| LSU vs. Alabama, 2011 "Game of the Century" (2011 version) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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 A moment of the game, with LSU looking to score a field goal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | November 5, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Bryant–Denny Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Alabama by 4.5[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Tom Ritter[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | Million Dollar Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 101,821[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) Gary Danielson (color) Tracy Wolfson (sideline) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nielsen ratings | 11.5[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2011 LSU vs. Alabama football game was a regular-season college football game between the unbeaten LSU Tigers (ranked No. 1 in the nation), and the unbeaten Alabama Crimson Tide (ranked No. 2 in the nation) on November 5, 2011, at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Coined a "Game of the Century," this was the first time two Southeastern Conference (SEC) football teams came into a regular season matchup undefeated and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. In a game dominated by defense and special teams, LSU won in overtime 9–6. LSU kicker Drew Alleman made all 3 of his field goals, while Alabama kickers Jeremy Shelley and Cade Foster made only 2 out of their 6 attempts, proving to be decisive in the game.
LSU and Alabama first met on the field in 1895, and have met annually since 1964. When former LSU head coach Nick Saban was hired in the same capacity at Alabama, their annual contest became, arguably, an even more heated rivalry than before. At the start of the 2011 season, Alabama was ranked No. 2 and LSU was ranked No. 4 in all of the major college polls, and prior to their annual meeting, each team defeated all eight of their opponents, and LSU moved into the No. 1 spot after a victory over West Virginia. Statistically, the game matched two of the top defenses in both the SEC and all of college football.
Alabama received the ball to begin the game. After a scoreless first quarter in which Alabama missed two field goals, both teams scored field goals in the second; Alabama also had another attempt blocked early in the second quarter, that left the score tied 3–3 at halftime. Alabama took a 6–3 lead in the third, but LSU tied the game at 6–6 in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. In the overtime period, Alabama missed a 52-yard field goal. LSU then connected on a 25-yard field goal to win the game 9–6.
In the weeks after the game, both teams defeated their remaining opponents, and LSU captured the SEC Championship, after they defeated Georgia 42–10. On December 4, 2011, the final Bowl Championship Series standings were released with LSU ranked No. 1 and Alabama ranked No. 2 to set up a rematch in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. In the rematch, Alabama defeated LSU 21–0 and captured the 2011 national championship.
- ^ Sharp, Andrew (November 5, 2011). "LSU vs. Alabama Odds: Will the winner be a national title favorite?". SBNation.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
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