Fun Facts For Every Conference Championship Game
The college football regular season is over for almost everyone. Army and Navy will duel next Saturday (on the football field, not in actual battle) to officially mark the end of the 2023 regular season. Starting Friday 22 teams will meet in 11 conference championship games across the country.
The limited 11-game slate dwarfs what we’ve experienced over the last 13 weeks. We must drink up as much college football as we can before the page turns to bowl season. That is why KSR is previewing every game with one fun fact. These facts will be the most fun you’ve encountered in eons. Prepare accordingly.
C-USA Championship: New Mexico State at No. 24 Liberty
Time: Friday, 7 pm EST
Venue: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg VA
Network: CBS Sports Network
FanDuel Line: New Mexico State +10.5
New Mexico State was a punching bag Power Five teams paid to take losses. It’s something Kentucky did in the past. Two weeks ago they punched Auburn in the face with a 31-10 win on The Plains.
Jerry Kill has led the Aggies to a 10-3 record, the second 10-win season New Mexico State history. The first was an 11-0 1960 season in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, whatever that is. The Aggies had one winning season in the 20 years prior to Kill’s arrival in Las Cruces. They now have back-to-back winning seasons and a coach who appears to love being a resident of the state of New Mexico.
PAC-12 Championship: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 3 Washington
Time: Friday, 8 pm EST
Venue: Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas
Network: ABC
FanDuel Line: Oregon -9.5
The final game in the history of the PAC-12 is a rematch of one of the most dramatic college football games of the regular season with a CFB Playoff berth on the line. Need I say more?
Big 12 Championship: No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Texas
Time: Saturday, Noon EST
Venue: Jerry World, Arlington TX
Network: ABC
FanDuel Line: Texas -14.5
Even though the Big 12 as we know it has been defined by Oklahoma and Texas, the Longhorns have only won the Big 12 title three times. Their last conference championship was in 2009. This is their last chance before moving to the SEC, one final opportunity for Longhorn fans to proclaim that Texas is Back.
MAC Championship: Miami vs. Toledo
Time: Saturday, Noon EST
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit
Network: ESPN
FanDuel Line: Toledo -7.5
Toledo is trying to become the first team to win back-to-back MAC Championships since 2011-12, but that isn’t the most interesting fact. This week Miami head coach Chuck Martin released a statement after an impersonator created a Fake Twitter account to shell cryptocurrency.
Mountain West: Boise State vs. UNLV
Time: Saturday, 3 pm EST
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Network: FOX
FanDuel Line: Boise State -2.5
Barry Odom is hosting a Mountain West Championship Game, the first in UNLV program history, against an interim coach. Yes, Boise State fired head coach Andy Avalos in November, yet the Broncos rattled off two wins with defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson leading the way to punch a ticket to the title game. Bush Hamdan, a recent Kentucky offensive coordinator candidate, will be calling plays as the Broncos attempt to win a record fifth MWC title.
SEC Championship: No. 1 Georgia vs. No 8 Alabama
Time: Saturday, 4 pm EST
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Network: CBS
FanDuel Line: Georgia -6.5
This is the final time you will hear the best anthem in all of sports accompany SEC football.
Sun Belt: Appalachian State vs. Troy
Time: Saturday, 4 pm EST
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy
Network: ESPN
FanDuel Line: Troy -5.5
Appalachian State is not the best team in the Sun Belt East. That title belongs to James Madison, who is ineligible to play in the game as they transition from the FCS level. That means Jon Sumrall gets a chance for revenge.
In the former Kentucky assistant’s third game as a head coach, Troy lost on a Hail Mary. In the postgame locker room, Sumrall drew from his experience on the sideline when Kentucky lost to LSU in the Bluegrass Miracle. Since that game Troy is 21-2 and gets a chance on Saturday to win its second straight Sun Belt title.
AAC Championship: SMU vs. No. 22 Tulane
Time: Saturday, 4 pm EST
Venue: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans
Network: ABC
FanDuel Line: Tulane -3.5
Why is Tulane known as the Green Wave? Tulane’s nickname was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled “The Rolling Green Wave” was published in the Tulane Hullabaloo. I would love to read more articles in the Tulane Hullabaloo. What a great name for a publication.
Big Ten Championship: No. Michigan vs. No. 16 Iowa
Time: Saturday, 8 pm EST
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Network: FOX
FanDuel Line: Michigan -21.5
In the last regular season game of the Brian Ferentz era, the high-powered Iowa offense has a team total of 6.5-points. It provides the perfect capstone for The Drive to 325.
ACC: No. 14 Louisville vs. No. 4 Florida State
Time: Saturday, 8 pm EST
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Network: ABC
FanDuel Line: Florida State -1.5
The line dropped a point overnight Thursday. Florida State is without QB Jordan Travis and there are rumors circulating they may also be without their backup quarterback. Internet sleuths speculate Tate Rodemaker could be out with concussion-like symptoms after he took a big shot on the final drive of the Seminoles’ win over Florida. That would force true freshman Brock Glenn, a former UK recruit and four-star talent, into action against Louisville.
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