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Well, rivalry week lived up to expectations. Now we move ahead towards the close of the college football season, with the conference championship games fully upon us (and a few regular season games still left over).
There are two games that are more or less Playoff play-ins: the ACC Championship Game and the Big Ten Championship Game. The winner of each will likely join Oklahoma in the field of four (though current No. 10 North Carolina would be far from guaranteed), along with either Alabama or a team benefiting from chaos, likely Ohio State or Stanford, if the Tide lose.
There are also championship games for the MAC and C-USA, which should provide plenty of points. And the AAC championship pits two very good teams, with the winner getting the non-power New Year's Six spot. Plus, some Big 12 and Sun Belt action provides the last regular season fare we'll see, besides Army-Navy next week.
Full schedule is below; for more coverage on a team, just click on the school's name. (Friday games removed, for convenience.)
Sat, Dec 5, 2015 | ||||
12:00 PM ET![]() |
(22) Temple | vs. (AAC Championship) |
(19) Houston | |
12:00 PM ET![]() |
Southern Miss | vs. (CUSA Championship) |
Western Kentucky | |
12:00 PM ET![]() |
Texas | at | (12) Baylor | |
2:00 PM ET![]() |
Georgia State | at | Georgia Southern | |
3:00 PM ET![]() |
New Mexico State | at | Louisiana-Monroe | |
3:00 PM ET![]() |
Texas State | at | Arkansas State | |
4:00 PM ET![]() |
(2) Alabama | vs. (SEC Championship) |
(18) Florida | |
4:30 PM ET![]() |
West Virginia | at | Kansas State | |
5:00 PM ET![]() |
Troy | at | Louisiana-Lafayette | |
7:30 PM ET![]() |
Appalachian State | at | South Alabama | |
7:30 PM ET![]() |
Air Force | vs. (MWC Championship) |
San Diego State | |
7:45 PM ET![]() |
(7) Stanford | vs. (Pac-12 Championship) |
(20) USC | |
8:00 PM ET![]() |
(1) Clemson | vs. (ACC Championship) |
(10) North Carolina | |
8:00 PM ET![]() |
(4) Iowa | vs. (Big Ten Championship) |
(5) Michigan State |
Follow stuff live!
Just keep this Twitter list open for constant updates from around the country, with possibly several jokes and GIFs. Included here are sites for every power conference team and non-power FBS conference, plus lots of fun people watching along with you.
Tweets from https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB/lists/sb-nation-cfb
Early shift
Best option: No. 22 Temple at No. 19 Houston, ABC
Spread: Houston -7
There are two non-power championships among the afternoon games. This one has two ranked teams and two star head coaches, who might both be staying.
Plan B: Texas at No. 12 Baylor, ESPN
Baylor's looking for its third straight double-digit-win season and a Sugar Bowl bid, which would have been an inconceivable thought just a few years ago.
Keep it in mind: Southern Miss at Western Kentucky, ESPN2
Southern Miss is one of the great stories of the year. After winning 12 games in 2011 under Larry Fedora, the Golden Eagles combined to win four games over the past three years. This year, they won nine, and a conference title win against Western Kentucky (undefeated in C-USA play) would be another milestone.
In case of emergency: Georgia State at Georgia Southern, ESPN3
If you are not familiar with this rivalry, read up. There's something on the line, too: State is one win from bowl eligibility for the first time, while Southern is technically alive in the Sun Belt race.
Middle shift
Best option: No. 18 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama, CBS
Spread: Alabama -18
The middle shift on Saturday is light, compared to the later games, but you still get to see Alabama try and play its way into the Playoff.
Plan B: West Virginia at Kansas State, FS1
West Virginia has quietly been good this season, consistently ranking in the top 15 of S&P+. Kansas State is hoping for its sixth win, even though it has already secured bowl eligibility.
Late shift
Best option: No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Iowa, FOX
Spread: Michigan State -3.5
It's a Playoff play-in game. What more do you want? How about a game where one team's strategy might help the other?
Plan B: No. 10 North Carolina vs. No. 1 Clemson, ABC
Probably another play-in game here. North Carolina has improved to the point where it might be playing better than Clemson, but the Tigers haven't lost yet.
Keep it in mind: No. 20 USC vs. No. 7 Stanford, ESPN
Stanford needs absolute chaos to make it into the field, but it also definitely needs a convincing win over the Trojans, too.
In case of emergency: Air Force vs. San Diego State, ESPN2
It's a Mountain West title game that does not feature Boise State! What a world!
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