LSU football faces Auburn this Saturday in a battle of two-loss SEC teams. It's a de facto College Football Playoff elimination game. Any SEC team with three losses before the calendar flips to November isn't getting an invite to the dance.

LSU has struggled on the road in recent years. In fact, LSU hasn't won an SEC road game since October of 2024. Auburn just knocked off No. 1 Georgia last week, and the Auburn crowd has newfound excitement. Kickoff is slated for 11 A.M. CT, but the crowd will be more rowdy than it was a few weeks ago.

That will create a tough test for LSU QB Sam Leavitt and the LSU offense. An aggressive Auburn defense hopes to bring out LSU's bad habits, like turnovers and red-zone struggles.

Even as the Auburn offense has struggled in recent years, the defense has been stout. It's a talented group, and new head coach Alex Golesh retained defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. Let's look at how the LSU offense will attack DJ Durkin's defense.

LSU needs to get the play-action game going

Auburn's linebackers and safeties are aggressive. They play downhill and tend to bite hard on play-fakes. This allows offenses to create space behind the defense with simple play-action elements. That's good news for an LSU offense that runs play-action more than any other team in the SEC or Big Ten, using it 53.1% of the time.

This Georgia touchdown is a little more than a simple play-fake, but look how the backfield action influences the Auburn defenders. The downhill play-fake, with UGA tight end Lawson Luckie sliding across the formation, hides Lucky from the defense, and he runs Scott free for a wide-open touchdown.

When LSU's play-action game is working, Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. can manipulate the defense and create space where they want it. It makes things smoother for Leavitt and the entire unit.

Auburn's defense is average at preventing explosive pass plays, ranking in the 50th percentile. This should be a good matchup for an LSU team that ranks top-40 in 20+ yard pass rate.

Offenses have found success with deep crossing routes vs. this Auburn defense. When the safeties and linebackers fall for the play action, it's hard for the defense to track a crosser across the field. Look for LSU's offense to scheme up some play-action shots and create big plays in the passing game.

LSU's interior offensive line needs to take advantage of an average Auburn defensive line

Auburn's defensive line is merely OK. Cody Sigler is a good interior defensive lineman and will make a few plays, but the rest of Auburn's defensive tackle room is mediocre compared to the rest of the SEC. The group especially struggles against double teams, and guys like Dallas Walker have been displaced by decent SEC offensive linemen.

LSU's interior offensive line has been inconsistent. Center Braelin Moore is good, but LSU's guard play is up and down. LSU needs to take advantage of an average Auburn defensive tackle room and establish an inside run game.

Again, I think this area is a good matchup for LSU. LSU's a good power-read team, and that play is about establishing a double-team at the point of attack. Watch this matchup early. If Auburn's defensive line holds up, it could be a bad sign for the Tigers' offense. But if LSU is creating movement, the Tigers' offense should be able to stay on schedule in the run game.

Can LSU's wideouts win vs. man coverage?

LSU will have to beat man coverage to win. Auburn's coverage identity is built around playing man. LSU's WRs need to win on the outside, and if LSU isn't naturally creating separation, Kiffin and Weis will need to scheme up some man beaters. LSU can't use play action every play. At some point, in obvious passing situations, LSU will have to convert with traditional dropback passing.

LSU wideouts need to get open, and they need to get open fast. Auburn will dial up the blitz so Leavitt won't have all day to throw.

This is where getting tight end Trey'Dez Green back could be big for LSU. Green is a matchup nightmare for defenders. If LSU WRs can't get separation outside, Green's size gives LSU an insurance policy over the middle of the field.

LSU also needs to win in the red zone. If LSU had capitalized on red-zone trips vs. Kentucky, LSU would have won that game. Once an offense gets in the red area, it's harder to scheme receivers open. LSU's go-to guys, like Jackson Harris and Winston Watkins, need to make plays.