• Fans from 'Bama, LSU party down for BCS title

    Kerry Maloney / AP

    Alabama student Sara Berthaume taunts LSU students Joel Boudreaux, left, and Leif Dubois in the French Quarter before the BCS title football game in New Orleans, Jan. 9, 2012.

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    AP reports: NEW ORLEANS - LSU and Alabama fans pitched tents, flew banners and cooked up Deep South staples like gumbo and barbecue in what had turned into a massive party ahead of Monday night's BCS national championship game.

    Alabama fans started lining up at the stadium shortly after dawn to pick up tickets for the night's game, featuring the nation's two top-ranked college teams in a rematch of a November game won by LSU.

     

    Kerry Maloney / AP

    LSU alumni, from left, Troy Aucion and Matt Sotile throw beads to fans in the French Quarter before the BCS title football game in New Orleans, Jan. 9, 2012.

    Gerald Herbert / AP

    Fans cheer before the BCS National Championship college football game between LSU and Alabama, Jan. 9, 2012, in New Orleans.

  • Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

    Drew Alleman (center) of the LSU Tigers celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 9-6 during their game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 5, 2011 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

    LSU celebrates overtime victory against Alabama

    AP reports

    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 1 LSU gained the inside track to the BCS title game, beating No. 2 Alabama 9-6 on Drew Alleman's 25-yard field goal in overtime after a fierce defensive struggle in which neither team reached the end zone Saturday night.

    The Crimson Tide missed four field goals, including Cade Foster's 52-yard attempt after Alabama got the ball first in the extra period. LSU appeared to win the game on Michael Ford's run around left end after taking a pitch, but he stepped out of bounds at the 7.

    After two plays gained nothing, LSU sent in Alleman to attempt his third field goal of the game on third down. Alabama tried to freeze him by calling timeout, but he calmly knocked it through to set off a wild celebration by the visiting team.

    The crowd of more than 100,000 at Bryant-Denny Stadium — most of them dressed in crimson — sat in stunned silence as LSU celebrated its victory. Read more…