College football's version of Elimination Saturday features several high-stakes matchups, including multiple games between teams with two losses. One of those showdowns takes place in Tiger Stadium, where LSU hosts Alabama.
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The stakes are significant. The loser will face a much tougher path to the College Football Playoff, particularly Alabama. The Crimson Tide has a relatively favorable schedule remaining, with games against Vanderbilt, Chattanooga and Auburn.
LSU, meanwhile, would still have opportunities to strengthen its playoff résumé with victories over Texas and Tennessee, both of which are ranked ahead of the Tigers in the CFP rankings.
This will be the 63rd consecutive season LSU and Alabama have met on the football field. That streak will come to an end next year, when the two schools are not scheduled to play under the SEC's new scheduling format, which accommodates a nine-game conference schedule.
Alabama leads the all-time series 58-27-5. Saturday's matchup will be the 43rd meeting in Baton Rouge, where LSU is just 10-30-2 against the Crimson Tide.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin is 0-5 against Alabama as a head coach. He also spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator.
Can Kiffin finally get a win against his former program? We'll start to find out when the teams kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Here are five things to watch:
1. Can LSU get to Keelon Russell?
LSU is coming off a dominant 38-17 victory over Auburn. One of the biggest reasons for that win was the Tigers' ability to make life miserable for Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown, who had a big day running the football against Georgia the previous week.
LSU sacked Brown six times.
Alabama has allowed 23 sacks this season, the fourth-most in the SEC. LSU, meanwhile, has recorded 34 sacks, second-most in the conference.
Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell is a better passer than Brown, but he also has a tendency to hold on to the football while looking for big plays.
If LSU's pass rush can get consistent pressure and force Russell into uncomfortable situations, it could be a long afternoon for the Alabama offense.
2. How healthy is Alabama?
LSU linebacker Whit Weeks is not expected to play Saturday. He likely needs another week or two to recover from a broken fibula.
Alabama also has several key players dealing with injuries, and their availability could have a significant impact on this matchup.
The biggest name is junior wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama's most explosive receiver. He has missed the last two games after undergoing arthroscopic meniscus surgery and also dealing with a concussion.
The Crimson Tide has struggled to run the football over the last two weeks with starting center Racin Delgatty out of the lineup. Delgatty is listed as questionable, but he has been taking practice snaps this week.
Starting left guard William Sanders is also questionable after undergoing TightRope surgery on his ankle.
Starting cornerback Zabien Brown is questionable, as is freshman running back EJ Crowell, who has shown flashes of potential this season.
Alabama's injury situation, particularly along the offensive line and at wide receiver, is worth watching.
3. The Trey'Dez Green factor
LSU's 6-foot-7 tight end Trey'Dez Green returned from a knee injury in the victory over Auburn, catching five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
It was a productive afternoon, but Green still didn't appear to be completely healthy.
He's now had two more weeks to recover. If he's closer to 100 percent, will LSU unleash more of the dynamic tight end?
Earlier this season, the Tigers even lined Green up to take direct snaps and run the football in short-yardage situations.
Green presents a difficult matchup for opposing defenses because of his size and athleticism. Alabama safety Keon Sabb and the rest of the Crimson Tide secondary will have their hands full trying to contain him.
4. Can Alabama connect on deep shots?
As mentioned earlier, Russell likes to hold on to the football because he's looking for the big play.
Alabama averages 13.77 yards per completion, which ranks 19th nationally.
LSU, however, ranks 10th nationally in passing yards allowed per completion.
That sets up an intriguing matchup. Can Russell find opportunities to connect on deep throws, or will LSU's secondary keep the big plays to a minimum?
Whichever team wins that battle could have a significant advantage.
5. A Sam Leavitt legacy game
The last two times LSU defeated Alabama, the Tigers had quarterbacks who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy.
Jayden Daniels led LSU to a victory over Alabama in 2022 before winning the Heisman in 2023. Joe Burrow also beat Alabama in 2019 before capturing college football's most prestigious individual award.
I'm not suggesting that if Sam Leavitt beats Alabama, he'll win the Heisman Trophy. But a victory Saturday would go a long way toward cementing his place in LSU football history.
Leavitt has not turned the ball over in his last two games. He has thrown zero interceptions over his last 83 pass attempts.
Over his last five games, he's completed 79% of his passes for 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Alabama's pass defense ranks last in the SEC in yards allowed per attempt at 7.84. However, the Crimson Tide leads the conference with 19 takeaways. Its 12 interceptions are tied with Kentucky for the most in the SEC.
Leavitt has been playing some of his best football of the season, but he'll need to be careful with the football against a defense that has made a habit of creating turnovers.
Prediction
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has never lost a game coming off a bye week, posting an 8-0 record in those situations. Kiffin, meanwhile, has never beaten Alabama as a head coach.
Both streaks come to an end Saturday.
LSU 27, Alabama 21
LSU v Auburn
