Let’s start with the easy one.

Rooting for No. 7 Alabama football is the top priority if you’re a Crimson Tide fan.

Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) needs to win out in the regular season to stay alive for the College Football Playoff and the SEC Championship Game. That means beating Oklahoma on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) in Norman, Oklahoma, then winning the Iron Bowl the following weekend.

From there, a variety of outcomes could occur.

Win out and Alabama is not only primed to make the CFP but also appear in Atlanta with a shot to win the SEC and an automatic bid into the playoff. But other results across college football are still worth watching. Alabama doesn’t control its own destiny entirely.

There are several games that have implications for the Crimson Tide making it to Atlanta and where Alabama could be seeded in the 12-team playoff field.

For the week of Nov. 22, here’s an Alabama fan’s rooting guide for games and teams that can help the Crimson Tide in the CFP rankings and in the race to reach the SEC Championship Game. All games are listed in central time.

No. 23 Missouri at Mississippi State

Logistics: 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network in Starkville, Mississippi

Root for: Missouri

Your rooting for this game focuses solely on SEC Championship Game implications. If you’re one of those who doesn’t want Alabama to make the conference title game, then you’ll want a different result here. But if you’re like captain Tyler Booker, who wants to play in Atlanta again, then root for the Tigers.

If Missouri (7-3) wins this game, all Alabama must do to make the conference title game is win out.

No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State

Logistics: 11 a.m. on FOX in Columbus, Ohio

Root for: Ohio State

Indiana (10-0) is undefeated and ranked fifth; the CFP committee might be focusing too much on the record and not enough of how weak of a schedule the Hoosiers have played. But this week, Indiana actually faces one of the top teams in the country in the Buckeyes (9-1). Win this game, and the Hoosiers show they’re legit. Lose, and all those wins prior will look awfully hollow.

If Indiana loses, the committee would likely drop the Hoosiers below the Crimson Tide in the rankings, even with one loss. So, root for Ohio State to help clear some room ahead of Alabama.

No. 19 Army at No. 6 Notre Dame

Logistics: 6 p.m. on NBC/Peacock in The Bronx, New York

Root for: Army

If Army (9-0) can hand Notre Dame (9-1) a second loss, the Fighting Irish should drop below the Crimson Tide. It’s unlikely Alabama will play host to a playoff game (it seems to be either win the SEC or go on the road in the first round, which is explained here), but it wouldn’t hurt for the Crimson Tide to move up in the standings past Notre Dame for the time being.

No. 4 Penn State at Minnesota

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on CBS in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Root for: Minnesota

If the Nittany Lions (9-1) lose, they’re another prime candidate to drop below the Crimson Tide. Penn State has a ranked win (over No. 25 Illinois) and a ranked loss to No. 2 Ohio State. Add a second loss, and the committee might move the Nittany Lions down past Alabama. Again, that might not make a difference for Alabama’s likely path of SEC winner or road playoff team, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Crimson Tide to keep moving up the rankings for now.

Kentucky at No. 3 Texas

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ABC in Austin, Texas

Root for: Kentucky

If the Wildcats can find a way to upset the Longhorns (9-1), it’s possible Texas drops below Alabama. That would make the Crimson Tide the top-ranked SEC team, which wouldn’t hurt. This ranking is of less concern, though; it could be settled in two weeks. Alabama will likely face the Longhorns in the SEC Championship Game so long as Texas defeats Texas A&M next week.

No. 9 Ole Miss at Florida

Logistics: 11 a.m. on ABC in Gainesville, Florida

Root for: Florida

Alabama doesn’t need Ole Miss (8-2) to lose to the Gators, but the Rebels losing another game would be good for the Crimson Tide. In the scenario where Alabama goes to the SEC Championship Game and loses, the Crimson Tide would have a third loss. The CFP committee might not penalize the Crimson Tide for picking up another loss on conference weekend, but we don’t know that just yet. The less competition the better for those final few playoff spots, and Ole Miss will likely be one of those teams in the mix for an at-large bid.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.