No. 9 Alabama beat No. 15 LSU 31-13 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Alabama pulled away late in the fourth quarter with two touchdown passes from quarterback Keelon Russell, turning a close game into a clear road win. Russell passed for three touchdowns and 206 yards. LSU moved the ball well for much of the night but could not turn drives into touchdowns, and Alabama finished stronger in front of a sold-out crowd of 102,321.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | No. 9 Alabama 31, No. 15 LSU 13 |
| Date | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Location | Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge |
| Attendance | 102,321, a sellout |
| Alabama record after the game | 7-2 overall, 5-2 in the SEC |
| LSU record after the game | 6-3 overall, 3-3 in the SEC |
| Alabama quarterback | Keelon Russell, three touchdown passes, 206 passing yards |
| LSU quarterback | Sam Leavitt |
| Total yards | LSU 457, Alabama 285 |
| Alabama scoring by quarter | 3, 7, 7, 14 |
| LSU scoring by quarter | 3, 0, 10, 0 |
| Alabama coach | Kalen DeBoer, now 3-0 against LSU as Alabama head coach |
| LSU coach | Lane Kiffin, now 0-6 in his career against Alabama |
| Next meeting | 2028, after the teams do not play in 2027 |
Alabama Finished the Game When It Mattered Most
For three quarters, this game looked like it could go either way. Alabama led by a small margin for much of the night, and LSU stayed close enough to believe that one good drive could change the result. The fourth quarter changed that feeling completely. Alabama scored 14 points in the final quarter while LSU scored none, and the gap on the scoreboard finally matched the control Alabama showed in the closing minutes.
The turning point came late, with under 10 minutes left in the game. Russell threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to freshman Cederian Morgan, and that score put Alabama ahead 24-13. It was the kind of play that takes the air out of a home crowd. LSU needed an answer, and it needed one fast. Instead, Alabama kept the pressure on and added one more touchdown. Russell threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kaleb Edwards with 6:27 left, and that made the score 31-13. From that point, the result was no longer in doubt.
That closing stretch showed why Alabama is still firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. Good teams find a way to win close games on the road, and great teams find a way to make those games look comfortable by the end. Alabama did both on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide did not need a perfect night to win in Baton Rouge. They needed a strong finish, and they got one from their quarterback and their young playmakers.
LSU Moved the Ball but Could Not Finish Drives
The most surprising part of the box score is the yardage. LSU outgained Alabama 457 yards to 285, a gap of 172 yards. In most games, that kind of edge leads to a win. On Saturday night, it led to a loss by 18 points. The reason was simple. LSU moved the ball between the 20-yard lines but struggled badly when it reached the red zone, the area where games are won and lost.
LSU went 2-for-4 in the red zone, and both successful trips ended in field goals. That is the key detail of the whole game. A team that reaches the red zone four times should expect to score touchdowns on at least some of those trips. LSU scored none. Field goals keep a team in the game, but they do not put real pressure on an opponent that is scoring touchdowns. Every time LSU settled for three points, Alabama had room to breathe.
The fourth quarter made the problem worse. LSU went for it on fourth down from its own 18-yard line with 8:05 left in the game and failed. That decision tells you how much pressure LSU felt at that moment. The Tigers were behind, time was running short, and the normal path was not working. Going for it from deep in their own territory was a gamble, and when it failed, Alabama had a short field and a clear path to put the game away.
Sam Leavitt led the LSU offense, and the yardage total shows that the Tigers could move the ball. But yardage without points is empty production in a big game. Alabama gave up yards and still won by 18 points because it defended the end zone better and made LSU settle for less.
Russell did not need huge yardage to win this game. His 206 passing yards were far fewer than the yards LSU gained as a team, but his yards counted more because they ended in the end zone. For Alabama, the win also says something about the growth of its offense. Young players like Morgan are stepping up in big moments, and the tight end position produced a touchdown when Alabama needed to close the game out.
What the Result Means for the Playoff Race
Alabama is now 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, and the win keeps the Crimson Tide firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. A road win over a ranked SEC opponent in November is exactly the kind of result that strengthens a playoff case. Alabama still has work to do, but this win keeps every goal in front of the team. Beating LSU in Baton Rouge is never easy, and doing it by 18 points sends a clear message about where this team stands.
LSU is now 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the SEC, and its playoff hopes are now long shots. That is a tough place to be after a night when the Tigers outgained their opponent by so much. The record tells the story. LSU has lost three games, and in a crowded SEC race, that is hard to overcome. The Tigers can still finish the season well and build toward next year, but the path to the playoff is now very narrow.
The coaching records add another layer to the story. Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is now 3-0 against LSU as Alabama head coach. LSU first-year coach Lane Kiffin fell to 0-6 in his career against Alabama. That record will follow him until he finds a way to beat the Crimson Tide, and Saturday night was another missed chance.
The result also fits a wild Saturday around college football. South Carolina pulled off its own upset the same day, as south-carolina-beats-texas-am-17-9-sellers-november-7 shows, while Texas kept its season on track in a game covered in texas-beats-missouri-34-20-arch-manning-november-7. Out west, the rivalry game between Utah and BYU also produced a clear winner, as described in utah-beats-byu-28-20-holy-war-november-7. Alabama beating LSU by 18 points on the road stands with those results as one of the most important outcomes of the day.
A Rivalry Pauses After a Familiar Ending
Tiger Stadium emptied early in the fourth quarter for the second straight Alabama visit. That detail says a lot about how the game felt in the stadium. LSU fans stayed through three close quarters, hoping for a comeback. When Alabama scored twice in the fourth quarter and the lead grew to 18 points, many of them headed for the exits. It is a familiar sight when a visiting team takes control late in Baton Rouge, and it happened again on Saturday night.
The annual Alabama-LSU series now ends for now. The teams will not play in 2027, and they will next meet in 2028, because the SEC moved to nine league games. Alabama and LSU have played every year for a long time, and a two-year gap is a real break in that rhythm.
For Alabama, the last game before the break was a strong one. The Crimson Tide won in Baton Rouge, finished the game with authority, and left the stadium with a win that helps its playoff case. For LSU, the last game before the break was a frustrating one. The Tigers moved the ball, filled the stadium, and still lost by 18 points because they could not finish drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Alabama vs LSU on November 7, 2026?
No. 9 Alabama beat No. 15 LSU 31-13 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Alabama scored 3 points in the first quarter, 7 in the second, 7 in the third, and 14 in the fourth. LSU scored 3 in the first, none in the second, 10 in the third, and none in the fourth.
How did Alabama pull away in the fourth quarter?
Alabama scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, both on passes from Keelon Russell. A 25-yard touchdown pass to freshman Cederian Morgan put Alabama ahead 24-13 with under 10 minutes left. A 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kaleb Edwards made it 31-13 with 6:27 left. LSU scored no points in the fourth quarter.
How did LSU outgain Alabama and still lose by 18 points?
LSU outgained Alabama 457 yards to 285 but struggled in the red zone. LSU went 2-for-4 in the red zone, and both trips ended in field goals. Alabama scored touchdowns when it reached scoring position, while LSU settled for three points. LSU also failed on a fourth-down attempt from its own 18-yard line with 8:05 left, which gave Alabama a short field late in the game.
When will Alabama and LSU play again?
The teams will not play in 2027. They will next meet in 2028, because the SEC moved to nine league games. The annual series is pausing for now, which makes Saturday’s game the last meeting between the two teams for two years.
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Final Thoughts
Alabama beat LSU 31-13 because it did the things that win big games on the road. The Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in the red zone, made big plays in the fourth quarter, and finished the game with composure in a loud stadium. Keelon Russell threw three touchdown passes, including two in the final minutes that turned a close game into a clear win.
LSU will look back at this game and see missed chances. Outgaining an opponent by 172 yards and losing by 18 points is rare, and it points straight to the red zone. Field goals are not enough against a team like Alabama.
For Alabama, the win keeps the season alive in the best way. At 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, the Crimson Tide remain firmly in the College Football Playoff picture, with a road win over a ranked rival to show for it. For LSU, the loss leaves the Tigers at 6-3 and 3-3 in the SEC, with playoff hopes now long shots. The rivalry now pauses until 2028, and Alabama will carry the memory of a strong finish in Baton Rouge into the rest of its season.
