Nick Saban can’t remember the last time Alabama and LSU played a game that didn’t have postseason implications. Brian Kelly echoed the sentiment when he said the Tigers “know what we’re up against” ahead of Week 10. The 2023 tale of the tape was neatly summarized by both head coaches at the start of their Monday afternoon press conferences.

The visiting sidelines of Bryant-Denny Stadium will feature the No. 13 Tigers (6-2, 4-1), whom Saban said possess “the best” offense in the country behind stars like quarterback Jayden Daniels and running back Logan Diggs. As Kelly previewed, the No. 8 Tide (7-1, 5-0) will counter with a defense “as good if not better than anybody” over the last six weeks with players like Dallas Turner and Caleb Downs.

Once again, it seems like the SEC West will come down to Alabama and LSU’s head-to-head clash.

“I think this has developed into sort of a rivalry game because they’re always ranked, we’re always ranked and it’s always a big game relative to what happens in our division,” said Saban. ” … They’re very competitive. They’ve always been well-coached. This game has always had significance in the consequence of your season. So the first thing you’ve got to do is win your division. And that’s what we’re really trying to focus on. And you’ve got to get yourself ready to take care of business against really, really good players to be able to do that.”

The last time the Tide and Tigers played a game where both sides were unranked was in 2001, back when Saban led LSU against Dennis Franchione and UA — Franchione’s lone season as head coach. Since Saban took over Tuscaloosa in 2007, Alabama has never been unranked heading into a traditionally late-season game against LSU.

Alabama leads the all-time series 55-27-5. There was 2011′s game of the century, the rematch two months later, Alabama’s overtime road win in 2014 and the thriller LSU won in Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2019. The Tide had won 10 of the prior 11 matchups before the Tigers dashed the Tide’s remaining national title hopes with a two-point conversion in overtime last fall. LSU won the thriller 32-31 at home.

In his second year of the rivalry and ahead of his fourth game against Saban (Kelly is 1-2), the former Notre Dame head coach admitted he’s still familiarizing himself with the SEC games that just mean more, like Alabama-LSU.

“(LSU communications director Michael Bonnette) does a great job of filling me in on a lot of the history of all of the games. During the year, I learn about Mississippi, Mississippi State, the Auburn games, this Alabama game. For me, it’s exciting. I get immersed in some of the great games and the great rivalries and some of the great names that have been part of this game. I love it. I think it’s exciting,” said Kelly.

Kelly did say there were times in his run at Notre Dame where he’d end a Saturday by turning on the Tide and Tigers. For the second time in his career, he’ll get to experience this meeting in person.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].