LSU VS ALABAMA 2026 PREVIEW PT.I: OVERVIEW / WHY THE PASSING GAME IS THE BIGGEST X FACTOR + MORE

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

LSU vs Alabama...

A de facto playoff game in November...just like old times....

But unlike past Tigers vs Tide bloodborne brawls of yesteryear, the 2026 edition will feature two teams each carrying 2 defeats already....and yet a unique opportunity lies ahead for the winners:

While there is zero room for error as far as taking a 3rd loss, the winner would ascend atop the SEC mountain, simultaneously cast as the team to beat and the team nobody wants to play.

There are so many storylines, subplots, black hole question marks and intriguing revelations concerning each team before us, even questions about the future of the rivalry (LSU won't be playing Alabama in 2027, will travel to Tuscaloosa in 2028 and no further scheduling after that)...all backed by stark premonitions for both squads to navigate.

It's Lane Kiffin vs Kalen DeBoer, Sam Leavitt vs Keelon Russell, three strong Alabama receivers (3 WRs with 400+ yards apiece) up against an elite, albeit younger LSU cornerback tandem (DJ Pickett & PJ Woodland), offensive weapons Trey'dez Green, Dilin Jones and Jackson Harris vs Alabama's inconsistent defense, fronted by what should be yet another savage battle within the trenches, and it's all happening amid a backdrop of Tiger Stadium...the majestic, sunkissed Roman coliseum standing as one of the final remaining gladiator grounds....the game reaching its climax as the sun fades into moonlit twilight.

It may not be Death Valley at night for kickoff, however, in a series as fabled, as storied, and as entertaining as LSU vs Alabama, none of that matters in the grand scheme of things: Death Valley will be rocking.... ready to roll up the Tide in a carpet, and send 'em packing back to Tuscaloosa for a Gator Bowl invitation.

There's been so many magical moments, stunning highs, some crushing lows, wild twists and turns throughout the LSU vs Alabama rivalry...College football's ultimate 21st century showdown:

From the 2001 Josh Reed game, the 9-6 Game of the Century Pt.I in 2011 & the January 2012 BCS Championship Game rematch, 2013 & 2015's excruciating LSU defeats, the Tiger rise and bitter Tide betrayal of Nick Saban reaching cinematic levels, the epic 2019 Game of the Century Pt.II, the Mason Taylor 2 point conversion / field-storming masterpiece in 2022.....there's been one classic after another.

Will this upcoming 2026 edition slide alongside these historic games as yet another edition of LSU vs Alabama madness and November delirium???

In those aforementioned bouts between LSU and Alabama, LSU fans witnessed supernatural individual performances, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Joe Burrow, Josh Reed, Eric Reid, Rohan Davey, Tyrann Mathieu, Jayden Daniels, Mason Taylor, LaRon Landry....which Tigers will rise and be counted next?

From 10,000 feet, we're looking at a game that'll be won by the more explosive passing attack, the quarterback who can avoid turnovers as well as escaping negative plays (i.e sacks & TFLs), scrambling amid pressure and moving the chains, and of course, the battle in the trenches...however, we're talking about a game where every phase of play, every detail, and every yard matters.

Principally, I feel LSU's ability to stop Alabama's trio of receivers will be the biggest plot line all afternoon and evening: CBs DJ Pickett, PJ Woodland and likely Ty Benefield will face off against Ryan Williams, Rico Scott and Lotzeir Brooks (8 combined TDs, 23-29 catches each, and 400+ yards a piece), while neither Pickett nor Woodland have allowed a single TD catch over 8 games, both batted down 7 passes, with Pickett catching 1 INT & surrendering a 56.3 passer rating.

When the Tigers lost @ Ole Miss and Kentucky, Corey Raymond's DBs and Jake Olsen's safeties were picked on in coverage alongside the LSU LBs, showing a major weakness defending tight windows, better quarterbacks, and helping out receivers by playing a soft zone coverage.

That cannot happen vs Alabama...

Pickett, Woodland, Benefield, whoever is in coverage must jam these Alabama wideouts at the line, disrupting their routes and timing or QB Keelon Russell will have a good chance to grow into the game, regardless of the pressure from Princewill and Jordan Ross.

And at the backend for plays downfield, I expect Alabama's offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, to attack young red shirt freshman Jhase Thomas over the top.....#28 needs to be ready for any shot coming his way, especially on play action sets.

MORE TO COME IN PT. II, INCLUDING LSU & ALABAMA'S INJURIES HEADING INTO SATURDAY, WHIT WEEKS' PROGRESS DURING HIS OFFICIAL RETURN TO PRACTICE, TREY'DEZ GREEN, THE BATTLE INSIDE THE TRENCHES EXAMINED & MUCH MUCH MORE!!!

Next, LSUOdyssey will finish the preview in Part II, then will preview the game again as a special guest tomorrow (Wednesday) on the Our Lads Football Podcast at 1pm central....links will be posted on our site!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, READERSHIP, VIEWERSHIP & TIGERHOOD!!!

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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