Alabama’s defense is great, but LSU’s offense played uninspired and without imagination in a 21-0 loss in the BCS National Championship game. The big play that fueled LSU all season long, never came.
 
Forget about finding the end zone, the Tigers couldn’t get past the 50-yard line, until the middle of the 4th quarter. It’s the first time the Tigers have been shutout since 2002. Nick Saban was the coach of LSU and the opponent was Alabama.
 
The Fighting Tigers were held to just 92 yards and Quarterback Jordan Jefferson completed 11 of 17 passes for 53 yards and one interception. He also fumbled three times, losing one. Jefferson was also sacked four times.
 
The fans chanted for backup Jarrett Lee, but the redshirt senior never saw the field.
 
While Jefferson struggled, AJ McCarron was sharp as he completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards. McCarron found tight end Brad Smelley early and often as he caught seven passes for 39 yards. Trent Richardson rushed for 96 yards and former Dutchtown star Eddie Lacy was also solid, with carries for 234 yards.
 
LSU looked bad from its first possession. They went three-and-out on their first two drives. The Bayou Bengals first possession ended when Jefferson fumbled the snap on third down, setting up a punt. The Tigers put themselves in a hole on the second drive, when they had a false start on first down. Two plays later it was 3rd-and-10, and the Tigers played it safe with an option play to the short side of the field that resulted in zero yards.
 
After the play, punter Brad Wing hit a line-drive punt that allowed Marquis Maze to return it 49 yards to the LSU 26-yard line. Maze appeared to hurt his hamstring on the play as he didn’t even try to run past Wing. Maze would not return.
 
With Alabama having great field position, LSU’s defense would allow one first down, before Alabama had to settle for a field goal. Jeremy Shelley knocked it through the uprights on a 23-yard try, giving Alabama a 3-0 lead with 5:00 to go in the 1st quarter.
 
The first quarter ended with Alabama leading 3-0. The Crimson Tide’s offense was much more efficient and McCarron looked in control. The sophomore quarterback was 8-of-11 for 88 yards. Smelley was his favorite target with four catches for 32 yards.
 
The first quarter ended with a 26-yard pass to Kevin Norwood, who leaped over Tyrann Mathieu to make an acrobatic catch. A few plays later Alabama was facing a 48-yard field goal, but Bama ran a fake as the holder, McCarron, threw a shuffle pass to Chris Underwood who barely picked up the first down on 4th-and-4.
 
But the Alabama drive would stall after back-to-back defensive plays by the Honey Badger. Mathieu tackled Richardson after just a three-yard gain and had the coverage on a third-down pass play. That would set up a 42-yard field goal by Shelley, who had the kick blocked by defensive tackle Michael Brockers.
 
But Alabama was able to score on its next drive, as Shelley made a 34-yard field goal with 4:18 left in the first half to give the Tide a 6-0 lead. It was drive where Alabama got its running game going. Richardson had a 20-yard run and Lacy had a nine-yard run to get the ball into the red zone.
 
The Crimson Tide added another field as the time expired in the 1st half. Shelley drilled a 41-yard field goal to cap off a 9-play, 52 yard drive.
 
It was 9-0 Alabama and they absolutely dominated the 1st half, 13 first downs to LSU’s one. The Tide had 225 yards to LSU’s 43. McCarron was 18 of 25 for 156 yards. Jefferson was a shaky 6 of 7 for 26 yards and two fumbles.
 
The Crimson Tide started the 3rd quarter with another field goal. Shelley sailed one through the uprights on a 35-yard field to give the Crimson Tide a 12-0 lead with 12:49 left in the 3rd quarter. McCarron started the second half red hot, with a 19-yard pass to Darius Hanks and 26-yard completion to Kenny Bell. But Alabama’s drive stalled once it got inside the red zone.
 
Shelley would kick a BCS record fifth field goal right before the end of the third quarter to give the Tide a 15-0 lead. It capped a six-play, 20-yard drive that was set up by another good punt return. Christion Jordan returned Wing’s punt 15 yards to the LSU 47-yard line. Lacy had back-to-back 11 yard runs to move the ball into field goal territory.
 
After three quarters. Alabama had 326 total yards to LSU’s 66.
 
LSU’s offense was able to get across the 50-yard line in the 4th quarter. But that was about it. Richardson put the nail in the coffin with a 34-yard touchdown run.
 
The greatest season in LSU football history, ended with the most disappointing loss ever suffered by the Tigers. Fans will always wonder if the Tigers would have had a chance if Lee played.

(Photo by Steve Franz, LSU Athletics)