Alabama Football: Ranking the 5 best Tide vs LSU football games
By Mike Parham
No. 4 – November 8, 2014 (Tiger Stadium)
For Alabama, this game, and every remaining game on the schedule was a must win. The Tide were coming off of a loss to Ole Miss earlier in the season and a loss would eliminate them from the SEC Championship and possibly the College Football Playoff.
For LSU, they were trying to upset an Alabama team that was once again gaining traction in their playoff push. This game was definitely not for the faint of heart.
LSU started out with a 14-yard touchdown reception by Malachi Dupre after both offenses struggled to move the ball early. Alabama didn’t get points on the board until Adam Griffith’s 27-yard field goal with 8:59 remaining in the half.
Needing a spark on offense, the Tide went for it on fourth down and converted with a 9-yard catch from Amari Cooper. During that same drive, Cooper hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Sims to give the Tide a 10-7 lead at the half.
On the opening drive of the second half, LSU drove down the field but ultimately settled for a field goal to tie the game 10-10. After that score, the Tide and Tigers became stagnant on offense as neither team could move the ball.
With 1:56 remaining, the Tide started a drive on their own one-yard line to try and make a game-winning drive. However, running back T.J. Yeldon fumbled on the second play, giving LSU the ball on the six with 1:13 left.
Alabama’s dominant defense held on for all three LSU plays and called their final timeout with 54 seconds remaining. LSU made the field goal and held a 13-10 lead with 50 seconds remaining.
With no timeouts, a converted running back as the quarterback, and 50 seconds remaining, it seemed like it was over for the Tide. However, somebody forgot to tell that to Blake Sims.
LSU kickstarted Alabama’s comeback hopes, literally, when their kicker kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. Ultimately, this spotted the ball at the 35-yard line.
Sims was masterful on the final drive of regulation going 4-for-6 for 50 yards and rushing for five. That set up a 27-yard Adam Griffith field goal with 10 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, after a 24-yard pass was brought back to the 15-yard line due to a penalty, the Tide started to pound the ball. Later in the drive, on second-and-six, Sims hit DeAndrew White on a touchdown pass to give the Tide a 20-13 lead.
Alabama’s defense dominated LSU on their overtime drive and they didn’t gain a yard. Ultimately failing on fourth-and-ten to end the game. Some Bama fans had their doubts about Blake Sims, but this performance silenced most doubters. Final Score: Alabama 20 LSU 13