In a surprising twist, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has laid out a potential route for the Alabama Crimson Tide to secure a spot in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. However, reaching the playoff won’t be easy—it hinges on a series of unpredictable outcomes, especially in the ACC.

Following a disheartening 24-3 defeat against Oklahoma that saw Alabama drop from the latest College Football Playoff Top 25, Klatt still believes there is a mathematical chance for the Crimson Tide to claim one of the coveted at-large bids. Currently holding an 8-3 record, Alabama's hopes rest on a combination of their own performance and a series of fortunate events in other conferences.

The first hurdle? Alabama must triumph in their upcoming showdown against their long-time rival, Auburn, during the 89th Iron Bowl. But that’s just half of the equation. Klatt emphasizes the necessity of a win for the Texas Longhorns over the Texas A&M Aggies. “The first thing they need is a Texas win over Texas A&M,” Klatt explained in a recent podcast. He stressed that any further complicating factors in the SEC standings could diminish Alabama’s chances.

Next comes the unpredictability of the ACC. For Alabama to bolster its playoff aspirations, chaos must reign in that conference. With No. 9 SMU and No. 12 Clemson currently ahead of Alabama in the rankings, Klatt pointed out that Alabama fans would need significant upsets in the ACC in the coming days. “So what needs to happen? I think they need South Carolina to beat Clemson, or they need SMU to totally collapse,” Klatt elaborated, indicating that two of the three teams—the Gamecocks, SMU, or Miami—need to fall short in the final games.

The implications of these matchups are substantial, as both Clemson and SMU are vying for playoff spots. With the No. 15 Gamecocks facing the Tigers at 12 PM ET on ESPN, Alabama fans will be on the edge of their seats as they await the outcomes prior to their own game at 3:30 PM ET on ABC. Meanwhile, SMU will take on Cal at the same time, with the stakes rising if they advance to play either Miami or Clemson in next week’s ACC Championship.

Should South Carolina pull off an upset and ensure Miami secures a significant win against SMU, Klatt believes Alabama could emerge as the unexpected beneficiary. “If those two things happen, if the ACC loses that second bid based on any amount of chaos that happens with those games, and Texas beats Texas A&M, now I think Alabama actually does have a path,” Klatt remarked.

ESPN insider Heather Dinich also acknowledges Alabama’s outside chance at playoff inclusion. She highlights that it would require a series of significant upsets in Week 14, alongside what Klatt describes as “a prayer.”

As the drama unfolds, Alabama fans must hold out hope for their team while preparing for a rollercoaster of emotions this Saturday! Will chaos in the ACC lead to a miraculous playoff berth for the Crimson Tide? Only time will tell!