Derrick Henry (210 yards, 3 TDs) rolls as Bama contains Leonard Fournette, LSU

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Hit after hit, run after punishing run, Derrick Henry and Alabama 's defense stole the show and proved they belong squarely in the College Football Playoff hunt. Henry ran for 210 yards and three touchdowns and the Crimson Tide's (No. 4 CFP, No. 7 AP) unrelenting defense smothered Leonard Fournette in a 30-16 victory over LSU (No. 2 CFP, No. 4 AP) on Saturday night. The Tide (8-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) physically dismantled the previously unbeaten Tigers (7-1, 4-1). It was a physical, no-frills performance days after some questioned the team's No. 4 College Football Playoff ranking. LSU came in at No. 2 in the CFP ranking and in control of its own fate. "I think it shows we're ready to play whoever, whenever, and that we kind of deserve to be in the College Football Playoff again," said Alabama linebacker Dillon Lee , who had a key second-half interception.