LSU played no games with championship implications last November.

But, that situation has changed 12 months later.

This Saturday, the Tigers will take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa with the winner of that game in the driver's seat in the Southeastern Conference Western Division. It may be early in the week, but the LSU players realize what's at stake at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"The national championship game, the SEC championship game or a bowl game are not as important as this game," senior linebacker Perry Riley said. "To get to any of those games at the end of the year, we have to win this game."

Two years ago, the Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter for a 41-34 victory at Alabama in the first meeting between coaches Les Miles and Nick Saban. A forced fumble by then-freshman nickel back Chad Jones led to the game-winning touchdown.

"Everybody knows what's at stake this week," said Jones, who now is the starting free safety. "We are where we want to be. We're looking forward to a big game. We are practicing hard. Our first goal on the board is winning the West."

LSU found itself in another big-stage game earlier this season. The Tigers struggled all night on offense in a 13-3 loss to the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators. That game is serving as a learning experience for the LSU team.

"If we take anything from the Florida game, it's playing in a big-time atmosphere," junior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard said. "Everybody was going crazy.

"It was different even for me because this is just my second year as a starter. I learned you can't get caught up in all the hype. It's just another ball game."

A couple of Tigers seniors acknowledge that the club cannot treat this game against Alabama any differently from other contests.

"To us, this is not a championship game," senior defensive tackle Al Woods said. "We are going to come in and go to work this week. We must stay humble and stay hungry. We have to bring the sharpest tools with us.

"You do want to play in games like this. They are going to give their best shot and we are going to give our best shot."

Although Charles Scott agreed with Woods that the players must handle this game in a normal fashion, he did admit that it's a different situation for the seniors.

"Keiland (Williams) mentioned we only have a few games left," Scott said. "We have got to make the most of it. It's always exciting playing in a hostile place. We're facing a great team. There's always an anxious feeling going to practice for a game like this."

One person who will be in the middle of this game is sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson. In the game against Florida, Jefferson probably turned in his poorest performance of the season.

"The importance of this game does hit me," Jefferson said. "We all realize that this is the most important game of the season. It's for the Western Division. It's a battle between two rivals. This is the big game everybody wants to see."

Jefferson learned a lesson from the Florida game when the offense put up just three points.

"I learned that I have to manage the game," Jefferson said. "The game is in my hands. We didn't have the ball that much against Florida.

"You're not going to have a lot of possessions, so you have to take advantage of the ones you have. We have to get the momentum early in the game and we have to stay on the field."

Jefferson has never played against Alabama, but he knows what a Saban-coached defense will bring - numerous blitzes.

"I know Saban is a great coach and he has great defensive schemes," Jefferson said. "They like to blitz on every play and they blitz from various areas. We have to make sure our protection is right. I have to focus a lot on film study this week.

"This is going to be a grind-out type of game. There are not going to be many big plays. Guys won't always be open as they were against Tulane. We are going to drive the ball as well as we can. We have gained a lot confidence after the Auburn and Tulane games."