BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M football has one of its biggest games with the biggest implications in recent years when the No. 14 Aggies host No. 8 LSU on Saturday.

Both teams are last two undefeated in SEC play, so sole possession of first place in the standings is on the line.

This massive showdown on Saturday could not only give A&M an advantage in the race in Atlanta, but also prove to be vital to making the College Football Playoff.

The Aggies haven’t played for a conference title since 1998 and have never made the College Football Playoff. A&M could play for both this year, especially with the expansion of the playoffs to 12 teams. Head coach Mike Elko believes that every game becomes more important now.

“When it came to a four-team playoff, you went into the season prepared for how you were going to be knocked out of the playoff race early and you had to keep going,” Elko said. “You kind of never talked about it because you were so far away from being in a four-team playoff race. Now that it’s 12, you’re talking about 24, 26, 28 teams still viable. I think there are probably 8 teams in the SEC, maybe more, that are still alive to make the playoffs. This has never really been the case in previous years.

LSU and Texas A&M lost their first game of the season, but both are on a six-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. game at Kyle Field.

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