We have officially made it to college football conference championship weekend. Crazy to think it was 13 weeks ago we were gearing up for a Notre Dame vs Navy showdown in Dublin, and now only two teams remain in every conference. Not only are these game crucial, but they will ultimately decide the fate of numerous college football playoff hopefuls. Here are the key matchups to watch:
No. 3 Washington (12-0) vs No. 5 Oregon (11-1) - Pac 12 Championship - Friday, 8 p.m. est.
Winner of this game will ultimately claim a spot in the top four.
No. 7 Texas (11-1) vs no. 18 (9-3) Oklahoma State - Big 12 Championship - Saturday, Noon.
The destiny of the Longhorns is largely out of their control. They'll need teams inside of the top six to lose to slide in. however, they still have a Cowboys team to get by in order to be in the conversation for a top four spot.
No. Georgia (12-0) vs No. 8 Alabama (11-1) - SEC Championship - Saturday, 4 p.m.
If Georgia wins, it secures the one spot in the playoffs. If Alabama hands the Bulldogs their only loss of the year, the Tide have a good case as to why they should claim their top-4 spot.
No. 2 Michigan (12-0) vs No. 16 Iowa (10-2) - Big 10 Championship - Saturday, 8 p.m.
This one is simple. If Michigan wins, they're in.
No. 3 FSU (12-0) vs Louisville (10-2) - ACC Champion ship - Saturday, 8 p.m.
The Seminoles are also in a win-and-in situation, but face a bit of adversity. Starting quarterback Jordan Travis is out for the year, and backup Tate Rodemaker will be a game-time decision. The Noles are already in jeopardy of missing out on the top four due to the injury to Travis, winning with certainty against the Cardinals will make a statement.
With all of that in mind, Brandon and I gave our most ideal College Football Playoff games. Check out the full segment at the podcast linked below.