LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette was the king of the college football world coming into their showdown with Alabama, but he was limited to just 31 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against the Tide. Here are three things we learned about Fournette from the game:
3) LSU's passing game is completely dependent on Fournette's running ability
Opposing defenses are used to having to put eight or nine guys in the box to try to stop Fournette, which allows for quarterback Brandon Harris to have his way against one-on-one coverage. However, because Alabama could stop Fournette with their front seven (sometimes front six), Harris had to face a fully-stocked secondary - and was utterly confused. He completed just six of 19 passes and was rendered completely ineffective because of it.
2) He can't do it all by himself
Fournette's play this season made him seem unstoppable, but even he needs a little big of help. He failed to receive virtually any blocking from his offensive line, and was repeatedly tackled or facing pressure as soon as he got the handoff, giving him no chance of making something happen. Give him a crease and he'll take 10 or 20 yards, but he can't do much with two guys breathing down his neck.
1) Fournette is no longer the Heisman frontrunner
Fournette's train towards a Heisman Trophy ran straight into into Alabama's brick wall of a front seven, and it snapped his season-long streak of games with 150 rushing yards or more. Even though he's no longer the favorite, Saturday's stinker doesn't make the rest of his season any less impressive - he just needs to have a big bounce-back game next week.