Alabama Fan Rooting Guide: Game Results Tide must reach CFP

So Alabama football complicated things. Much, much more complicated.

The Crimson Tide entering the game against Oklahoma had a clear path to the College Football Playoff and the SEC Championship Game. All Alabama had to do was beat Oklahoma and then Auburn, and it would play in Atlanta and almost certainly secure a spot in the 12-team field.

Then the Crimson Tide decided not to play well in Norman this past weekend. Alabama lost by three touchdowns and fell in the CFP rankings. The Crimson Tide fell from No. 7 to No. 13, the second team on the outside looking in.

Alabama’s playoff hopes are on life support heading into the Iron Bowl, but there’s still a chance the Crimson Tide can make the 12-team field. The AllState Playoff Bracket Predictor gives Alabama a 34 percent chance of making the playoffs with a win over Auburn on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

But Alabama will need help.

There is no guaranteed A+B=C scenario for making the playoffs. There is a certain degree of subjectivity in the CFP Committee. So we can’t be sure about anything. But the following game results this weekend would improve Alabama’s chances of getting into the inaugural 12-team playoffs.

Here’s a guide to the final weekend of the regular season for Alabama fans.

(All times are listed in central time).

No. 8 Tennessee at Vanderbilt

Logistics: 11 a.m. on ABC in Nashville, Tennessee

Root for: Vanderbilt

Do the Commodores have another surprise in store? If so, it could play a significant role in helping Alabama. With the loss, Tennessee would suffer its third loss of the season. This would give the Vols (9-2) the same record as the Crimson Tide; Tennessee has the head-to-head win over Alabama, but who knows if that means the committee ranks the Vols ahead of the Crimson Tide. But Tennessee will definitely stay above Alabama with a win. If they lose, there is a chance the Vols will fall.

No. 15 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson

Logistics: 11 a.m. on ESPN in Clemson, South Carolina

Root for: South Carolina

The Gamecocks (8-3) have a slim chance of making the playoffs. But considering they’re behind Alabama this weekend, the Gamecocks could stay behind Alabama in the rankings even with a good win over Clemson (9-2). Alabama has the straight win. Again, it’s difficult to say what the committee would do with South Carolina if it wins this game, but a Clemson win definitely wouldn’t help Alabama. The Tigers are one spot ahead of the Crimson Tide, so a loss for Dabo Swinney’s team would almost certainly cause it to fall behind Alabama and free up space.

No. 5 Notre Dame in Southern Cal

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on CBS in Los Angeles, California

Root for: Southern California

Would the Fighting Irish fall behind Alabama with a loss to the Trojans? Maybe, maybe not. If Notre Dame (10-1) loses this game, it would only be a second loss. But the Fighting Irish would have two losses to unranked teams: Southern Cal and Northern Illinois. Maybe that’s enough for the committee to justify Notre Dame falling behind three-loss Alabama. Currently, the Crimson Tide has two better wins (No. 7 Georgia, No. 15 South Carolina) than Notre Dame’s best win (No. 20 Texas A&M).

No. 6 Miami at Syracuse

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ESPN in Syracuse, New York

Root for: Syracuse

A loss to Syracuse would give the Hurricanes their second loss, both against unranked teams. Considering Miami doesn’t have a win over a team still ranked, two losses could move the Hurricanes closer to Alabama’s range, if not below the Crimson Tide’s.

Cal at No. 9 SMU

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2 in Dallas, Texas

Root for: Cal

SMU is one of the main teams that must keep Alabama off the path to the CFP. Don’t count on Cal being the one to do this, but it would definitely help. The Mustangs (10-1) have just one loss to No. 19 BYU. But they also didn’t have any wins against opponents still in the rankings (Louisville and Pitt have since fallen out of the rankings). The more likely help Alabama could get comes from whoever SMU faces in the ACC title game. But for now, fingers crossed for Cal.

Purdue at No. 10 Indiana

Logistics: 6 p.m. on FS1 in Bloomington, Indiana

Root for: Purdue

Don’t hold your breath here. The Boilermakers are a bad football team. They have only won one game this season, the first against Indiana State. But if Purdue could somehow end its season with a win over an in-state contest, it would not only put a better end to a terrible season, but it would also help Alabama. Another loss for the Hoosiers (10-1) would almost certainly put them below the Crimson Tide.