If we win, we go into our bye week sitting at 8-0. That's where will will be at when the first CFP rankings are released. I don't think they can keep us out of the top 10 in that scenario. We probably come in at 9 or 10.
If we lose on Saturday, the CFP has an excuse to put every 2 loss SEC and B1G team, and ND, and Army, and Navy, and even SMU ahead of us. We likely come in around #20.
That can well be the difference between a CFP birth and not. It will be very difficult to claw our way back into the discussion at that point, unless we win the Big12, especially given the rest of our opponents aren't having great seasons.
Gotta win on Saturday. Go Cougs.