3 college football Rivalry Week games with the most at stake

These college football Rivalry Week games have set themselves apart from the rest this year.

While beating a rival is always a big thing, some college football games being played out over Rivalry Week have so much more at stake than merely in-state or regional pride.

With seven teams still alive to make the College Football Playoff, there are only a few games left that a potential national championship candidate can even be part of. Fortunately, there are three games with just a little bit more at stake this weekend. You are definitely going to want to watch these games unfold. In their aftermath, we will have a better understanding about the CFP.

Here are the three college football rivalry games with the most at stake heading into this Saturday.

College Football Playoff: 3 games with the most at stake during Rivalry Week

3. LSU has to beat Texas A&M in College Station to stay alive for the playoff

Although SEC West winner LSU should have no issues taking care of business vs. a non-bowl-eligible Texas A&M team, the Bayou Bengals will play a massive part in shaping how the College Football Playoff picture comes together over the next two weekends. In short, they have to beat a bad Texas A&M team in College Station to have any shot of making it into the playoff this season.

This is because, at 10-2 (7-1), LSU could theoretically get into the playoff as the first two-loss Power Five champion. They would have to beat Georgia in Atlanta to do so. If that were the case, then USC, Clemson and the loser of The Game will not control their own destiny. TCU and The Game’s winner will not be impacted as significantly, but LSU crashing the party would be so wild.

Of course, none of this will be even remotely possible if LSU were to somehow lose to the Aggies…