LSU vs. Alabama score, live updates from an SEC rivalry game

LSU suffered an embarrassing home loss to Texas A&M on Oct. 25, then fired fourth-year coach Brian Kelly the next day.

Now interim coach Frank Wilson will lead the unranked Tigers (5-3) into a road matchup with No. 4 Alabama (6:30 p.m., ABC). The Crimson Tide dropped its season opener to Florida State but has since rattled off seven straight wins, including four over ranked teams.

LSU can no longer make the College Football Playoff, but it can still spoil the postseason hopes of arguably its biggest rival. Will a new offensive play caller help the Tigers sustain more drives? Can the defense bounce back from a pair of disappointing showings?

Follow along here to get the answers. We'll be providing live updates and analysis from LSU's first game without Kelly here.

Fourth Quarter

10:03 p.m. — Final: LSU loses 20-9 to No. 4 Alabama to drop to 5-4. The Tigers have now lost 13 of their last 15 matchups with the Crimson Tide. Next, they'll return home to face Arkansas at 11:45 a.m. next Saturday.

9:53 p.m. — And that'll do it. Michael Van Buren is stripped by Yhonzae Pierre, and Alabama recovers the fumble at the LSU 26. The Tigers had chances to come away with an upset. But too many miscues on offense, especially in the red zone, got in the way.

9:47 p.m. — After a beautiful pass break-up by AJ Haulcy on third down, Alabama settles for a 44-yard field goal that gives it a two-score lead. It's 20-9 with 4:25 left to play.

9:41 p.m. — Trey'Dez Green was wide open on third and 9, but he dropped a perfectly thrown pass by Van Buren. He might still be running if he caught it. Brutal for LSU, which punted from the end zone. Alabama still leads 17-9.

9:36 p.m. — Harold Perkins, again. That time, he hit Simpson as he was throwing, and it may have affected the pass to Ryan Williams, which fell incomplete. Alabama punts and downs the ball inside the LSU 5-yard line. Tigers have a chance here.

9:27 p.m. — Damian Ramos kicks a 37-yard field goal, and suddenly, we have a one-score ball game.

But once again, the LSU offense fizzles in the red zone. Michael Van Buren connected with Barion Brown for a 19-yard gain on third and 13 to set the Tigers up with a first and goal from the 7. Then...

Carius Curne jumped offsides

Van Buren took a 10-yard sack

Van Buren threw incomplete

Harlem Berry picked up 2 yards.

LSU has zero touchdowns on four red-zone trips tonight.

9:19 p.m. — Hello, Harold Perkins. He blitzed, powered through an Alabama running back, stripped the ball out of quarterback Ty Simpson's hands and recovered it himself at the Tide's 38-yard line.

LSU has been missing those kinds of plays all season. Let's see if Michael Van Buren can bring the Tigers within one score.

9:16 p.m. — Just a field goal by LSU in third quarter. The Tigers were about to go for a fourth and 1 on their last drive of the frame, but tight end Bauer Sharp jumped offside. The Tigers then punted for the third time tonight, and now Alabama is driving.

Third Quarter

9:01 p.m. — After Garrett Nussmeier took a sack on third down that forced LSU to settle for a long field goal and received an earful from interim coach Frank Wilson, Michael Van Buren is now in at quarterback.

Big change for LSU. Wilson hinted throughout the week that Van Buren could get a look vs. Alabama.

Crimson Tide lead 17-6, 4:30 3Q.

Second Quarter

8:08 p.m. — And that seven-play sequence may have just settled the game. Alabama missed a field goal but then forced a three and out and marched into a 13-yard touchdown pass to star receiver Ryan Williams. Quarterback Ty Simpson completed a 53-yard pass to Lotzeir Brooks to set up the score.

LSU could've tied the game before halftime.

Instead, it'll start the second half down 17-3.

8:05 p.m. — LSU goes three and out.

8:00 p.m. — Wow. Alabama kicker Conor Talty misses a 26-yard field goal. That's two chip-shot misses tonight — one by either kicker. Let's see if the LSU offense can take advantage on this two-minute drive. Remember, Tigers get the ball to start the second half.

Alabama 10-3, 2:00.

7:50 p.m. — Third downs are still a major issue for LSU: 2 of 6 so far tonight. Tigers' fourth drive ends in a punt.

7:44 p.m. — Alabama takes a 10-3 lead with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Cornerback PJ Woodland committed pass interference on a third and 5 play, giving the Tide a fresh set of downs inside the LSU 5-yard line.

7:31 p.m. — LSU receiver Aaron Anderson left the field an injury after catching a pass on third down, and Damian Ramos kicked a field goal to tie the game. It does, however, look like Anderson is trying to return to the game.

First Quarter

7:17 p.m. — Alabama capitalizes on the fumble with a 45-yard field goal. Tide up 3-0.

7:14 p.m. — LSU dialed up a nice tunnel screen to tight end Bauer Sharp on third down, but he fumbled, and Alabama recovered on the Tigers' 24-yard line. Poor, poor start on offense for LSU. Two fumbles (one lost), a burned timeout and a missed field goal in the red zone.

7:06 p.m. — Two Alabama drives, two stops for LSU. That time, a blitz got to quarterback Ty Simpson, forcing him into a throwaway. Much better start for Blake Baker's defense, which really struggled in the last two games.

7:00 p.m. — LSU could've taken a 3-0 lead, but Damian Ramos missed a 30-yard field goal. Tough break for the Tigers, who have struggled in the red zone all season. That time, Garrett Nussmeier burned a timeout, and his offense couldn't convert a third and 7. Familiar story for the Tigers.

0-0, 4:49 1st.

6:50 p.m. — LSU's defense stopped Alabama's opening drive on a fourth and short. Big tackle there by West Weeks. That looked more like the Tigers defense we saw in the first four weeks of the season.

6:45 p.m. — LSU won the coin toss. And that's a big deal because, before tonight, it had lost 12 — yes, 12 — consecutive coin tosses. The skid is finally over. The Tigers deferred to the second half, giving Alabama the ball to start the game.

Pregame updates

6:17 p.m. — DJ Chester was announced as LSU's starting left tackle, not Carius Curne. Something to watch ahead of kickoff. Remember, Tyree Adams is expected to miss the rest of the season after he underwent tightrope surgery for the high ankle sprain he suffered against Vanderbilt.

5:33 p.m. — LSU has new warm-up shirts for its first game under interim coach Frank Wilson. Now, they have "ALL IN" on the back. Before they had "1-0" in that spot.

5:25 p.m. — Bad news. The Disney-Google standoff that began last week when LSU had an open date has unfortunately spilled into a second slate of college football games, which means that if you're a YouTube TV subscriber (like me!), then you'll need to find a different way to watch LSU-Alabama tonight.

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