All you need to know about the conference championship games

On3 imageby:Mike Huguenin11/22/22

MikeHuguenin

There is one week left in the regular season, which means we are two weeks away from the conference championship games.

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 games.

ACC

Date/time/TV: December 3, 8 p.m., ABC
Site: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Teams: Clemson vs. North Carolina
Quick take: Clemson has a high-level defense and a mediocre offense; North Carolina has a high-level offense and a bad defense.

BIG TEN

Date/time/TV: December 3, 8 p.m., Fox
Site: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Teams: TBA
Quick take: Both spots are open. In the East, the Michigan-Ohio State winner gets a bid (and will be favored by, oh, at least two TDs in the title game). In the West, Iowa goes if it beats Nebraska on Friday. If the Hawkeyes lose and Purdue beats Indiana, the Boilermakers go. If both Iowa and Purdue lose, Illinois goes if it beats Northwestern. And if Iowa, Illinois and Purdue lose, it’s Iowa.

BIG 12

Date/time: December 3, noon, Fox
Site: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Teams: TCU vs. TBA
Quick take: TCU clinched its spot in the conference championship game with a win at Texas on November 12. Kansas State and Texas remain alive for the other berth. The other spot goes to K-State if it beats archrival Kansas. If Kansas wins and Texas beats Baylor, the Longhorns get the spot. If both lose, K-State will play TCU.

PAC-12

Date/time: December 2, 8 p.m., Fox
Site: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Teams: USC vs. TBA
Quick take: USC clinched its spot in the conference championship game with its victory over UCLA on Saturday night. Oregon has the inside track to the other spot; a win over Oregon State on Friday will clinch the berth. Washington and Utah remain alive, as well. But it’s convoluted. First off, the Huskies and Utes need the Beavers to upset Oregon. If that happens, Washington gets in if it beats Washington State and Cal beats UCLA; if Washington wins but Cal loses, the Huskies still get in if Colorado beats Utah. In short, Washington is a long shot. As for Utah, it must beat Colorado (which seems a given) and have Washington, Oregon State and UCLA win.

SEC

Date/time: December 3, 4 p.m., CBS
Site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Teams: Georgia vs. LSU
Quick take: Oh, the intrigue: What happens to the CFP standings if a two-loss LSU team beats the Bulldogs?

AAC

Date/time: December 3, 4 p.m., ABC
Site: Campus site
Teams: TBA
Quick take: Three teams remain alive in the hunt for the two berths. Cincinnati plays host to Tulane on Friday, with the winner taking the regular-season title and clinching the host spot in the title game. UCF can grab the other spot if it beats one-win USF. A UCF loss means the Cincy/Tulane loser gets the other spot.

CONFERENCE USA

Date/time: December 2, 8 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Site: Campus site
Teams: TBA at UTSA
Quick take: UTSA, which is unbeaten in league play, has clinched the host spot for the title game. The other berth go to North Texas or Western Kentucky. North Texas gets the other spot if it beats UTEP next Saturday; if UNT loses, Western gets the spot if it beats FAU. If both lose, North Texas gets the berth.

MID-AMERICAN

Date/time: December 3, noon, ESPN
Site: Ford Field, Detroit
Teams: Toledo vs. TBA
Quick take: Toledo has clinched the West Division title. As for the East title, the brutal winter storm in the northeast has messed up things. Buffalo’s game this weekend with Akron was postponed indefinitely and isn’t likely to be played. The Bulls are one of three teams in the hunt for the East crown; the others are Bowling Green and Ohio, and they play Tuesday. Ohio wins the East with a win over the Falcons. Bowling Green wins the division if it beats Ohio and Buffalo loses to Kent State next Saturday. And Buffalo takes the crown if it beats Kent State and BG beats Ohio.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Date/time: December 3, 4 p.m., Fox
Site: Campus site
Teams: Fresno State at Boise State
Quick take: Boise State (by beating Wyoming) and Fresno State (by beating Nevada) clinched spots in the title game with wins Saturday.

SUN BELT

Date/time: December 3, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Site: Campus site
Teams: Coastal Carolina vs. TBA
Quick take: Coastal Carolina is at FBS newcomer James Madison for the East title Saturday. But because JMU is in its first season as a FBS program and thus is in a two-year transition phase, Coastal already has clinched its spot in the title game. Troy clinches the West with a win over Arkansas State or a South Alabama loss to Old Dominion. If Troy loses and South Alabama wins, USA wins the West. If both lose, Troy wins the division.