LSU football faces a de facto playoff game this weekend as it takes on Alabama in a high-stakes SEC clash Saturday night in Baton Rouge. This matchup will renew one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, with both teams having delivered several thrilling contests in recent years.
Ahead of the pivotal game, LSU received some positive news on the injury front. Wide receiver CJ Daniels, who had been listed as questionable due to injury, is trending toward being available for Saturday’s showdown, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
“There’s continued optimism that LSU receiver CJ Daniels, who has been listed as questionable this week due to an injury, will be available vs. Alabama tomorrow,” Zenitz reported on X (formerly Twitter). “Daniels has 29 catches in the 6.5 games he’s played in this season.”
Getting Daniels back in the lineup would be a significant boost for quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU passing attack. Daniels had seven catches for 86 yards in LSU’s win over Arkansas on Oct. 19 and was one of the top transfer portal additions for head coach Brian Kelly after a standout 2023 season where he totaled 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.
LSU’s Must-Win Situation Against Alabama
LSU enters this game in a must-win situation, as the loser will likely be eliminated from both the SEC title race and the race for one of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers lost their margin for error on Oct. 26 after a second-half collapse in a road loss to Texas A&M. That defeat dropped LSU to 2-2 on the season after a neutral-site loss to USC in the opener, a result that has aged poorly as the Trojans’ season has unraveled.
LSU remains in the mix for the SEC Championship, but another loss would significantly hurt their chances. With Alabama also in the hunt with two conference losses, the stakes are high. The Tigers still have four SEC games remaining, including winnable matchups against Florida, Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma, but a second loss would leave them hoping for chaos around the conference in order to keep championship hopes alive.
The SEC, along with the Big Ten, is likely to produce several one- or two-loss teams, and it’s unlikely a three-loss team will make the College Football Playoff. LSU’s path to the playoff remains narrow, and a win over Alabama is crucial if they are to stay in contention for both the SEC title and a playoff berth.
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