No. 18 LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC) visits Auburn on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ABC, one week after shutting out Mississippi State 31-0 for its second SEC win of the Lane Kiffin era. The Tigers' opponent comes in hot: Auburn knocked off then-No. 1 Georgia during a chaotic Week 7 that saw Georgia, Texas and Alabama all lose on the same day for the first time since 1966.
LSU enters Saturday on the outside of the postseason picture. ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) gives the Tigers a 28.1% chance to make the College Football Playoff. They lost a top-10 game at Ole Miss then fell to unranked Kentucky in Week 6.
To play itself back into contention, LSU likely must win out, or close to it. That starts at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the road doesn't get easier. After an Oct. 31 bye, the Tigers host Alabama and Texas to open November, then travel to Tennessee in Week 12. That's three ranked opponents in the four games after today.
LSU gets reinforcements on Saturday. Tight end Trey'Dez Green returns to the lineup, and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen is set to play after leaving the Mississippi State game. Whit Weeks remains sidelined, and Jackson Harris also exited against the Bulldogs. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, despite playing exceptionally as of late, harbors a lingering hamstring injury.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU’s College Football Playoff chances before Week 8, per ESPN FPI