Let me start by saying this: If there is a universe in which the Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel would give birth to this idea, we do not live in it. The uber-competitive Heupel will do whatever he can beat Georgia Saturday in Athens.

And yet, listen to me as I concoct a conspiracy idea in which No. 7 Tennessee protects its College Football Playoff credentials by losing to No. 12 Georgia with a backup quarterback.

First, a little background:

As you know, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the Vols’ 33-14 win over Mississippi State on Saturday with a mysterious “upper body” injury.

By Tuesday, I gained a little more clarity. Knox News reported Iamaleava practiced this week while progressing through the concussion protocol.

Amid those developments, Heupel said Monday that he believes his starting quarterback will be in “great shape” to play against Georgia. Don’t read too much into Heupel’s comment. Even if he didn’t think Iamaleava would play, I wouldn’t expect him to telegraph that to Kirby Smart.

If Iamaleava is healthy and cleared to play, he gives Tennessee the best chance to win. And if Tennessee wins, it jumps into the driver’s seat to play in the SEC Championship Game. Win the SEC championship and you’ve secured yourself a bye in the CFP quarterfinals.

If Iamaleava plays and Tennessee loses? Worse, what if he plays and the Vols lose decisively?

CFP selection committee already he has shown that he will punish teams for suffering a second loss, even on the road to a good opponent. Georgia just dropped nine spots in the rankings after losing 28-10 Oh miss.

Losing Iamaleava on the field risks planting the CFP commission’s idea that two-loss Tennessee might not be playoff material after all. And if the bubble remains crowded and someone has to go, the Vols would be in danger of being the odd man out.

So now, are you ready for my stormy idea to avoid this sticky portion?

Don’t play Iamaleava. It doesn’t matter what. Even if he’s medically cleared to play, keep him close to the vest. Declare Iamaleava injured and start veteran backup Gaston Moore.

It’s not like Iamaleava is doing like an all-star anyway. Ole Miss’ backup quarterback led a makeshift punt drive against Georgia last week. Who says Moore doesn’t have a taste for success?

At best, Tennessee leads its defense and ball-control offense to an improbable victory.

At worst, at least Tennessee didn’t lose because of the play of the starting quarterback. Lose while playing Moore, and Tennessee keeps a built-in excuse with the committee. How could he be expected to win with a former starter making his first career start?

Don’t just hear the propaganda campaign:

Look, committee member, we know we lost to a team that Ole Miss just made look like a bunch of people, but we played without our starting quarterback. Don’t punish us too much in the rankings. Our quarter will be back next week and we will be back to our winning ways. We don’t have to guess if we’re a playoff team.

This selection committee shows signs of schizophrenia. The kangaroo court lifted Indiana and BYU past Tennessee this week, despite the Vols comfortably winning against Mississippi State and the Hoosiers and Cougars picking up close wins against unranked opponents on the road.

So there’s no guarantee the Vols would stay in the bracket if they lost with Moore on the court, but they’re less likely to get in if they lose playing Iamaleava.

If Tennessee starts Iamaleava, it must do so with the idea that it is a CFP play-in game.

Or, tell Iamaleava to rest for UTEP and Vanderbilt and start the propaganda machine after Moore takes the field.

Heupel wouldn’t do that though, would he?

( This column was first published in our magazine Unfiltered SEC the newslettersent by email free in your box of email four days a week. Want more comments like this? Register here USA TODAY Network’s SEC sports newsletter. It’s free. We invite you to join the conversation. )

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national football columnist. Email him at [email protected] and follow X @btoppmeyer.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does Nico Iamaleava play? No way, Tennessee! Protect your place with CFP support