43%. That’s how much of their normal workload Alabama football players went through during the Crimson Tide’s bye week, at least according to head coach Nick Saban.

“It’s a welcome time to have an open date,” Saban said during the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday. “We played eight straight weeks and there’s a lot of wear and tear on your team.”

With the idle Saturday in the rearview mirror, it’s time for Alabama to ramp back up. There’s no time for a lull either, as the Crimson Tide faces LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday.

Alabama lost that game last year. If its championship ambitions are going to come to fruition in 2023, that result can’t happen again.

“It is different, but as long as you have the same type of attitude that you have going into a game week, it all turns out good,” Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner said of coming off a bye. “You still have to put in the work on the bye week. You can’t get complacent in what you’re doing. Other teams are practicing and playing and stuff like that.”

The Tigers also had an open date on Saturday. Both teams will have had two weeks to prepare for the matchup, which could play a deciding factor in the SEC West chase.

LSU already has two losses this season, one against Florida State and one in conference play against Ole Miss. In a season that has already been somewhat disappointing based on preseason expectations, a win against Alabama would be a boost for second-year head coach Brian Kelly.

The opponent should be coming in hot. It’s important for the Tide to be in rhythm after the break.

“Just keeping your focus still on sharp,” wide receiver Isaiah Bond said of the key to a successful idle week. “Even though it’s a bye week, don’t treat it like an off week. Just making sure we finish off strong and then use the weekend to rest our body and then come back stronger next week.”

Alabama enters the home stretch of the regular season coming out of the bye. After LSU, the Crimson Tide faces Kentucky on the road, then has Chattanooga in Tuscaloosa before the Iron Bowl at Auburn.

At least on paper, the team with the best shot of dealing UA its second loss of the season, effectively dashing any hope of making the College Football Playoff, is LSU. Fortunately, the bye allows Alabama to get some players healthy, including linebacker Trezmen Marshall, who missed the Tennessee game with bruised ribs, and cornerback Terrion Arnold, who suffered what Saban described as a “slight” concussion against the Volunteers.

Rather than being concerned over a bye-week hangover, Alabama’s players were mostly excited about the opportunity to get right.

“I don’t think it’s any pitfalls,” UA defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe said. “I think there’s a combination between rest and getting retooled, working on things that we need to work on, improve on things that need to be improved upon and then, on top of that, getting guys healthy. We’ve had a tough schedule so far. I feel like it’s the best point in time, as a bye week in the middle of the season, retool, regroup, refocus and continue to the next game.”

Alabama and LSU are scheduled to face off at 6:45 p.m. Saturday. The game will be aired on CBS.