Alabama vs. LSU live score, updates, highlights from SEC West showdown

No. 1 Alabama and LSU are finally ready to face off in 2020.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide (8-0 SEC) were prepared to travel to Baton Rouge on Nov. 14, but a COVID-19 outbreak among the Tigers’ team forced a postponement until Saturday. Now, Nick Saban — who has been cleared to return from his own COVID-19 diagnosis — and Alabama will look to avenge their first of two losses from the 2019 season.

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That starts with Mac Jones, who has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. His 208.0 passer rating ranks second in that nation, and he has completed 173 of 227 passes (76.2 percent) for 2,728 yards and 23 touchdowns to three interceptions. His favorite target is DeVonta Smith (72 catches, 1,074 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns), a likely Biletnikoff Award finalist, but he also gets plenty of help from running back Najee Harris (893 yards, 6.0 yards per carry, 17 touchdowns).

Meanwhile, LSU (3-4 SEC) will go with a true freshman quarterback, TJ Finley, against Alabama’s improving defense. Finley has played in four games, completing 66 of 112 passes for 797 yards and four touchdowns to five interceptions. He will, however, be without LSU’s leading receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who opted out after the Tigers’ 20-7 loss to Texas A&M in Week 13. Will Finley be able to keep the Tigers in it against Saban and Co.?

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Alabama vs. LSU. Follow below for complete results from the SEC West showdown:

Alabama vs. LSU score

Alabama vs. LSU live updates, highlights from SEC West showdown

All times Eastern

Fourth quarter: Alabama 55, LSU 17

11:37 p.m.: Bama seems content to run out the clock, though it’s still getting huge chunk plays. Tide now driving at their 48.

11:35 p.m.: Timeout LSU (2:49).

11:35 p.m.: And there’s another big run from McClellan. Tide are now driving at their 39.

11:34 p.m.: Third-string running back Jase McClellan in at running back now, getting a first down out to the Tide 14.

11:32 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS, LSU. Johnson tries to throw a jump ball to Gilbert in the end zone but Surtain is in coverage to knock the pass to the ground. There goes the scoring opportunity. Bama to take over at its 1 with 4:43 left in the game.

11:30 p.m.: LSU now has it fourth-and-goal at the Alabama 1. Will they go for it? A field goal does nothing, but a touchdown could at least build some confidence heading into next week.

11:26 p.m.: Bama gives up 15 on third down, and Johnson sneaks it in for the conversion. Tigers still driving.

11:25 p.m.: A host of Bama defenders get to Johnson for the sack, making it third-and-16 LSU at the 35.

11:21 p.m.: Timetout, LSU (8:39).

11:21 p.m.: Kudos to Johnson on this drive. He has the Tigers at Alabama’s 29.

11:18 p.m.: LSU back at it from its 25.

11:15 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, ALABAMA. Reichard is true again, knocking it through from 34 yards out. It’s 55-17 Alabama with 10:50 left in the game.

11:14 p.m.: Young is sacked, then nearly throws an interception to Stingley on the ensuing play. Reichard coming on for a field goal attempt.

11:09 p.m.: Robinson is running angry tonight. That’s five straight carries for him and Alabama has first-and-goal from LSU’s 7. Also, Landon Dickerson’s just having fun out there:

11:08 p.m.: And there’s the sub-in. Bryce Young is now in for Jones. Jones finishes the day 20 of 29 through the air for 385 yards and four scores.

11:06 p.m.: And the starters are still in after the break.

End of third quarter: Alabama 52, LSU 17

11:02 p.m.: Bama’s starting offense is still in.

11:01 p.m.: LSU tries to go for the onside kick; the ball takes a weird hop and ricochets off Smith’s face mask, but Harris is on to recover at the LSU 45.

10:57 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, LSU. Cade York gets a field goal from 52 yards out after the LSU drive stalls at the 35. It’s 52-17 Alabama with 32 seconds in the quarter.

10:54 p.m.: Johnson finds receiver Trey Palmer in the flats for a 14-yard gain and a first down to the 45.

10:53 p.m.: And here comes Max Johnson, LSU’s other freshman quarterback. Might as well at this point.

10:49 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. Harris gets a 11-yard touchdown and LSU literally only got a hand on him. Harris has his third touchdown, giving Alabama the most points scored in this series. The previous high was 47 in 1922. As it stands, Alabama leads 52-14 with 3:39 in the third quarter.

10:48 p.m.: Another Robinson touch; this time he gets the ball out of the backfield and looks to have made the first down marker.

10:46 p.m.: Brian Robinson makes a man miss at the line of scrimmage and gets a first down at LSU’s 21.

10:44 p.m.: FUMBLE RECOVERY, ALABAMA. Officials confirm it was a fumble and recovery by Allen, giving Bama the ball at the LSU 34.

10:42 p.m.: Another time stoppage, to determine whether Allen ripped the ball Arik Gilbert’s hands for a turnover. There was no ruling on the play, either, so they have no base to start from (that we know of).

10:41 p.m.: Finley sneaks for it third-and-1, the first offensive drive that wasn’t a three-and-out this half.

10:37 p.m.: FUMBLE RECOVERY, LSU. Jones hits Bolden on the inside slant, but cornerback Jay Ward popped the ball out with the receiver advancing upfield. Stingley recovers it, and LSU takes over at its 26 after a much-needed stop.

10:36 p.m.: The call’s overturned and Alabama now has third-and-10 from LSU’s 43.

10:34 p.m.: Shoutout to the Alabama O-line there: Jones had about 10 seconds to himself in the pocket. The quarterback rolled out and hit Harris out of the backfield for what looks like a 12-yard gain with Stingley in coverage. The play’s under review, however.

10:33 p.m.: Nice play all around there: Jones shuffles around in the pocket with edge-rushers closing in and throws the ball to Smith for a 12-yard gain to the LSU 47.

10:30 p.m.: Alabama will take over at its 41 after the three-and-out by the defense.

10:29 p.m.: Anderson and Byron Young get a coverage sack on Finley. That makes it third-and-15 LSU from its 22.

10:24 p.m.: Alabama’s first drive stalls after Metchie can’t bring in the long pass from Jones. It was a perfect pass from Jones that split two defenders, but Metchie couldn’t bring it in. LSU to take over at its 27.

10:21 p.m.: Alabama forces the three-and-out and gets the ball back at its 25. Of note: Slade Bolden is back receiving punts now. No need to put Smith at unnecessary risk.

10:19 p.m.: Jobe gets the 5-yard sack on second down. LSU facing third-and-12 early.

10:18 p.m.: LSU gets the ball back and will start the drive from the 32-yard line.

Halftime: Alabama 45, LSU 14

9:59 p.m.: Some halftime stats (with a few individual superlatives):

Total yards: Alabama 469; LSU 235
Passing: Alabama 15 of 29, 338 yards; LSU 11 of 23, 136 yards
Rushing: Alabama 21 rushes, 131 yards; LSU 15 rushes, 99 yards
First downs: Alabama 20; LSU 12
Penalties: Alabama 3 for 38; LSU 4 for 30
Possession: Alabama 16:52; LSU 13:08

DeVonta Smith: Seven receptions, 219 yards, three touchdowns, 31.3 yards per reception
Mac Jones: 15 of 19, 338 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions
Najee Harris: 17 carries, 118 yards, two touchdowns, 6.9 yards per carry

9:56 p.m.: And there’s a three-and-out. Have to think Alabama will kneel it when it gets the ball back.

9:55 p.m.: LSU back to work at its 23. Not much time left to work with for a score.

9:53 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. Wow. Wow. Wow. Jones looked to overthrow Smith in the end zone, but the receiver climbed the ladder, one-handed it and then brought it with two hands for the 20-yard touchdown. And Stingley was in coverage! That makes it 45-14 Alabama with 46 seconds remaining in the half.

9:51 p.m.: Jones to Metchie for 14 yards to the 20. There’s 1:15 left on the clock, and ticking.

9:50 pm.: Timeout, LSU (1:32).

9:49 p.m.: Harris now has 118 rushing yards after rushes of 9 and 15 yards, respectively. Tide driving at LSU’s 34.

9:47 p.m.: Tide will take over at their 42-yard line with 2:24 and three timeouts to work with.

9:46 p.m.: Bama forces a three-and-out, which should give it more than enough time for a final score before halftime.

9:45 p.m.: LSU back at it from its 25. Emery gets a 5-yard gain on first down. LSU would love a score right here before halftime.

9:43 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, ALABAMA. LSU stops Alabama’s drive 13 yards short, but kicker Will Reichard comes on for the 30-yard field goal to make it 38-14 Alabama with 3:20 left in the half.

9:42 p.m.: Bama facing third-and-7 at LSU’s 12.

9:39 p.m.: Harris is down after a 7-yard carry; he got up, took a step, then went to his knee. He appeared to take a shot in a tender area.

9:38 p.m.: Unbelievable. Jones hits Smith on the quick hook; Smith makes a man miss and creates space just by slowing down. He takes it all the way to LSU’s 26 before Stingley finally catches up to him. That’s 200 yards for him in the half, by the way.

9:36 p.m.: Jones’ streak of completions stops at 13: HIs pass hits Metchie in the hands but cornerback Eli Ricks did a good job defending it to force the completion.

9:35 p.m.: Jones has all day and 5 yards in front of him to connect with Metchie for a first down. Tide driving at their 21. Also: Stingley is OK after the injury.

9:32 p.m.: Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore manages to strip Finley in the pocket, but LSU recovers it. That makes it fourth-and-17 for LSU. The punt is fielded by Smith at Alabama’s 10-yard line.

9:29 p.m.: There’s another big gain by Emery: That’s 20 yards out to the 45. Bama is getting manhandled up front.

9:25 p.m.: Perhaps more importantly: Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is injured and heading to LSU’s injury tent. Here’s hoping everything’s all right with him; he’s one of the best players in the nation, regardless of position.

9:24 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. Hey, there’s another Mac Jones-DeVonta Smith touchdown. What else can be said about that? That’s another 61 yards for both players. It’s 35-14 Alabama with 11:14 left in the half.

9:23 p.m.: Nice play by Harris, who catches the slip screen, makes a man miss and gets a first down.

9:18 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. There’s another LSU score, and there’s no doubt about this one: John Emery Jr. goes off left tackle for a 54-yard touchdown. Some excellent downfield blocking — and defensive miscommunication pre-snap — made that possible. It’s 28-14 Alabama with 12:32 left in the second quarter.

9:18 p.m.: The call is confirmed, meaning Wright’s night is finished. LSU, meanwhile, has the ball at its 46.

9:16 p.m.: Play is stopped while officials review whether Alabama’s Daniel Wright committed targeting on receiver Jaray Jenkins.

9:13 p.m.: Some clarity on LSU’s touchdown: Officials ruled that Boutte fumbled the ball into the end zone, but also saw receiver Jontre Kirklin recover the ball in the end zone. So the score is ruled a fumble recovery touchdown. Heads-up play by Kirklin.

9:09 p.m. TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. Jones again, Smith again. The receiver burns by LSU’s defenders for a wide-open touchdown. That’s a 65-yard touchdown to make it 28-7 Alabama with 13:36 left in the half.

9:08 p.m.: Back to Bama: Brian Robinson gets the first two carries and nets a first down for the Tide at the 35-yard line.

9:04 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. Finley connects with Kayshon Boutte for a 44-yard touchdown connection. It seems there was a coverage bust, compounded by corner Josh Jobe trying a corner blitz. Boutte clearly dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line, but officials apparently ruled it a touchdown. Either way it makes the score 21-7 Alabama at the start of the second quarter.

End of first quarter: Alabama 21, LSU 0

9 p.m.: LSU gets a 5-yard quarterback sneak to the Alabama 44 to end the first quarter, down three scores.

8:59 p.m.: LSU’s tunnel screen falls maybe a half-yard short of the first down marker on third down, but Allen is called for roughing the passer. That gives Finley and LSU a fresh set of downs at their 42-yard line.

8:56 p.m.: Another LSU mistake: The kick returner calls a fair catch but bobbles the kickoff. That means he gets it where he recovered: the 5-yard line.

8:55 p.m.: By the way, Jones is 8 for 8, 109 yards and one touchdown.

8:52 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. One play later and Jones has his first touchdown of the game. He floats a 24-yarder to Billingsley, who was absolutely alone. Must have been a coverage bust by LSU. Either way, that.makes it 21-0 Alabama with 2:27 in the first.

8:51 p.m.: Alabama goes for it on fourth-and-1: Jones fakes the handoff and throws to Billingsley in the flat. He gets what he needs and more, finishing the 14-yard play by bowling over Derek Stingley Jr. Tide still driving at the LSU 24.

8:51 p.m.: There’s Stevens again, making several plays early for LSU. He’s playing out of his mind early.

8:48 p.m.: An exotic blitz package hits its mark. Safety Daniel Wright and linebacker Will Anderson combine for the 2-yard sack to make it fourth-and-10. LSU’s punt only goes 22 yards, and Alabama will take over at LSU’s 47.

8:44 p.m.: Alabama’s two drives have gone for seven and five plays, respectively; 75 and 84 yards, respectively; and 3:04 and 2:17 of game clock, respectively. They are deadly efficient right now.

8:43 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. And the officials confirm it. That’s a 1-yard touchdown by Harris to make it 14-0 Alabama with 5:35 left in the first.

8:39 p.m.: Another confusing situation. Harris tries to get a goal-line touchdown and is initially stuffed. It appears he extended the ball across the plane, but the ball was knocked out after the fact. Officials did not make a call on the field; the play’s under review.

8:36 p.m.: Oh, boy. Lots to unpack here: Harris gets a 28-yard gain on the toss left, and is tackled out of bounds by an LSU defender at the Tigers 30. That causes Harris to run into LSU senior consultant John Robinson, who bumps his head. He seems to be fine. Either way, Alabama has the ball at LSU’s 15.

8:35 p.m.: Jones with another long completion to tight end Jahleel Billingsley. That’s a 27-yard gain to the Alabama 42.

8:34 p.m.: Turnover, LSU. Alabama’s front seven absolutely stuff Bradford, who gets a net loss. Nice play by linebacker Christopher Allen to crash down on him. The Tide will take over at their 15.

8:34 p.m.: The call stands. Tigers going for it on fourth-and-inches.

8:32 p.m.: Two plays later, LSU is called down short on third-and-2; the spot is being reviewed on the field. As of now it’s fourth-and-inches LSU from the Bama 14.

8:31 p.m.: Nice play by linebacker Dylan Moses, who breaks up a sure completion by running back Tre Bradford.

8:27 p.m.: Timeout LSU (8:51).

8:28 p.m.: LSU is moving the ball well in its opening drive. The offensive line is giving Finley plenty of time (and room) to throw, and the Tigers are at the Alabama 24.

8:26 p.m.: Curious situation on the CBS broadcast; it seems audio has been lost of Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson in the booth, meaning Jamie Erdahl is doing an impromptu play-by-play from the sideline.

8:24 p.m.: TJ Finley finds fullback Tory Carter, who has a nice little collision with Alabama’s Daniel Wright along the sideline to work up the LSU sideline. Tigers may need an energy injection after Bama’s opening drive.

8:20 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, ALABAMA. And there’s the first score: A 14-yard touchdown run by Harris as he cuts and shuffles his way through the LSU second level. That makes it 7-0 Alabama with 11:56 in the first quarter.

8:18 p.m.: One play later, Jones connects with John Metchie III for a 23-yard down gain to the LSU 20.

8:17 p.m.: LSU defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. jumps offsides, giving Alabama a free first down. The Tide are driving at LSU’s 43.

8:15 p.m.: Alabama faces third-and-3 from LSU’s 48. Timeout LSU (12:52).

8:12 p.m.: And now it’s Harris’ turn; he makes a defender miss with a spin move and gets Alabama a new set of downs at the 45.

8:11 p.m.: Mac Jones fakes the snap to Najee Harris and throws a swing pass to DeVonta Smith, who nets 8 yards on the catch.

8:09 p.m.: LSU is set to kick off. The kick goes into the end zone, and Alabama will take over from its 25-yard line.

Alabama vs. LSU start time

• Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
• TV channel: CBS
• Live stream: CBS All Access, fuboTV

Alabama vs. LSU will be broadcast live on CBS starting at 8 p.m. ET. Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson will call the game from the booth and Jamie Erdahl will serve as the sideline reporter.

Alabama football schedule 2020

LSU football schedule 2020

* Reflects SEC schedule change