One of college football’s biggest rivalry games is back in Baton Rouge on Saturday, and this one carries more than bragging rights. LSU hosts Alabama at Tiger Stadium with College Football Playoff implications hanging over the matchup, and both teams arrive at 6-2 with postseason hopes still alive.
The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season have Alabama at No. 5 and LSU at No. 14, which only sharpens the edge on a game that already comes with plenty of history. It also happens to be the final regularly scheduled annual meeting between the longtime SEC rivals as the conference moves away from permanent annual opponents.
Kickoff is set for ABC’s 2:30 p.m. window, though LSU’s latest game preview lists it at 2:45 p.m. The game will also air on the LSU Sports Radio Network. LSU Athletics says tickets are sold out, but resale seats may still be available through SeatGeek, the school’s official ticket marketplace.
LSU comes in on a two-game SEC winning streak after beating Mississippi State 31-0 and then knocking off Auburn 38-17 on the road. In that Auburn win, quarterback Sam Leavitt passed for 387 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Jackson Harris finished with nine catches for 178 yards.
Alabama is fresh off a 31-20 win over Texas A&M. Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
For LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, this is his first crack at Alabama since taking over the Tigers’ program. And with both teams already carrying two losses, Saturday’s result matters even more as they chase spots in the College Football Playoff.
Alabama has taken the last three meetings in the series, including a 20-9 win in Tuscaloosa in 2025. LSU’s last win over the Crimson Tide came in 2022, when Jayden Daniels led the Tigers to a 32-31 overtime victory in Baton Rouge.
There’s also a notable scheduling wrinkle: Saturday will be the first time LSU has hosted Alabama for an afternoon game since 2010.
First Lady Melania Trump is expected to attend the game and help announce a $5 million donation to establish a Fostering the Future endowed scholarship. Her visit will mean heightened security and extra restrictions around Tiger Stadium.
LSU Athletics is urging fans to get there early and plan for delays around campus. Some roads, walkways and tailgating areas will be restricted because of security operations. Interior campus streets begin closing at 5 a.m., and stadium gates are set to open at 9 a.m.
Fans are being told to review LSU’s enhanced security information and restricted-area map before heading to campus.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has Another Big Alabama Availability Concern
LSU is still dealing with a familiar late-week injury headache as it prepares for Alabama, with linebacker Whit Weeks remaining doubtful and tight end TreyDez Green now listed as questionable because of a knee injury. The Tigers have already been forced to navigate a string of season-ending injuries, so the availability report has become a major part of the buildup to one of the SECs biggest matchups.
Alabama, meanwhile, got a cleaner update on its side of the ledger, upgrading receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and center Racin Delgatty from questionable to probable. For LSU, the concern is less about one name than the cumulative effect of missing pieces, especially with Weeks still trending the wrong way and Green not yet certain to go. [Read more 🡒]
TreyDez Greens Alabama Outlook Could Change LSUs Passing Attack
LSUs passing game heads into Week 10 with one of its most intriguing variables tied to TreyDez Green, whose availability and effectiveness could shape how the Tigers attack through the air. The tight end has become a player worth monitoring not just because of his role, but because his status can alter the way LSU distributes targets and builds its game plan against Alabama.
For DFS purposes, the read on Green is cautious, with projections leaning to the under on his receiving yardage because of both injury risk and a difficult matchup. If LSU has to adjust without him or limit his workload, it could push more of the burden onto other pass catchers and change the rhythm of an offense that already has to be sharp to keep pace in a high-stakes SEC setting. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Get A Huge Offensive Boost At LSU
Alabama heads into its trip to LSU already trying to manage a banged-up offense, and the possibility of getting Ryan Coleman-Williams back only adds another layer to the matchup. The star wide receiver has missed recent games after a meniscus injury and surgery, but there is at least some hope he could be available when the Crimson Tide take on a defense that has made life difficult for opponents all season.
For LSU, the concern is obvious: even a limited Coleman-Williams would change how Alabama can attack the field and force the Tigers to account for a player who can alter the game plan in a hurry. With several other Alabama players also dealing with injury uncertainty, his status could end up shaping not just the passing game, but the entire feel of the night in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]