Conference championship week is finally here and I’m here to tell you how excited you should be for all 10 games. The formula for these rankings is constructed in my own brain but takes into account playoff implications, bowl game situations, and the fun factor. If you want a full listening preview for this weekend, be sure to tune into “Is It Saturday Yet?” where we dive into every game. Disclaimer: all college football games are fun and I felt bad having to rank certain games poorly.
10. Sun Belt Championship- App State at. Troy
It stinks the Sun Belt aka Fun Belt clocks in at 10 but here we are. App State comes into this game undeserving of a title game spot. James Madison was one game better in conference play but was ineligible to play in this game because of the coward NCAA. The Mountaineers did hand JMU their only loss this season, but nonetheless should not be here. App State QB Joey Aguilar has been fun to watch and leads the conferences’ second best offense. Their balanced attack also features a three-headed monster at running back that will need to get going against a tough Troy defense. The Trojans defense being good is kind of what drags this game down a bit. Expect a defensive battle at 4 PM on Saturday.
9. MAC Championship- Miami (OH) vs. Toledo
There is a lot of fun factor in Ford Field on Saturday. Toledo enters the game having won the MAC last season and boasts the league’s best offense. Meanwhile, Miami (OH) has a stout defense and runs the ball using both QB Aveon Smith and RB Rashad Amos. I am a bit biased as QB Aveon Smith is a friend of the show, but boy is he fast. On the other side, Toledo QB Daquan Finn in the conferences’ best and is looking to lead the Rockets to become the first repeat conference championship since the 2011-2012 Northern Illinois Huskies (shoutout Jordan Lynch). Toledo leads the MAC in passing yards, rushing yards, total yards, and points per game. This Redhawks defense will have their hands full. Earlier this season, Toledo took home a 21-17 win, but Miami lost starting QB Brett Gabbert due to injury and Smith did not have as much preparation as he will have this weekend. Miami is battled tested having gone through a tougher MAC East and I expect them to keep this game close.
8. Big 10 Championship- No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 16 Iowa
We have our first Power 5 game checking in at number eight here. The Big 10 championship game is often repugnant but seems especially so this time around. Iowa is one of the worst offenses one could lay their eyes on. They have the worst offense in the ENTIRE NATION at 246 yards per game. Michigan will smoke them and this will be a snooze fest. I would be surprised if the Hawkeyes even threaten double digit points. Michigan is a lock to make the college football playoff which makes this game even less appealing. The Michigan-Ohio State game has become the real Big 10 championship. Enjoy the final game ever played by a B10 West team if you’re into that sort of thing.
7. ACC Championship- No. 14 Louisville vs. No. 4 Florida State
This is another Power 5 game lacking juice. Florida State does have the chance to cap off an undefeated season but it will have to be without star QB Jordan Travis, who is out for the season. Tate Rodemaker has been underwhelming in relief and the Noles may need a blowout win to bolster their resume despite being undefeated. Juice was also squeezed when Louisville lost outright at home to Kentucky last week as 8-point favorites. The Cardinals now have two losses on the season. Although they are a great story, they are a pretty fraudulent 10-2. This game should have been a win-and-in scenario for the Seminoles but now things could get hairy. If the argument in the committee room is “best team right now” FSU could find themselves on the outside looking in after running through a weak ACC and now being without Travis. The postgame implications will be interesting, but this game itself is not terribly enticing.
6. CUSA Championship- New Mexico State at. No. 24 Liberty
Liberty has been sneakily one of the best stories in college football this season. Jamey Chadwell has the Flames at 12-0 and with all the James Madison hype early, the true undefeated G5 team fell under the radar. Let me introduce you to Liberty QB Kaiden Salter. The Tennessee transfer finished the season with 2,431 yards passing, 899 yards rushing, and 40 total touchdowns. He is sixth in the nation in EPA per play, only behind guys with last names such as Daniels, Nix, Penix, Beck, and Gabriel. Star RB Quinton Cooley is 11th in the nation with 1,251 yards rushing. On the other side, New Mexico State QB Diego Pavia ain’t too shabby himself. Pavia accumulated 2,727 passing yards, 806 rushing yards, and 28 total touchdowns. The Aggies got off to a rough start with a loss to UMass but finished the year 10-3. They will look to play spoiler after losing 33-17 earlier this season. Expect a lot of fireworks in Lynchburg on Friday evening.
5. American Championship- SMU at. No. 22 Tulane
This game had Top 3 potential juice but unfortunately was squeezed out with SMU QB Preston Stone going down with a season-ending injury. With Stone out, redshirt freshman Kevin Jennings is now in line to start for the Mustangs. The reason this game still has excitement is because of the stakes. If Tulane wins, they will be the New Year’s Six Bowl rep from the G5. If SMU wins, they will likely need Liberty to lose to aforementioned New Mexico State or hope the committee sees a win over Tulane as worthy enough to jump the Flames. Even without Stone, the atmosphere at Tulane should be electric, as we saw last season in the conference title game. This could also be a national tryout for Tulane stud QB Michael Pratt, who may be looking to head to the Power 5 next season.
4. Mountain West Championship- UNLV vs. Boise State
The computers have spoken and we have UNLV and Boise State in the Mountain West championship. After a strange three-way tiebreaker, the Rebels are ready to try to capture their first title in their first title game. Starting QB Doug Brumfield went down with an injury early in the year, and new QB Jayden Maiava took the job and never looked back. This is the best year in program history, save for the 1984 team that was stripped of all 11 wins due to NCAA violations. Head coach Barry Odom has done a great job getting UNLV into a home game with the contest taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Rebs have scored the most points per game in the conference and are 3rd in yards per game. On the other side, Boise State has had quite the season. Head coach Andy Avalos was fired after a 5-5 start. The team responded by ripping off two straight wins to secure an appearance in the conference title game. While Avalos’ firing was a bit curious, the Broncos have stayed together through it. The 2nd best offense in the Mountain West is led by RB Ashton Jeanty and his 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns. Expect a lot of points in Vegas on both Friday and Saturday, with the Oregon-Washington game taking place the night before. This will be a fun one.
3. Big 12 Championship- No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Texas
If you think Mike Gundy won’t get the Cowboys up for this game, you’re crazy. I can hear the pregame speech now, centered around Texas leaving the Big 12 and Oklahoma State sending them off the right way, much like they did earlier this season against Oklahoma. The most exciting matchup will be RB Ollie Gordon against the stout Texas defensive front lead by DT T’Vondre Sweat. The Longhorns have the best run defense in the Big 12. On the other side, Oklahoma State will have to get pressure on Texas QB Quinn Ewers. If he is able to sit back and sling it, things will get ugly. Oklahoma State tends to play up or down to their opponent, which makes me think they keep this one close. Texas needs a statement win to get into the playoffs. Oklahoma State would love nothing more than to spoil that. This is going to be a great game, and the noon kickoff Big 12 Championship always delivers.
2. SEC Championship- No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama
This was a true toss up. I know a lot of people will have this game at the most interesting, at rightfully so. Alabama has righted the ship, winning 10 straight since the Texas loss. We all know what Georgia is. Back-to-back national champs that have not lost since the 2021 SEC Championship. I see this game going one of two ways. Either Georgia will blow out Alabama, or Alabama will win outright. Last week, the Iron Bowl was a very lucky win for the Tide. Now, they have to re-focus to win their biggest game of the year. Georgia is coming off a close rivalry win over Georgia Tech, but they also rested Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. This game will be dependent on the arm (and legs) of Alabama QB Jalen Milroe. His progression has been the key to their turnaround. We could be in for an instant classic in this one. By the way, I LOVE the over on Saturday in Atlanta.
1. Pac 12 Championship- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 3 Washington
This is it. Farewell to the PAC 12. And boy do we have a game on our hands. Last time these two teams met, Washington took home a 36-33 victory. Since then, Oregon has been playing like the best team in the country while the Huskies have barely survived against some bad teams like Arizona State, Stanford, and Washington State. There are rumors that QB Michael Penix may be hurt after taking a shot to the ribs against Oregon. That would align in a sharp drop in his numbers, especially his accuracy. Nevertheless, the receiving core for the Huskies is good enough to keep them in this game. On the other side, Bo Nix is looking for his signature Heisman moment. He finished the season with four straight 360 yard passing games and 16 passing touchdowns. In addition, this Ducks defense has been stout, holding all four of those same opponents to under 20 points. Oregon is favored by 9 points for a reason. The weekend will kick off with a win-and-in scenario and for that reason it is my most anticipated game.
