Alabama football crushed LSU this past week to not only stay alive in the CFP race but also move up a spot in the rankings.

The Crimson Tide advanced to No. 10 in the latest projections from the CFP committee this past Tuesday.

So it looks clear that if Alabama wins out, it should make the CFP field. The Crimson Tide has three winnable games, starting with Mercer on Saturday (1 p.m., SEC Network+/ESPN+) then Oklahoma on the road and Auburn at home. So barring something unexpected, Alabama sits in a good spot to make the first 12-team playoff.

But there’s seeding for which to be played. If the season ended today, Alabama would travel to Bloomington, Indiana to face the Indiana Hoosiers (10-0) in the first round of the playoff. The Crimson Tide (7-2) would surely prefer to play host to a home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium if it must play in the first round. Improved seeding would be required for that to happen.

So, who can help Alabama make that happen?

For games the week of Nov. 16, here’s an Alabama fan’s rooting guide for games and teams that can help the Crimson Tide in the CFP rankings.

No. 2 Ohio State at Northwestern

Logistics: 11 a.m. on Big Ten Network in Chicago, Illinois

Root for: Northwestern

Don’t hold your breath on this one, but let’s imagine a two-loss Ohio State (8-1). With one of those losses to unranked Northwestern, it would all but certainly drop Ohio State out of the top five, if not the top 10.

No. 3 Texas at Arkansas

Logistics: 11 a.m. on ABC in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Root for: Arkansas

Can the fighting Sam Pittmans upset another top-five team like it did Tennessee? Maybe. Don’t count on it, but certainly root for it if you’re an Alabama fan. Texas (8-1) would have two losses, and the argument can be made Alabama has a stronger resume. Maybe the committee still ranks Texas ahead of the Crimson Tide, but only the “eye test” could put the Longhorns in front of Alabama considering the Longhorns have no wins over ranked opponents and the Crimson Tide has four.

No. 4 Penn State at Purdue

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on CBS in West Lafayette, Indiana

Root for: Purdue

The Nittany Lions (8-1) don’t have a win over a ranked team so far this season like Texas. Pair that with a loss to a bad Purdue team, and Penn State might very well fall out of the top 10. That would benefit the Crimson Tide, of course. However, don’t count on this colossal upset happening, even with it happening in West Lafayette.

Virginia at No. 8 Notre Dame

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on NBC in South Bend, Indiana

Root for: Virginia

The Fighting Irish (8-1) picking up a second loss would benefit the Crimson Tide. Right now, Notre Dame is barely ranked ahead of Alabama. If the Crimson Tide has the same number of losses, Alabama will likely move ahead of the Fighting Irish.

No. 23 Missouri at No. 21 South Carolina

Logistics: 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network in Columbia, South Carolina

Root for: Missouri

This is a tough one to call because whoever loses likely falls out of the top 25, which would mean Alabama has one less ranked victory on its resume. But here’s the pitch for why a Missouri win helps the Crimson Tide more: Alabama dominated the Tigers, shutting them out in fact. Meanwhile, Alabama barely beat South Carolina. So long as Missouri stays in the top 25, that will be a good win for the Crimson Tide considering how dominant it was. The committee looks at not only what you win or lose but how you win or lose.

No. 7 Tennessee at No. 12 Georgia

Logistics: 6:30 p.m. on ABC in Athens, Georgia

Root for: Georgia

The committee might not rank Alabama ahead of Tennessee (8-1) if they have the same record, but it almost certainly won’t happen if the Vols have a better record than Alabama. Plus, Georgia beating a top 10 team would likely move the Bulldogs up in the rankings, improving the value of Alabama’s victory Sept. 28.

No. 1 Oregon at Wisconsin

Logistics: 6:30 p.m. on NBC in Madison, Wisconsin

Root for: Wisconsin

Why not some chaos at the top? If the Badgers win, that would add a massive victory to Wisconsin’s schedule. If that happens, plus two winnable games against Nebraska and Minnesota to close out the year, Wisconsin would finish 8-4. That would give Alabama a solid win on the schedule. Maybe even a ranked win. Plus, the top team losing wouldn’t be the worst as Alabama looks to better its position in the top 10.

Kansas at No. 6 BYU

Logistics: 9:15 p.m. on ESPN in Provo, Utah

Root for: Kansas

Yet another matchup to fall under the category of a team that ranks ahead of Alabama and a loss could benefit the Crimson Tide as BYU (9-0)

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