By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Three of the most intriguing storylines from LSU at Alabama.

The SEC had two teams in the College Football Playoff Committees top four, which was released earlier this week. When the next ranking comes out, one of those teams will have almost certainly slipped out. That is because at eight oclock eastern standard time, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Crimson Tide and the Louisiana State Tigers face off in what will likely be the game of the week, amidst a slate that also features Big 12 undefeateds Oklahoma State vs. TCU, and ACC heavyweight Florida State at top-ranked Clemson. Frankly, when the regular season is all said and done, we might look back at this as the game of the year. This clash is jam-packed with intriguing storylines, and matchups. Here are, to me, the three most interesting of those:

3. Saban vs. Miles
The forthcoming meeting will mark the tenth time these two SEC legends have faced off. Saban leads the series 6-3 and could extend his winning streak against Miles to five games, should Alabama prevail on Saturday. Miles Tigers against Sabans Crimson Tide has probably been the most consistently entertaining rivalry since the latter took over at Bama in 2007, after leaving LSU for the NFL just a few years prior. Its a contest that pits razor-sharp discipline and steadfast preparation against unflappable confidence and disorienting unpredictability. Who knows, we might even see another situation where the cMad Hatterd eats some grass and then decides to run a reverse on 4th and short, that turns into a 23-yard gain. One can only hope.

2. Quarterback Play
Cokers numbers might look a little bit better from a volume standpoint, but given his situation, Brandon Harris could not have been any better for LSU, this season. If not for Harris, LSUs season may have turned out a little more similar to Georgia. Instead, the sophomore has yet to throw an interception this season, has thrown nine touchdown passes, and holds the conferences second best passer rating. Also, he appears to have made some sort of a leap the past three games. Starting with the South Carolina game, he threw for over two hundred yards and had multiple touchdowns in three consecutive weeks. Prior to that stretch, the most passing yards hes ever had was last season, against New Mexico State. As for Coker, hes been perfectly competent, particularly having to shoulder a larger chunk of the offense, relative to Harris, seeing as he does not have the best player in college football behind him, although Henry is no slouch. Knowing that in five of the nine Saban-Miles games, the outcome was decided by a score within the final 86 seconds of the fourth quarter, quarterback play, down the stretch, may turn out to be the deciding factor.

3. An unstoppable Fournette meets an immovable front seven
The Heisman frontrunner vs. the nations third rush defense. 7.7 yards per carry vs. 2.6 yards per carry allowed. Perhaps the best running back since Herschel Walker vs. arguably the best defensive front of this decade. Leonard Fournette versus Alabamas front seven. Its safe to say that, pre-injury, Nick Chubb was the only back in college football that could contend with Fournette. At first glance, it appears he was as effective as ever against Alabama, and he certainly got his, but if you take away the 83-yard touchdown run, Chubb only managed 3.3 yards per carry on the rest of his touches. Then again, Leonard Fournette has yet to be held under 150 yards in any game, this season. Will that change against an Alabama team that is allowing an average of 78.5 rushing yards allowed per game?

This game is shaping up to be as good as any of the classic matchups of the Saban-Miles era. And, aside from the 2011-12 national championship, the stakes have never been higher. This game has everything that makes college football so great. Need I say more?