All you need to know about the conference championship games
The regular season is over, and the focus moves to conference championship games, the Heisman finalists and the makeup of the College Football Playoff field.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the 10 conference championship games.
ACC
Date/time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC
Site: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Teams: Clemson (10-2) vs. North Carolina (9-3)
The line: Clemson by 7.5
Quick take: Clemson has a high-level defense and a mediocre offense; North Carolina has a high-level offense and a bad defense. Both come in off losses in rivalry games.
BIG TEN
Date/time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m., Fox
Site: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Teams: Michigan (12-0) vs. Purdue (8-4)
The line: Michigan by 16.5
Quick take: Michigan pounded archrival Ohio State to get here. Purdue hammered archrival Indiana to get here after Iowa blew its chance by losing to Nebraska.
BIG 12
Date/time: Saturday, noon, Fox
Site: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Teams: Kansas State (9-3) vs. TCU (12-0)
The line: TCU by 2.5
Quick take: Yeah, this is the matchup everyone saw coming at the beginning of the season. TCU beat K-State 38-28 on October 22; the Horned Frogs punished the Wildcats on the ground, rushing for 215 yards.
PAC-12
Date/time: Friday, 8 p.m., Fox
Site: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Teams: USC (11-1) vs. Utah (9-3)
The line: USC by 2.5
Quick take: USC has moved squarely into the discussion for the College Football Playoff behind the play of Heisman favorite Caleb Williams. The Trojans’ lone loss was 43-42 at Utah on October 15; the Utes won it on a last-minute TD and two-point conversion. Utah had 562 yards, USC 556.
SEC
Date/time: Saturday, 4 p.m., CBS
Site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Teams: Georgia (12-0) vs. LSU (9-3)
The line: Georgia by 17.5
Quick take: LSU will be coming in off a loss to Texas A&M, which ended any CFP hopes. Georgia seems in the Playoff, regardless.
AAC
Date/time: Saturday, 4 p.m., ABC
Site: Campus site
Teams: UCF (9-3) at Tulane (10-2)
The line: Tulane by 4
Quick take: A rematch of a game UCF won 38-31 on November 12 at Tulane. Can the Knights double-up? The winner gets the Group of 5’s New Year’s Six bowl berth.
CONFERENCE USA
Date/time: Friday, 8 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Site: Campus site
Teams: North Texas (7-5) at UTSA (10-2)
The line: UTSA by 8.5
Quick take: This is a rematch of a game UTSA won 31-27 on October 22.
MID-AMERICAN
Date/time: Saturday, noon, ESPN
Site: Ford Field, Detroit
Teams: Ohio (9-3) vs. Toledo (7-5)
The line: Toledo by 1.5
Quick take: Toledo last won the MAC in 2017. Ohio will be playing for its first MAC title since 1968. Alas, the Bobcats will be without star QB Kurtis Rourke (3,256 yards, 25 TDs, four interceptions), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Game 11.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Date/time: Saturday, 4 p.m., Fox
Site: Campus site
Teams: Fresno State (8-4) at Boise State (9-3)
The line: Boise State by 3.5
Quick take: Fresno comes in having won seven in a row. Both teams have been energized by their quarterbacks. A return from injury by Jake Haener has helped Fresno State win its past five games by an average of 22 points. A switch to Taylen Green in Game 5 has helped Boise finish 7-1 because his dual-threat ability has revved-up the rushing attack.
SUN BELT
Date/time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Site: Campus site
Teams: Coastal Carolina (8-3) at Troy (10-2)
The line: Troy by 8.5
Quick take: James Madison won the East Division, but is ineligible for postseason play as a team making the move from FCS. Thus, Coastal is the East representative. Troy won the West in coach Jon Sumrall’s first season.