Historical past of the rivalry since Nick Saban joined the Crimson Tide

The ultimate a part of one of many hardest rivalries in faculty soccer arrives Saturday.

No. 8 Alabama (7-1) hosts No. 14 LSU (6-2) at 7:45 PM ET inside a sold-out Bryant-Denny Stadium. ESPN School sport day A pregame present can be on web site, whereas the sport can be broadcast on CBS. Many viewers are anticipated to tune in for a sport that may have implications not just for the SEC West but additionally for the School Soccer Playoff race.

However this has turn into anticipated on this collection. This would be the 88th assembly between the 2 convention foes, although the dimensions of the rivalry has undoubtedly heated up since Nick Saban took over as Alabama’s head coach.

This is how Alabama carried out towards LSU with Saban on the sideline.

Saban scored for Alabama vs. LSU

Saban’s first teaching cease within the SEC got here when LSU employed him away from Michigan State earlier than the 2000 season. Nine-time National Coach of the Year He inherited a program that had not received an outright convention championship since 1986 or a national title since 1958.

However Saban shortly introduced each trophies again to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In 5 seasons main the Tigers, Saban compiled a document 48-16, winning two SEC titles and a national championship. He went 4-1 in 5 conferences with Alabama. However then got here the NFL. Saban bolted to the Miami Dolphins, the place he spent two seasons earlier than finally returning to school soccer in 2007 with the Crimson Tide.

Going into Saturday’s sport, Saban received 201 games and eight SEC titles at Alabama. That success carried over to the Alabama-LSU collection. 72 years outdated 12-5 against LSU since arriving in Tuscaloosa. Nonetheless, LSU accounts for almost 20 p.c of Saban’s losses at Alabama (28 over 17 seasons).

Alabama leads the all-time collection towards LSU 55-27-5.

Unforgettable Alabama-LSU moments below Saban

Saban’s first Alabama-LSU sport carrying scarlet did not go effectively. Les Miles, who changed Saban at LSU after he left for the professionals, took the Tigers to Tuscaloosa and beat Alabama, 41-34in 2007. LSU went on to win the BCS Nationwide Championship that season.

Saban misplaced three of his first 5 conferences with LSU, in what is usually known as the “Nick Saban Bowl,” after taking the Alabama job. This features a match that has been described because the “Sport of the Century”. The stakes on this collection have maybe by no means been increased than throughout World Struggle II 2011 season. No. 2 Alabama hosted No. 1 LSU that November in one of the anticipated sporting occasions in latest reminiscence.

The Tigers received 9-6 in time beyond regulation. However the Crimson Tide took revenge.

Alabama received the rematch 21-0 within the BCS Nationwide Championship in New Orleans, certainly one of six titles Saban received with the varsity. The win was the primary of eight straight wins for Alabama within the collection.

LSU would not beat Alabama once more till 2019, when eventual Heisman winner Joe Burrow led the Tigers to a 46-41 win in Tuscaloosa. Burrow threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns within the win, whereas Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa racked up 418 yards, 4 scores and an interception. Dozens of future NFL players He appeared within the sport, from Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase for LSU to Trevon Diggs and DeVonta Smith for Alabama. The record goes on.

LSU and Alabama have break up their final 4 conferences since 2019.

The Tigers received in time beyond regulation final 12 months, 32-31, when quarterback Jayden Daniels He scored from 25 yards outthen linked with tight finish Mason Taylor for the game-winning two-point conversion.

LSU could make historical past with a win on Saturday

Alabama not often loses in any respect below Saban, although it particularly would not lose to the identical workforce in back-to-back years. Since 2007, solely two coaches have taken down the Crimson Tide in two consecutive seasons, in accordance with The Daily Advertiser – Miles in 2010-11 and former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze in 2014-15.

LSU coach Brian Kelly may be a part of that unique firm with a win on Saturday.

Kelly’s win over Alabama final 12 months got here in his first season in Baton Rouge. Saban’s Alabama groups beat Kelly twice by mixed factors 73-28 In two conferences when the latter coached Notre Dame – as soon as within the BCS title sport and as soon as within the School Soccer Playoff semifinals.

For the reason that “Sport of the Century” Alabama has been 10-0 against LSU When holding the Tigers to 17 factors or fewer and 0-2 when permitting greater than that.

However which may be a troublesome activity to perform this season. The Tigers rating 47.4 points per game this season, probably the most within the nation. Daniels, a Heisman Trophy candidate, is answerable for that 30 total touchdowns (25 assists and 5 rushes) by way of eight video games.

“He killed us final 12 months,” Saban stated of Daniels this week. On3. “The man was a very good participant final 12 months. He is a very good participant now. I believe total they execute their offense to perfection, and it begins with him as a result of he makes the fitting reads on the run, passes and zone. -Possibility performs and passes. He is excellent at studying coverages.” And he makes actually fast choices.

“I believe all these issues had been evident final 12 months with the way in which he performed, and I believe he is most likely higher now as a result of he has extra expertise and information in assault. And so they’ve bought actually good gamers round him.”

Daniels would be the first QB to beat a Saban-coached Alabama workforce in back-to-back begins, and the primary sign caller to beat Saban in back-to-back seasons since Florida’s Rex Grossman in 2000 and 2001, in accordance with The Daily Advertiser.

Alabama enters the sport as a three-point favourite, in accordance with Caesars Sportsbook.