An atmosphere like no other, another sold-out game in Tiger Stadium, facing off against the Alabama Crimson Tide for the last time in the set schedule, with the SEC restructuring, the atmosphere felt different. 

After a week of rest for both the Tide and the Tigers, urgency drove both teams to race to the end zone and win. With the postseason sneaking up on the Tigers, and one last game in Tiger Stadium next week it was now or never. After the much anticipated match up, the now never came.

From the first snap, the Tigers found a rhythm, though they faced a few tests throughout the first half. Not only did Alabama get the one up on the Tigers by scoring the first touchdown, but this LSU offense also became sloppy in areas where Leavitt was too slow to release the ball. 

Sloppiness seemed to be the issue that would soon take precedence the rest of the night. 

“Wanting to get that sour taste out of your mouth more than anything. So, I mean, losing is hard and, um, we all hate that. If you don’t, you’re a weirdo,” Ty Benefield said after a sloppy loss.

With such high pressure, little mistakes like Leavitt becoming sloppy with his release and awareness of the Crimson Tide’s efficiency was going to cost big plays and big scores. Although not everything can be put on the offense, the defense had plenty of opportunities to execute better but came up just short, allowing Alabama to go further than the Tigers would’ve liked. 

In the second quarter, with less than a minute left, with the Tigers in possession of the ball one throw away, Sam Leavitt throws his first interception of the game and gives up the chance yet again for a touchdown. 

Football can’t be won by giving up touchdowns, and the postseason won’t be seen with this type of play.

With an already antsy Alabama team, the Crimson Tide began to make mistakes that cost 15 yards with less than 10 seconds left; if the Tigers could hold off the Tide, it would make this interception, which was so crucial, a little less painful for the Tigers. 

Sam Leavitt, who tends to be in the headlines, will make those headlines again as the quarterback who can’t seem to let the changes and progress stick. Coming back from the half, the Tigers’ offense was unsuccessful again. 

With the uncertainty of LSU’s chance of victory, the Tiger faithful never wavered, hitting levels of 102 decibels. Unlike any other field in College football, the Tigers’ defense, led by Blake Baker were able to stop the chances of the Tide scoring returning the ball back to the Tigers for a chance take the lead for the first time in the game.

But just as it seemed to go down hill with one throw of the ball, Sam Leavitt threw a 32-yard complete pass to Jackson Harris. It began looking up from there, with such a big rivalry these big plays in risky moments make every second become more critical and necessary to stick to what these guys know.

Just when the Tigers’ comeback seemed doubtful, Dilin Jones, who has made a name for himself, scored the first touchdown for the Tigers of the night, taking the lead by three, and the pressure grew while the fans grew rowdier. 

With just a little less than two minutes and a lead, the Crimson Tide came back and scored another touchdown causing the Tigers to fall back by four yet again and with just a little over 15 minutes of playing it was now or never. 

With Alabama’s Kelon Russell finding Rico Scott for a 57-yard pass, it was inevitable that the Tigers were going to have to work to delay the Tide’s redzone offense but it just didn’t happen. As the third quarter came to a close, 102,341 people at Tiger Stadium yelled out Callin Baton Rouge. 

It was an energy that sent shivers down your body, after that one song, it was like fireworks that brought the sense of excitement to a new level. After a failed possession the Tigers’ defense began to put in the overtime work to stop a determined Alabama. 

That’s what the Tigers did; after a failed possession, the ball was back in the Tigers’ court with just 11:39 remaining. 

Yet another failed attempt at a touchdown for the Tigers, and with that lack of drive, the Crimson Tide had no problem capitalizing on the mistakes and scoring yet another touchdown making a once-short lead become double digits. 

It just couldn’t get better for the Tigers; the once glimmer of hope became more of an abstract way of the Tide running the ball back and forth across the field putting up nearly 20 points on the once hopeful Tigers. 

With a final score of 13 – Alabama 31, the Tigers hung their heads low and prepare to face off against the Texas Longhorns next Saturday at home.