Alabama football and LSU football have played games against each other for over 100 years, making for a heated rivalry and Nick Saban added fuel to the fire.
The Alabama-LSU rivalry has been going on for so long that it seems short-sighted to call it the “Saban Bowl.”
But that’s really what it has been since Nick Saban brought the Tigers a national championship in 2003, left for the NFL and returned to college football to create a dynasty with a bitter rival.
These days, it’s all about Saban’s Crimson Tide and the team he scorned. Still, the rivalry has a rich history going back a long, long way.
Alabama-LSU football rivalry: First meeting
The two sides met for the first time in Baton Rouge on Nov. 18, 1895. The Tigers came away victorious, 12-6. When they met again in 1902, LSU won again.
The Crimson Tide grabbed their first victory in the series in 1903 in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama-LSU football rivalry: Latest meeting
Saban and Alabama had revenge on their mind when they faced the Tigers in 2020. The Crimson Tide stomped Ed Orgeron’s team at Tiger Stadium, 55-17, to avenge their 2019 loss.
Alabama-LSU football rivalry: Rivalry trophy
There is no rivalry trophy shared by the two teams.
Alabama-LSU football rivalry: Meeting totals
There have been 85 meetings between the SEC West rivals. They have played every year since 1964 uninterrupted.
Alabama-LSU football rivalry: All-time series record
The Crimson Tide has a clear edge in the rivalry with 54 wins to the Tigers’ 26. There have been five ties in the series.
Alabama-LSU football rivalry: Longest winning streak
The longest winning streak in the series belongs to the Crimson Tide. They won 11-straight meetings from 1971 to 1981 during the Bear Bryant era.
The first victory saw No. 4 Alabama beat No. 18 LSU, 14-7. The Crimson Tide were ranked in all 11 meetings during that stretch.
No. 11 LSU finally broke the streak with a 20-10 win over No. 8 Alabama in 1982.
Alabama went 12-games unbeaten from 1919 to 1945 with three ties along the way.
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