Lane Kiffin, LSU enter defining November stretch as Alabama matchup carries CFP weight

As the margin for error thins coming out of the first College Football Playoff rankings, so begins Lane Kiffin's season-defining stretch this month at two-loss LSU against nationally ranked competition.

Strength of schedule, quality wins, and overall resume are all factors that will be weighed heavily by the selection committee in the coming weeks, which slotted the Tigers 14th behind six other SEC teams in Tuesday night's initial rankings reveal.

LSU is one of four top-15 teams without a ranked win this season, joining Notre Dame, UCLA and Wake Forest. The Tigers lost at Ole Miss and Kentucky, while victories over then-ranked Texas A&M and Mississippi State in Baton Rouge haven't aged well.

The Aggies have tanked offensively, and the Bulldogs have lost four straight since quarterback Kamario Taylor went down with a toe injury against Alabama that eventually proved season-ending.

Entering Saturday's bout with the No. 5 Crimson Tide, metrics currently helping the Tigers include game control (No. 4 nationally), strength of schedule (23rd) and strength of record (16th). LSU's remaining schedule is the third-toughest in college football, with No. 7 Texas, No. 13 Tennessee and Arkansas looming after Alabama.

Some have billed Saturday's game as a CFP eliminator…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/