In the aftermath of LSU’s demoralizing 42-13 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, head coach Brian Kelly made one thing abundantly clear: the blame falls squarely on his shoulders. The Tigers, now 6-3 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, saw their College Football Playoff aspirations all but evaporate in the face of a dominant Alabama squad.
“We’re disappointed in the way we performed,” Kelly admitted in his post-game press conference. “These guys are not like, ‘Hey, we’re out of the playoffs.’ They’re disappointed, and I’m disappointed that we didn’t live up to the standards of LSU football. That affects us more than the damn playoffs.”
Failing to Meet Expectations
The Tigers had an extra week to prepare for their clash with the Crimson Tide, but it was Alabama who looked like the more prepared team from the opening whistle. LSU’s defense struggled to contain Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who gashed the Tigers for 185 rushing yards and four touchdowns. It was a startling repeat of last year’s matchup, where Milroe ran for 155 yards in a 42-28 Alabama victory.
“If you’re watching the game, you’re like, ‘What did these guys do for two weeks?'” Kelly said, clearly frustrated. “We have a scheme to stop the quarterback. We did not get that done, so I take responsibility for it.”
LSU’s issues with containing mobile quarterbacks have become a recurring theme this season. In their previous game, a loss to Texas A&M, backup Aggies QB Marcel Reed came off the bench to run for 62 yards and three scores, leading a furious comeback. Kelly acknowledged that changes need to be made, but declined to offer specifics.
Offense Sputters in Key Moments
The Tigers’ offense, led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, failed to capitalize on opportunities to keep the game competitive. Late in the first half, trailing 14-6, LSU’s defense came up with a crucial fourth-down stop. But on the ensuing play, Nussmeier was sacked and fumbled, with Alabama recovering. Three plays later, Milroe scored to give the Tide a commanding 21-6 lead.
LSU’s first drive of the second half reached the Alabama 4-yard line, but Nussmeier’s pass was intercepted in the end zone. Milroe promptly led another touchdown drive, extending the lead to an insurmountable 28-6. Nussmeier would finish with three turnovers, giving him six in his last two games.
Controversial Calls Add to Frustration
To add insult to injury, LSU fans took umbrage with a facemask penalty called against the Tigers on what appeared to be a crucial third-down stop in the third quarter. The penalty extended Alabama’s drive, which ended in another Milroe touchdown run. Kelly empathized with the fans’ frustration, but stopped short of criticizing the officials.
“If I was in the stands, I wouldn’t be happy,” Kelly conceded. “I think you should use good judgment, but I wouldn’t be happy if I was watching us play, either. I wasn’t pleased with the way I coached or played either.”
What’s Next for LSU?
The loss leaves LSU with an uphill climb to reach the SEC title game, let alone the College Football Playoff. Kelly made it clear that his focus is on getting the Tigers back to playing at the level expected of the program, regardless of postseason implications.
“When you put on a jersey for LSU, there’s a standard of football that those three letters on your jersey, it’s a prerequisite, and we didn’t live up to that. That’s the disappointment.”
As the Tigers prepare to face the Florida Gators next week, Kelly and his staff have their work cut out for them. Fixing the defensive woes against mobile quarterbacks and shoring up an offense prone to untimely mistakes will be top priorities. For a proud program like LSU, meeting those lofty expectations is non-negotiable.
“The bottom line is, we didn’t play to the standard of LSU football,” Kelly reiterated. “That’s on me. I’ve got to make sure that we put our players in better positions to succeed, and that’s the work I’ll do.”
The road ahead won’t be easy for Kelly and the Tigers, but if there’s one thing LSU fans can count on, it’s that their head coach will leave no stone unturned in his quest to restore the program to its championship-winning ways. The question is, can he do it before the window of opportunity slams shut?
