FANTASTIC FOUR
New Year’s Eve plans are on the line Saturday with four massively important rivalry games that could shake up the playoff picture on the last weekend of the regular season of what has been an unpredictable, thrilling and topsyturvy season.
Below, The Post takes a look at the four key showdowns:
No. 8 Ohio State at No. 10 Michigan
Why it matters: It’s “The Game,” and the first matchup between coaching giants Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh. And, if Michigan State loses to Penn State, the winner would clinch the Big Ten East crown, which would keep that team’s faint playoff hopes alive.
Key for Ohio State: Take a page out of the old Rex Ryan Ground & Pound playbook. Hammer Michigan early and often with Ezekiel Elliott, who will have a lot to prove after his critical comments of the Buckeyes coaching staff.
Key for Michigan: Play from ahead. Coming off the dismal loss to Michigan State, the fractured Buckeyes may not have a comeback.
Prediction: Michigan 28, Ohio State 24
The Buckeyes have said all the right things this week, but their actions following the loss to Michigan State — Elliott and Cardale Jones announced their plans to go pro and Elliott bashed the coaching staff — spoke volumes. This team appears to have checked out.
No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 9 Stanford
Why it matters: The winner’s playoff hopes remain alive while the loser’s evaporates.
Key for Notre Dame: Contain Christian McCaffrey, Stanford’s Heisman Trophy candidate. Obviously, no easy task — Ed McCaffrey’s kid is as versatile as he is explosive — but limit McCaffrey, and Stanford’s offense struggles.
Key for Stanford: The Cardinal’s defense can hide its leaky secondary by dominating the Fighting Irish up front. Notre Dame rushed for just 3.7 yards per carry last week, and if it can’t run the ball, quarterback DeShone Kizer won’t have time to expose Stanford down the field.
Prediction: Stanford 38, Notre Dame 24
McCaffrey seals his New York City invite and makes a strong Heisman case, burying the Irish with touchdowns on the ground and through the air as part of another dynamic allaround performance.
No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 11 Oklahoma State
Why it matters: An Oklahoma victory not only sews up the Sooners’ first Big 12 title in five years, but likely sends them to the playoff. And it would come at rival Oklahoma State, adding to the enormity of the annual Bedlam Series.
Key for Oklahoma: Keep quarterback Baker Mayfield upright. After sustaining a concussion last week, the Heisman Trophy candidate is expected to play, but you can be sure Oklahoma State will go after him with a variety of blitzes.
Key for Oklahoma State: Can the defense get a few stops? The Cowboys will score enough to win (the offense averages 42 points per game), but the defense has been gashed for an average of 39.5 points over the past month.
Prediction: Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 28
As long as Mayfield is healthy, and that appears to be the case, Oklahoma cruises. The Sooners may be the best team in the country.
No. 2 Alabama at Auburn
Why it matters: Alabama still hasn’t clinched a berth in the SEC title game. A loss and an Ole Miss win would send the Rebels to Atlanta to face SEC East champion Florida, ruining the Crimson Tide’s title hopes.
Key for Alabama: Don’t overlook the 65 Tigers. Yes, Auburn will finish in the SEC West basement for just the fourth time since the SEC split into divisions 24 years ago. But Gus Malzahn’s team has played better lately. Auburn has won two of its past three games — including a road victory over Texas A&M — and four of its five losses were by a single score.
Key for Auburn: Force quarterback Jake Coker to beat you. Derrick Henry is the clearcut Heisman Trophy favorite, fast and physical. But Coker can be shaky, with 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Auburn 17
It will be close until Henry breaks a long touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.