TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Julio Jones left defenders grasping at his heels and Alabama's defense was typically immovable. Now the Crimson Tide is riding that combination to the SEC title game for the second consecutive season.

Jones made the biggest play of what has been a relatively quiet sophomore season, breaking free for a 73-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and No. 3 Alabama locked down No. 9 Louisiana State in a 24-15 victory Saturday. Leigh Tiffin booted a 40-yard field goal with 3:04 left to seal it and the Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) won the West Division title and earned a rematch with the No. 1 Florida Gators for the league crown. The hard-hitting affair left the Tigers (7-2, 4-2) without injured quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott for most of the second half.

"It was a tough, physical game," said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who beat his former team for the second straight year. "Man, those games are fun to be a part of."

The win touched off another big celebration for Alabama, which survived a 12-10 victory over Tennessee two weeks earlier with Terrence Cody's two blocked field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. Tiffin came up big in that one, too, with four field goals.

Jefferson had an ankle injury and Scott hurt his right shoulder in the third. LSU coach Les Miles said Scott's injury was probably the more serious.

The Tigers took a 15-10 lead into the fourth but managed only 9 yards in the period. Alabama's Mark Ingram ran for 144 yards.