The LSU Tigers lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, as expected, but it was a much closer game than many saw coming.

Blake Baker's defense used those two weeks that they had to prepare well, as they shut down the Crimson Tide for the most part. The 20-9 final score could have been far worse. Even if the offense had an even ok performance, the Tigers could have had the chance to win.

To look on the bright side of things in a lost season, here were the four highest-graded players from Saturday's game, per Pro Football Focus:

S Dashawn Spears - 90.0

Spears hasn't seen the field a ton this year, but it always feels like he's doing something good when he gets the chance to. He had that two-interception performance against the Florida Gators earlier this year in just nine snaps and made a couple of plays against Alabama in just 14 snaps.

He was given a stop in run coverage and gave up just one catch for two yards in coverage. He had some nice moments that won't show up on the stat sheet, either.

Spears will be in line for a much bigger role next year and he looks more than ready for it.

LB Harold Perkins Jr. - 80.3

Perkins got the only sack for the LSU defense and it was a big one. He stripped Ty Simpson and picked up the ball himself. That play set up a field goal that brought the Tigers back within one possession, another instance of the defense making it a game.

He didn't rush the passer much, just six times, but was impactful when he did. It was also a clean game in run defense for him. He had three run stops and didn't miss a tackle, with nine total.

LB West Weeks - 80.3

With his brother still out due to injury, Weeks has needed to step his game up. He did exactly that on Saturday. He had that early run stop on fourth down, which set the defensive tone out of the gate. 

The senior linebacker is second on the team in tackles (57) with seven coming from this game and has the team lead in tackles for a loss (6.5) with one on the night.

His athletic limitations have gotten the best of him in a couple of different times this year. The Texas A&M Aggies, for example, picked on him throughout that game. He used his football IQ to keep him ahead of the run game this time and it worked out well.