LSU faces Texas with playoff hopes fading after 31-13 loss to Alabama
Coach Lane Kiffin's squad must win its next two games to remain viable in the College Football Playoff after its third SEC defeat.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Lane Kiffin's LSU Tigers lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-13 on Saturday, marking the program's third loss in the Southeastern Conference. The defeat places the Tigers on the brink of elimination from the College Football Playoff. The game ended in what many observers described as a humiliating performance for the newly hired head coach.
SEC analyst Paul Finebaum labeled the result one of the most humiliating moments of Kiffin's coaching career. Former LSU offensive lineman Bobby Hebert III criticized the team on social media, calling the loss an embarrassing and gutless performance. This marked the 16th defeat for LSU against Alabama in 20 attempts. Leonard Fournette, a former LSU rushing standout, also voiced concerns on his podcast. He argued that Kiffin should stop bringing celebrities onto the field before games, a practice that included Shaquille O'Neal, Angel Reese, Paul Skenes, and Kevin Costner for the Alabama matchup.
Fournette stated that the team is paid to win and that success comes from winning, not from who enters the stadium with the coach. The criticism arrives as Kiffin's record against top-25 teams stands at 12-15 in ranked-versus-ranked matchups. Expectations were high after LSU hired Kiffin from Ole Miss and spent tens of millions on a transfer-heavy roster. The team generated 457 yards of offense but scored only 13 points against Alabama.
The Tigers now face CFP-ranked No. 7 Texas at Tiger Stadium this coming Saturday. A victory over Texas would set up a critical game against No. 13 Tennessee. Winning that matchup could provide a playoff argument despite having three losses. LSU linebacker TJ Dottery said the team is not worrying about outside noise or playoff speculation. He emphasized that the focus is on going 1-0 against Texas next week.
Nine SEC teams currently have two or three losses, creating a complex picture for the final rankings. LSU is unlikely to surpass No. 2 Georgia or No. 5 Alabama in the CFP rankings. Alabama faces Vanderbilt, Chattanooga, and Auburn to finish its regular season. Kentucky holds a head-to-head advantage over LSU but recently lost 34-6 to Tennessee. Florida and Missouri remain on LSU's schedule, while Texas and Tennessee round out the conference's top five teams.
LSU has struggled to beat ranked teams recently. The Tigers beat then-No. 23 Texas A&M and then-No. 16 Mississippi State, but the latter game occurred without star quarterback Kamario Taylor. The team has been competitive in its losses, falling to Ole Miss and Kentucky by a combined nine points. Against Alabama, LSU held a 13-10 lead toward the end of the third quarter but collapsed in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt acknowledged the need to execute in small moments during the game. He spoke with wideout Winston Watkins after the loss about giving full effort in every opportunity. Safety Ty Benefield, a transfer from Boise State, said he joined the SEC to face top competition and is committed to giving his all until the end. Kiffin noted that the team did not play well, particularly in the fourth quarter, and must improve immediately for the Texas game.
