6’4” Dijon Lee at the cornerback position.

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So You’re Saying There’s a Chance

Believe it or not, LSU matches up much better against Alabama than it did against Texas A&M. The Tiger defense got off to a torrid start against offenses like Clemson and Florida that were expected to thrive but were eventually exposed as duds. Nonetheless, this is still a vastly improved defense from last year. More importantly, Blake Baker’s defense is not going up against a dual-threat quarterback on Saturday. Simpson is a good athlete, but the odds are against confusing him with Marcel Reed. The following statistic presents the most prominent sign of the times and evidence of a change in philosophy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama: it is 104th in rushing offense. LSU’s defense has defended the traditional run game well anyway, but the numbers are encouraging. There are no foregone conclusions in college football, and the Tide still has talented backs like Jam Miller. Unfortunately, LSU will not have star linebacker Whit Weeks. In another surprising stat, Alabama is 73rd in rushing defense. Interim head coach Frank Wilson also happens to be LSU’s running back coach, and the days of LSU abandoning the run are likely over in 2025. Wilson has stressed the importance of establishing the run for good reason. Freshman running back Harlem Berry averaged nearly seven yards per carry against Texas A&M but only had nine touches. The Tigers’ pass protection woes have been painfully obvious this season. But the best way to protect the quarterback is to avoid obvious passing situations. LSU can and must run effectively.

What’s at Stake for LSU?

Obviously, the season hasn’t played out how the Tigers thought it would, but don’t expect them to go down without a fight. Wilson is a Louisiana native and carries a sense of LSU pride that can’t be manufactured. Expect the players to respond to him with an intensity that hasn’t been common for the team this season. While it’s unlikely that Wilson will get the full-time job, nothing is off the table. A win in Tuscaloosa would give LSU a realistic shot at going 9-3 in a year that got a coach fired. This could be intimidating for a potential coaching candidate, but it also speaks to the opportunity to win big when 8-4 or 9-3 is considered unacceptable. Three consecutive LSU coaches won national championships before Kelly’s tenure. Despite the off-the-field distractions, there are bright minds in the college football world who would embrace the chance to become the next big winner in Baton Rouge. Main Photo: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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