Alabama 21, LSU 0 (final)

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Alabama won its second Bowl Championship Series title in three years with a dominating defensive effort to defeat Louisiana State, 21-0, on Monday night at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Alabama registered the first shutout in BCS championship game history to avenge a 9-6 loss at home to LSU on Nov. 5.

‘I’ve got to say we out-physicaled them today,’ Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw said.

PHOTOS: Alabama vs. LSU in BCS title game

Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley kicked five field goals for Alabama, which finished 12-1.

Linebacker C.J. Mosley intercepted a pass and linebacker Dont’a Hightower forced a fourth-quarter fumble for Alabama, which limited LSU to 92 yards and five first downs.

LSU (13-1) crossed midfield only once.

Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards, without an interception, for Alabama, which gained 384 yards.

Running back Trent Richardson scored late in the fourth quarter on a 34-yard touchdown run. Richardson finished with 96 yards in 20 carries.

Alabama 21, LSU 0 (4:15 left in fourth quarter)

Alabama running back Trent Richardson broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run, all but sealing the BCS title for the Crimson Tide.

Richardson, a Heisman Trophy finalist, has gained 96 yards in 20 carries. His touchdown was the first scored by either Alabama or LSU in nearly eight quarters of play between the teams this season. Alabama linebacker Dant’a Hightower set up the touchdown by stripping the ball from LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, with the Crimson Tide recovering the fumble.

The play put an exclamation point on an Alabama defensive effort for the ages.

LSU appeared to be gaining just a bit of momentum when it converted a third down for the first time and then crossed midfield for the first time.

But Hightower put a stop to that.

Alabama 15, LSU 0 (late in the third quarter)

LSU had a chance but could do nothing with it.

Alabama blew an opportunity when it failed to capitalize on an interception by linebacker C.J. Mosley.

Crimson Tide kicker Jeremy Shelley missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, providing LSU with a chance to get back into the game.

But the Tigers’ offense stalled again. LSU is now 0 for seven on third-down conversions.

That gave Shelly another chance and this time he nailed a 44-yard kick for his fifth field goal of the game.

Alabama 12, LSU 0 (12:49 left in the third quarter)

Someone better break out an ice bag for Jeremy Shelley. If Alabama’s kicker keeps this up, he could be really sore.

Shelley kicked his fourth field goal, this one from 35 yards.

Quarterback A.J. McCarron helped set up the kick with passes of 19, 26 and five yards.

Shelley has made kicks of 23, 34, 41 and 35 yards.

Will LSU ever answer?

Alabama 9, LSU 0 (halftime)

Jeremy Shelley kicked a 41-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter to give the Crimson Tide their cushion at the break.

Shelley also has kicked 23- and 34-yard field goals.

‘We need to score some touchdowns here,’ Alabama Coach Nick Saban said before heading to the locker room.

Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron has completed 18 of 25 passes for 156 yards. Trent Richardson has rushed for 52 yards in 11 carries.

Meantime, LSU has been outgained 225 yards to 43. The Tigers have only one first down.

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson has completed six of seven passes for 26 yards.

Alabama 6, LSU 0 (4:18 left in first half)

Gee, this looks kind of familiar.

Jeremy Shelley kicked a 34-yard field goal to put the Crimson Tide ahead by six points.

It was a nice recovery by Shelley, who had a 42-yard attempt blocked by LSU’s Michael Brockers, a 6-foot-6 defensive tackle.

Earlier in the quarter, the Crimson Tide set up in field-goal formation, but holder A.J. McCarron, the team’s quarterback, tossed a shovel pass to Chris Underwood for a first down.

Alabama 3, LSU 0 (end of first quarter)

Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron has completed seven of 10 passes for 62 yards as the Crimson Tide forged a slim lead on Jeremy Shelley’s 23-yard field goal.

Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson has gained 11 yards in four carries.

LSU is 0 for three on third-down conversions. Its most potent weapon to this point is punter Brad Wing.

Alabama 3, LSU 0 (midway through first quarter)

Jeremy Shelley kicked a 23-yard field goal with five minutes left in the first quarter to give the Crimson Tide the early lead.

Marquis Maze set up the kick by returning a punt 49 yards.

LSU’s red-zone defense came up big in denying Alabama a touchdown.

Will the Crimson Tide ever score a touchdown against the Tigers? Alabama lost their SEC showdown to LSU, 9-6 in overtime, on Nov. 5.

Alabama 0, LSU 0 (early first quarter)

College football fans hoping to avoid a repeat of the the first game between top-ranked LSU and No. 2 Alabama are probably disappointed in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

So far, it’s three possessions and three punts.

Alabama’s Marquis Maze, however, just returned a punt 49 yards, a play that could have gone longer had he not suffered what appeared to be a hamstring strain.

We’ll see if the Crimson Tide can capitalize.

--Gary Klein