Jalen Milroe leads No. 8 Alabama to 42-28 victory over No. 13 LSU

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe scores a running touchdown against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns and passed for another 219 yards to lead No. 8 Alabama to a 42-28 victory over No. 13 LSU Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

Milroe matched big plays both running and passing with the Tigers’ Heisman Trophy candidate Jayden Daniels and the Crimson Tide (8-1, 6-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 8 CFP) moved closer to locking down an SEC West title.

Daniels and Milroe were both putting on dazzling dual-threat displays. But the Heisman Trophy contender for the Tigers (6-3, 4-2) was hurt on a hard hit that drew a flag early in the fourth quarter. He briefly reentered the game but didn’t run a play, heading to the medical tent after a penalty and a timeout, where his mother joined him.

CBS reported he was in concussion protocol.

Daniels lay face down before walking off after the hit by Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner that drew a roughing the passer flag.

Milroe, meanwhile, had likely his best all-around game, putting up Daniels-like numbers. He completed 15 of 23 passes and had 20 carries, setting a Tide single-game record for rushing TDs by a quarterback.

Daniels also passed for 219 yards with two touchdowns, while running for 163 yards and a score. His lone negative play proved a big one. Turner deflected a fourth-quarter pass into the air and Terrion Arnold intercepted it, setting up Jase McClellan’s 10-yard scoring run to push the margin to two touchdowns.

Garrett Nussmeier finished off the game and did move LSU into Alabama territory late.

Malik Nabers, the nation’s leading receiver had 10 catches for 171 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown on the Tigers’ opening drive.

Both starting quarterbacks had 100-plus rushing yards and topped 160 passing by halftime, when it was tied 21-21.

The teams traded rushing touchdowns by Josh Williams and Roydell Williams in the third quarter.

Alabama has moved one step closer to winning the SEC West. The Tide needs Mississippi to lose again or to beat either Kentucky or Auburn.

The Tide’s Will Reichard, in his graduate year, became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer among kickers with an extra point in the third quarter. He passed Austin Seibert’s record of 499 set from 2015-18 at Oklahoma.

Alabama keeps inching back up the rankings. LSU shouldn’t fall too far — but could have bigger issues if Daniels is out.

Up next, Alabama visits Kentucky and has two of its last three on the road.

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