Fifth-ranked Tigers would play either Michigan or USC

	LSU earned its biggest win of the season last Friday, as the Tigers knocked off Arkansas 31-26 in Little Rock. Nelson Chenault/US PRESSWIRE

SI.com News services

LSU is heading to the Rose Bowl, according to Baton Rouge television station WAFB. Citing a member of the Rose Bowl board who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the station said No. 5 LSU will play either No. 2 USC or No. 3 Michigan on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.

But Mitch Dorger, CEO of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses (the Rose Bowl's organizing committee) said WAFB is jumping the gun.

"They are prematurely reporting that," Dorger told The Advocate.

LSU went 10-2 this season and finished second in the SEC West, behind Arkansas (the Tigers beat the Razorbacks 31-26 last week). LSU would become the first SEC team to play in the Rose Bowl since Alabama traveled to Pasadena in 1946.

If USC beats rival UCLA on Saturday, the Trojans will likely finish second in the BCS standings and play No. 1 Ohio State in the national title game. In this scenario, Michigan would finish third in the BCS and go to the Rose Bowl for the third time in four seasons.