The biggest surprise the final incarnation of the Bowl Championship Series could heap on the football world would be to pit any pair but Alabama and Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game. The road has been paved for both teams: FSU and Alabama simply need to wrap up a perfect regular season – each with three games left – to secure a matchup for the national championship.

But things can go awry, and often do. It was a little more than a year ago that the nation’s top two teams, Oregon and Kansas State, suffered debilitating, championship-ending losses on the same day. Alabama could lose to Auburn on Nov. 30 or to the winner of the SEC East Division a week later. Florida State could lose to… well, the Seminoles could lose, technically.

So we could still have Baylor and Ohio State in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6. Better yet: We could have a BCS apocalypse, one that features at least one loss from enough teams where only Fresno State and Northern Illinois are left standing when the dust clears. Are you ready for the apocalypse? Here’s what would need to happen for the Bulldogs and Huskies to play for the 2013 national title:

(All scenarios are to be taken with a grain of salt and not seriously. Games not yet scheduled – like a conference championship game – assumes that a respective team reaches that point; for example, with Alabama, I assume South Carolina wins the SEC East. Suggested final record heading into the postseason is given in parentheses after team name.)

— Alabama (11-2) loses to Chattanooga on Nov. 23, beats Auburn on Nov. 30, loses to South Carolina in the SEC title game on Dec. 7.

— Florida State (11-2) loses to Idaho on Nov. 23, loses to Florida on Nov. 30.

— Ohio State (11-2) loses to Indiana on Nov. 23, loses to Michigan State in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 7.

— Baylor (11-1) loses to Oklahoma State on Nov. 23.

— Oregon (10-2) loses to Oregon State on Nov. 29.

— Auburn (10-2) loses to Alabama on Nov. 30.

— Clemson (10-2) loses to South Carolina on Nov. 30.

— Missouri (10-2) loses to either Mississippi on Nov. 23 or Texas A&M on Nov. 30.

— Stanford (10-3) loses to Arizona State, UCLA or USC in the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 7.

— Oklahoma State (10-2) beats Baylor on Nov. 23, loses to Oklahoma on Nov. 30.

— South Carolina (10-3) loses to Coastal Carolina on Nov. 23, beats Clemson on Nov. 30, beats Alabama in the SEC title game on Dec. 7.

— Texas A&M (9-3) loses to LSU on Nov. 23, beats Missouri on Nov. 30.

— Michigan State (10-3) loses to Northwestern on Nov. 23 and Minnesota on Nov. 30, beats Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 7.

— UCLA (10-3) beats Arizona State on Nov. 23, loses to USC on Nov. 30, beats Stanford in the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 7.

— UCF (10-2) loses to South Florida on Nov. 29.

— Louisville (10-2) loses to Cincinnati on Dec. 5.

So who’s left? Why, there’d be Northern Illinois, 13-0 after winning the MAC championship, and Fresno State, 12-0 after winning the Mountain West Conference championship. It would be fitting if the BCS tossed us one final bouquet, wouldn’t it?