Alabama's defense stuffed the nation's most talented rusher for the second year in a row Saturday en route to a 10-0 win over the rival Tigers in Baton Rouge.
Leonard Fournette rushed for just 35 yards on 17 carries in a physical, defensive game that went to the fourth quarter scoreless. The Tigers star junior, who ran for a school record 284 yards against Ole Miss in LSU's last game, found the holes to be much less inviting against the Crimson Tide. It was the first time this season Fournette was held under 100 yards, and the second year in a row that he's been stopped cold in the Alabama series. He ran for just 31 yards on 19 carries in a loss to Alabama last year that all but ended his hopes of winning the Heisman Trophy. His best game to date against Alabama came as a freshman in 2014 (21 carries, 79 yards).
Fournette will decide after the season whether to apply for early eligibility in the 2017 NFL Draft.
While it wasn't Fournette's night by any stretch, it was a showcase performance for a multitude of draft prospects on the Alabama defense. Linebacker Reuben Foster, who has been projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, made a team-high 11 tackles with an assisted sack. Alabama had five sacks on the night, including 2.5 from DL Jonathan Allen and LBs Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson, each of whom is considered an early 2017 pick, as well.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for a 21-yard touchdown on a scramble in the fourth quarter, and provided a key run on a subsequent drive that led to an Adam Griffith field goal to put the game out of reach.
Alabama (9-0) is ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Tigers (5-3) absorbed their first loss since interim coach Ed Orgeron took over for fired coach Les Miles.
Hurts finished with 114 rushing yards on 20 carries, the freshman's third game this season over the 100-yard mark.
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