[Goose]

ND only gets to the top 4 if Georgia destroys Alabama in the championship game (i.e., 20+ point victory).

This is IMHO true.

 So I think Kelly will be motivated to make a statement in his final game of the regular season.

Why? Like you said, if Alabama isn't "destroyed" by Georgia, they are in and ND isn't.

 If Stanford makes it a close game, Kelly's CFP dream is dashed.

Probably not, because as you say his dream depends on Alabama getting soundly beaten. If THAT game is close, ND is toast. If the Stanford game is at least a 7 point victory for ND, how much doesn't matter at all. If ND wins on a last minute drive, that may help Alabama's case a bit, but if Alabama is soundly defeated, it doesn't matter. If Alabama is even close, as you say, they are in.

As I have previously posted, Stanford's worst fear of a blowout is the ND players, not their coach. If you have nothing but green grass in front of you, nobody is going to take a knee.

[Goose]

ND only gets to the top 4 if Georgia destroys Alabama in the championship game (i.e., 20+ point victory).

This is IMHO true.

 So I think Kelly will be motivated to make a statement in his final game of the regular season.

Why? Like you said, if Alabama isn't "destroyed" by Georgia, they are in and ND isn't.

 If Stanford makes it a close game, Kelly's CFP dream is dashed.

Probably not, because as you say his dream depends on Alabama getting soundly beaten. If THAT game is close, ND is toast. If the Stanford game is at least a 7 point victory for ND, how much doesn't matter at all. If ND wins on a last minute drive, that may help Alabama's case a bit, but if Alabama is soundly defeated, it doesn't matter. If Alabama is even close, as you say, they are in.

As I have previously posted, Stanford's worst fear of a blowout is the ND players, not their coach. If you have nothing but green grass in front of you, nobody is going to take a knee.