Alabama vs LSU is a major SEC college football matchup scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama enters the season’s matchup 5-0, while LSU is 4-1. Alabama leads the all-time series 58-27-5 after winning the 2025 meeting, 20-9.
Key Takeaways
- Alabama and LSU meet on November 7, 2026, at LSU’s Tiger Stadium.
- Alabama is 5-0 and ranked No. 6 in the latest AP Top 25.
- LSU is 4-1 and ranked No. 10 nationally.
- Alabama leads the all-time series 58-27-5.
- Alabama has won the last three meetings, including a 20-9 victory in 2025.
Alabama vs LSU 2026: Quick Game Details
The 2026 Alabama vs LSU game is set for Saturday, November 7, with the Crimson Tide traveling to Baton Rouge to face the Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Both programs are entering the matchup with strong early-season records, making this one of the more important SEC games on the late-season schedule.
The exact kickoff time is currently listed as Flex. Alabama’s official schedule says the SEC’s Flex window can place a game in either the afternoon or evening, while LSU lists the matchup with a similar Flex window.
| Game Detail | Information |
| Teams | Alabama Crimson Tide vs LSU Tigers |
| Date | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Location | Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Conference | SEC |
| Alabama 2026 record | 5-0 |
| LSU 2026 record | 4-1 |
| Alabama AP ranking | No. 6 |
| LSU AP ranking | No. 10 |
| Kickoff | Flex window; exact time TBA |
The matchup is particularly interesting because Alabama and LSU are both ranked inside the AP Top 10 as of the October 4 poll. Alabama was No. 6 after a 5-0 start, while LSU entered the poll at No. 10 with a 4-1 record.
Alabama vs LSU 2026: What to Know Before the Game
Alabama has started the 2026 season perfectly. The Crimson Tide opened with victories over East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina and Mississippi State. Through October 3, Alabama was 5-0 overall and 3-0 in SEC play.
The Tide’s most recent result was especially impressive. Alabama defeated Mississippi State 56-23 on October 3, continuing its unbeaten start and helping the team move to No. 6 in the AP Top 25.
LSU has also put together an impressive start under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin. The Tigers opened the season with a 51-10 win over Clemson, followed that with victories over Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M, then lost 32-24 at Ole Miss before responding with a 63-14 win over McNeese.
That leaves LSU at 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play heading into the remainder of October. The Tigers’ strong start has pushed them into the AP Top 10.
Alabama vs LSU Recent Results
The recent history strongly favors Alabama.
The Crimson Tide won the 2025 meeting 20-9 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s defense did not allow LSU to score a touchdown, while quarterback Ty Simpson passed for 277 yards and a touchdown.
The 2024 game was even more decisive. Alabama defeated LSU 42-13 in Tiger Stadium, with quarterback Jalen Milroe rushing for four touchdowns.
The 2023 meeting was another Alabama victory, with the Crimson Tide winning 42-28 in Tuscaloosa. However, LSU won the 2022 classic, defeating Alabama 32-31 in overtime in Baton Rouge.
| Year | Winner | Score | Location |
| 2025 | Alabama | 20-9 | Tuscaloosa |
| 2024 | Alabama | 42-13 | Baton Rouge |
| 2023 | Alabama | 42-28 | Tuscaloosa |
| 2022 | LSU | 32-31 OT | Baton Rouge |
| 2021 | Alabama | 20-14 | Tuscaloosa |
Alabama has therefore won three straight entering the 2026 matchup.
Alabama vs LSU All-Time Rivalry Record
The Alabama-LSU series dates back to 1895, when LSU won the first meeting 12-6 in Baton Rouge.
More than a century later, Alabama holds a substantial advantage in the overall series. The Crimson Tide leads LSU 58-27-5 through the 2025 season. Alabama has also won eight of the last 10 meetings.
The rivalry has produced plenty of memorable games, but the 2022 matchup stands out for its recent drama. LSU won 32-31 in overtime at Tiger Stadium after Alabama had rallied to tie the game late in regulation.
Another historic chapter came in 2011. Alabama and LSU entered their regular-season meeting ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. LSU won the regular-season matchup 9-6 in overtime, but Alabama later defeated LSU 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game.
The rivalry’s importance grew even further during the Nick Saban era because Saban coached LSU before becoming Alabama’s head coach. That connection helped give the matchup its famous “Saban Bowl” label.
Alabama vs LSU 2026 Team Comparison
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama comes into the matchup with a perfect 5-0 record and a 3-0 mark in SEC play. The Crimson Tide has scored at least 45 points in each of its first five games, including 56 against Mississippi State.
Quarterback Keelon Russell is one of the key players to watch. Alabama’s official game center lists Russell among the team’s leading performers, including 256 passing yards and 86 rushing yards in the available season data.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer is in his third season leading Alabama in 2026. Alabama extended his contract through the 2033 season in April 2026, showing the program’s continued commitment to his leadership.
LSU Tigers
LSU enters the matchup at 4-1 and ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25.
The Tigers have been especially strong at home so far. LSU’s first four games of 2026 were played in Tiger Stadium, and the Tigers won all four, including impressive victories over Clemson and Texas A&M.
The biggest storyline is the arrival of Lane Kiffin, who became LSU’s 37th head football coach in November 2025. The 2026 campaign is his first season in Baton Rouge.
That makes Alabama vs LSU 2026 more than another chapter in an old rivalry. It is also an important test of Kiffin’s new LSU program against one of the SEC’s established powers.
Kalen DeBoer vs Lane Kiffin
The coaching matchup adds another layer to the game.
DeBoer has already established Alabama as a national contender during his tenure, while Kiffin arrived at LSU after building Ole Miss into a consistent SEC contender. LSU officially describes Kiffin as an offensive-minded coach who led Ole Miss to four double-digit-win seasons in six years.
Kiffin’s arrival also gives the rivalry a fresh storyline. Instead of focusing only on the long Saban-era history, fans now get a matchup between two coaches trying to establish their own identities in the SEC.
For LSU, beating Alabama at Tiger Stadium would be a major statement for the new era. For Alabama, winning on the road would strengthen an already excellent start and extend its recent dominance over the Tigers.
What Could Decide Alabama vs LSU?
1. Quarterback play
Both teams have quarterbacks capable of changing the game. Alabama’s ability to move the ball efficiently against LSU’s defense will be important, especially in a hostile road environment.
2. LSU’s home-field advantage
Tiger Stadium is one of the most recognizable venues in college football. LSU is unbeaten at home through its first four games of 2026, so Alabama will face a significantly different challenge than it does in Tuscaloosa.
3. Turnovers
Recent Alabama-LSU games show how important mistakes can be. In the 2025 meeting, Alabama’s defense forced turnovers and held LSU without a touchdown in a 20-9 victory.
4. Late-game execution
This series has produced close finishes, including LSU’s overtime win in 2022. If the 2026 game is tight in the fourth quarter, field position, third-down conversions and special teams could become decisive.
Why Alabama vs LSU Is Such a Big SEC Rivalry
Alabama vs LSU is one of the SEC’s most recognizable matchups because of the programs’ histories, national championship aspirations and long series history.
The teams first met in 1895 and have played regularly for decades, with the series becoming an annual fixture in the modern SEC era. Alabama’s current 58-27-5 advantage reflects a long history of Crimson Tide success, although LSU has produced important wins of its own.
The rivalry also has an unusual balance between historical dominance and dramatic individual games. Alabama may lead the overall series, but LSU has delivered major victories, including the 2022 overtime thriller and the 2011 regular-season win between two top-ranked teams.
The 2026 edition adds another compelling element: LSU is beginning a new era under Lane Kiffin while Alabama continues under Kalen DeBoer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Alabama vs LSU in 2026?
Alabama vs LSU is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026. The game will be played at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The official schedules currently list the kickoff as a Flex SEC window rather than a finalized time.
Where is Alabama vs LSU being played?
The 2026 game will be played at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, giving LSU home-field advantage. The Tigers have been perfect at home through their first four games of the 2026 season.
Who won the last Alabama vs LSU game?
Alabama won the most recent meeting 20-9 on November 8, 2025, in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide’s defense held LSU without a touchdown.
What is the Alabama vs LSU all-time record?
Alabama leads the all-time series 58-27-5 through the 2025 meeting. The Crimson Tide has also won the last three games between the teams.
Is Alabama vs LSU a rivalry?
Yes. Alabama and LSU have a long-running SEC rivalry dating to 1895. The matchup became especially prominent during the Nick Saban era, when Saban had previously coached LSU before taking over Alabama.
Conclusion
Alabama vs LSU 2026 has all the ingredients of another major SEC showdown. Alabama enters the season’s matchup unbeaten and ranked No. 6, while LSU is 4-1 and ranked No. 10 after an impressive start under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin.
The game is scheduled for November 7 at Tiger Stadium, where LSU will look to use its home-field advantage and challenge Alabama’s recent control of the series. Alabama has won the last three meetings and leads the all-time rivalry 58-27-5.
With two Top-10 SEC teams, two high-profile coaches and a rivalry stretching back more than 130 years, this is a matchup college football fans will have circled on the calendar.
