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It may come as a surprise to some, but there are other conference championship games taking place on Saturday besides the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta between Alabama and Florida.
Here’s a quick barstool guide to Saturday’s other championship games.
American Athletic Conference Championship
Who: No. 20 Temple (10-2, 7-1 in AAC) at No. 17 Houston (11-1, 7-1 in AAC)
When/TV: Noon (ET), ABC
Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston
The skinny: If we told you before the season that Temple would be the country’s No. 20 team, you’d likely of had an unfavorable reaction, if not a brain cramp. But the Owls have come of age under third-year coach Matt Rhule, who finished just 6-6 last year. Temple won 10 games for the first time since 1979 and can earn its first conference title since 1967. Once again, Houston has a high-octane offense, this time led by QB Greg Ward Jr. (2,502 yards, 16 TDs). Tom Herman needed one year at the helm in Houston to turn himself into a high-profile candidate for another job down the road, going 11-1.
Atlantic Coast Conference Championship
Who: No. 8 North Carolina (11-1, 8-0 in ACC) vs. No. 1 Clemson (12-0, 8-0 in ACC)
When/TV: 8 p.m. (ET), ABC
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
The skinny: Clemson QB Deshaun Watson and North Carolina counterpart Marquise Williams bring a pair of undefeated ACC teams to the conference’s title game with a potential College Football Playoff berth hanging in the balance. The Tigers have been the country’s No. 1 team for four weeks now, but Dabo Swinney’s defense has slipped some since locking up the ACC Atlantic Division regular season title against Florida State in Week 10. Clemson surrendered 17.6 point per game during the first eight games of the season and 24.0 PPG since — and got carved up by some not-so-great offenses in Syracuse (37 points allowed), Wake Forrest (13) and South Carolina (32) in the process. The two teams didn’t face one another this season, but if the title game is anything like last year’s matchup between Clemson and the quick-striking North Carolina, then Saturday’s contest will be a high-scoring affair. Watson (435 yards) and Williams combined to throw for 780 yards and 10 touchdowns last season as the Tigers outlasted the Tar Heels 50-35.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Who: No. 5 Michigan State (11-1, 7-1 in Big Ten) vs. No. 4 Iowa (12-0, 8-0 in Big Ten)
When/TV: 8:17 p.m. (ET), FOX
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
The skinny: A spot in the College Football Playoff seems like a virtual lock when upstart Iowa takes on Michigan in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game. The undefeated Hawkeyes are the surprise of the Big Ten, led by a staunch defense that ranks No. 21 in the nation, but get knocked for having dodged most of the conference’s elite teams. Michigan State is coming off a big win over Ohio State, the country’s reigning national champs, two weeks ago and a division-clinching win over Penn State last week. Like Iowa, Sparty is led by its hard-nosed defense. Despite winning at least 10 games in five of the past six seasons, Michigan State and head coach Mark Dantonio have to think this is the year they finally get over the hump and compete for a national title. First they need to get past an Iowa program looking for its first Big Ten championship since 2004.
CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP
Who: Southern Mississippi (9-3, 7-1 in C-USA) vs. Western Kentucky (10-2, 8-0 in C-USA)
When/TV: Noon (ET), ESPN2
Where: L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Ky.
The skinny: Don’t expect much defense when Southern Mississippi takes on Western Kentucky in the Conference USA championship. The Eagles (No. 8 nationally in total offense) and Hilltoppers (No. 10) have prolific offenses that are quite adept at putting up yards. Southern Mississippi State posts 534.8 YPG to Western Kentucky’s 519.7 YPG. A win for the Hilltoppers would be their first title in just their second year in the Conference USA. Southern Mississippi State, conversely, last won the conference in 2011, and has claimed the crown five times in program history.
MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Who: Air Force (8-4, 6-2 in MWC) at San Diego State (9-3, 8-0 in MWC)
When/TV: 7:30 p.m. (ET), ESPN2
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
The skinny: Air Force and San Diego State make their first-ever appearance in the Mountain West Championship game, which began hosting a title contest in the 2013 season. The undefeated Aztecs, the conference’s 2012 co-champs, can win their first outright Mountain West Championship with the win. Same goes for Air Force, who would claim their first Mountain West trophy. Air Force is on the rise, having won 10 games last year and just two the year prior under Troy Calhoun. San Diego State’s Donnell Pumphrey could be the difference in this game. The junior running back has 1,464 yards and 16 touchdowns. He faces a Falcons defense that ranks No. 19 overall in total defense.
PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP
Who: No. 24 Southern California (8-4, 6-3 in Pac-12) vs. No. 7 Stanford (10-2, 8-1 in Pac-12)
When/TV: 7:45 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
The skinny: USC and Stanford meet for the second time this season, and the Cardinal needs a win to keep its slim College Football Playoff hopes alive. Stanford won the first meeting back in Week 3, but the Trojans have a different look than they did in September after a tumultuous season that saw the firing of head coach Steve Sarkisian. USC persevered, however, winning five of their final six games to tie Utah for the Pac-12 South title. The Cardinal is still smarting from a loss to Oregon in Week 11 that derailed much of their playoff chatter. Still, a resounding win over USC could put Stanford back in the argument as one of the four teams to compete in the playoffs.
Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.
