Ohio State-Indiana headlines conference title matchups
The conference title games are set for next weekend, with a blockbuster Big Ten matchup between Ohio State and Indiana grabbing top billing.
The Buckeyes and Hoosiers have spent most of the season sitting Nos. 1 and 2 in the AP Poll and now get a chance to settle things on the field in Indianapolis on Saturday night.
The winner will almost certainly be the playoff's No. 1 seed, with the loser still likely to grab a first-round bye.
Here's a full breakdown of the conference title games.
Power conferences
The Big Ten combatants have been on a collision course since the Hoosiers knocked off Oregon on the road earlier this season. The SEC title game is a rematch between Georgia and Alabama after the Tide ended the Bulldogs' 33-game home winning streak.
The Big 12 championship will also feature a rematch as Texas Tech and BYU square off for the second time this season. The Red Raiders earned a 22-point victory in Lubbock earlier in November, which remains the Cougars' only defeat. The ACC has the wildest conference title game after Duke qualified with a 7-5 record. Only two of those losses were in conference for the Blue Devils, who snagged their spot versus Virginia thanks to a number of tiebreakers going their way. The game is a true win-or-go-home situation as neither team will receive an at-large bid should they lose.
Big Ten: Indiana vs. Ohio State
Big 12: Texas Tech vs. BYU
SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama
ACC: Virginia vs. Duke
Group of 5
The headliner in the Group of 5 conference title games is undoubtedly North Texas and Tulane in the American. The winner is likely to receive a bid for the College Football Playoff field. In a shocking twist, a second Group of 5 champion could make the playoff if James Madison beats Troy in the Sun Belt final. That would lift the Dukes to 12-1 and put them under serious consideration should Duke knock off Virginia in the ACC. The CFP format doesn't call for all power conference winners to make the field, only the five highest-ranked conference champions. If the Blue Devils and James Madison both win, the Sun Belt champs could get the nod.
MAC: Miami (Ohio) vs. Western Michigan
American: North Texas vs. Tulane
C-USA: Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State
MWC: UNLV vs. Boise State
Sun Belt: Troy vs. James Madison