No. 5 Alabama turns back No. 14 LSU 31-13 despite being outgained 457-285

Alabama won a game it was outgained in by 172 yards. The No. 5 Crimson Tide beat No. 14 LSU 31-13 at Tiger Stadium on Saturday despite managing 285 total yards to the Tigers' 457 and 13 first downs to LSU's 27. The difference was ball security and finishing: Alabama turned it over zero times, while LSU lost a fumble and threw an interception and went 0-for-4 on fourth down.

Keelon Russell was efficient for the Crimson Tide, completing 17 of 24 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, averaging 8.6 yards per attempt. Rico Scott led Alabama's receivers with 67 yards on three catches. Defensively, Devan Thompkins recorded two sacks and Luke Metz made 11 tackles.

The game moved slowly at first. The teams traded field goals in the opening quarter and Alabama carried a 10-3 lead into halftime after a second-quarter touchdown. LSU scored 10 in the third quarter to pull close, but the Crimson Tide answered with a touchdown of their own to lead 17-13 through three quarters.

Alabama then closed it out with 14 points in the fourth while holding LSU scoreless over the final 15 minutes. The Crimson Tide ran for just 79 yards on 29 attempts, an average of 2.7 per carry, and were flagged seven times for 44 yards, but the turnovers and fourth-down stops covered for the modest output.

Sam Leavitt threw for 380 yards for LSU, completing 35 of 47 attempts with one interception. Jackson Harris was his most productive target with 11 receptions for 166 yards. Dilin Jones carried 17 times for 56 yards and the Tigers' lone touchdown, and TJ Dottery finished with nine tackles. Ty Benefield had a sack for LSU.

The Tigers moved the ball consistently, converting 5 of 14 third downs and averaging 7.9 yards per pass, but the two turnovers and four failed fourth-down tries kept the scoreboard short of the yardage.

Alabama improves to 7-2 with the conference win. LSU falls to 6-3.