Home US SportsNCAAF CFP Outlook: 5 teams Alabama fans should be cheering for during Week 14

CFP Outlook: 5 teams Alabama fans should be cheering for during Week 14

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Oct 5, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

While the Alabama Crimson Tide’s chances to eventually make the College Football Playoff suffered what was a big blow last Saturday with a loss in Norman, the program is still not out of it entirely either.

In fact, based on the latest CFP Rankings from Tuesday night, Alabama currently sits just on the outside, and could in fact see themselves back in the bracket a week from now based on how this weekend plays out across college football.

However, the Crimson Tide will still have to win the Iron Bowl against the Auburn Tigers in order for this to happen, while also hoping that a few other teams across college football create some chaos as well. Just which teams does Alabama need to lose this weekend however in order to jump back into the CFP?

Let’s take a look at five games in particular set to be played in Week 14, as well as list some teams which Alabama fans should be cheering for to win this Saturday.

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley greets quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) after scoring a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesNov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley greets quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) after scoring a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley greets quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) after scoring a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Week 14 Opponent: vs. No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

As for our first team, let’s go out west to Los Angeles where the USC Trojans (6-5) will play host to the No. 5 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. For a Notre Dame program whose best win is a road victory over the Texas A&M Aggies, it will be key for the Fighting Irish, who have a loss at home to Northern Illinois, not to slip up at USC, and if they do, then their CFP outlook could come into question not being in a conference.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Nov 23, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer takes the field with his team before a game against the Wofford Terriers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn ImagesNov 23, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer takes the field with his team before a game against the Wofford Terriers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Nov 23, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer takes the field with his team before a game against the Wofford Terriers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Week 14 Opponent: at No. 12 Clemson Tigers

Next, the result that could potentially impact Alabama in the rankings most is the matchup between the No. 12 ranked Clemson Tigers (9-2) hosting the No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3) at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN this Saturday. Clemson is the lone team sitting between Alabama and the CFP field, and with a South Carolina win, the Tigers would certainly drop below the Crimson Tide, while the Gamecocks, even despite a big win, would likely still be behind Alabama in the rankings whom they lost to 27-25 back in October.

Syracuse Orange

Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) passes against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn ImagesSep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) passes against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) passes against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Week 14 Opponent: vs. No. 6 Miami Hurricanes

Looking at the ACC, the No. 6 ranked Miami Hurricanes (10-1) need a road victory at the Syracuse Orange (8-3) to keep their conference title hopes alive, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN this Saturday. A loss Saturday could be detrimental to Miami’s CFP hopes who already have a loss this season this season at Georgia Tech, while their best win is a 52-45 road victory at Louisville.

Nov 16, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn ImagesNov 16, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Nov 16, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Week 14 Opponent: at No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers

Next up is arguably the unlikeliest upset to happen this weekend in the Purdue Boilermakers on the road at the No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. Indiana’s margin of error this weekend is zero, and based on a Hoosiers team whose resume is highlighted by a 20-15 win over Michigan at home, a loss to 1-10 Purdue in Bloomington would certainly eliminate them from CFP consideration.

Nov 9, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) passes the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesNov 9, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) passes the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Nov 9, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) passes the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Week 14 Opponent: vs. No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers

Lastly, a program that beat Alabama earlier this year, it would likely help Alabama if Vanderbilt was able to the defeat the No. 8 ranked Tennessee Volunteers at home Saturday, with kickoff set for a 12 p.m. ET start on ABC. If the Commodores were to win, this would hand Tennessee what would be their third loss of the season, with the best win on the Volunteers resume over Alabama, with Florida likely the next biggest.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: CFP Outlook: 5 teams Alabama fans should be cheering for during Week 14

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