Marquis Maze Injury: Alabama Star Limping After Big Punt Return

Read More: Marquis Maze (WR - Alabama), Courtney Upshaw (LB - Alabama), Alex Hurst (OT - LSU), Cody Mandell (P - Alabama), Spencer Ware (RB - LSU), Brad Wing (P - LSU), Kenny Hilliard (RB - LSU), LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide

The field position battle is underway in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. After LSU Tigers punter Brad Wing put the Alabama Crimson Tide at a disadvantage, Alabama Crimson Tide punter Cody Mandell booted the ball out of bounds to avoid Tyrann Mathieu. You cannot blame him.

SI.com: Live LSU-Alabama box score

LSU took the field in a pistol set with Kenny Hilliard behind Jordan Jefferson. A false start call on Alex Hurst gummed things up, but the Tigers stuck with the run. Hilliard gained a handful up the middle, but when Jefferson decided to keep on a slow-developing sprint to the left, the drive stalled.

Spencer Ware entered on third-and-long, barely advancing the ball beyond the line of scrimmage thanks to some excellent stalking by Courtney Upshaw.

Which brought up the main event: Brad Wing's punt coverage unit ... gave up a long, 45-yard return to Marquis Maze! It came at a cost, though ... it appeared Maze had to duck out of bounds due to what might've been a cramp at best, a hamstring injury at worst. We'll stay in touch once we know more about his status.

If Maze, the team's leading receiver, has to miss time, Bama could be in trouble. Doesn't look good:

For more on the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, visit LSU blog And the Valley Shook, Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll and SEC blog Team Speed Kills.