I’m 100% in the camp of college football is better than pro but there is one area that the NFL is hard to beat, but it has nothing to do with the games or teams themselves. It’s simply the fact that sometimes
on college Saturdays I almost feel like there are too many games to watch. Even with four games at once in multiview I’m constantly trying to decide which game should I be focusing on? Which one should have the sound on? Should I drop this game since it looks to be in hand or is there a chance for a comeback? It’s almost analysis paralysis with so many options to choose from.
I don’t have Sunday Ticket so I only have a maximum of two games to focus on, and that’s only in the early Sunday afternoon time. I don’t have the problem of worrying about what I’m missing on the ten other games that I could be watching. It’s not a great solution, having less choice isn’t exactly what you want to build your brand on, but at the very least it takes some of the anxiety out of the equation.
Championship week in college football has a similar feel where the smaller pool of games at least means I can focus on each one a bit more. Yeah, it sucks the regular season is behind us and the Hawks aren’t on, that’s undeniable. However we still have some great games coming up and it’s great to watch stress free.
Troy @ #25 James Madison – Sun Belt Championship
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 PM | ESPN
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: a team with one of the worst offenses in all of the FBS somehow wins enough games to make it to their conference championship and is a long shot against a heavily favored ranked opponent? You can relive everything you love about the Brian Ferentz era when you see Troy’s inefficient offense go up against JMU’s defense which ranks 6th nationally in yards allowed per play. Sure, there’s always the chance for an upset, but as Hawkeye fans we’ve seen this movie before.
Kennesaw State @ Jacksonville State – Conference USA Championship
Friday, December 5 | 6:00 PM | CBS Sports Network
Rematches play a big role in championship week and Conference USA features one between two teams that met back on November 15. The Gamecocks handed Kennesaw State only their third loss of the year, and the only one not against a P4 opponent. It was a rough outing for the Owls as they turned the ball over four times. A conference title win would be a perfect way to get over that tough performance.
#24 North Texas @ #20 Tulane – American Athletic Championship
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 PM | ABC
If you like green-themed teams have I got a game for you. The Mean Green and Green Wave face off in the only non-P4 championship to feature two ranked teams. It’s also the only game in which both teams’ head coaches will be departing after the season, with North Texas coach Eric Morris heading to Oklahoma State and Tulane’s Pat Sumrall taking over at Florida. Tulane is no stranger to the AAC title game, making their fourth straight appearance, and the Mean Green will be competing for their first.
UNLV @ Boise State – Mountain West Championship
Friday, December 5 | 7:00 PM | FOX
The Mountain West wins the award for most insane tiebreaker scenario of the year as four teams tied for first place in the conference. San Diego State, Boise State, New Mexico, and UNLV each finished 6-2 in league play. A computer model had to be employed to determine the two that would compete for a championship, with the Broncos and Rebels coming out on top to head to their third straight championship match against each other.
#11 BYU @ #4 Texas Tech – Big XII Championship
Texas Tech has been a pleasant surprise this year, going 11-1 with their only loss being a four point decision at Arizona State. BYU finished the year with the same record and now gets a chance to avenge their sole loss which came at the hands of these same Red Raiders. With a loss, there’s still a chance Texas Tech makes the playoff, whereas the Cougars don’t have the same margin of error. They’ll need to win to be in.
Miami (OH) @ Western Michigan – MAC Championship
Saturday, December 6 | 11:00 AM | ESPN
A regular season rematch in the MAC as the Redhawks and Broncos face each other for the second time this year. In week 9, the Miami came out on top after scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. However, Dequan Finn, the quarterback who helmed that comeback victory, will not play in the championship game instead opting to focus on the NFL draft. Western Michigan will have a chance to both avenge their regular season loss and get their first MAC title since 2016.
#3 Georgia @ #9 Alabama – SEC Championship
Saturday, December 6 | 3:00 PM | ABC
Including this year, either Georgia or Alabama has played in every SEC championship game for the last twelve years. A quarter of those games have featured them playing each other. Since 2009 only two other schools have ever won the SEC – Auburn and LSU, both twice. It’s truly reminiscent of the Big Ten in the 70’s and 80’s where either Michigan or Ohio State won the conference 13 straight years, a streak broken by Hayden Fry’s 1981 Hawkeye squad. It’s the SEC, two big brands. It’ll be good football.
#2 Indiana @ #1 Ohio State – Big Ten Championship
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 PM | FOX
It’s only appropriate that the biggest game in the nation’s biggest conference features the only two remaining unbeaten teams in college football. Ohio State finally got the Michigan monkey off their back and Indiana has run through nearly everyone on their schedule and made it look easy. The Hoosiers could win their first conference title since 1967 and are a virtual lock to secure their second consecutive playoff berth. The Buckeyes are the Buckeyes, so go Hoosiers.
Duke @ #17 Virginia – ACC Championship
Saturday, December 6 | 7:00 PM | ABC
If the Mountain West wins most insane championship tiebreaker, the ACC wins the most unlikely pairing. Raise your hand if at the beginning of the year you had Duke and Virginia as your picks for this game. Now put your hand down because you’re a lying liar and shame on you for lying. SMU nearly came back from the dead against Cal but a missed field goal at the end of regulation meant that the Blue Devils now face the ranked Cavaliers in the title game. One of these teams is going to the playoff. What a season this has been.
