No. 1 Alabama 10, No. 13 LSU 0
Hurts' TD in 4th breaks scoreless tie
Tigers defense falters late in game while offense finds no traction
The Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) won for the sixth straight time against LSU (5-3, 3-2) and remained alone in first place in the SEC West — a game ahead of Auburn.
Hurts, a freshman who has exceeded expectations by establishing himself as one of the most dynamic players in college football, was the game's leading rusher with 114 yards on 20 carries. He also completed 10 of 19 passes for 107 yards.
LSU had had its share of big plays — but all on defense, forcing Hurts into an early interception and late fumble. But LSU's offense could not capitalize against menacing defensive end Jonathan Allen and the rest of Alabama's suffocating defense.
LSU's Danny Etling completed 11 of 24 passes for 92 yards and was intercepted once in the fourth quarter, leading to a late Alabama field goal. The Crimson Tide had five sacks, one more than the Tigers offense had allowed in any other game this season. Allen, linebackers Rashaan Evans and Ryan Anderson, and end Dalvin Tomlinson each sacked Etling, while Rueben Foster and Tim Williams combined on a sack.
LSU intercepted Hurts' pass on the game's opening possession, but could not move the ball and had to settle for a field-goal attempt, which was partially blocked by Alabama's Ronnie Harrison.
Alabama did not drive into field-goal range until about six minutes before halftime, but Adam Griffith's kick hooked wide left.
At the end of the first half, a defensive stand by LSU deep in Alabama territory got the Tigers the ball back at the Crimson Tide 47, but Alabama's defense did not allow LSU to approach field-goal range.
The Tide appeared to be on the brink of the game's first points after Hurts lofted a pinpoint play-action pass deep down the middle of the field to ArDarius Stewart for a 52-yard gain to the LSU 8, but four plays later, LSU linebacker Duke Riley and end Arden Key dropped Hurts for a 5-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
The Tigers' defense came up big yet again when end Frank Heron sacked and stripped Hurts, and Key recovered on the Alabama 42. But the LSU offense only went backward, hurt by a delay-of-game and intentional grounding penalties.