Here’s a preview of what to expect in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and the last Pac-12 Conference Championship games this upcoming weekend.
Happy December! Finals Season and Christmas are just around the corner, but most importantly, the grand ending of another drama-filled college football season. Conference Championship weekend is already here and it’s time to break down each of the five biggest games this weekend.
First, let’s start with the biggest game (in my opinion). The one that will determine more than just a Conference champion but also could potentially be the difference between making it into the College Football Playoff or not.
Pac-12 Championship: No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Oregon
This game holds extreme significance for many reasons. First and foremost, it is likely the last Pac-12 Championship ever as ten of its twelve members have announced their leave for other Power Five conferences.
In this case, both teams are headed to the Big Ten where they will continue to face off as inner-conference foes along with other former Pac-12 schools USC and UCLA.
The importance of this specific matchup is also critical as this game likely defines who will get one of the four playoff spots, ending the six-year drought for the conference. To me, this looks like an unofficial quarterfinal game and the perfect ending for the Pac-12 before the breakup next summer.
So now that you understand the extremity of the situation (and exactly why I will be attending this monumental event), it’s time to break down this head-to-head matchup.
Let’s flashback to Week 7 to start…the last time these two teams faced off.
With two minutes left of play on a frigid day in Husky Stadium, the Oregon Ducks looked like they were going to run away with the win against the at-the-time-ranked No. 7 Washington Huskies.
After scoring an early touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Ducks took a 33-29 lead before forcing the Huskies to turn the ball over on downs. However, quarterback Bo Nix and the Oregon offense failed to convert a first down, even on a fourth and three at the Washington 47 to at least put them in field goal territory.
This left the door wide open for the Huskies as it took only two plays and 53 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass, to take back their lead with 1:38 left in the game.
Down 33-36 now, Bo Nix was able to push the Ducks into field goal range with 17 seconds remaining however Camden Lewis’ 43-yard field goal attempt to send the game to overtime, was pushed just right of the field post.
The Huskies would take the win this time but now, seven weeks later, despite a perfect 12-0 record, the Huskies are not the favorites headed into the Pac-12 finale.
Oregon, who’s only loss this season was to the Huskies, has the best point differential in the FBS this season outscoring its opponents 29.3 points per game. Bo Nix can take credit for this as the Heisman Trophy favorite not only leads the country in yards, but heading into the game, has a 78.6% pass percentage which is on track to set the FBS record. He will get his 60th start this weekend vs. the Huskies which is also a college football record. So clearly, the veteran is ready for this very moment.
But one must take into consideration what Michael Penix Jr. is doing over in Washington as well. Although he’s slipped in the Heisman odds, he’s still one of the best QB’s in the country with 32 TD passes and 101 yards shy of 4000 yards this season.
And to top off the overflowing amount of drama, this game is the only one this Championship weekend that features two teams that have already played each other this season. So you can expect high pressure and good football.
I’m taking Oregon in this one.
SEC Championship: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama
Georgia, the two-time reigning College Football National Champions, will look to extend their winning streak to 30 this weekend in securing the SEC title over Alabama.
In perfect, chaotic dramatic fashion Alabama snuck into this Championship game with a last-second touchdown from Jalen Milroe in last week’s Iron Bowl vs. Auburn.
So how do the two match up?
Georgia, is fresh off an eight-point win over Georgia Tech and while it doesn’t seem that impressive for the top-seeded Bulldogs, they were able to sit their stars for the whole fourth quarter, something Alabama did not have the privilege of doing.
This will come in handy especially during this stretch of the season.
The Bulldogs definitely have the advantage on the defensive side of the ball, as Georgia has been dominant up front. Meanwhile, Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide have been a factory for producing NFL-level defensive talent at every position.
This big story in this game will be the quarterback duel between Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe. Although he entered the season as a question mark for the Bulldogs, Beck has been excellent for Georgia and passed every test he’s faced with flying colors. After a rocky start that saw him even being benched, Jalen Milroe has established himself as one of the premiere dual-threat quarterbacks in the conference in recent weeks.
Although it’s never a smart idea to bet against a Nick Saban-coached team, I’m going with the two-time defending National Champs in Georgia. The Bulldogs have been too good all season to overlook a rivalry game in their Conference Championship.
Big Ten Championship: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 16 Iowa
Coming off an extremely emotion filled game last weekend, Michigan enters what seems to be a little easier of a matchup vs. Iowa than last week against at the time No. 4 ranked Ohio State in what to me seemed a more legitimate Big Ten Championship game.
But nonetheless a Championship game is a Championship for a reason and Iowa got what they needed to do to make it to the big stage. Despite having one of the worst offenses in the country, the Iowa Hawkeyes managed to scrape their way to a 10-win season, much in part due to their stout defense, stellar special teams play and the weakness of the Big Ten West.
The last time these two teams met for the Big Ten Championship saw a dominant 39-point win for the Wolverines in 2021. On their way to their third straight Big Ten Championship, Michigan enters this one as a 22-point favorite.
Given the lack of success the Hawkeyes have found on offense this season and the dominance Michigan has displayed on both sides of the ball, you can expect Michigan to dominate the Hawkeyes in every category outside of punt yards. The return of Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh should also add fuel to the fire on the run that Wolverines fans hope could bring them their first National Championship since 1997.
ACC Championship: No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 14 Louisville
Despite being one of the four teams with a perfect record this season, Florida State’s spot in the College Football Playoff is still in doubt. The injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis has left many doubting whether or not the Seminoles still deserve a playoff berth, regardless of their record.
Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker stepped in and picked up a win last weekend against rival Florida, but now his status is listed as questionable ahead of the Seminoles’ biggest game of the season. Without Travis, Florida State is undoubtedly a different team, however they are still extremely talented on both sides of the ball.
After a shocking loss to Kentucky last weekend, Louisville is looking to bounce back and spoil Florida State’s season. Head coach Jeff Brohm has had the Cardinals playing like serious threats to win the conference as of late. While it may not always be the prettiest of games, the Cardinals can compete and have playmakers on both sides of the ball.
With the status of their quarterback unknown, Florida State enters this matchup as 1.5-point favorites over the Cardinals. Expect this one to be a back and forth game that could very easily come down to the last possession of the game.
Big 12 Championship: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State
In their last conference game as members of the Big 12, the Texas Longhorns might be playing for more than just bragging rights this weekend. On the other side, Oklahoma State looks to send the Longhorns off to the SEC with a loss and establish themselves as one of the new powerhouses in the conference.
At No. 7, Texas still has an outside chance at making the College Football Playoff. They need some help from the other conferences, but the Longhorns aren’t done quite yet. Entering this game, Texas has been electric on offense behind the stellar play of quarterback Quinn Ewers and star wide receiver Xavier Worthy. A dominant win over Alabama earlier this year has helped keep Texas in the playoff conversation, and a Big 12 Championship makes this team hard for the committee to overlook.
For Oklahoma State this season it hasn’t always been pretty. Inconsistent play from week to week has led to some bad losses for the Cowboys. However, running back Ollie Gordon II has been stellar and kept their season alive.
Oklahoma State is most likely playing for a New Year’s Six Bowl Game at best with a win. Given this, Texas has more to lose as they look for their first playoff appearance. In the end, Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns should be too much for the Cowboys to handle on offense.