The LSU Tigers hadn’t beat Alabama since the original “Game of the Century,” back in 2011.

That changed on Saturday. This game was much more deserving of that monacure than the game in 2011, which featured #1 LSU visiting the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide.

That game was a defensive stalemate, with Alabama missing four out of their six field goal attempts, and no touchdowns being scored. A great statistic from that game, is that there were 50, yes 5-0 future NFL players on the two teams when they took the field in 2011.

The final score of that game was 9-6 LSU in Overtime.

LSU has not beaten Alabama since this game, including a 21-0 loss in that year’s BCS National Title game, and a 29-0 loss last year, in which LSU was supposed to provide a challenge to Bama.

The reason for these losses can be argued, whether it was Les Miles’ anemic offense, or Coach Saban simply out coaching the Tigers, or maybe even it’s as simple as the Tide just being more talented; the fact of the matter is, the Tigers had lost eight straight against Alabama going into Saturday.

For Alabama, it has been easy being a fan since that game.

Alabama has been the closest thing to the New England Patriots in college football, being in title contention every year, and only losing more than two games twice in the near decade since the 2011 battle.

Alabama has won four of their five championships in this millennium since 2011, winning in 2011, and 2012, and then again in 2015, and again in 2017.

Alabama has had 76 NFL players drafted since 2011, and 25 taken in the first round, including Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Amari Cooper, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and probable rookie of the year Josh Jacobs.

Everything was set up for Saturday’s showdown. Both LSU and ‘Bama came into the game 8-0, and with great talent all around.

This game was never going to be 9-6 like the one before it, not with the Quarterbacks for both schools. LSU’s Joe Burrow, a transfer from Ohio State has been lighting up college football this year. Burrow came into the game with 2,800 yards and 29 touchdowns, making him the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.

We all know Alabama’s signal-caller, Tua Tagovailoa, who won the Heisman Trophy two seasons ago, and having made the miraculous comeback against Georgia in the 2017 National Championship game.

The game started with Alabama’s offense, and four plays later they were on the goal line. Tua proceeded to fumble the ball on the goal line, and LSU recovered and scored a touchdown. The Tigers forced a punt and kicked a field goal to go up 10-0 early in the game.

The Tigers forced another punt, goit the ball back and had to punt themselves, they punted to Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle, who returned the kick 77 yards for a touchdown.

LSU answered this score with an eight play, 75 yard scoring drive, but only held a nine point lead after the PAT was blocked, the score was 16-7.

Alabama felt the pressure, and went for it on fourth and one on their next drive, amnd got stuffed for no gain.

LSU was unable to do anything with this, and ‘Bama got the ball back and scored on a 64-yard pass to Devonta Smith, to make the score 16-13.

LSU ended the half with a field goal, a touchdown, a take-away, and another touchdown and went into the half up 33-13.

It felt like even with the huge lead, the game wasn’t over, there was the feeling that LSU would have to score more points to hold off ‘Bama.

We were right.

Alabama scored on their second possession of the half, to make the score 33-20, after another stop, they would score again to make the score 33-27.

LSU attempted to slam the door shut with a 12 play scoring drive to push the lead back up to 12 points, 39-27.

Tua and Co. were having none of it, going on their own 14 play scoring drive to pull within five, 39-34.

LSU was able to score to extend the lead back to 12, 46-34, and Alabama scored on an 85 yard touchdown to solidify the final score, 46-41.

LSU was finally able to beat Alabama for the first time in nearly a decade, and Joe Burrow had his Heisman moment.

The Tigers should be rewarded with the number one ranking in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee, but only time will tell.