LSU is slotted 15th in the first batch of College Football Playoff rankings, four spots lower than the opponent set to visit Tiger Stadium this weekend.
LSU-Alabama (6:30 p.m., ABC) is effectively a playoff elimination game.
Both the Tigers and the No. 11 Crimson Tide have two losses, which means that another defeat would drop either team outside playoff contention. It's possible for a two-loss team to earn one of the playoff's 12 spots. It's virtually impossible for a three-loss squad to have those same hopes.
Here are four keys to an LSU win that would preserve its chances of competing for a national title.
1. Contain Jalen Milroe
Last season, coach Brian Kelly acknowledged that LSU should've used a spy against Alabama. Here's his chance to make that correction. The Tigers lost Harold Perkins, but they do have Whit Weeks, a strong, speedy linebacker who can line up as a spy in charge of preventing Jalen Milroe scrambles. The last time it took the field, LSU could not stop dual-threat Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed. This week, it needs a better defensive showing against a similarly dangerous athlete.
2. Slow Ryan Williams
Once Ryan Williams gets loose, Alabama's offense becomes dangerously explosive. The 17-year-old freshman is already one of the top receivers in the country, and he's capable of taking over a game if an opposing defense is not equipped or prepared to stop him. How will LSU gameplan for him? It'll likely start with Zy Alexander, the senior who returned from an ACL tear and reemerged as the Tigers' top cornerback. LSU needs him to be sharp when he's matched up with Williams.
3. Stay ahead of the chains
Why did LSU's offense fall apart against Texas A&M? One of the reasons is that it struggled to pick up positive yardage on first down. The Aggies stopped LSU either at the line of scrimmage or behind it on 20 of its 34 first downs. In the second half, the Tigers gained more than 1 yard on only four first-down plays. Avoiding difficult third-down situations starts on first down, where LSU will need to improve before it can beat Alabama.
4. Run the ball
Finding a way to run the ball efficiently has been a key for LSU all season, and it will continue to be crucial in the last month of the regular season. Will the Tigers run the ball like they did against Arkansas? Or will they struggle like they did on the road at Texas A&M? The answer to those questions could serve as an indicator of LSU's chances to have a productive offensive night and pull off a win over Alabama.