Instant Analysis: Alabama-LSU

In a season with only 12 regularly-scheduled games, no one ever cares or remembers how games are won or lost—the only thing that matters is the end result. Alabama didn’t offer anything awesome or outstanding against LSU on Saturday, but the Tide actually increased their stature because they managed to survive without their best stuff.

Nick Saban—true to his personality—wasn’t very happy during Saturday’s showdown against his former team, but the man who returned to Tiger Stadium for the first time since his departure from LSU had to exult when John Parker Wilson entered the end zone in overtime, completing Alabama’s 27-21 escape job against an inspired but inadequate bunch of Bayou Bengals. The touchdown by his quarterback erased a day filled with mistakes and missteps, clinching the SEC West title and putting Saban in great position to reach the BCS Championship Game. In film study, this white-knuckle win will come across as ugly for the second-year head coach in Tuscaloosa. In Alabama lore, this contest could become a magical moment that will be treasured for generations.

Forget the overthrows, fumbles and field-goal flops that held back Bama against Les Miles and company. Disregard the sweat and shakiness that defined the Crimson Tide on an afternoon when they clearly felt the pressure of being the No. 1 team in college football on the second Saturday of November. Don’t focus on the inconsistency of Alabama’s anything-but-awesome offense, which has excelled in short spurts but rarely held onto snap-by-snap supremacy for 60 minutes this season. The name of the game—especially in the sport with the shortest of seasons—is to get out of town with a “W,” and that’s exactly what Alabama did on Saturday against an opponent that wanted to knock them off in the worst possible way.

Their many deficiencies and hiccups won’t matter much in the long run of history. The whole world outside of the non-Auburn portions of Alabama—not just the town of Baton Rouge—wanted the Crimson Tide to lose this game. Yet, the sons of Saban surmounted the many obstacles they faced. Sure, some of those obstacles were self-established, but that makes this gritty piece of gut-check gallantry all the more impressive for the team that is still unblemished in a cutthroat conference. If Alabama can win two games in which it will be heavily favored, the Tide will travel to Atlanta for a date with Florida… and for a chance to travel to Florida in the first week of January.