By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
Much like in Major League Baseball, the College Football Playoff actually starts before the College Football Playoff.
You have to win unofficial playoff games to make the playoffs in both.
Such is the case at Tiger Stadium Saturday when No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) hosts No. 5 Alabama (6-2, 4-2 SEC) at 2:30 p.m. on ABC. It’s basically an elimination game.
When will Tiger Stadium cease being Bama’s Beach? Can Lane Kiffin turn that Tide more than just here and there? Column: https://t.co/2ekMpj0V8U
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) November 6, 2026
Although, should LSU (a touchdown favorite) get upset and lose, it will still have a chance to reach the CFP, should it win out and finish at 9-3 and 6-3. That is because it plays higher ranked opponents over the next two weeks, according to the CFP rankings, in No. 7 Texas (6-2, 3-2 SEC) on Nov. 14 in Tiger Stadium and No. 13 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2 SEC) away on Nov. 21 before finishing the regular season at Arkansas (3-5, 1-4 SEC).
Alabama has no more chances at quality victories after Saturday as it plays at Vanderbilt (3-5, 0-5 SEC) on Nov. 14 before hosting Chattanooga (6-3, 5-2 Southern Conference) on Nov. 21 and Auburn (4-4, 2-4 SEC) on Nov. 28.
“I like where we’re at,” LSU coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday night on his radio show. “But now, the competition gets harder.”
Alabama is the highest ranked team LSU will play this season so far and one of the best offenses as the Tide is No. 13 in the nation in scoring with 38.3 points a game behind dual-threat quarterback Keelon Russell. He is No. 18 in the nation and No. 3 in the SEC in passing efficiency at 163.0 on 148-of-221 passing for 2,057 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. He has rushed for 251 yards on 66 carries and five touchdowns.
“It’s almost like we’re in the playoffs now,” said Kiffin, who has never reached the playoffs as a head coach. But he built the Ole Miss team that reached the CFP semifinals last season after he departed for LSU following the regular season with the Rebels at 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the SEC.
“As you look at our schedule with three playoff teams in a row, it’s almost like you’re in the playoffs already,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin is 0-5 as a head coach against Alabama – 0-1 as Tennessee’s coach in 2009 and 0-4 as Ole Miss’ coach from 2020-25. Ole Miss did not play Alabama in 2024 and ’25. All five of those losses were to former Alabama coach Nick Saban, a Kiffin mentor whom he was offensive coordinator for from 2014-16. This will be Kiffin’s first match with Alabama coach Kalen Deboer.
LSU is the statistical favorite as it is No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC in total offense with 510 yards a game, whereas Alabama is No. 41 in the nation and No. 8 in the SEC in total defense with 330.4 yards allowed a game. LSU is also No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC in total defense with 258 yards allowed a game, while Alabama’s attack is just No. 47 in the nation and No. 7 in the SEC in total offense with 411.9 yards a game.
If LSU’s defense can contain Russell, the Tide is not the Tide of Saban as DeBoer has been up and down. And he does not have a typical Alabama running game this season. LSU actually has a significantly better run game than Alabama, which is clearly new. The Tigers are No. 29 in the nation and No. 4 in the SEC in rushing with 192 yards a game as Dilin Jones is No. 4 in the SEC with 82.1 yards a game. Alabama is No. 75 in the nation and No. 12 in the SEC with just 151.9 yards rushing a game.
LSU’s rush defense is also better than Alabama’s as it is No. 1 in the SEC and No. 7 nationally with 85.4 yards allowed a game to Alabama, which is No. 27 in the nation and No. 5 in the league with 108 yards given up a game.
Alabama has an advantage in turnover margin as it is 11th nationally and No. 3 in the SEC with 12 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries (19) by its defense to five interceptions and seven fumbles lost (12) by its offense. LSU is No. 91 in the nation and 10th in the SEC with 11 turnovers (eight interceptions, three fumbles) and nine takeaways (seven picks and two fumble recoveries).
“We’re the only team in the top 10 in offense and defense in the country,” Kiffin said. “But then our turnover margin – not taking care of the ball and not getting enough turnovers – has really been the one statistic that doesn’t show a top flight team in the country.”
LSU has a clear advantage in quarterback pressure as it is second in the nation with 34 sacks, and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen is fifth in the nation with 8.5. Alabama is third from the bottom in sacks allowed with 23. LSU is tied for fourth in the SEC in fewest sacks allowed with 13.
One of LSU’s biggest advantages – literally and figuratively – is tight end Trey’Dez Green (6-foot-7, 240 pounds), the ultimate mismatch for defenses whom Alabama recruited.
“The guy’s just a freakin’ nightmare,” WNSP radio show (Mobile, Alabama) host Mark Heim told Tiger Rag Radio this week.
Green returned from a knee injury suffered on Sept. 19 at Ole Miss two weeks ago in the Auburn game and caught five passes for 50 yards with a touchdown while not at 100 percent. He was expected to be nearing that this week, but he was listed as questionable on Friday.
Alabama is banged up significantly more, though. Three Alabama starters were upgraded from questionable to probable on Friday – center Racin Delgatty (knee), wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams (knee) and defensive tackle Terrance Green (ankle). Two starters remain questionable – offensive guard William Sanders (ankle) and cornerback Zabien Brown (lower leg). Backup running back EJ Crowell (lower leg) also remains questionable.
Green said Tuesday he would be ready.
“I feel amazing,” he said. “The doctors had a good plan for me. Trusting their process and listening to everything they had planned for me. I feel amazing. I have no doubt in my mind that I’ll be back at 100 percent.”
And being from Zachary High just outside Baton Rouge, the Alabama game is special.
“It’s just another game,” he said, repeating the company line that no one believes. “But looking at it from me being a kid growing up watching Alabama against LSU, it’s just such a legendary game. This is always the game that all the fans are waiting on.”
And after today, both fan bases will have to wait until 2028 for the next game as Alabama is no longer a permanent opponent after this season because of a new scheduling format that arrived with the SEC going to nine games this season. Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M are LSU’s permanent opponents. Alabama rotates out in 2027, which will be the first year the two teams have not met since 1963. Alabama and LSU will meet twice every four years in the new format.
“I think that’s just sad,” Kiffin said.
But there’s always this year.
And they could always meet in the playoffs.
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