Postseason on line for Clemson, Ohio State
Each likely needs to win to earn College Football Playoff bid
Clemson and Ohio State go into the weekend with the most at stake, and Texas A&M waiting is in the wings if it takes care of business.
Nine Football Bowl Subdivision conferences will hold championship games Friday and Saturday. A smattering of other games will be played, all rescheduled to this week because of COVID-19 issues.
Titles games in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten are most likely to impact the College Football Playoff.
Clemson (9-1, No. 3 CFP) meets Notre Dame (10-0, No. 2) in the ACC game and would lock up a sixth straight playoff appearance with a win.
Ohio State (5-0, No. 4) should claim a playoff spot with a win over Northwestern (6-1) in the Big Ten.
Alabama (10-0, No. 1) is on track to be the playoff ’s top seed if it beats Florida (8-2) in the SEC. The Crimson Tide are as good as in, even if the Gators upset them.
Texas A&M (7-1, No. 5) would be first in line to fill a spot if Clemson or Ohio State is bounced out of the top four — as long as it wins at Tennessee (3-6) in a game rescheduled from Nov. 14.
The playoff field will be announced Sunday.
Best game
No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 2 Notre Dame
Notre Dame won the regular-season meeting 47-40 in two overtimes. DJ Uaigalelei quarterbacked Clemson that day because Trevor Lawrence was in the COVID-19 protocol. Lawrence will be back. He has lost only once as a starter, and that was in last season’s national championship game against Louisiana State.
Heisman watch
Heisman Trophy voters have until Monday to submit their ballots.
Those who are undecided can use the SEC championship game to sort things out. The three top contenders will be on the field.
The favorite, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, has thrown for 3,321 yards, completing 76 percent with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Devonta Smith, Jones’ favorite target, has 83 receptions for 1,327 yards. With 15 touchdown catches, he would tie Amari Cooper for the school single-season record with one against Florida.
A strong performance Saturday might allow Gators quarterback Kyle Trask to make up ground he lost in the LSU game. Trask is far ahead of the next closest QB in passing yards (3,717) and TD passes (40). Though he was intercepted twice last week, he has thrown just five picks for the season.
Numbers to know
16: Notre Dame’s win streak, longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
19: Cincinnati’s home win streak entering the American Athletic Conference championship game against Tulsa at Nippert Stadium.
102: Points allowed by Northwestern, fewest through seven games since 1995.
1912: The most recent year Iowa State won a conference championship.
Under the radar
Tulsa at Cincinnati, American Athletic championship game.
After four previous attempts, Cincinnati and Tulsa are finally going to meet, and this time it’s for the American Athletic Conference championship.
No. 6 Cincinnati (8-0, 6-0 AAC) will make its second straight appearance in the conference championship game on Saturday night, while No. 20 Tulsa (6-1, 6-0 AAC) is making its title game debut. Cincinnati lost to Memphis in last year’s championship game.