The LSU Tigers enter the final contest of the regular season against the Arkansas Razorbacks with a two-game winning streak and an outside chance to make it to the SEC title game.
The Tigers are 9-2 this season and will need some help from the teams ahead of them in the rankings if they hope to make it to a BCS bowl. The SEC has two spots, but Alabama, Georgia and Florida are all ranked above LSU.
If the Tigers can win on Friday and some of the other teams lose, they will have a good chance of making their sixth BCS bowl over the past 13 consecutive seasons of postseason appearances.
Last year the Tigers made it to the national championship game after defeating Georgia in the SEC title game. This season, the Bulldogs will take on the Alabama in the conference title game as long as the Crimson Tide defeat Auburn this Saturday.
"There are no goals yet removed. We're looking forward to playing it out," coach Les Miles said to the Associated Press. "There are spots to achieve for us."
LSU is on a two-game winning streak and has won four of the last five games, including a 41-35 win at home against Ole Miss last Saturday. The team rallied from a 7-point deficit in the fourth quarter behind Odell Beckham's 89-yard punt and Jeremy Hill's third touchdown run to take the lead with 15 seconds left.
The Tigers defense has been solid all season, ranking 12th with 17 points per game, but gave up over 450 yards to Ole Miss, including 316 yards passing. The LSU defense will have to play much better against Arkansas on Friday as they have quarterback Tyler Wilson, who is the SEC leader in passing yards with 302 per game.
"We're going to spend six days in between now and the next game in pass coverage," Miles said last weekend. "This is the kind of film that will be truly beneficial to our secondary."
Quarterback Zach Mettenberger has played well recently for the Tigers, passing for over 270 yards in three-straight games. The junior has been impressive while taking a larger role in the offense this season, throwing for 2,272 yards and 10 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Against Mississippi State two weeks ago he passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
"He's functioning our offense. He's doing the things we ask him to do. We expect him to play big in games like this," Miles said following last week's win.
LSU started off the season with five-straight wins before losing 14-6 against Florida on Oct. 6. The Tigers won back-to-back games following the loss, winning close games against No. 3 South Carolina 23-21 and No. 18 Texas A&M 24-19.
The Tigers fell 21-17 the following week to Alabama in a rematch of the BCS title game and have since won two straight.
This year the team is ranked 46th in the nation in scoring with 31 points per game and has had a strong running game behind freshman Jeremy Hill and sophomore Kenny Hilliard, who have combined for over 1,000 rushing and 15 touchdowns.
The Razorbacks have been one of the most disappointing teams in the country this year and are still dealing with the fallout from the firing of former head coach Bobby Petrino, who was let go after having an adulterous relationship with a school staff member.
Things haven't gotten much better under coach John L. Smith, who has been dealing with issues of his own, including bankruptcy and disappointing play from the Razorbacks.
Quarterback Tyler Wilson has been one of the bright spots for Arkansas during this rough 4-7 season, leading the team's 25th ranked passing attack. The Razorbacks are only 2-5 in the SEC this year.
"Sometimes it's a test of your character, who you are deep down inside, and how long you can stay positive," said Wilson, who needs 88 yards to become the school's all-time leading passer.
The senior has thrown for 20 touchdowns for the second straight season and has passed for 3,028 yards this year. His biggest issue has been with ball control; Wilson has 12 interceptions, twice as many as he threw last season.
Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton has had a fantastic season working with Wilson, making 80 receptions for 1,237 yards and five touchdowns. Three weeks ago in a 19-15 win against Tulsa, the senior had 11 receptions for 177 yards and was stellar in a 35-26 loss to Rutgers on Sept. 22, making 10 catches for 303 yards and three touchdowns.
In last year's matchup with the Tigers, Wilson was sacked five times and threw for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
According to the Associated Press, "LSU lost its last visit to Arkansas 31-23 on Nov. 27, 2010, in Little Rock. The teams have met in Arkansas' capital city nine times since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992, but this game will be the Tigers' first in Fayetteville in two decades."
The LSU game will likely be the final one for Smith at Arkansas.
"Boy, I'd sure like to go out with a win," Smith said.