Brutus had some fun in the snow on Saturday.
Rivalry Week delivered on the thrills, group shoving matches, and conference clinching games we all come to love this time of year. So, let's break down who survived and see who's playing this weekend. Also, thank God the Big Ten and SEC were clear cut, because these computer tiebreaker scenarios are so BCS (all rankings are Pool Poll Rankings).
Indiana took all hope from Purdue on Friday.
Big Ten Championship: Indiana (12-0, #2) vs Ohio State (12-0, #1) Saturday (8:00 PM FOX)
How'd we get there: The Buckeyes allowed a squeak of hope after two quick field goals by the Wolverines, but unlike the last four years, Ryan Day didn't forget that he has two elite receivers compared to a not as elite secondary. As they had all year, OSU made all the right adjustments at halftime to crush their opponents dreams of pulling off an upset, although 6-0 was the largest deficit the Buckeyes have faced all year. A depleted Michigan was playing with house money like last year, but this time, the house took them for everything Bryce Underwood was getting paid in NIL money.
Indiana didn't toy with its opponent, instead, the Hoosiers jammed it down the Boilermakers throats and held their eyes open like in Bird Box or A Clockwork Orange if you prefer a more cultured reference. It was the third victory by 50 points for Indiana, who will surely provide the toughest test for Ohio State this year.
Bowl Bound (12): It wasn't just about the Big Ten Championship for some, others were playing for their bowl hopes. Rutgers and Penn State played in an exciting loser goes home matchup that saw the Nittany Lions (6-6) edge the Scarlet Knights (5-7) 40-36. Plenty of other teams were going bowling no matter what, but that didn't mean that trophies weren't on the line. Illinois (8-4) forced 4 turnovers to turn away Northwestern (6-6); Iowa (8-4) dropped 40 on Nebraska (7-5); Oregon (11-1) kept its playoff hopes alive with a win over Washington (8-4); USC (9-3) rubbed it in UCLA's (3-9) face by going for two late; and finally, Minnesota (7-5) won the Paul Bunyan Axe in a snowy battle with Wisconsin (4-8). Michigan (9-3) can get excited to take on Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl or whatever.
Alabama forced a fumble late to survive the Iron Bowl.
SEC Championship: Alabama (10-2, #12) vs Georgia (11-1, #3) Saturday (4:00 PM ABC)
How'd We Get Here: First, it started with Georgia already clinching a spot and then surviving its rivalry with Georgia Tech (16-9). That meant three teams had their shot at playing the Bulldogs. First up was Texas A&M (11-1) who watched stunned as Arch Manning and Bevo ran all over the field to pull off the Texas sized upset (27-17). That opened the door for Ole Miss (11-1) who took care of Mississippi State (5-7) in the Egg Bowl. Then after the game, Lane Kiffin got in a yelling match with a reporter and told his players he's headed to LSU. Perhaps it was karma then that caused Auburn (5-7) to fumble and then later muff a punt that cost them a chance to stun Alabama and make a bowl game. In fact, with that loss Auburn ensured that all 80 bowl game spots were filled and that no team (that didn't need a first-year waiver) would be left out of bowl season. Thanks Auburn, from all the 6-6 group of 5 teams.
Bowl Bound (10): Sure Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma (10-2), Vanderbilt (10-2), and Texas (9-3) are all bowl eligible, but all seven have a case for the College Football playoffs. Obviously, they all can't make it, but now you know who Paul Finebaum will be lamenting about come selection Sunday. Tennessee (8-4), Missouri (8-4) and LSU (7-5) will all be going bowling as well, giving the SEC 10 teams overall.
BYU looks to seek revenge in the Big 12 Championship.
Big 12 Championship: BYU (11-1, #6) vs Texas Tech (11-1, #7) Saturday (12:00 PM ABC)
How'd We Get Here: Like the Big Ten, this was a pretty simple scenario. If the top two teams won, they were in. It wasn't even close. Texas Tech dismantled West Virginia, 49-0, while BYU eliminated UCF from bowl contention with a 41-21 drubbing. The Red Raiders bested the Cougars earlier this year and because of the SEC bias that is pervasive amongst voters, the loser will likely not make the playoffs despite only having two losses.
Bowl Bound (10): Utah (10-2) eliminated Kansas (5-7) from contention, while Houston (9-3) did the same to Baylor (5-7). TCU (8-4) survived the lightning delay to knock off Cincinnati (7-5). Arizona (9-3) won the Territorial Cup and ended the Big 12 hopes of Arizona State (8-4). Iowa State (8-4) was nearly knocked off by Oklahoma State (1-11), while Kansas State (6-6) secured a bowl berth with a win over Deion and Colorado (3-9).
Virginia is looking for its first outright ACC Championship.
ACC Championship: Duke (7-5, #56) vs Virginia (10-2, #18) Saturday (8:00 PM ABC)
How'd We Get Here: The worst possible scenario rolled out in the ACC. A five-loss team could win the whole thing and not be ranked, allowing another Group of 5 team to sneak into the postseason depending on where they are ranked. James Madison, North Texas, Tulane, and UNLV are chomping at the bit. Virginia did its part; they beat Virginia Tech and are playing for the ACC Championship for the first time since 1995 when they shared it with Florida State. They also shared the title in 1989 with Duke, which is the last time the Blue Devils were involved. They also won three-straight outright titles from 1960-62.
Still, Miami (10-2) throttled Pitt (8-4) to give themselves a chance at maybe even persuading the committee to consider them as a two-loss team. Then, SMU (8-4) just needed to not blow the game against Cal (7-5) and they would play Virginia. Instead, the Bears scored late, and the Mustangs missed a field goal to tie the game, sending Duke to the ACC Championship.
Bowl Bound (11): Miami and Virginia have the playoffs on its mind, but likely only one of them would go. Duke would really push the boundaries if they won, while SMU, Pitt, and Cal will all go to their bowl destinations without controversy. Of course, Duke wouldn't be in this scenario if Wake Forest (8-4) could've won. Georgia Tech (9-3) could've prevented Duke if they would've defeated Pitt last week. Louisville (8-4), NCST (7-5), and Clemson (7-5) all knocked around its rivals to try and secure a better bowl landing spot.
Tulane looks to rumble into the CFP.
How'd We Get Here: It was a win and in scenario for the AAC, although Navy (9-2) had an outside shot after its Thanksgiving win over Memphis (8-4). First up was North Texas, who tossed around the ball and scored at will with one of the best offenses in College Football to drop Temple (5-7) from bowl contention. Tulane had an even easier time with Charlotte (1-11) cruising to a 27-0 win.
Bowl Bound (8): The loser of Tulane and North Texas won't make the playoffs, and Navy is at a slight disadvantage because they don't play the final game until after the selection committee when they take on Army (6-5). USF (9-3) kept Rice (5-7) from making a bowl game; UTSA (6-6) couldn't keep the Black Knights out; Memphis sulks in after losing three-straight; and ECU (8-4) left no doubt by throttling FAU.
UNLV looks to avenge a loss to Boise State earlier this season.
Mountain West Championship: Boise State (8-4, #49) vs UNLV (10-2, #19) Friday (8:00 PM FOX)
How'd We Get Here: Computers. Stupid computers. It would've been an incredible story for New Mexico (9-3), who hadn't been in a MWC Game since 2016 and haven't won a conference title since they won the WAC in 1964. They battled San Diego State (9-3), who with a win clinched an automatic bid. It took overtime and the Lobos forced a turnover, but rather than kick a field goal to win, they ran the ball and fumbled. They still managed to hang on to a 23-17 win in double-overtime. Now all they needed was Utah State (6-6) to hold its lead against Boise State. Instead, the Broncos rallied to win 25-24 to create a three-way tie. Then UNLV crushed Nevada (3-9) to not only claim the Fremont Cannon but force a four-way tie. The Lobos were aware that a four-way tie was not in their favor and that left the Aztecs, Broncos, and Rebels hoping that a computer would pick them. Once it gargled out the data, it produced a rematch between Boise State and UNLV.
Bowl Bound (7): I mentioned New Mexico, Boise State, UNLV, Utah State, and San Diego State, but perhaps my favorite is the return of Hawaii (8-4) to winning football. Fresno State (8-4) also punched their ticket.
James Madison is hoping for some playoff magic.
Sun Belt Championship: Troy (8-4, #55) vs James Madison (11-1, #10) Friday (7:00 PM ESPN)
How'd We Get Here: This was as clean cut as it gets. James Madison had already clinched going into Saturday and then still won by 46 at Coastal Carolina (6-6). Then it was a winner faces JMU game that Troy took advantage of by knocking out Southern Miss (7-5), 28-18.
Bowl Bound (9): While James Madison is thinking playoffs, Troy, Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, and Old Dominion (9-3) had all punched its bowling tickets heading into Saturday. However, the Sun Belt had the most elimination games and benefitted the most from an exact number of teams making it. First, Georgia Southern (6-6) eliminated Marshall (5-7), then Arkansas State (6-6) survived a wild finish at Appalachian State (5-7). Texas State (6-6) throttled South Alabama and Louisiana (6-6) survived an overtime thriller with rival Louisiana Monroe.
Western Michigan's lone MAC loss came at the hands of Miami.
MAC Championship: Miami (7-5, #67) vs Western Michigan (8-4, #46) Saturday (12:00 PM ESPN)
How'd We Get Here: Of course, MACtion would be complicated. Thanks to an incomplete head-to-head matchups, things got into a complicated conference opponent record tiebreakers. What we knew heading into Saturday was Western Michigan was in after beating Eastern on Tuesday. Central (7-5) was eliminated by Toledo (8-4), Ohio (8-4) kept its hopes alive and eliminated Buffalo (5-7) from bowl season. That meant it all came down to Miami and Ball State, and the Cardinals didn't even try for drama, their rolled right over and allowed the Redhawks to take their spot in the MAC title game despite losing to both Toledo and Ohio.
Bowl Bound (5): Western, Central, Toledo, Miami, and Ohio all survived a conference that cannibalized itself. Except UMass, who didn't win a single game. Also, bon voyage to Northern Illinois who went 3-9 in their final season of MACtion as they now head to the Mountain West.
The Gamecocks eliminated WKU from CUSA title hopes.
Conference USA Championship: Jacksonville State (8-4, #42) vs Kennesaw State (9-3, #30) Friday (7:00 PM CBS Sports Network)
How'd We Get Here: Jacksonville State kicked a walk-off field goal to keep Western Kentucky (8-4) from securing its spot in the CUSA Championship. That meant that Kennesaw State just needed to take care of business against Liberty, but that was easier said than done. It took two overtimes, but the Owls, in just their second season at the FBS level, upended the Flames 48-42.
Bowl Bound (5): None the teams have a real shot at a playoff bid, and its game is featured on the least accessible channel of all the championship games. Seriously, it will be easier to find the SWAC Championship (Jackson State vs Prairie View A&M on ESPN 2, winner plays SCST in the Celebration Bowl) than CUSA's game. Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, and WKU, will be joined by Louisiana Tech (7-5) and FIU (7-5) as the conferences only bowl teams. That is unless the NCAA makes an extra bowl game to allow first year teams Missouri State (7-5) and Delaware (6-6) a chance to earn a postseason berth which would give CUSA an alarming 7 bowl teams.
Final Regular Season Top 25 looks like this:
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Georgia
4. Ole Miss
5. Oregon
6. BYU
7. Texas Tech
8. North Texas
9. Texas A&M
10. James Madison
11. Oklahoma
12. Alabama
13. Notre Dame
14. Vanderbilt
15. Utah
16. Tulane
17. Miami
18. Virginia
19. UNLV
20. Navy
21. USC
22. Tulane
23. USF
24. Michigan
25. San Diego State
Dropped Out: Georgia Tech and UConn
Watchlist: Arizona, Georgia Tech, Houston, New Mexico, Kennesaw State, UConn, Old Dominion, Arizona State, Iowa State, Washington, TCU, Louisville, Tennessee, Illinois, and Fresno State.
FCS Playoffs
South Dakota State won in a winter wonderland against New Hampshire.
First Round:
Yale 43 Youngstown State 42 (Trailed 42-14 in 3rd Q)
Villanova 52 Harvard 7
Rhode Island 27 Central Connecticut State 19
Abilene Christian 38 Lamar 20
Illinois State 21 SELA 3
North Dakota 31 Tennessee Tech 6
South Dakota State 41 New Hampshire 3
South Dakota 38 Drake 17
Second Round (12/6)
Villanova vs Lehigh
South Dakota vs Mercer
Illinois State vs North Dakota State
Abilene Christian vs Stephen F. Austin
North Dakota vs Tarleton State
Yale vs Montana State
South Dakota State vs Montana
Rhode Island vs UC Davis
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