Alabama fan rooting guide: Conference title games with CFP impact for Tide

So, heading into conference championship weekend, the Crimson Tide holds the No. 11 spot in the rankings. As of now, that means Alabama would be the last team in the playoff.

Will that change after Friday and Saturday’s games?

Alabama won’t be playing, but there is one game in particular that could affect the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes. Many won’t though, so you can sit back and enjoy some (hopefully) good games.

Here’s a rooting guide for conference championship weekend for Alabama fans.

Logistics: 7 p.m. Friday on FOX in Boise, Idaho

Root for: Boise State

This doesn’t matter all that much, so you can probably sit back and enjoy a good college football game. But it especially doesn’t matter if Boise State wins. The Broncos, already on the inside of the playoff picture, would lock up an automatic bid as a conference champion and there wouldn’t be much shakeup. If UNLV wins, the Rebels will lock up an automatic bid and move up in the rankings but probably not ahead of Alabama in the CFP rankings. Boise State meanwhile would drop in the rankings, all but certainly past Alabama. The Broncos only rank one spot ahead of Alabama right now.

AAC: Tulane vs. No. 24 Army

Logistics: 7 p.m. Friday on ABC in West Point, New York

Root for: Enjoy the game

This game has minimal impact on Alabama and its CFP chances.

Big 12: No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Arizona State

Logistics: 11 a.m. Saturday on ABC in Arlington, Texas

Root for: Enjoy the game

Whoever wins this game is in the College Football Playoff. The loser is out. The reason this winner would be in the field is that team locks up the Big 12’s automatic bid. And neither team expects to move up in the rankings enough to affect Alabama’s CFP chances.

SEC: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 2 Texas

Logistics: 3 p.m. Saturday on ABC in Atlanta, Georgia

Root for: Georgia, but really just enjoy the game

Both teams are virtual locks for the CFP, so this game won’t have much effect on who is and isn’t in the playoff. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt for Georgia to win. That would likely bump the Bulldogs up in the rankings and give Alabama a win over likely the No. 2 team in the country. But we’re just splitting hairs. This game won’t have much of an impact on Alabama making the playoff. The result can affect who is ranked where, and where Alabama could play in the first round, but it’s not going to be the game that gets the Crimson Tide in the playoff or keeps it out.

Big Ten: No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 1 Oregon

Logistics: 7 p.m. Saturday on CBS in Indianapolis, Indiana

Root for: Enjoy the game

Both teams will make the playoff, so this game won’t have much influence on Alabama’s inclusion or exclusion. It can affect where and who the Crimson Tide would play in the first round. But that’s just a matter of preference. So sit back and enjoy a game between two top Big Ten teams.

ACC: No. 17 Clemson vs. No. 8 SMU

Logistics: 7 p.m. Saturday on ABC in Charlotte, North Carolina

Root for: SMU

SMU winning eliminates a fiery debate heading into Selection Day. SMU winning creates the least bit of shakeup.

The Allstate playoff predictor, as of Friday, gives Alabama a 99.7% chance to make the playoff if SMU wins. Root for the Mustangs, and your Sunday will be much more stress free.

If SMU loses, that’s where things get chaotic. But it doesn’t necessarily eliminate Alabama. Clemson would get the ACC’s automatic bid, and the final CFP spot would likely come down to either SMU or Alabama.

The playoff predictor Friday gives Alabama a 72% chance to make the playoff if Clemson wins. So the odds are still pretty good for the Crimson Tide.

This result might not ultimately matter for Alabama, but there’s certainly an easier path: SMU beats Clemson.