The Alabama Crimson Tide earned what may have been the biggest victory of the Kalen DeBoer era on Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, handling the LSU Tigers 31-13 and taking another step in what has been a roller coaster season.

It was a coaching masterclass by DeBoer over Lane Kiffin, and despite LSU gaining nearly 200 more yards than Alabama, the Tide was simply the better team in the moments that mattered. Hours after walking into Tiger Stadium with a flashy gaggle of celebrities, Kiffin made the wrong decision in every big moment and allowed DeBoer and this staff to coach laps around him.

Scoring a touchdown on all three of their red zone appearances, DeBoer and much maligned offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb had all the answers while Kiffin went 0-for-4 on fourth down and allowed Alabama to turn things into a blowout in the fourth quarter as the Tide emptied out their second home early yet again.

LSU spent hundreds of millions in buyout money – what it took to hire Kiffin and build the roster he wanted – yet, the steady and quiet confidence of DeBoer and his team came into Baton Rouge and ensured it was the same story between Alabama and the Bayou Bengals once again.

DeBoer has been criticized, questioned, and at times, outright hated by Alabama fans who wanted Kiffin to get the job in Tuscaloosa when Nick Saban retired three years ago, but once again, both coaches in their own ways have proven that the correct decision was made.

It has not all been pretty this season by any means and there have absolutely been lows, but on a day where the Crimson Tide absolutely had to have it, DeBoer, Grubb and Kane Wommack had their team more prepared than Kiffin did in the biggest moment of the season.

The significance of that fact cannot be understated, and even though DeBoer is not the showy, glitzy attraction that Kiffin is, he once again proved in a big spot that he is a damn good football coach and that Alabama is lucky to have him.