So, as our last remaining shot (as slight as it is), it seems like we need to root for blowouts in the major championships.
Ohio State blows out Indiana to make our close loss look even better. Indiana drops somewhere in the 5-8 range.
Tech crushes BYU again. BYU drops behind us and Miami. That puts Miami and Notre Dame next to each other in the rankings, and then the committee flips them based upon the head-to-head.
Georgia destroys Alabama in a game that is never really competitive. Alabama drops behind Miami and Notre Dame.
That puts us, Alabama, and Notre Dame all together. Play against common opponents is a stated criterion of the committee. Alabama lost to OU (and Georgia in this scenario). Notre Dame lost to A&M. We beat both of those teams by double digits. The committee could use that to justify us jumping both of them. That would put Miami at 9, Texas at 10, Notre Dame/Alabama at 11 and 12.
What happens in the ACC doesn't really matter. Maybe I guess Duke winning it could adversely affect Miami.
Reality is we are out. But if you want to see a path, that appears to be it to me.