WHAT TO KNOW FOR CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

BEST GAME

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Georgia in SEC championship game: A rematch of last season’s national championship game with playoff implications. But what kind exactly? It’s certainly possible both teams could get in if Georgia wins and Alabama finishes 12-1. A close game combined with losses by Oklahoma and Ohio State in their championship games could get Georgia into the playoff even with a loss. Georgia will try to slow Alabama’s explosive offensive with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Heisman Trophy front-runner. It’s also round two between Alabama coach Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, the Tide’s longtime defensive coordinator. Saban has never lost to one of his former assistants, going 13-0. HEISMAN WATCH

Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: Murray has put up numbers even better than Baker Mayfield’s when he won the Heisman for the Sooners last season. The junior has thrown for 3,674 yards and 37 TDs and run for 853 yards and

11 scores. Murray and the fifth-ranked Sooners look to avenge their only loss against No. 9 Texas in the Big 12 championship. Oklahoma’s porous defense has made Murray have to be both good and clutch. The Sooners have allowed at least 40 points in each of their last four games. Murray is chasing Tagovailoa in the Heisman race and has one last chance to overtake him. NUMBERS TO KNOW

4: Clemson is trying to become just the second Power Five conference team to win four straight league title games since Florida (1993-96 SEC). The No. 2 Tigers face Pitt in the ACC title game.

30-1: No. 6 Ohio State’s record against No. 21Northwestern since 1972. The Wildcats are in the Big Ten championship for the first time.

24: No. 8 UCF’s winning streak heading into the American Athletic Conference championship against Memphis. The Knights could become the 27th team in major-college football history to win 25 straight games.

OFF THE RADAR

Virginia Tech will play Marshall at home, trying to extend the longest active bowl appearance streak to 27 years. The Hokies gave themselves hope to extend the streak last week by rallying in the fourth quarter and beating rival Virginia in overtime.

HOT SEAT

Terry Bowden, Akron: Hard to be on the hot seat and playing on championship weekend, but Bowden has been at Akron for seven years and at 62 years old he has a 35-51 record with the Zips. Akron faces South Carolina in one of those make-up games. A loss would drop Akron to 4-8 on the season and there has been speculation the school and Bowden might be looking to move on.