Watch Nick Saban, Alabama locked in as they enter Bryant-Denny Stadium ahead of LSU game

The Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban appeared locked in for their Saturday night game against LSU in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The SEC West showdown always seems to have a direct impact on the SEC Championship Game race as well as the College Football Playoffs.

It’s the 18th time since 2002 they have met as ranked teams. LSU bumped Alabama from national contention with a 32-31 overtime win last season. The winner has emerged as the SEC West champion 10 of the past 12 years.

Daniels leads the nation’s top offense into Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night when the eighth-ranked Crimson TIde (7-1, 5-0, No. 8 CFP ) host the 13th-ranked Tigers (6-2, 4-1, No. 14 CFP). Both teams have been on hot streaks after shaky starts.

“It’s a special challenge when you play a guy like this, especially because he is a step-up-in-the-pocket guy,” Saban told GameDay of Jayden Daniels earlier in the day. “He’s not a run-around-sideways guy. Now, he can scramble to throw and he’s a very good thrower. You don’t press the pocket on the guy and squeeze him, if you get pushed by, you’re playing with 10, so that just opens up those lanes for him. This is a very challenging guy because of his athleticism, his ability to run but he has great vision in the field, in terms of making choices and decisions in the passing game. He can extend those plays and if you don’t have great pass rush lanes, he’s going to kill you stepping up and running down the field.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.