Paul Myerberg

USA TODAY Sports

While the makeup of the national championship game won't be decided until after the national semifinals on Jan. 1, schools involved in the College Football Playoff already have considered the possibility of a scheduling conflict at AT&T Stadium during the days leading up to the title game on Jan. 12.

The Arlington, Texas, stadium is home to the Dallas Cowboys, who enter the final weekend of the NFL's regular season within striking distance of a first-round bye in the playoffs.

If the Cowboys defeat the Washington Redskins — and get help via losses or ties from four other NFC contenders — the team's first playoff game would come at home in the divisional round. That divisional game would fall on either Jan. 10 or Jan. 11, just ahead of the championship game on Jan. 12.

Even if the games would be played on separate days, having an NFL playoff game at AT&T Stadium during the run-up to the College Football Playoff could affect how the final two teams prepare for the championship — in terms of practice times, availability and walkthroughs.

"The Cowboys are aware that it would be better for the championship-game readiness if (the playoff game) were on Saturday," College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock told USA TODAY Sports, adding that "a lot has to happen for this to be a matter that could affect our preparations."

"We have been planning this with the Cowboys and the stadium staff for several months. We have contingency plans for setting up the stadium for our game. We're ready either way. We do want the best experience for the teams."

At its most basic level, the Cowboys' playoff game could alter the amount of time each of the final two teams have to prepare for a game inside AT&T Stadium; of the four Playoff teams, Florida State is the only one to have played a game at the stadium during the past two seasons.

"You've got two teams coming in who need to practice," said Martin Jarmond, Ohio State's Associate Athletics Director for Development. "One of our questions was, what does that look like if the Cowboys keep winning, which they have — when will we be able to get into the stadium?

"I don't know the Cowboys' schedule, but you never know when they want to do a walkthrough, or something else is going on."

In an email to USA TODAY Sports, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the NFL would consider placing the Cowboys' game on the 10th. Aiello said the NFL normally announces the times for divisional games on the Sunday or Monday following the conclusion of the regular season.

"The people who operate the stadium have prepared for, and would be ready to handle, whatever schedule is assigned by the NFL in the event of that happening," Rich Dalrymple, the Cowboys' vice president of public relations and communications, said in an email.

AT&T Stadium is accustomed to quick turnarounds, Hancock said.

"Some of the work (preparing the stadium) will happen before that weekend anyway," he said. "But if there were an NFL game Sunday, much of it would need to begin that night after the game."

If a lingering concern for teams in the College Football Playoff, it's also a positive issue to consider: Any worries about the Cowboys' postseason schedule would only come with a trip to the national championship game.

"It comes down to, it is what it is," said Jeff Hawkins, Oregon's Senior Associate Athletics Director, Football Operations. "I hope that it's something we have to worry about."