Brandon Harris Is the Real Key to LSU's Playoff Hopes

The buzz is palpable, the hype is real and a collision is imminent.

LSU vs. Alabama. The Tigers vs. the Crimson Tide. Les Miles vs. Nick Saban.

For SEC West supremacy and perhaps a reservation in the College Football Playoff.

The two SEC heavyweights will square off in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7 after taking this weekend off, in what will be the most important game of the SEC in 2015.

After all, it's the biggest hurdle standing in the way between the undefeated Tigers, one-loss Crimson Tide and a trip to Atlanta as SEC West champs.

While Tigers running back Leonard Fournette, the Crimson Tide's Derrick Henry and the vaunted Alabama front seven's quest to win the battle in the trenches against LSU's offensive line will all dominate headlines leading up to the showdown, the game's most important player—by far—is LSU quarterback Brandon Harris.

The true sophomore signal-caller from Bossier City, Louisiana, won the job this summer and has slowly progressed from a mystery into the weapon head coach Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron needed him to become. 

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He has thrown for over 200 yards in three straight games, thrown nine touchdowns and zero picks, has rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns and has taken enough pressure off of Fournette to keep opposing defenses honest.

"He continues to improve," Miles said. "He's very accurate, very capable and understands where to throw it. A good throw is not good enough (for him) anymore. He wants to be very, very accurate. I like his improvement, his tenacity and his leadership around the team."

That last part of that quote is very important, because while it might seem like Fournette is the leader of this team, that quality was the biggest reason it took so long for Harris to ascend to the starting role.

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He enrolled at LSU in January 2014 and immediately entered into a battle with Anthony Jennings, who got backup reps throughout the 2013 season until starter Zach Mettenberger was injured in the final game of the regular season.

Despite Jennings' struggles—he completed just 48.9 percent of his passes—Harris managed just one start on the season, a road loss to the Auburn Tigers in early October.

After a battle in spring, Harris ascended to the starting role due in part to Jennings' brief suspension, but mostly due to his progression as a leader of the team.

"There's no way you can be a leader without being a really quality participant," Miles said. "You have to go onto the field and make plays, have to care and have to want. Brandon Harris has that. His leadership has grown by leaps and bounds."

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That growth on and off the field has been huge for LSU because now the offense is balanced after more than a season of uncertainty.

Harris has tossed eight completions of more than 30 yards, which is tied for sixth in the conference and more than Alabama starting quarterback Jake Coker and Georgia's Greyson Lambert. That threat, which is due in part to the emergence of Malachi Dupre opposite Travin Dural, has the attention of opposing coaches.

"They've made more explosive plays in the passing game," Alabama's Saban said. "Their receivers have really played well, and the quarterback has made some really good plays. That's given them a lot more balance and has made them a lot more difficult to defend."

Fournette is awesome, but so is Alabama's front seven. When the unstoppable force meets the immovable object next week in Tuscaloosa, that will put the pressure on Harris to be the difference in the game.

After a slow start to his career, he's peaking at the right time.

If he can clear the Alabama hurdle, it will give himself and his team plenty of confidence as they hit the home stretch that includes games against Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and potentially an SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5.

Fournette is the star in Baton Rouge, but if LSU is going to make a playoff run, Harris has to be its MVP.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics are courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.