The Alabama Crimson Tide were expected to stomp LSU in Tuscaloosa but, as the Tigers jumped out to an early lead, the college football media was stunned.
Despite having one loss on the ledger, the Alabama Crimson Tide were ranked No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the year. Though it was shocking, few people had arguments that Nick Saban’s team was the second-best in the country. Thus, it should’ve been a cakewalk against LSU, a team ravaged by injuries and with a lame-duck head coach.
After all, Alabama came into the game as a 28.5-point favorite over the Tigers, even if it is a rivalry game.
However, they play the games for a reason and LSU stood as a testament to that early on. Not only did the defense cause a ton of problems for Bryce Young and the offense but Ed Orgeron dialed up some trickery with a fake punt that led to a Tigers touchdown.
So, with the Crimson Tide trailing 7-0 midway through the second quarter, suffice it to say that the college football world was stunned by how things were unfolding.
College football media reacts to Alabama getting beat by LSU early
Didn’t expect to be watching Alabama and LSU for this long.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) November 6, 2021
Alabama, u up?
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) November 6, 2021
Alabama asleep against LSU. Weird start.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) November 6, 2021
This is the worst I've seen Alabama play in a long time.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) November 6, 2021
Nothing easy this Saturday. Oregon down 7-0 to Washington. Alabama looks asleep against LSU. Only Georgia has cruised.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 6, 2021
This ain’t it for Alabama.
— Jon Lunceford (@jlunce) November 6, 2021
Through four Alabama drives, #LSU has held the Tide to zero points on 3.4 yards per play.
— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) November 6, 2021
If it weren't for two incredible Bryce Young scrambles, it would be even worse.
And just to reiterate, LSU is without nine defenders who have started multiple games.
Noting this season resembles the Alabama standard … they could win the natty and I would stick to that statement.
— Parker Branton (@ParkerBranton) November 7, 2021
I know Alabama is young and VERY talented BUT this is one of the most unorganized Bama teams I’ve ever seen…
— Arielle Schafer (@arielle_schafer) November 6, 2021
Perhaps the best point made there is how erratic Alabama has been this season.
There have been times this year when the Crimson Tide have looked destined to add another National Championship to the trophy case. But in other moments, the first quarter-and-a-half against LSU included, they have looked wholly beatable.
With only a few weeks in the regular season remaining and their spot in the SEC Championship Game far from locked up, there are still big concerns for Saban to iron out with this team.
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