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The conference championship games are shaping up.
But first, here’s what happened in college football on Saturday.
Florida State QB Jordan Travis suffered a left ankle injury that was gruesome and heartbreaking in a 58-13 win against North Alabama. Travis was carted off the field and taken to a hospital with an injury that likely ends his season.
Let’s check in on the status of the conference championship matchups.
Championship Scenarios
Who’s locked in? What’s still at stake?
AAC (Dec. 2, 4 p.m.): A matchup between Tulane (10-1, 7-0), SMU (9-2, 7-0) and UTSA (8-3, 7-0)
- The winner of the Tulane-UTSA game on Friday will earn a championship bid. That team would play SMU if the Mustangs beat Navy on Saturday.
ACC (Dec. 2, 8 p.m.): Louisville (10-1, 7-1) vs. Florida State (11-0, 8-0)
Big 12 (Dec. 2, Noon): A matchup between Texas (10-1, 7-1), Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2), Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2) and Kansas State (8-3, 6-2)
- The Longhorns are in if they beat Texas Tech on Friday. Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas State could end in a three-way tie, which would bring in head-to-head results as the determining factor. Oklahoma State would get the bid because the Cowboys beat both Oklahoma and Kansas State.
Big Ten (Dec. 2, 8 p.m.): Iowa (9-2, 6-2) vs. Ohio State (11-0, 8-0) or Michigan (11-0, 8-0)
- This one’s simple. The winner of next week’s Buckeyes-Wolverines game is in.
Conference USA (Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m.): New Mexico State (9-3, 6-1) at Liberty (11-0, 7-0)
MAC (Dec. 2, Noon): Miami of Ohio (9-2, 6-1) vs. Toledo (10-1, 7-0)
Mountain West (Dec. 2, 3 p.m.): A matchup between UNLV (9-2, 6-1), Air Force (8-3, 5-2), Boise State (6-5, 5-2) and San Jose State (6-5, 5-2)
- A few head-to-heads next week should help determine this one. The loser of Air Force-Boise State will be eliminated. UNLV would lock its bid with a win against San Jose State, but if the Runnin’ Rebels lose, the conference would have to break a three-way tie between UNLV, San Jose State and the winner of Air Force-Boise State.
Pac-12 (Friday, Dec. 1, 8 p.m. in Las Vegas): Washington (11-0, 8-0) vs. Oregon (10-1, 7-1) or Arizona (8-3, 6-2).
- If Arizona beats Arizona State and Oregon loses to Oregon State next week, the Wildcats and the Ducks would be 7-2 in conference play. There’s no head-to-head result in this tiebreaker scenario, and both teams would have identical records against common opponents (6-2). That brings in “winning percentage versus common opponents based on the order of finish.” Per a CBS breakdown, Arizona would need Oregon State (which it beat) to finish ahead of USC (which it lost to) in the conference standings to earn the second spot.
SEC (Dec. 2, 4 p.m.): Alabama (10-1, 7-0) vs. Georgia (11-0, 8-0)
Sun Belt (Dec. 2, 4 p.m.): Troy (9-2, 6-1) vs. Coastal Carolina (7-4, 5-2) or Appalachian State (7-4, 5-2).
- JMU should be in the East battle, but the Dukes are not eligible for the game. App State faces Georgia Southern next week, while Coastal Carolina gets JMU. If one loses and the other wins, the winning team will get the bid. If there’s still a tie, Coastal Carolina moves on thanks to its win against App State in October.
Quick Snaps
Stewart Mandel’s Final Thoughts take a look at the cost of Week 12 for some CFP hopefuls.
Nicole Auerbach’s top 10 includes a special nod to Northwestern, which is bowl-eligible!
David Ubben writes how Kirby Smart has cracked the code to become the best of Nick Saban’s former assistants.
After an easy win at Arizona State, is anyone playing better than Bo Nix and Oregon?
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(Photo: Don Juan Moore / Getty Images)
