Clemson still on top
No. 1 Clemson emphatically claimed its spot in the College Football Playoff with a 38-3 victory over No. 7 Miami in the ACC championship game Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C.
The Tigers (12-1) came in atop the CFP and should remain that way in Sunday’s final poll after their decisive show left little doubt the defending national champs are looking to go back-to-back.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in the postgame celebration he hadn’t been to New Orleans since going with Alabama in 1992, the then-wide receiver part of that national championship squad. This time, the Tigers as top seed get their pick of sites and Swinney left no wiggle room about what he’ll choose.
“Get ready, Sugar Bowl,” he shouted. “Here we come.” Big 12 championship: No. 2 Oklahoma left no question about whether it will be in the playoffs. Heisman Trophy front-runner Baker Mayfield threw four touchdown passes as the Sooners staked their playoff spot with a 41-17 win over No. 10 TCU in Arlington, Texas, in the first Big 12 championship game since 2010. By beating the Horned Frogs (10-3, No. 11 CFP) with their record 11th Big 12 title, the Sooners (12-1, No. 3 CFP) are a lock to be in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
AAC championship: In one of the wildest FBS conference championship games ever, No. 12 Central Florida captured the American Athletic Conference title with a 62-55 victory over No. 16 Memphis in double overtime in Orlando. After the game, UCF coach Scott Frost was announced as the next coach of Nebraska, his alma mater. Frost might coach the Knights (12-0, CFP No. 15) in their bowl game — likely a New Year’s Six bowl. The top two scoring teams in the country combined for 117 points — which is a record for an FBS conference championship game — and 1,479 yards. It was tied 48-48 at the end of regulation. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime. UCF had the ball first in the second overtime and scored on a 1-yard run by Otis Anderson. The Tigers (10-2, CFP No. 20) got as far as the Central Florida 9 on their possession but Riley Ferguson’s pass on 2nd-and-goal was intercepted.
Briefly: Brett Rypien threw for 246 yards and led a fourth-quarter comeback to help Boise State beat No. 25 Fresno State 17-14 in the Mountain West championship game in Boise, Idaho. Boise State (10-3), which lost 28-17 to the Bulldogs a week earlier in Fresno in the regular-season finale, won its second conference title in four years. Fresno State (9-4) completed one of the best turnarounds in college history under first-year coach Jeff Tedford after going 1-11 a year ago . ... Logan Woodside threw four TD passes and Terry Swanson rushed for 180 yards and two scores as Toledo (11-2) defeated Akron 45-28 for the MidAmerican Conference title in Detroit. ... Devante Kincade threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores as Grambling (11-1) held off Alcorn State 40-32 in Houston for its second straight Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship.