Alabama football pummeled LSU 31-13 in a crucial showdown involving College Football Playoff implications. Or as quarterback Keelon Russell described it, “life or death.”
Russell is fully aware of the circumstances during this portion of the season. Which he explained with Holly Rowe of ESPN.
“It's life or death situations right now. We gotta go to the playoffs,” Russell said.
"It's life or death situations right now. We gotta go to the playoffs." 🔥
Keelon Russell has that dog in him 😤 pic.twitter.com/CGCOoqCsF3
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 8, 2026
Alabama has drawn heat for struggling to continue the past dominance from previous coach Nick Saban. Head coach Kalen DeBoer continues to face hefty scrutiny now that he's entered season three with the Crimson Tide. He managed to get Alabama into the playoffs last season, but sustained an embarrassing Jan. 1 Rose Bowl defeat at the hands of Indiana.
This time Alabama returned to the CFP and SEC title game conversation. Alabama broke out of a struggling first quarter alongside LSU, breaking out of a 3-3 tie and even widening the margin after leading 17-13 in the fourth quarter.
Article Continues BelowRussell tossed two touchdown passes during the fourth quarter to silence the crowd in Baton Rouge. He hit Cederian Morgan on a 25-yard touchdown while Kaleb Edwards for a shorter four-yarder.
Russell and ‘Bama even dominated in front of famed LSU legends Angel Reese, Shaquille O'Neal and actor Kevin Costner, who appeared as a special victory hill guest with Kiffin.
Now Alabama has potentially eliminated LSU from both the SEC Championship Game and CFP contention, as the Tigers take their third loss under Kiffin. Alabama boosts its own chances by improving to 7-2 overall on the season.