Some programs survived rivalry weekend chaos, whereas others took a few hits. Texas A&M was one of those squads, taking their first loss of the season to instate rival Texas after falling short 17-27. Not only did this spoil A&M of their perfect season but knocked the Aggies out of the SEC Championship. A&M will still secure a spot in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) but, unfortunately, will not have the opportunity to hoist the SEC crown.
The SEC will see two familiar foes in their Championship game as Georgia will take on Alabama in a bash between powerhouses. Georgia claimed the title last year after defeating Texas 22-19 and will look to defend their title banner. The Bulldogs’ only loss this season came against none other than Alabama after falling short 21-24 in the fourth week of the regular season. The Tide are coming off a late winner against Auburn, after scoring their last touchdown of the game in the final four minutes of play to secure their season closer 27-20. Both teams will certainly appear in the CFP regardless of the title game’s outcome.
Ohio State ended their season off perfectly as they defeated Michigan 27-9 in what many fans know as “The Game.” Arguably the greatest sports rivalry of all time, Michigan and Ohio State have faced off annually dating back to 1897. Ohio State lost the previous four matchups and was coming off a National Championship victory with the most consecutive wins in the nation going into Saturday’s game. This win secured their spot in the Big Ten Championship where they will face the only other unbeaten team in the country, Indiana. The Hoosiers look like one of the only teams who might be able to stop the Buckeyes. With both teams already securing a spot in the CFP, this Big Ten Championship between the top two teams in the country should be nothing short of pure cinema.
The Big 12 Championship will face No. 11 BYU against No. 5 Texas Tech. As Texas Tech has made their case for the CFP this season, it is hard to see them not get a bid even if they were to fall short in the Championship game. As for BYU, for a chance to enter the post season, a Big 12 crown would certainly help their case. BYU (11-1) secured one of the best records in the country; however, their competition has not exactly been the best with their only loss coming to Texas Tech earlier this season after being blown out 7-29. The Red Raiders’ margin of victory has placed them high in the rankings, and a Big 12 trophy could give them a first round bye.
The ACC is the messiest of the power five conferences with their Championship game (10-2) Virginia against (7-5) Duke. A five-loss team in a conference championship game is simply unheard of. Duke was able to punch their ticket with a 6-2 ACC record, as their two loses came to Virginia and Georgia Tech. Although the top five power conference teams automatically get a bid, there is a chance that Duke could win and still be denied. With other conferences and champions rising, Dukes’ record of 7-5 could keep them out of the CFP even with an ACC title.
Other notable Championship games can be found on Friday, Dec. 5, with the American Championship Game pitting Tulane against North Texas. A win from either team would punch their ticket into the playoffs for a chance to upset some powerhouse programs. Another ranked program, James Madison will take on Troy in the Sun Belt Championship with JMU holding onto an 11-1 record and looking to upset some big-time schools.
With the Championship games this weekend, teams will look to finalize their resumes as the committee selects the top programs to compete for the National Championship. The first round will be played in the week of Dec. 20, with the first game happening on Friday, Dec. 19. The top four schools will get a first-round bye, while the remainder of teams compete against each other. The first four teams who secured a bye will then host the next round at their respective schools. These four games will each be four of the New Year’s Six, with the final two played in the semifinals of the tournament. The National Championship Game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida on Jan. 19. The rivalries may be history, but the real fight starts now. Bowl season is up next!