Alabama comes from behind to beat LSU in EA Sports CFB 25 simulation

I hope you enjoyed your two week reprieve from anxiety-inducing Alabama football games. The Crimson Tide blasted Missouri 34-0 before taking this past week off, giving Alabama fans a welcomed break from the stomach churning contests that have become the norm in Kalen DeBoer's first season on the sideline.

If EA Sports CFB 25 is of any indication, however, that anxiety will return in full force in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. Of course, that isn't much of a surprise. It's usually that kind of game when Alabama plays in Death Valley, though the Tide tends to win a lot more often there than anyone else.

From 1971-2001, Alabama went undefeated in the place where so many dreams have gone to die.

Two years ago, Alabama saw its dreams of a repeat SEC Championship and another playoff berth die in Baton Rouge with an overtime loss to the Bengal Tigers.

In this simulation, LSU got off to a quick start. Alabama went three-and-out on its opening drive, clearly impacted by the raucous crowd, similar to the start against Tennessee a few weeks prior. Garrett Nussmeier led the Tigers right down the field after a Bama punt, and Caden Durham punched in a touchdown to put the Tigers up 7-0.

Alabama answered with a strong drive following the LSU touchdown, and Jalen Milroe ran a four-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7.

LSU added a field goal to take a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

LSU extended its lead with Nussmeir hitting one-time Alabama transfer Aaron Anderson for a 22-yard touchdown to put Alabama behind 17-7. The Tide mustered a solid drive right before the end of the half and Graham Nicholson connected on a 44-yard field goal to cut the score to 17-10.

The Tigers got the ball to start the half and hit a big play to extend their lead. Nussmeier hit star WR Kyren Lacy over the top for a 49-yard touchdown to put LSU up 24-10 in a lead that was feeling insurmountable in Death Valley.

But Milroe and the Tide offense remained calm and started chipping away. Milroe led his team down the field for the answer, hitting Kendrick Law on a pop pass for a 13-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-17 entering the final quarter.

Alabama's defense made a big stop near midfield, forcing a punt. Alabama's offense responded once again and Milroe fired his second passing touchdown of the evening, hitting freshman Ryan Williams from 29 yards out to tie the game with three minutes to play.

Nussmeier and the LSU offense moved the ball and were approaching field goal range, but the Tide's defense made the play of the day with Domani Jackson intercepting a pass at the Alabama 35 yard line.

With just over a minute left on the clock, Alabama pushed the football down the field. Milroe hit passes to Germie Bernard and CJ Dippre to get to midfield, and then Milroe used his legs on a critical third down to move the chains and get the Tide in field goal range.

With three seconds left to go, Nicholson, the Groza Award winner, stepped up for the biggest kick of his life. With the clock striking zero, Nicholson booted a 46-yard field goal through the uprights, leaving the LSU faithful stunned and in complete silence as the Crimson Tide escaped Baton Rouge with a 27-24 victory.

Milroe threw for 279 yards and rushed for 46 more. It was a struggle on the ground outside of that with Jam Miller and Justice Haynes combining for 44 yards on 14 carries. Williams led the Tide in receiving with 108 yards on 7 receptions.

Nussmeier threw for 292 yards but had the crucial fourth quarter interception that was the game's only turnover.

Defensively, Jackson's interception was the play of the game, but Deontae Lawson led the way with 11 tackles. Alabama managed a pair of sacks, one of which was by LT Overton and the other shared by Tim Keenan and Lawson.