It’s college football conference championship weekend, and while the total number of games on the viewing menu has dropped precipitously, they’re all games you should care about.
Which ones should you care about the most?
We’re here to help you prioritize with our ranking of the most watchable conference championship games this weekend. Some of the games near the top are obvious (playoff implications, anyone?), but others just seem tailor made to be highly competitive thrillers. Buckle up, because championship week 2022 seems poised to become one of the most exciting weekends in modern college football history.
10
Mountain West Championship: Boise State vs. Fresno State
Favorite: Boise State (-3)
After a bit of a slide last year, Boise State has rebounded nicely this year back to its familiar perch atop the Mountain West. Between the Broncos and another MWC Championship is Fresno State, a team that since dropping four straight earlier this season has bounced back to win seven in a row to finish the year. Boise definitely got the better of Fresno back in early October, but the Bulldogs seem to have improved since then. Can they make this meeting more competitive?
9
MAC Championship: Toledo vs. Ohio (Saturday, Noon on ESPN)
Favorite: Ohio (-3)
While there are plenty of (much) bigger games on Saturday, if you’re looking for a reason to tune into the MAC championship game, it’s Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke facing off against one of the best pass defenses in the entire G5. Rourke has been an absolute machine as the Bobcats have reeled off seven straight wins to finish the regular season, But Toledo might be the most complete team in the MAC and will certainly be a huge challenge for Ohio.
8
Conference USA Championship: UTSA vs. North Texas (Friday, 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Favorite: UTSA (-8.5)
Two Texas teams emerged from a pleasantly competitive Conference USA this year and both feature offenses that, at their best, can be really enjoyable to watch. UTSA won the previous meeting between these two in one of the more exciting and competitive games in the conference this season, so hopefully we’ll be treated to another thriller with the conference title on the line.
7
Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs. Purdue (Saturday, 8 p.m. on FOX)
Favorite: Michigan (-17)
The Big Ten has had a balance issue since the league switched to geographic-based divisions in 2014. The Big Ten West is still winless in the conference championship game, and that doesn’t seem likely to change this year with No. 2 Michigan being served up an 8-4 Purdue team as an appetizer for another College Football Playoff appearance.
Is there anything Purdue can do to keep this game competitive? Well, it’s going to need a spectacular game from quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who certainly is capable of that, plus a few uncharacteristic mistakes from the Wolverines. Basically, Purdue needs a few miracles and some dumb luck thrown in too.
6
Sun Belt Championship: Troy vs. Coastal Carolina (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN)
Favorite: Troy (-8.5)
It’s been a magical season for Troy under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall, rampaging through the Sun Belt and earning hosting duties for the Sun Belt title game. It’s facing off against last year’s Sun Belt darlings, who had another phenomenal season in 2022 that ran into some unexpected adversity at the end with a canceled game against Virginia followed by a blowout loss to James Madison. Both teams bring plenty to the table, but it’s Troy’s defense that may be the most heralded unit on the field Saturday.
5
ACC Championship: Clemson vs. North Carolina (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on ABC)
Favorite: Clemson (-7.5)
All the smaller creatures of the ACC rejoiced as the apex predator of the league took some unexpected wounds to finish out the season. But is Clemson’s time on top really over? That’s the question we’ll get the answer to Saturday when the high-powered and youthful North Carolina offense goes on the attack against a Clemson team that just hasn’t been an elite group this season. Can the Tigers keep pace with North Carolina if they fall behind?
4
SEC Championship: Georgia vs. LSU (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on CBS)
Favorite: Georgia (-17.5)
Everyone certainly expects the No. 1 team in the country to handle its business in the SEC Championship Game. But most also expected that a year ago, and, you may recall, that one didn’t go as planned for the Bulldogs.
Brian Kelly’s first team at LSU finds itself in a spot few anticipated it’d be in (team members probably included) and an upset win over Georgia, while not particularly damaging to the Bulldogs, would be a massive achievement for Kelly and program. Georgia has certainly been the more consistent of the two teams this year, but when LSU gets hot, it can play with anyone in the country.
3
American Athletic Championship: Tulane vs. UCF (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on ABC)
Favorite: Tulane (-4)
When it comes to Group of 5 conference title games, they don’t get much higher-stakes than this. The winner of the AAC title will almost certainly earn a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl and both teams have a chance to be dangerous in a matchup against one of the big boys of college football if it can get there. UCF won the first matchup but its otherwise stellar season has been marked by occasional moments of shocking inconsistency (see UCF’s recent loss to Navy). This is a massive opportunity for both Willie Fritz and Gus Malzahn to get the kind of spotlight G5 programs dream of in the postseason.
2
Big 12 Championship: TCU vs. Kansas State (Saturday, Noon ET on ABC)
Favorite: TCU (-2.5)
The Big 12 has been without question the most competitive and entertaining conference in college football this year thanks, in no small measure, to our two conference title game participants who have survived a brutal gauntlet of worthy opponents all season. In their first meeting, Kansas State actually dominated the first half but faded late. Can the Wildcats mount a four-quarter resistance against the seemingly playoff-bound Frogs?
1
Pac-12 Championship: USC vs. Utah (Friday, 8 p.m. ET on FOX)
Favorite: USC (-2.5)
The weekend’s biggest game is the one with the most at stake. No one is quite sure what the committee will do from one week to the next, but conventional wisdom says that USC faces a must-win situation in order to make its first ever College Football Playoff appearance.
And it must do so against the only team to beat them this season. The 2022 edition of Utah football is just as nasty and physical as we’ve come to expect from this program under Kyle Whittingham, with a brutally effective rushing attack and the Pac-12’s best defense in terms of both yards and points allowed. If the Trojans want in, they’re going to have to earn it.
