College football schedule 2012: LSU hosts Alabama; Texas A&M at Mississippi State

LSU and Texas A&M each face big SEC tests on Saturday. The Tigers host No. 1 Alabama with a chance to reinsert themselves in the thick of the national title picture, while the Aggies are in Starkville, Miss., to face the one-loss Mississippi State Bulldogs in a pivotal SEC West matchup.

It's safe to say LSU and Alabama know each other well. The Tigers (7-1) would love nothing more than to knock off Alabama (8-0) and cause a major blow to any hopes the Crimson Tide have of repeating as national champions, especially considering LSU didn't suffer a loss last season until meeting Alabama in the BCS Championship Game. LSU had knocked off Alabama earlier in the season, but the Tide won the rematch and the national title despite not even winning their division.

Meanwhile, the Aggies are looking up at the one-loss Bulldogs in the SEC West standings. That can change with a win on the road Saturday.

Here's a look at this weekend's local college football schedule. All times are CT:

No. 18 Texas A&M Aggies at No. 17 Mississippi State Bulldogs, 11 a.m., ESPN

Houston Cougars at East Carolina Pirates, 11 a.m., Fox Sports Regional

Rice Owls at Tulane Green Wave, 2:30 p.m.

Texas Longhorns at No. 20 Texas Tech Red Raiders, 2:30 p.m., ABC

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 5 LSU Tigers, 7 p.m., CBS