NY Times: With Alabama and L.S.U., a More Earthbound Game

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Saturday night, however, when No. 10 Louisiana State (7-2) plays at No. 1 Alabama (8-0), the running back will take his turn on stage and the game will downshift. It will be an old-fashioned game played in that phone-booth-tight space over guard and center.

Alabama and L.S.U. will use formations with three wide receivers, and they may try to cross each other with some spread formations, but their identity is tied to the thumpers in the backfield. The Crimson Tide could use five running backs in the game: the 218-pound T. J. Yeldon, the 201-pound Kenyan Drake, the 238-pound freshman Derrick Henry, the 208-pound Altee Tenpenny and the brawny Fowler.

The Tigers feature the 235-pound Jeremy Hill, the 220-pound Alfred Blue and the 231-pound Kenny Hilliard. The 214-pound speedster Terrence Magee is the runt of the crew.

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