SEC leads first College Football Playoff rankings with depth
The SEC shows off its depth in the first College Football Playoff rankings, outpacing the Big Ten.
At the start of the college football season, the Week 11 rivalry matchup between Alabama and LSU looked to be one that could impact the SEC standings and who might have a chance at playing in Atlanta come the first week of December.
That no longer stands to be true, as the No. 4 Crimson Tide have won seven straight and are tied for first in the SEC standings, while the Tigers are no longer ranked, have lost three of their last four and are well out of conference championship game contention.
The 90th meeting between Alabama and LSU is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
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Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Ty Simpson, Alabama was slotted in as the No. 4 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff field in the first CFP rankings unveiling by the CFP selection committee on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The Crimson Tide’s CFP resume is highlighted by its four straight top-25 ranked wins against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee.
Saturday’s game is the first time LSU will take the field in the post-Brian Kelly era, as the Tigers fired Kelly after a poor Week 9 loss to Texas A&M. It will be Frank Wilson serving as LSU’s interim head coach on Saturday, while Garrett Nussmeier will look to salvage the season by steering the Tigers’ offense back on track in hopes of becoming bowl eligible.
USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, highlights and scores from Saturday’s SEC rivalry game between Alabama and LSU. Follow along:
Alabama vs LSU football live score
This section will be updated during the game
TEAMS1Q2Q3Q4QFLSU03———Alabama314———
Here’s a look at how Alabama and LSU stack up statistically at halftime, with the Crimson Tide holding a 17-3 lead:
Total yards:Â Alabama 244, LSU 131Passing yards:Â Alabama 210, LSU 76Rushing yards:Â LSU 55, Alabama 34Yards per play:Â Alabama 7.4, LSU 4.9Third downs:Â Alabama 2-6, LSU 2-7
Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is in his bag.
One play after Ty Simpson connected with Lotzier Brooks for a 53-yard catch on the deep route, the Heisman Trophy candidate finds Ryan Williams in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass. It’s an impressive drive by Alabama, as Simpson threw back-to-back dots into the hands of his receivers to get points on the board before halftime.
The scoring drive was three plays for 66 yards and took just 34 seconds of game time.
Alabama is unable to extend its lead over LSU to two scores, as Conor Talty’s 26-yard field goal attempt goes wide left. It’s an important series coming up for the Crimson Tide’s defense, as they will look to get a stop to keep their seven-point lead intact as LSU begins the second half with the ball.
ESPN’s Molly McGrath reports that LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson hyperextended his left elbow on the Tigers’ previous offensive drive and that LSU’s medical staff has put a brace on his elbow. He is expected to return to the game.
The first touchdown of the night goes to Alabama and Daniel Hill, who fights his way through a group of LSU defenders to get into the end zone. It’s a 4-yard rushing touchdown for the sophomore running back, and his second rushing score of the season.
The big play of the drive was a 33-yard pass down the left side of the field on second-and-3 when Simpson found his tight end, Josh Cuevas, in stride. The scoring drive was seven plays for 75 yards and took 3:02 off the game clock.
It’s 10-3 Alabama with 9:25 remaining in the second quarter.
Wilson elects to take the field goal out of the injury timeout on the field for Aaron Anderson. Damian Ramos hits the 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 against Alabama with 12:27 remaining in the second quarter.
Both teams have exchanged field goals in the first half, as both teams’ offenses continue to settle in.
LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson faces an early big decision: go for it on a fourth-and-2 at the Alabama 20-yard line or take the field goal. Before heading off the injury tent, Aaron Anderson caught a 7-yard pass from Garrett Nussiemer to make it fourth-and-short for the Tigers.
Despite the good starting field position, Alabama goes backward, setting up a 45-yard field goal attempt from kicker Conor Talty. His kick is true, however, sailing through the middle to give the Crimson Tide the first points of the game.
What looked like a huge LSU chunk play on third-and-5 from the Tigers’ 11 instead turns into a turnover, courtesy of the Alabama defense. Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green punched the ball out of tight end Bauer Sharp and recovers it deep in LSU territory.
The Crimson Tide get a nice chunk play off a 33-yard connection between Ty Simpson and Germie Bernard out to the Alabama 39-yard line, but follow that up with three straight incompletions (including two throwaways) to end the drive. Following a 40-yard punt by Blake Doud, LSU will take over at its own 7-yard line.
Another bend-don’t-break effort by Alabama’s defense sets LSU up with a field goal attempt from the Crimson Tide 13-yard line. But Tigers kicker Damian Ramos, who entered the game 14 of 17 on field goal attempts, kicked it wide right to negate the scoring opportunity.
Alabama turns ball over on downs
Alabama tries to catch LSU off guard with a fake on fourth-and-1, as Jam Miller takes the direct snap, but LSU linebacker West Weeks is all over it and tackles Miller for no gain. It was an interesting play-calling sequence by the Crimson Tide, as they called three consecutive run plays.
LSU takes over at its own 39-yard line.
After LSU won the toss and deferred the opening kickoff to the second half, Alabama gets its night started on offense with a 25-yard kickoff return from Lotzeir Brooks. Underway in Tuscaloosa!
World Series champion manager Dave Roberts is in attendance for Alabama vs. LSU in Tuscaloosa. According to The Tuscaloosa News’ Colin Gay, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager is friends with Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer.
Ryan Williams looks to be a go against LSU. The Crimson Tide sophomore was removed from the final SEC injury report, which was released 90 minutes before the game on Saturday, Nov. 8, after being listed as “probable” on the previous three.
At 7-1 on the season and undefeated in SEC play, Alabama was ranked No. 4 in the first College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 4. If the CFP were to start today, Alabama would be the No. 4 seed in the 12-team field, as the CFP selection committee is straight-seeding the bracket this year.
LSU associate head coach Frank Wilson will start his four-game stint as the Tigers’ interim head coach against Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 8. Wilson was elevated to interim head coach by former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward shortly after Woodward and LSU fired Brian Kelly on Sunday, Oct. 26.
The first-year Alabama starting quarterback enters his Week 11 start vs. LSU with the third-best odds on BetMGM ( +350) to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.Â
What time does Alabama vs LSU start?Date: Saturday, Nov. 8Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Alabama vs. LSU will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 8 from Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
What TV channel is Alabama vs LSU on today?
Alabama vs. LSU will be broadcast nationally on ABC in Week 11 of the 2025 college football season. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will broadcast the game from the booth at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with Molly McGrath reporting from the sidelines.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream Alabama vs. LSU football live with Fubo (free trial)
How to watch college football on ESPN, ABC without YouTube TV
Disney-owned channels such as ABC and the ESPN family of networks are no longer available on YouTube TV after it and Disney were unable to agree to new contract terms.
One way college football fans who subscribe to YouTube TV can stream games on Disney-owned channels is via Fubo, which carries ABC and the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Alabama vs LSU predictions
Colin Gay, The Tuscaloosa News:Â Alabama 32, LSU 21
“Who knows what LSU could look like with interim coach Frank Wilson? With two weeks to prepare for Alabama, the Tigers could lead with one of the better pass offenses and pass defenses in the SEC. But, especially facing an Alabama pass rush that is finding its footing, and the best passing offense that it has faced all season, LSU has a tall task, one that should continue the Crimson Tide’s SEC success.”
Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News:Â Alabama 23, LSU 17
“A lower-scoring affair could be in order. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier has struggled to be effective behind an underperforming offensive line. A full house at Bryant-Denny Stadium won’t make it any easier for him. But it likely won’t be an easy night for Alabama’s offense, either.”
Alabama schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Alabama’s 2025 schedule, including past scores and available kickoff and TV channel information:
Saturday, Aug. 30: Florida State 31, Alabama 17Saturday, Sept. 6: Alabama 73, ULM 0Saturday, Sept. 13: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14Saturday, Sept. 20: BYESaturday, Sept. 27: Alabama 24, No. 5 Georgia TechSaturday, Oct. 4: Alabama 30, No. 16 Vanderbilt 14 *Saturday, Oct. 11: Alabama 27, No. 14 Missouri 24 *Saturday, Oct. 18: Alabama 37, No. 11 Tennessee 20 *Saturday, Oct. 25: Alabama 29, South Carolina 22 *Saturday, Nov. 1: BYESaturday, Nov. 8: vs. LSU * | 7:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. No. 12 Oklahoma * | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Fubo)Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Eastern Illinois | 2 p.m. ET | SEC Network+Saturday, Nov. 29: at Auburn *
* Denotes SEC game
LSU schedule 2025
Here’s a look at LSU’s 2025 schedule, including past scores and available kickoff and TV channel information:
Saturday, Aug. 30: LSU 17, No. 4 Clemson 10Saturday, Sept. 6: LSU 23, Louisiana Tech 7Saturday, Sept. 13: LSU 20, Florida 10Saturday, Sept. 20: LSU 56, Southeastern Louisiana 10Saturday, Sept. 27: No. 13 Ole Miss 24, LSU 19 *Saturday, Oct. 4: BYESaturday, Oct. 11: LSU 20, South Carolina 10 *Saturday, Oct. 18: No. 17 Vanderbilt 31, LSU 24 *Saturday, Oct. 25: No. 3 Texas A&M 49, LSU 25 *Saturday, Nov. 1: BYESaturday, Nov. 8: at No. 4 Alabama * | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Fubo)Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. Arkansas * | 12:45 p.m. ET | SEC Network (Fubo)Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Western KentuckySaturday, Nov. 29: at No. 12 Oklahoma *
* Denotes SEC game