College football rooting guide for Week 14

Championship Weekend is simple for some teams, like Georgia, Michigan and Washington, which punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff semifinals with its Pac-12 title on Friday night.

Win and the Bulldogs and Wolverines are in the playoff. It isn't as simple for other contending teams. While all must win (at least in three of the cases), four playoff-contending teams need help to reach the semifinals.

Here's a guide for who teams in the hunt for the playoff should root for in Week 14.

No. 8 Alabama

ROOT FOR: No. 18 Oklahoma State

The Crimson Tide's path to the playoff will open if the Cowboys (9-3, 7-2 in Big 12) beat the Longhorns (11-1, 8-1 in Big 12) in the Big 12 championship game. The Longhorns hold the head-to-head advantage, and it would be hard to justify putting the Tide over Texas if it wins the Big 12, although the committee might try to.

No. 7 Texas

ROOT FOR: No. 1 Georgia plus No. 14 Louisville and/or No. 16 Iowa

The Bulldogs winning the SEC would squash any chance of the Tide overtaking the Longhorns. In that case, Texas would also need Louisville or Iowa (most likely Louisville) to pull off an upset. The committee would decide between a one-loss conference champion Longhorns or a one-loss non-conference champion such as the Seminoles or Buckeyes. We like Texas' chances in that scenario.

No. 6 Ohio State

ROOT FOR: Georgia, Louisville, Oklahoma State 

Ohio State tries to sneak into the top four for the second year in a row while sitting at home in Week 14. Wins by the Longhorns and Tide should propel both over the Buckeyes in the rankings, so Ohio State needs the Cowboys and Bulldogs to win. Also, the Seminoles must lose. That would arguably make the Buckeyes the best one-loss team in the country, paving the way for it to back its way into the semifinals.

No. 4 Florida State

ROOT FOR: Blowout win

Even if the Seminoles win on Saturday, they might lose. Florida State needs a convincing win in the ACC championship game to silence doubters about its worthiness of being a top-four team with its question at quarterback. Tate Rodemaker (concussion) is a game-time decision against the Cardinals (10-2, 7-1 in ACC), but he would be available in the CFP semifinals. 

Still, many have questioned if the Seminoles are one of the country's four best teams without quarterback Jordan Travis. 2014 Ohio State had the same questions surrounding it before Cardale Jones led the Buckeyes to a 59-0 romp over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. A performance like that would clear up any confusion about whether Florida State belongs.