Ohio State or Alabama could still (technically) make the CFP

And therein lies the key for both Ohio State and Alabama. With neither school playing in their respective conference championship games, neither the Buckeyes nor Crimson Tide controls their own destiny.

Losses by one of the top four (Georgia, Michigan, TCU, and USC in order) could open up the door for either OSU or Alabama, but it's really losses by TCU, USC, or both that can turn the final CFP ranking upside down.

A USC loss would specifically be good for the Buckeyes, and in fact, it could very well open up the door to the No. 4 slot. 

USC is 11-1 and taking on a No. ranked 11 Utah (9-3) team that has already beaten the Trojans once this season. In fact, Utah is USC's only loss.

The Utes beating USC once again would drop the Trojans to 11-2 while Ohio State can't lose again, thus the Buckeyes will stay steady at 11-1. 

Would a two-loss USC team make more sense to the committee compared to the one-loss Buckeyes? More than likely, OSU would get the nod in that scenario.

The Buckeyes could also get the nod if undefeated TCU loses to 9-3 Kansas State in the Big 12 title game, but it would really have to be a convincing upset in that case. 

Seriously, K-State would have to beat the brakes off TCU. 

Even with a loss, mind you, TCU would still be a one-loss squad with wins over No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 19 Kansas, No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Kansas State, and No. 18 Texas. OSU has only beaten No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 13 Penn State.

Hope is certainly a trickier proposition for the Crimson Tide but there is still a way Nick Saban's 10-2 squad sneaks in. 

Both TCU and USC would have to lose and TCU's loss would have to be bad enough to bump the Horned Frogs out of the top four altogether. 

It's certainly a possibility, as unlikely as it sounds, and it would the very definition of tripping into the playoffs for Alabama. In that scenario, the Tide would have to hope that Ohio State can land at No. 3 while they sneak in at No. 4. 

The combination of Michigan losing badly to 8-4 Purdue and USC losing in any fashion is also unlikely but it's one more scenario where the Crimson Tide could have hope to sneak in. 

A bad loss by Michigan to Purdue still wouldn't be enough to kick the dominant Wolverines out of the Top 4, but it would make Ohio State's loss to Michigan look even worse and thus give the Crimson Tide an opportunity to hop ahead of the Buckeyes to the No. 4 slot the Trojans would vacate if they lose.

As ESPN's Stats & Information pointed out, it's certainly possible for both the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide. It's unlikely, especially for Alabama, but it is still technically possible. 

And that's why we love college football.