SEC Football: What Can Alabama Still Accomplish After the LSU Loss?

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Alabama's loss to LSU crushed the Crimson Tide's national championship hopes. That does not mean Alabama lost everything it has to play for. Here we will examine the best and worst-case scenarios for the rest of the Crimson Tide's season.

Things can finish extremely well for Alabama, or everything can crash and burn in a hurry. The roadblocks are there with games against Mississippi State and Auburn in Bryant-Denny, a place where Alabama has not lost since they were upset by Louisiana-Monroe in 2007.

Best-Case Scenario: Miraculous SEC Champions

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That's right. Alabama is still alive for the SEC championship, and it is not as convoluted as you may think for the Tide to win the conference.

First, Auburn has to lose to Georgia. That is the only crazy event in this scenario. If that happens, Alabama must beat Mississippi State. Then, it would come down to the last week of the regular season.

Alabama would have to beat Auburn, and Arkansas would have to beat LSU. I would not bet on it, but it is possible, especially in a season as crazy as this one. Another conference title and a Sugar Bowl berth would make a season to forget a season to remember.

Best Realistic Scenario: BCS At-Large Berth

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If Alabama wins out, Auburn is the SEC champion, and Arkansas beats LSU, then the Crimson Tide should be able to get a BCS At-Large spot into the Discover Orange Bowl.

It would likely hinge on how the other conferences shape out, but if those three things happen, I would bet on seeing Alabama and Virginia Tech play a rematch of the 2009 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic.

Ten wins and a BCS berth would be a great way to finish a disappointing year for Alabama.

Next Best: 10 Wins and the Murder of Auburn's Title Hopes

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In this scenario, Alabama delivers the crushing blow to Auburn's championship bid, but the Tide only gets to play in the Capital One Bowl, as Auburn and LSU get the SEC's BCS spots. A hard-fought Capital One Bowl between 10-win Alabama and Iowa teams would be a great matchup. I guess my preseason national title matchup was right, just in a different game.

An 11-2 season and appearing in three straight AP Top 10's for the first time since the Bear left would makeup for getting left out of a BCS game.

Semi-Frustrating Scenario: 9-3 Season and Cotton Bowl or Capital One Bowl Berth

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In this case, Alabama beats Mississippi State and climbs back into the edge of the Top 10 only to lose to national championship-bound Auburn Tigers.

This would leave a sour taste in most fans' mouths as this was supposed to be Alabama's year again. A Capital One Berth would still be a great ending for the season, but if Alabama ends up in the Cotton Bowl, it will only get more disappointing.

Either way, this is not how any of the Alabama faithful want to see this season end.

Worst-Case Scenario: 8-4 with Home Losses to State and Auburn

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This would cause a frenzy in T-Town. 8-4 would probably take Alabama out of the Top 25. If not, I know that losing the Outback Bowl would.

The Cotton Bowl could still be a possibility for an 8-4 Alabama, but I would doubt it. I also find it hard to imagine this team ending up in the Chick-Fil-A, Outback or Gator Bowls.

An 8-5 and unranked season after a preseason No. 1 ranking will certainly cause the Saban Nation to go way up in arms. I do not want to hear some of the extreme fans if everything plays out like this.