LSU's playoff path runs through Alabama, Texas and a trip to No. 16 Tennessee

LSU faces a demanding closing stretch as it tries to reach the College Football Playoff, with the sequence laid out as No. 9 Alabama, No. 10 Texas, a trip to No. 16 Tennessee and a trip to Arkansas. Two of those tests come against teams ranked in the top 10, and the other two require LSU to win away from home, leaving little margin for a slip in any of them.

For Tennessee, listed at No. 16, the meeting with LSU stands out as a chance to shape the playoff picture from the other side. Hosting a team chasing a playoff place gives the Vols a high-profile opponent and an opportunity to damage LSU's hopes while strengthening their own position. The available material does not provide further details about dates or the other teams involved, but the shape of LSU's run-in alone makes that trip to Tennessee one of the hurdles that will help decide whether the Tigers get in.