We’re finally at conference championship Saturday, when all the debates about who should be in or out of the playoff can finally end. All of the Power 4 have their championship games today, after most
of the Group of 5 played their games last night.
Congrats to Tulane, James Madison, Kennesaw State and Boise State for winning their leagues. Kennesaw State is particularly shocking. They didn’t even join an FBS league until 2024, when they went 2-10 and 2-6 in Conference USA. This year, under new head coach Jerry Mack, the Owls posted a 10-3 record and went 7-1 in the conference. What a turnaround.
Let’s dive into Saturday’s action and break down who the big draft prospects are in each one of these games. As always, our rankings come from the top 250 players from the 2026 consensus draft board.
#11 BYU vs. #4 Texas Tech (11 am CT, ABC)
- BYU
- #182 RB LJ Martin
- Texas Tech
- #15 ED David Bailey
- #63 ED Romello Height
- #112 LB Jacob Rodriguez
- #139 iDL Lee Hunter
- #165 TE Terrance Carter
- #230 iDL Skyler Gill-Howard
The last time these two teams faced each other, Texas Tech won by a score of 29-7. While that was nearly a month ago, don’t go assume that the Cougars have figured out a way to score on Tech, who has five likely draft picks in their front seven. Only one team has scored more than 20 on the Red Raiders this year: Arizona State in their upset win of then number seven Tech.
BYU’s playoff candidacy depends on them winning this game. If they fall to 11-2, they will likely be on the outside looking in. The team’s lone draft prospect is running back LJ Martin, a third-year back who was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Funny enough, Martin, a West Texas native, was originally committed to play for Tech out of high school (along with Stanford).
Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan (11 am CT, ESPN)
- Miami (OH)
- None
- Western Michigan
- None
Even by MAC standards, the MAC wasn’t good this year. Miami of Ohio and Western Michigan come into this game with a combined 15-9 record. Neither team has a draftable player. Honestly, I’m pretty surprised that this game is being shown on Saturday, instead of Friday, with the rest of the Group of Five title games. Maybe I’ll throw this game on if Texas Tech is running BYU off the field.
#3 Georgia vs. #9 Alabama (3 pm CT, ABC)
- Georgia
- #27 LB C.J. Allen
- #47 iDL Christen Miller
- #92 WR Zachariah Branch
- #114 TE Oscar Delp
- #132 OL Monroe Freeling
- #158 CB Daylen Everette
- #194 TE Lawson Luckie
- #221 OL Earnest Greene
- Alabama
- #6 QB Ty Simpson
- #18 OL Kadyn Proctor
- #40 ED L.T. Overton
- #59 WR Germie Bernard
- #79 LB Deontae Lawson
- #94 iOL Parker Brailsford
- #97 CB Domani Jackson
- #147 S Keon Sabb
- #153 S Bray Hubbard
- #163 iDL Tim Keenan III
- #168 iOL Jaeden Roberts
- #195 RB Jamarion Miller
This isn’t the turbo-charged Georgia Bulldogs of the past. As it stands today, the team only has two players who are locks to come off the board in the first three rounds of the 2026 draft. You could argue, and I would, that Alabama has more talent in this game.
On top of that, Kirby Smart’s Georgia teams just can’t seem to get over the Alabama hump. Against the Crimson Tide, Smart is just 1-7, compared to 115-13 against everyone else in the country. Alabama probably needs this win to make it into the playoff, too, so they should be a little more motivated than the Bulldogs, who are just playing for seeding.
#2 Indiana vs. #1 Ohio State (7 pm CT, FOX)
- Indiana
- #3 QB Fernando Mendoza
- #56 OL Carter Smith
- #65 WR Elijah Sarratt
- #93 CB D’angelo Ponds
- #118 WR Omar Cooper Jr.
- #150 S Amare Ferrell
- #155 ED Mikail Kamara
- Ohio State
- #2 LB Arvell Reese
- #5 S Caleb Downs
- #10 WR Carnell Tate
- #21 LB Sonny Styles
- #29 iDL Kayden McDonald
- #68 CB David Igbinosun
- #72 TE Max Klare
- #109 OL Austin Siereveld
- #143 ED Kenyatta Jackson
- #167 CB Jermaine Mathews Jr.
- #220 ED Beau Atkinson
The Indiana Hoosiers are legit. If anyone is going to give Ohio State a run for their money this year, it’s going to be them. With that being said, the Buckeyes do have five projected first-round picks (just in the 2026 draft class) on the roster, two receivers who are expected to go in the top-10 eventually (with sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith not eligible until the 2027 draft) and arguably the three most talented players in college football in Smith, linebacker Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs.
So, yeah. Good luck, IU.
Pay attention to the quarterback battle in this one, as both Fernando Mendoza and Buckeye sophomore Julian Sayin lead the Heisman race. The Hoosiers’ defense is extremely aggressive and should be able to take advantage of the Ohio State offensive line, but their cornerbacks will need to hold up against Smith and Carnell Tate. That’s a tough task.
Duke vs. #17 Virginia (7 pm CT, ABC)
- Duke
- #113 OL Brian Parker II
- #117 CB Chandler Rivers
- #136 QB Darian Mensah
- #202 WR Cooper Barkate
- Virginia
- #190 ED Fisher Camac
Five-loss Duke gets to play spoiler here. If they win, both James Madison and Tulane will likely make the playoff, keeping the ACC out of the playoff entirely. Virginia is win and in.
The most important player in this game for Packers fans is going to be tackle Brian Parker II, who I’ve been told is a potential center convert at the next level. If the underclassman declares, keep an eye on him as a potential riser.
I don’t think that Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is going to declare this year, as he’s a well-paid college quarterback, but he has a little Jordan Love to his game. He’s a fun watch.
The only draftable prospect from UVA is edge defender Fisher Camac, a 6’7” end who transferred up from UNLV this year. Look for matchups between him and Parker.
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Feel free to talk about Saturday’s college football action in the comment section below.
