Above: Alabama’s Reggie Ragland makes a tackle against Tennessee. (Kent Gidley/UA Athletics)

Alabama has several rivals but none in recent years has created as much anticipation before they play the Crimson Tide as LSU.

Derrick Henry will figure prominently in Alabama’s showdown with LSU. (Kent Gidley/UA Athletics)

The then-No. 1 Bengal Tigers outlasted then-No. 2 Alabama 9-6 in their 2011 regular season meeting that was dubbed the Game of the Century. The Tide won the rematch 21-0 in the 2012 National Championship Game.

The SEC West contenders renew acquaintances at 7 p.m. Saturday on CBS. LSU is No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings with a 7-0 record; No. 4 Alabama is 7-1.

This could be a battle of marquee running backs, with LSU’s Leonard Fournette (1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns on 176 carries) squaring off with Alabama workhorse Derrick Henry (1,044 yards and 14 TDs on 180 carries). They are the top rushers in the Southeastern Conference.

Dontavius Russell of Auburn shows emotion during the Tigers’ loss to Ole Miss. (Zach Bland/Auburn Athletics)

Auburn travels to College Station, Texas to face No. 25 Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the SEC Network. The Tigers will try to keep pace with an Aggies offense that is No. 4 in total offense (32.13 points per game) and No. 3 in passing offense (2,080 yards) in the SEC.

Here’s the rest of the Alabama NewsCenter football preview slate. Unless otherwise noted, all college games are Saturday. High school teams have moved into the postseason. Most of those games are Friday but some were shifted to tonight to avoid inclement weather.

OTHER STATE COLLEGES

Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois: For the first time in school history, the Jacksonville State football team is a consensus No. 1 in the national polls. The Gamecocks (7-1, 5-0 Ohio Valley Conference) jumped into the top spot in the FCS Coaches Poll on Monday after holding the No. 1 ranking in the STATS FCS Poll for the previous seven weeks. They’ll try to continue this historic run at 1 p.m. in Charleston, Ill.

The Jacksonville State University Gamecocks with took Auburn to overtime earlier this year. Linebacker Joel McCandless (3) and safety Folo Johnson (4) in that game. JSU is the consensus No. 1 team in the FCS. (Steve Latham/JSU Athletics)

Miles College at Tuskegee: The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference portion of the Golden Bears’ schedule has been very good for the team from Fairfield. Miles (5-4 overall) has beaten all four of its conference foes. But a formidable one lies ahead in the 8-1 Golden Tigers, who share the SIAC’s top spot at 4-0. Tuskegee closes its regular season with its homecoming game at 1 p.m.

Alabama State at Jackson State: A 35-20 victory over Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic improved the Hornets to 4-4 overall and 3-4 in the Southwest Athletic Conference. They’ll try to get over .500 overall and to .500 in the league at 6 p.m.

Mississippi Valley State at Alabama A&M: The Bulldogs (2-5, 2-3 in the SWAC) are fourth in the East Division of the conference. They kick off with the fifth-place Delta Devils (0-9, 0-7) at 1 p.m.

Stillman at Kentucky State: The Tigers (3-5, 1-3 in the SIAC) have lost their past three games and were outscored 36.7 to 11.3 in that span.  Kickoff in Frankfort, Ky., is at noon.

Mississippi College at West Alabama: The Tigers are 6-3 overall and 2-3 in the Gulf South Conference. Kickoff with the visiting Choctaws (2-6, 0-5) is at 2 p.m.

Maryville at Huntingdon: The Hawks (7-1, 5-0) lead the USA South Athletic Conference.  Maryville is the No. 2 team in the league at 4-1, 7-1 overall. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Berry at Birmingham-Southern: The Panthers (4-5 overall and 2-5 in the Southern Athletic Association) close their season at 1 p.m.

Both Alabama State and Alabama A&M move on this week from last week’s Magic City Classic. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter.

Faulkner at Cumberland: The Eagles (5-3) are going for their third win in a row at noon in Lebanon, Tenn.

Shorter at North Alabama: The 6-2 Lions, ranked No. 13 nationally in Division II, are second in the Gulf South Conference with a 4-1 league mark. They kick off with visiting Shorter (1-4 in the league) at 12:30 p.m.

Clark Atlanta at Samford: The Bulldogs (3-5, 1-4 in the Southern Conference) take a break from league action as they entertain the Panthers at 2 p.m. on ESPN3.

Louisiana Monroe at Troy: The Warhawks come calling on the Trojans (2-6, 1-3) at 2:30 p.m.

Concordia at Central State: The Hornets kick off in Wilberforce, Ohio, at noon.

Idaho at South Alabama: Coming off a bye week, the Jaguars kick off with the Vandals at 2 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Class 7A: Vestavia Hills (8-2) travels to Madison City Stadium to face 9-1 Bob Jones on Friday. The Rebels are No. 6 and the Patriots No. 4 in the final regular season Alabama Sports Writers Association ranking.

Class 6A: Bessemer City (6-4) takes on Park Crossing (8-2) at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl on Friday.

Class 5A: No. 8 Mortimer Jordan (9-1) hosts Lawrence County (6-4) in Kimberly tonight.

Class 4A: Montevallo (8-2) will attempt to continue its resurgent season tonight as it hosts Saint James (6-4).

Class 3A: No. 8 Opp (7-3) is at Midfield (6-3) on Friday.

Class 2A: Sweet Water (5-5) has a long history of playoff success, winning nine state championships, according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society. The Bulldogs travel on Friday to No. 4 Elba (9-1).

Class 1A: Verbena (7-3) faces J.U. Blacksher (7-3) in Uriah on Friday.

AISA: A year ago, Crenshaw Christian hosted Jackson Academy in the first round of the Alabama Independent School Association playoffs. The same two teams meet in the first round this year, except that Crenshaw travels to Jackson.