Will Kalen DeBoer see the ACC title game? Here are the Alabama coach’s plans for Saturday

No. 11 Alabama football has good reason to watch the ACC Championship Game on Saturday.

If SMU wins, it should all but secure the Crimson Tide’s spot in the College Football Playoff.

If Clemson wins, it opens the door to the debate between the Crimson Tide and SMU for the final playoff spot.

Alabama didn’t qualify for the SEC Championship Game this year, so the Crimson Tide has an open weekend. Does Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer plan to watch the ACC matchup?

Paul Finebaum asked DeBoer the question on Thursday on the SEC Network.

“This time of year, as you said, there is work,” DeBoer said. “But you will try to make sure your schedule is available so that you can, one way or another, glance at the TV to see what is happening, just like a football fan is doing now. That’s exactly what Saturday is. You can just watch the game and learn. I will always do that. I will try, one way or another, to find a way to avoid the TV while doing everything else we do on the program from a football perspective.”

DeBoer said that in addition to watching football, particularly the big-impact game for Alabama, the weekend will also include the annual team banquet on Sunday. But UA is ready to spring into action depending on what happens Saturday and Sunday.

“We have plans for everything depending on what day you play and what practice looks like,” DeBoer said. “Lifting, meetings and all that…always plan ahead and have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C for everything.”

No. 17 Clemson faces No. 8 SMU on Saturday (7 p.m. CT, ABC) in Charlotte.