The debate's already here: If Wisconsin loses the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 2, it's going to get worse before, during and after the College Football Playoff rankings are released.
The arguments between fans of Alabama (11-1) and Ohio State (10-2) about who the last College Football Playoff spot should go to might break the Twitter server. That's how the board looks. The ACC and SEC championship winner will get in. If TCU beats Oklahoma, that could help both Alabama and Ohio State, according to the scenario generator on FiveThirtyEight.com.
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If Oklahoma wins, however, we're left with one big, nasty argument between two dominant FBS programs. Who has the drop? It's complicated. Let's spell it out for you:
Alabama's schedule
Here's a look at Alabama's schedule
| TEAM | W | L | RANK AT TIME | CURRENT RANK |
| Florida State | 5 | 6 | 3 | NR |
| Fresno State | 9 | 3 | NR | 25 |
| Colorado State | 7 | 5 | NR | NR |
| Vanderbilt | 5 | 7 | NR | NR |
| Ole Miss | 6 | 6 | NR | NR |
| Texas A&M | 7 | 5 | NR | NR |
| Arkansas | 4 | 8 | NR | NR |
| Tennessee | 4 | 8 | NR | NR |
| LSU | 9 | 3 | 19 | 17 |
| Mississippi State | 8 | 4 | 18 | 23 |
| Mercer | 5 | 6 | NR | NR |
| Auburn (L) | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
It's important to look at where a team was ranked at the time, as much as where it's ranked now. That Florida State game was much different at the time. Alabama's opponents have a combined record of 79-63, and they've outscored those opponents 469-138. That's a point differential of 331. Mississippi State could fall out of the next playoff rankings, but Fresno State could move in.
Ohio State's schedule
Here's a look at Ohio State's schedule:
| TEAM | W | L | RANK AT TIME | CURRENT RANK |
| Indiana | 5 | 7 | NR | NR |
| Oklahoma (L) | 11 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Army | 8 | 3 | NR | NR |
| UNLV | 5 | 7 | NR | NR |
| Rutgers | 4 | 8 | NR | NR |
| Maryland | 4 | 8 | NR | NR |
| Nebraska | 4 | 8 | NR | NR |
| Penn State | 10 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Iowa (L) | 7 | 5 | NR | NR |
| Michigan State | 9 | 3 | 13 | 16 |
| Illinois | 2 | 10 | NR | NR |
| Michigan | 8 | 4 | NR | NR |
The Buckeyes beat two teams that were ranked at the time in Penn State and Michigan State, and could add a third quality victory if they beat Wisconsin. Ohio State's opponents have a combined record of 77-66, a point-differential of plus-287.
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Alabama's trump card
The Crimson Tide can claim the title of best one-loss team in the country — at least, given the fact they spent the entire season ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll before this week. They were also the top team in two sets of College Football Rankings. Alabama might not slide out of the top four in this week's rankings. That's going to be a strong indicator for what might go down.
Ohio State's trump card
The Buckeyes have victories piled up against Penn State and Michigan State, and a victory against an undefeated Wisconsin team could sway the committee, especially if it's in the range of the 59-0 blowout the Buckeyes put on the Badgers in 2014.
Alabama's fatal flaw
No conference championship. The Tide had their chance, and lost on the road to a two-loss Auburn team. Either Auburn or Georgia will win the SEC championship, and the Tide are at the mercy of the committee. Will they really leave out the Big Ten to let two SEC teams in?
Ohio State's fatal flaw
Two blowout losses. The committee can forgive a 31-16 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 9, especially with the Sooners cracking the playoff. That 55-24 blowout loss at Iowa on Nov. 4 can't be unseen. It's going to be the most discussed strike against the Buckeyes.
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Alabama precedent
Alabama is in the same position Ohio State was in last year. The one-loss Buckeyes didn't play in the Big Ten championship game, but still got the final playoff spot over a two-loss conference champion. The counter argument? The Tide and Buckeyes are in different conferences.
Ohio State precedent
Alabama also is in the same position Ohio State was in 2015. The Buckeyes were a dominant one-loss team that finished on the outside looking in. The counter argument? Every team that made the playoff that season had one loss or fewer.
Verdict
It's going to be up close and personal. SEC Network's Paul Finebaum weighed in. There will be countless others on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line who do the same. It's going to be passionate, because you're dealing with two fan bases used to getting what they want.
Who should go? It's a coin flip, and it will depend on what the committee values more: Alabama lost one game in a tough road environment against a hot Auburn team while Ohio State has a slightly better resume with victories against Penn State, Michigan State and, theoretically, Wisconsin — but that loss to Iowa won't be overlooked.
Gut feel? Alabama should go, but Ohio State could go if they win impressively against Wisconsin.
