It all comes down to this.
Conference championship games are here, and most of the contenders for this year’s College Football Playoff are in action this weekend. There are plenty of win-and-you’re in teams — that group includes the top four of Clemson, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. However, Auburn’s opponent in the SEC Championship Game, the Georgia Bulldogs, would almost certainly be in with a win as well. In the other conferences it’s less clear, as the worse-ranked teams may need help to advance.
And then there’s Alabama out there, sitting idle at 11-1 and at #5 after their loss to Auburn a week ago.