Alabama survives at Mississippi State

Crimson Tide stay unbeaten thanks to last-minute TD pass.

Jalen Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds remaining to lift No. 2 Alabama over No. 16 Mississippi State 31-24 on Saturday night.

Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC) won its 10th straight game against Mississippi State, but this one was much more difficult than most of the others.

Mississippi State (7-3, 3-3) pushed ahead 24-17 early in the fourth quarter on Jace Christmann’s 25-yard field goal, but Alabama responded to tie it at 24 when Damien Harris ran for a 14-yard score with 9:49 left. Alabama had a chance to take the lead with about two minutes left, but a 40-yard field goal attempt by Andy Pappanastos banged off the left upright.

Mississippi State went three-and-out on the next drive, and Alabama took over with 1:09 left. That was more than enough time for the Tide, who drove six plays and 68 yards in 44 seconds for the winning score.

The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by more than a touchdown.

Alabama’s defense has been dominant most of the season, but several injuries at linebacker throughout the season finally appeared to take a toll. Mississippi State’s power running game gained 172 yards, but in the end Alabama slowed the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State pushed ahead 7-0 in the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown run by Aeris Williams. It was the first touchdown the Bulldogs had scored against Alabama since 2014 and the first time they’d taken the lead against the Tide since 2008.

LSU 33, Arkansas 10: Derrius Guice rushed for 147 yards, scoring three times, and D.J. Chark had a pair of receiving touchdowns as the Tigers (7-3, 4-2) cruised past the Razorbacks (4-6, 1-5).

Tied 7-7 at the half, LSU took the opening possession of the second half 75 yards in eight plays, culminating with Guice’s 6-yard touchdown. The Tigers missed the extra point.

After Arkansas made it 13-10 on a 38-yard field goal by Connor Limpert, Guice scored from 33 yards, making it 19-10 after another missed extra point.

Kentucky 44, Vanderbilt 21: Benny Snell rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns and Sihiem King added two rushing TDs as the Wildcats (7-3, 4-3) romped past the host Commodores (4-6, 0-6).

Snell, who entered the game as the SEC’s leading rusher, became the ninth player in school history to reach 2,000 career yards. He also became the first Kentucky player to rush for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Ole Miss 50, Louisiana 22: Jordan Ta’amu threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the host Rebels (5-5, 2-4) scored on their first five possessions against the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-5).

Ta’amu, in his third career start after replacing an injured Shea Patterson, finished 28 of 36 for 418 yards, opening with nine consecutive completions.

Texas A&M 55, New Mexico 14: Nick Starkel threw for a career-high 416 yards and four touchdowns before sitting down at halftime as the host Aggies (6-4) overwhelmed the Lobos (3-7).