Welcome to the conference championship weekend.
With the College Football Playoff stadium revealed on Sunday, all that’s left to do is decide the winners for every conference across the country. And while teams like Georgia and Michigan look like they’re teetering on to make a four-team field, TCU will likely win its conference to secure the national title. And No. 4 USC might really be in trouble after that Losing to Utah in the Friday Pac-12 game.
Here’s a breakdown of each of today’s major conference headline games.
(Note: All times are ET, odds are from BetMGM)
Big 12: No. 3 TCU vs. No. 10 Kansas State
Time: Noon ET | Television: ABC | Font: TCU -2.5 | 62 total
The win secured TCU its first playoff berth in school history. The Horned Frogs could still be in the playoffs even with a loss to Kansas State, but we’re sure TCU fans don’t want to sweat it out. The Wildcats are playing to their first Big 12 title since 2003 and only their fourth title overall. KSU is headed to the Sugar Bowl no matter what happens on Saturday.
SEC: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 LSU
Time: 4 p.m. ET | Television: CBS | Font: Georgia -17.5 | Total 51.5
The Bulldogs seem locked into the College Football Playoff no matter what happens on Saturday. The conference title would be the 14th in school history and first since 2017 after losing to Alabama in the title game a year earlier. LSU, with three losses, is out of the playoff picture, but needs a win to go to the Sugar Bowl. Otherwise, the citrus bowl could be calling out. LSU last won the SEC title in 2019 on its way to the national title.
Big Ten: Purdue vs. No. 2 Michigan
Time: 8 p.m. | TV: Fox | Font: UM -17 | Total: 51.5
The Wolverines go on to capture two Big Ten titles in a row. Furthermore, a win guarantees Michigan a spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s hard to see Michigan get kicked off the field even with a loss, but the seeding is definitely at stake for the Wolverines. This is also a big problem for Purdue. The Boilermakers have never reached the Big Ten championship game before and have a chance to win the conference title for the first time since 2000. A win would earn Purdue a trip to the Rose Bowl.
ACC: No. 23 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Clemson
Time: 8 p.m. | Television: ABC | Line: Clemson -7.5 | Total: 63.5
While neither team in this game has a realistic shot at the playoffs, Clemson is in the eighth game for the ACC title in the 17 years it’s been around. Clemson won six consecutive ACC titles between 2015 and 2020 before his streak ended last year. Meanwhile, this is UNC’s second appearance in the ACC title game. North Carolina has not won a conference championship since 1980 and has not had a double-digit winning season since 2015.
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