It's not quite the annual SEC football "Game of the Century" that it has been in recent years, but it's still LSU and Alabama and there's still quite a lot at stake.
The Tigers (5-2, 3-1 in the SEC) fired head coach Les Miles after a 2-2 start, but they're 3-0 under Ed Orgeron, back in the AP poll at No. 15 and can tighten the race in the SEC West if they can upset the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0) on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
A win would greatly bolster Orgeron's case to be named the permanent successor to Miles, but with games against Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M in a 13-day stretch still looming, there's still a lot of regular-season work left after Alabama for LSU and Orgeron to get to where they want to be.
Both teams are coming off an open date and should be well rested.
That should be especially good news for Tigers All-America RB Leonard Fournette, who is the healthiest he has been all season and has had two weeks to heal after a record-setting performance against Ole Miss in the Tigers last game.
The Crimson Tide stymied Fournette in their 30-16 win last season, holding him to 31 yards on 19 rushes.
"We're going to do some things with Leonard that he's able to do," Orgeron said. "I think that whatever happened last year is the past. We have a great game plan for Leonard.
"But it's going to be very tough moving the football on this defense. They're one of the best defenses I've ever seen."
Orgeron said the key to the game will be whether the Tigers can get Fournette the football "in some plays that we think he runs very well" and protect quarterback Danny Etling.
"We think we can get some receivers down the field, but we got to be able to protect (Etling) long enough to be able to protect the quarterback to get those plays down the field," Orgeron said. "It's going to be protection first. We have to protect our quarterback in order to get the ball down the field. We're going to have to do some things with Leonard that enables him to be in space and run the football."
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
--Junior RB Leonard Fournette is coming off the most prolific rushing game in LSU history -- a 284-yard performance in a 38-21 win against Ole Miss two weeks ago. But it's Fournette's least-productive performance in his three seasons that's also significant entering this game. Alabama smothered Fournette last season, holding him to 31 yards on 19 rushes in the Crimson Tide's 30-16 victory. Fournette and the offensive line will be committed to improving significantly on that performance and he'll have to be a bigger factor than he was last season if the Tigers are going to pull off the upset.
--Junior WR Malachi Dupre has recovered from a slow start to become more productive in recent weeks. The LSU passing game must make some plays early if Fournette and the running game are going to show the desired improvement over last year's effort against Bama. Dupre is capable of getting open and making short-yardage catches to keep the chains moving as well making big plays down the field.
--Senior MLB Kendell Beckwith has been the Tigers leading tackler all season and he'll need to lead the effort in what promises to be a very physical game. Derrick Henry isn't around to outshine Fournette like he did last season, but the Tigers defense must contain the Tide running game and offense better than it did last season if LSU is going to be successful.
--Senior CB Tre'Davious White has been the Tiger most effective at taking the ball away from opposing offenses and winning the turnover battle would greatly enhance LSU's chances of beating Bama. Regardless of whether White can generate a takeaway, he'll still be a key player in helping to defend the Bama offense and if he could provide a big punt return that would be a bonus for the Tigers.
--Freshman P Josh Growden has steadily improved after a shaky start to the season. If this is a close game, field position could be pivotal and Growden can be a big contributor if he can help force Bama to work with a long field.
