One last chance to state case for CFP
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 10 Oregon (10-2) vs. No. 17 Utah (9-3) 8 p.m. Friday in Las Vegas, ABC
This is a rematch of their Nov. 20 meeting in which host Utah won 38-7. In that loss, the Utes held Oregon to seasonlows in scoring (seven points), rushing offense (63 yards) and total offense (294 yards). Utah has made it to the championship game three times since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, with the Utes searching for their first title. The Ducks are hoping to make it three straight Pac-12 titles under coach Mario Cristobal and 14 overall in school history.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 9 Baylor (10-2) vs. No. 5 Oklahoma St. (11-1) Noon Saturday in Arlington, Texas, ABC
Baylor is making its second appearance in the conference championship game, with the Bears hoping to earn their first Big 12 title since 2014. Oklahoma State is making its first appearance in the title game, with the Cowboys searching for their first title since 2011. These two teams previously met on Oct. 2, a 24-14 win by Oklahoma State. The winner of this one remains in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Georgia (12-0) vs. No. 3 Alabama (11-1)
4 p.m. Saturday in Atlanta, CBS
Top-ranked Georgia is making its first appearance in the SEC championship since 2017, with the Bulldogs hoping to claim their 14th league title. For Alabama, this is their third conference championship game in the last four seasons. The big challenge for the Crimsion Tide is Georgia’s defense, which allows just 6.9 points and 229 yards per game.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP No. 21 Houston (11-1) at No. 4 Cincinnati (12-0)
4 p.m. Saturday in Cincinnati, ABC
The Bearcats hope to become the first team from a Group of Five conference to qualify for the College Football Playoff. To do so, Cincinnati would need to knock off Houston and claim its second straight AAC championship. These two teams feature the top scoring offenses and defenses in the conference. Cincinnati is scoring 39.9 points while holding teams to 15.8 points per game. Houston, meanwhile, is scoring 38.8 points while holding teams to 19.8 points per game.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 2 Michigan (11-1) vs. No. 13 Iowa (10-2) 8 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis, FOX
Now that Michigan has snapped its eight-game losing streak to rival Ohio State, the next challenge for the Wolverines is winning their first outright Big Ten title since 2003. Doing so would also mean moving one step closer to a spot in the CFP semifinals. Iowa, meanwhile, hasn’t won a conference title since 2004. These are two of the stingiest defenses in the Big Ten, allowing fewer than 18 points per game. The Hawkeyes lead the country in interceptions (22) and are third overall in takeaways (28).
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 15 Pittsburgh (10-2) vs. No. 16 Wake Forest (10-2)
8 p.m. Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., ABC
This is the first time in its 17-year history that the
ACC championship game features two teams averaging more than 40 points per game: Wake Forest (42.9) and Pittsburgh (42.8). Pitt’s Kenny Pickett and Virginia’s Bryce Armstrong are the first quarterbacks in the ACC to pass for 4,000 yards in a season since Clemson’s Deshaun Watson in 2016. Wake quarterback Sam Hartman is capping off a career season, one in which he’s passed for 3,711 yards with 34 touchdowns.
Number to know
0: Since its advent in the 2014 season, the College Football Playoff committee hasn’t selected a two-loss team to participate. But this year’s Alabama squad may be able to shake those odds, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. A close loss to No. 1 Georgia in the SEC title game would give them a 58.7 percent chance of making the semifinals.