Alabama football entered the final week of the regular season needing help with its College Football Playoff hopes seemingly on life support.

Then it got it. Syracuse upset Miami and the CFP committee decided to demote the Hurricanes in the second-to-last CFP rankings, behind Alabama.

So heading into conference championship weekend, the Crimson Tide sits 11th in the rankings. That would make Alabama the last team in the playoffs as of this writing.

Will that change after the games on Friday and Saturday?

Alabama won’t be playing, but there is one particular game that could hurt the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes. However, many won’t, so you can sit back and enjoy some (hopefully) good gaming.

Here’s a guide to Conference Championship weekend for Alabama fans.

(All times are listed in central time).

Mountain West: No. 20 UNLV vs. No. 10 Boise State

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

Root for: Boise State

That’s not that important, so you can probably sit back and enjoy a good college football game. But most importantly, it doesn’t matter if Boise State wins. The Broncos, already deep in the playoffs, would secure an automatic bid to be conference champions and there would be no major changes. If UNLV wins, the Rebels will automatically bid and move up in the rankings, but probably not ahead of Alabama in the CFP rankings. Boise State, meanwhile, would fall in the rankings, almost certainly behind Alabama. The Broncos are currently just one spot ahead of Alabama.

AAC: Tulane vs. No. 24 Army

Logistics: Friday, 7 p.m. 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 will take part in the College Football Playoffs. The loser is out. The reason this winner would be in the field is because the team blocks the Big 12’s automatic bid. And neither team expects to climb far enough in the rankings to hurt Alabama’s CFP chances.

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

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

Root for: Georgia, but just enjoy the game

Both teams are practically locks for the CFP, so this game won’t have much of an impact on who is in the playoffs and who isn’t. Of course, a Georgia victory wouldn’t hurt. That would likely move the Bulldogs up in the rankings and give Alabama a win over probably the second-ranked team in the country. But we’re just splitting hairs. This game won’t have much of an impact on Alabama making the playoffs. The outcome may impact who is placed where and where Alabama could play in the first round, but it won’t be the game that makes or breaks the Crimson Tide into the playoffs.

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

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

Root for: Enjoy the game

Both teams make the playoffs, so this game won’t have much of an impact on Alabama’s inclusion or exclusion. It may impact 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: Saturday, 7 p.m. on ABC in Charlotte, North Carolina

Root for: SMU

SMU’s victory eliminates a heated debate leading up to Selection Day. The SMU win provides the least shock.

Friday’s Allstate playoff prediction calculator gives Alabama a 99.7 percent chance of making the playoffs if SMU wins. Cheer for the Mustangs and your Sunday will be a lot less stressful.

If SMU loses, things will be chaotic. But that doesn’t necessarily eliminate Alabama. Clemson would receive the ACC’s automatic bid and the final CFP spot would likely go to either SMU or Alabama.

Friday’s playoff predictor gives Alabama a 72 percent chance of making the playoffs if Clemson wins. So the chances for the Crimson Tide are still pretty good.

This result may not ultimately matter for Alabama, but there is certainly an easier way: SMU beats Clemson.

Nick Kelly is a beat writer from Alabama AL.com and Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X And Instagram.