If Georgia beats Alabama in the SEC title game, Wisconsin wins the Big Ten title game, and Utah beats Oregon one of the two times they play, ND has a really good chance of getting into the playoff at 11-1.

All non-Georgia SEC teams would have at least 2 losses.

The ACC champion will be a weak Wake team or a multi-loss team.

The Pac-12 champion would have at least 2 losses.

All Big Ten teams would have at least 2 losses, and the Big Ten champion would have lost to ND by a four touchdowns.

That leaves just the SEC champion, the Big 12 Champion, and Cincinnati ahead of ND.

(Of course, that would put us on a collision course with Georgia.)