Mac Jones passed for 385 yards and four touchdowns and DeVonta Smith caught three touchdowns as No. 1 Alabama clinched the SEC West title with a 55-17 thrashing of LSU on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Jones strengthened his Heisman Trophy candidacy by completing 20 of 28, and Najee Harris added 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide improved to 9-0 on their way to facing East Division champion Florida in the conference title game Dec. 19. They conclude the regular season at Arkansas next week.

Smith caught eight passes for 231 yards.

Alabama beat the Tigers (3-5) for the ninth time in the last 10 meetings, easily avenging last year's 46-41 loss during LSU's national championship season.

Coach Nick Saban returned from a one-game absence after testing positive for COVID-19, and the Tide scored touchdowns on each of their first five possessions. Jones completed his first 11 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns.

Alabama gained 470 yards and scored the most points it had ever scored against LSU in a road game as it rolled to a 45-14 halftime lead. The Tide's final point total was their most ever against the Tigers, and they gained 650 yards.

Harris ran for touchdowns of 14 yards and one yard on the Tide's first two possessions and Jones followed with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jahleel Billingsley for a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

LSU had a 95-yard touchdown drive, but Jones negated that with a 65-yard touchdown to Smith for a 28-7 lead early in the second quarter.

John Emery Jr. ran 54 yards for a touchdown that pulled the Tigers within 28-14, but after that they managed only a 52-yard field goal by Cade York late in the third quarter.

Jones answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Smith for a 35-14 lead.

Will Reichard kicked a 30-yard field goal and Jones and Smith teamed on a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 45-14 halftime lead.

Harris ran 11 yards for a third-quarter touchdown and Reichard kicked a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

--Field Level Media