12 games that will determine the 2021 College Football Playoff

7. Texas A&M at LSU, Nov. 27

It’s honestly rare when there aren’t fireworks whenever the Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers add another chapter to their rivalry. But it’s going to be exceptionally interesting and important when they meet to end their regular seasons in the 2021 campaign as the two programs went in opposite directions a year ago but have high ceilings this year.

Jimbo Fisher promised to build the Aggies into a contender when he arrived in College Station and, after finishing one spot in the rankings out of the College Football Playoff last year, it’s safe to say he’s done that. Texas A&M will be breaking in a new quarterback in 2021 but they have one of the best defenses in the country and a ton of skill-position talent on offense.

After winning the natty in 2019, LSU hit a brick wall last season. They were tasked with replacing the majority of their starters and had to do so with limited offseason work and practice time due to COVID. Throw in the disastrous Bo Pelini hire as the defensive coordinator and things didn’t work out. Talent-wise, though, this is still a team that can compete at the highest level.

For my money, LSU could get back on track and crash the CFP party this year if everything breaks right. As such, they could be playing for a possible spot when this rivalry game comes around and, as fate would have it, Texas A&M hopes to be in the same picture at that point of the year too.