Alabama, Saban overcome LSU

baton rouge, la. -- With a heavy police escort, Nick Saban returned to Tiger Stadium wearing crimson. He barely got out of town with Alabama still unbeaten and No. 1.

After the Crimson Tide had a chip-shot field goal blocked on the final play of regulation, John Parker Wilson scored on a one-yard sneak in overtime to give Alabama a 27-21 victory over No. 15 Louisiana State on Saturday, clinching a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Alabama (10-0, 6-0) has its eyes on a bigger prize, of course, and stayed on course for its first national title in 16 years. This was its toughest test yet, coming at a school Saban led to a share of the national championship in 2003.

The coach is now reviled by many of the Tigers’ faithful, who consider him a traitor for turning up at rival Alabama only two years after he traded LSU for the NFL. He was booed loudly when he came on the field, surrounded by a contingent of state troopers that grew to a dozen by the time the game finally ended.

After Charles Scott tied it for LSU on a one-yard touchdown run with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Alabama drove into position to win it. From the 12, Wilson ran to the middle of the field and fell down, then Saban called his final timeout with three seconds left.

Leigh Tiffin lined up for a 29-yard field goal, but his kick was low and Ricky-Jean Francois swiped it away with his big right hand.

LSU got the ball first in overtime, and Jarrett Lee threw his fourth interception -- the third pick of the game by Alabama’s Rashad Johnson. The Tide managed to avoid another field-goal try.

LSU fell to 6-3, 3-3.