Will Alabama make the College Football Playoff if it beats LSU? Crimson Tide's postseason outlook explored

The No. 11-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to take on the No. 15-ranked LSU Tigers in a pivotal SEC matchup. With both teams at 6-2, the game will, in all likelihood, determine who gets to keep their hopes for the 2024 College Football Playoff alive.

Making the bracket at two losses is already a stretch, but three is a death nail. Here's what's on the line.

How did we get here?

Both of these teams have some great wins and some bad losses. They have similar records heading into this matchup, but got here differently.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Both of Alabama's losses feel very different. Their first defeat of the year is still stapled in the heads of many college football fans – in the worst way for fans of the Tide. The unranked Vanderbilt Commodores stunned it 40-35. It was a loss that everyone understood would require excellent wins to overcome.

Thankfully for Kalen DeBoer, the Tide took care of the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 41-34. It's a win that can be pinned as the sole reason that Alabama is currently in the bracket picture at all, especially with Gerogia's quality win over the then No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns.

Alabama's second loss came at the hands of the then No. 11-ranked Tennesse Volunteers, 24-17. Now, Tennesse has a head-to-head tiebreaker, making the battle even more uphill for the Tide than before – even if Tennesse loses to Georgia in two weeks, it should be safe.

LSU is Alabama's only ranked opponent remaining, so this is the last chance it will have to really bolster its resume.

LSU Tigers

The Tigers opened the year with a loss against the USC Trojans 27-20, a loss that continues to look worse as USC continues to spiral downward under Lincoln Riley at 4-5.

They proceeded to go on a six-game win-streak that included a stout, thrilling win over the No. 9-ranked Ole Miss.

However, it got itself into sudden-death when they got dismantled in the second half of their loss against the No. 14-ranked Texas A&M 38-23. Quarterback Garret Nussmier threw for three interceptions.

Like Alabama, LSU does not have a ranked opponent after this game, so this is the one shot they have to really scrap their way into the bracket. From there, they would have to win out.

If Texas A&M loses to Texas to go to two losses, then things get tricky with the head-to-head depending on what the other games look like for both teams.