LSU started the season ranked in the top 10, but the Tigers are currently unranked after a loss they suffered in Death Valley at the hands of Texas A&M.
The loss and the other two losses the Tigers have this year almost certainly meant that LSU’s playoff chances are close to zero, and that led to the firing of Brian Kelly.
Alabama will be the first team to face LSU after Kelly’s firing, and the collapse of LSU has had some effect on the Crimson Tide’s strength of schedule in the eyes of ESPN’s Football Power Index.
ESPN’s FPI ranked Alabama football’s strength of schedule No. 4 in the nation, and the Crimson Tide’s remaining strength of schedule is No. 29 in college football.
Two weeks ago, Alabama had the second-best schedule, and the Crimson Tide’s remaining strength of schedule dropped seven spots.
LSU was a ranked team two weeks ago, so this is likely the reason for those two metrics dropping. However, Alabama still has a solid resume because of the wins they have against four ranked conference teams, two of which, Georgia and Vanderbilt, are in the top 10. Long story short, the Crimson Tide control their own destiny and will almost certainly make the playoff if they win out.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will have two weeks to prepare for an LSU Tigers team that no longer has Brian Kelly in charge.
