AP: “These days, the Alabama-LSU rivalry is revved-up year round. The Tigers and Tide tussled for the top spot in the recruiting rankings Wednesday, with Nick Saban and ‘Bama closing strong and even getting one Louisiana star to switch from purple and gold to crimson and white on signing day. As if LSU fans needed another reason to seethe about Saban, the former Tigers coach who needed just two seasons in Tuscaloosa to wrest the SEC West away from Les Miles’ team…

“On signing day, LSU and Alabama went at it again. Rivals.com and Allen Wallace of Scout.com and SuperPrep Magazine gave Alabama their top spots, both just ahead of LSU. LSU was No. 1 in the Scouts, Inc./ESPN rankings, with Alabama second. Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports also had LSU on top, with ‘Bama fifth…LSU appeared to be on its way to being crowned the recruiting champion for 2009 early Wednesday, but several talented players who entered the day uncommitted picked Alabama and the Tide rose up the charts.” Read the entire AP post embedded below: