Eye of the Tiger: Pivotal position matchups LSU vs. Alabama

The first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings came out this week and the results made this game even more important for LSU than we already knew it was.

The Tigers come in ranked #14, which feels right. Both of their losses were on the road to teams currently in the top-10, but they still lack a marquee win. While it's not LSU's fault that Clemson's program isn't what it was when the home and home series was scheduled, that Texas A&M fell off of a cliff following their CFP appearance last year, or that Kamario Taylor got injured the game before Mississippi St came to Tiger Stadium, it's still true that they haven't beaten a top team.

On Saturday, that would change with a win over Alabama. The Crimson Tide found themselves ranked #5 in the initial CFP rankings, despite already have two losses. Both teams in this matchup have a 6-2 record. As egregious as that ranking may be, it's excellent for Lane Kiffin's Tigers. They now have the chance to add a top-5 win to their resume if they take care of business at 2:30 pm on Saturday.

LSU currently sits as 6-point favorites. After falling in to the shadows after their heart-breaking loss to Kentucky early in November, they've turned it on and become one of the hottest teams in the country. National media is starting to believe in the Tigers, again, so this game is massive for a multitude of reason.

Which key positions may play the biggest role in Death Valley on Saturday afternoon?

LSU offensive tackles vs. Alabama off the edge

The LSU offense really found their stride once Sam Leavitt injured his hamstring and had to learn how to sit in the pocket. What started in that Texas A&M game has carried forward to where we are now and he's arguably playing some of the best quarterback in the entire country.

His protection has been a major factor in allowing him to find that growth. It's one thing to not be able to scramble and run because your leg is compromised, but it's another to have to make the adjustment to stay in the pocket and have your offensive line perform as well as they have for you. Though they're far from perfect, the Tiger line deserves a ton of credit.

On Saturday, Jordan Seaton and Weston Davis have important matchups with Yhonzae Pierre and Devan Thompkins. While they only have 3.5 and 3 sacks, respectively, they still find ways to affect passers. Pierre has 9 quarterback hurries, while Thompkins has 16.

Alabama's best chance of disrupting the LSU offense at home is to get to Leavitt. Even if they don't sack him much, getting him off-schedule and trying to force him back in to his interception habit could be the difference.

As he has all year, Woodland is likely to draw the role of guarding the opposing team's best wide receiver. In this case, it's Coleman-Williams. Forget the fact that he's come down to reality following a great freshman year in 2024, he's still extremely talented.

The junior wideout has been out since getting injured during Alabama's loss to Georgia on October 10th. He's listed as questionable on the injury report and it seems like he's on his way back.

In the 6 games that he has played, he's totaled 23 receptions for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns. We'll get to Keelon Russell in a little bit, but for the Crimson Tide's young quarterback to be successful in a top spot, having his WR1 back doing his thing would be a massive help.

Woodland has been tested game after game by opposing weapons and he's continued to pass with flying colors.

As a true sophomore making just the 9th start of his career, Saturday will be the toughest test, by far. He's extremely talented and been pretty good for Alabama while taking over for Ty Simpson after 2025. Still, this is a different beast.

What makes him special is the ability to throw the ball down field or run. He's proven capable of doing so against SEC opponents a few times already. His 67% completions for 2,057 yards and a touchdown to interception ratio of 15-5 is excellent.

He becomes more dangerous with his legs. He's added 251 yards rushing, a number that would be significantly higher if not for his 22 sacks. Along with 5 more touchdowns on the ground, he presents the same sort of threat as LSU has seen as recently has Byrum Brown. The body type is different, but the danger is the same.

TJ Dottery and Dahvon Keys on the second level will be important for when Russell wants to leave the pocket. Ty Benefield can also be thrown in to that group, especially considering what we've seen him do as a spy this year.

While you feel really good about LSU's ability to pressure Russell with their 4-man rush, how the Tigers are able to limit him from the second level is equally important.