After a first half dominated by defense in the #1 LSU @ #2 Alabama game, the second half did nothing but mirror the first half. Alabama led 6-3 after three quarters but LSU answered with a 30 yard FG by Alleman to tie the game. Brad Wing’s 73 yard punt midway through the 4th quarter in a 6-6 game certainly changed the field position in LSU’s favor, but after Alabama was forced to punt on their next possession, a dumb penalty on Tyron Mathieu pinned LSU deep after receiving the ball with under 5 minutes to play. After LSU drove to near midfield, the Alabama defense stuffed the run on a critical 3rd and 2 with under two minutes to play.

After Alabama got the ball back with 52 seconds to play, the Crimson Tide chose to run the clock out and play overtime football. With regulation now behind them all of the stats showed how even the game was: Time of Possession 30:06 to 29:54 in favor of Alabama, Turnovers 2-2, Penalties 6-5 with LSU picking up one more than the Tide, and of course a 6-6 game.

In overtime, Alabama’s penalty for a substitution infraction pushed the Tide back to the 30 yard line, eventually setting up a 3rd and 15 which then resulted in a sack and a 52 yard FG attempt that Foster pushed wide left giving LSU a chance to win. On LSU’s first possession of the overtime period, the Tigers got a big play on an option left with Ford stepping out of bounds at the 7 yard line. LSU then called two conservative running plays to set up the 25 yard FG attempt for Drew Alleman. After a Nick Saban time out to attempt to ice the kicker, the strategy did not work as Alleman drilled the kick through the uprights sending the home crowd clad in Alabama Crimson Tide apparel home disappointed while the small crowd of fans in LSU clothing remained undefeated.

The win for #1 LSU puts them at 9-0 and in the driver’s seat with the BCS Championship Game in their grasp. Alabama, on the other hand, needs some help and is left to hope for a shot at a rematch in that game.