College football’s Conference Championship Week has arrived, and there are several intriguing matchups across the country.
Perennial playoff contenders like Georgia and Michigan look to secure playoff spots for another year, while teams like Oregon, Washington, and Florida State try to remain in the conversation. Many teams are also trying to capitalize on historic seasons and end conference title droughts.
Here is the complete conference championship weekend schedule:
Friday 12/01
Conference USA Championship
New Mexico State (10-3, 7-1 in Conference USA) vs. No.24 Liberty (12-0, 8-0), 6 p.m. CT, CBS Sports Network
Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, VA – Liberty University)
Both these schools joined Conference USA after years of playing as independents and had quite the debut seasons. New Mexico State posted a 7-1 record in league play and won 10 games for the first time since 1960. Meanwhile, former Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell and quarterback Kaidon Salter, a Cedar Hill native, are trying to cap off an unbeaten season for Liberty and strengthen its case for a New Year’s Six bowl.
PAC-12 Championship
No.5 Oregon (11-1, 8-1 in the PAC-12) vs. No.3 Washington (12-0, 9-0), 7 p.m. CT, ABC
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
This game will help determine one of the four College Football Playoff spots. Oregon and Washington met in Week 7, with Washington coming out on top in a closely contested 36-33 game that highlighted both quarterbacks, Bo Nix and Michael Penix, as Heisman Trophy contenders. Since then, the Ducks have looked like the better team but need to prove it against the Huskies to make the field.
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Saturday 12/02
Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship
No.18 Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2 in the Big 12) vs. No.7 Texas (11-1, 8-1), 11 a.m. CT, ABC
AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
No one expected Oklahoma State to reach this point after a 33-7 season-opening loss against South Alabama. Yet, the Cowboys figured things out on offense and played well in conference play to earn their way to Arlington. On the other hand, reaching the conference title game was the minimum expectation for Texas this season. The Longhorns need help to reach the College Football Playoff, but a win on Saturday would put them at least in the conversation.
MAC Championship
Miami (Ohio) (10-2, 7-1 in the MAC) vs. Toledo (11-1,8-0), 11 a.m. CT, ESPN
Ford Field (Detroit)
Miami (OH) lost just two games this season — its season opener against Miami (FL) and a Week 9 matchup with Toledo. The final score of that game was closer than the game actually was, as Toledo raced out to a 21-3 lead and held off a second-half rally. Miami will need to get off to a better start to knock off the defending conference champion, who has won 11 consecutive games and may get some consideration for a New Year’s Six bowl game if things fall the right way.
Mountain West Championship
Boise State (7-5, 6-2 in the Mountain West) vs. UNLV (9-3, 6-2), 2 p.m. CT, Fox
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
Boise State and UNLV were selected to play in this game via computer rankings after a three-way tie with San Jose State during the regular season. The teams appear headed in opposite directions, as Boise State recently fired head coach Andy Avalos, and UNLV won its second-most games in program history and most since 1984. However, Boise State has played on this stage before, appearing in four of the last seven conference title games.
SEC Championship
No.8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 in the SEC) vs. No.1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0), 3 p.m. CT, CBS
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Georgia is all but assured a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Alabama needs a win to have a chance. The Bulldogs seem well on their way to a third straight national title, but the Crimson Tide have hit their stride in SEC play. If Alabama scores the upset, we’ll be in for a chaotic Sunday when the playoff field is revealed.
American Athletic Conference Championship
SMU (10-2, 8-0 in the AAC) vs. No.22 Tulane (11-1, 8-0), 3 p.m. CT, ABC
Yulman Stadium (New Orleans – Tulane University)
SMU has a chance to win its first conference championship since winning the Southwest Conference title in 1984 but will have to do so without starting quarterback Preston Stone. While the coaching staff and the team have faith in backup Kevin Jennings to do the job, it becomes more challenging when you look across the sideline. Tulane, the defending conference champion, has only lost to No.11 Ole Miss this season and is looking for its 24th win in its last 27 games to secure a second consecutive New Year’s Six Bowl game.
Sun Belt Championship
Appalachian State (8-4, 6-2 in the Sun Belt) vs. Troy (10-2, 7-1), 3 p.m. CT, ESPN
Veterans Memorial Stadium (Troy, AL — Troy University)
Appalachian State has been a consistent conference contender no matter what conference or level it has played for most of the last eight seasons but is only playing in this game because 11-1 James Madison is ineligible. The Mountaineers have won five conference championships since 2016 and have a chance to add another this weekend. Troy has a dynamic offense, is the defending conference champion, and has won at least 10 games for the second year in a row.
Big Ten Championship
No.16 Iowa (10-2, 7-2 in the Big Ten) vs. No.2 Michigan (12-0, 9-0), 7 p.m. CT, Fox
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
Thankfully, this is the last year the Big Ten will use divisions as it expands to 16 teams in 2024. The Big Ten West is 0-9 since the conference changed its divisions in 2014, and Iowa has lost two of those games. The Hawkeyes represent the West against Michigan from the East for the second time in three years. Iowa has a tremendous defense, but its anemic offense could cause them to struggle to keep up with the Wolverines, who are basically guaranteed a playoff spot at this point.
ACC Championship
No.14 Louisville (10-2, 7-1 in the ACC) vs. No.4 Florida State (12-0, 8-0), 7 p.m. CT, ABC
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
Louisville has won 10 games this year but has also had a couple of bad losses. Meanwhile, Florida State is on the cusp of an undefeated regular season and a potential College Football Playoff berth. The Seminoles struggled early in a game against North Alabama and survived against Florida without Jordan Travis but face a much more challenging opponent this week. Can Louisville add to the playoff chaos, or will Florida State secure its spot? It’s far from guaranteed, given the circumstances.
