The conferences’ first season of main enlargement produced an intriguing set of championship video games this week, and never simply because they may decide which groups obtain automated bids and first-round byes within the College Football Playoff.
Four of the 9 video games on Friday and Saturday featured groups that had already confronted one another within the common season. Texas-Georgia within the Southeastern Conference sport in Atlanta is a type of rematches and in addition one in every of two video games matching groups within the high 5 of the Associated Press faculty soccer ballot.
Each of the Power Four video games will function a workforce that was not in that convention final season. Three of the newcomers had been to their earlier league’s championship sport final yr: Oregon (Pac-12), Texas (Big 12) and SMU (American).
And not sudden with so many modifications within the faculty sports activities panorama, there might be a pair of first-ever matchups: Arizona State-Iowa State within the Big 12 and SMU-Clemson within the ACC.
All league video games might be performed on Saturday, besides American Athletic, Conference USA and the Mountain West, which might be performed on Friday.
No. 1 Oregon (12-0) can safe the highest seed for the CFP with a win over No. 3 Penn State (11-1) in Big Ten play in Indianapolis. The Ducks went undefeated within the common season for the second time – additionally they did so in 2010 – and can meet the Nittany Lions for the primary time for the reason that 1995 Rose Bowl.
No. 2 Texas (11-1) will get one other shot at No. 5 Georgia, which beat then-No. 1 Longhorns 30-15 at Austin on Oct. 19. The winner will obtain the SEC’s automated CFP supply; the loser will doubtless be an at-large choice. This might result in a 3rd assembly of the groups.
No. 12 Arizona State (10-2) performs No. 16 Iowa State (10-2) in Big 12 play in Arlington, Texas. The Sun Devils, first-year Big 12 members and picked to complete final within the 16-team league within the preseason ballot, have received seven extra video games than a yr in the past below second-year coach Kenny Dillingham. Iowa State received 10 video games for the primary time in its program’s 133-year historical past.
(Related: Check out RJ Young’s end-of-season faculty soccer rankings)
No. 8 SMU (11-1) faces No. 18 Clemson in Atlantic Coast Conference play in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Mustangs received the American Athletic Conference title final yr and went undefeated in league play of their first season within the ACC. Clemson (9-3) made it to the championship sport with assist from Syracuse, which upset Miami on Saturday.
There are three rematches within the Group of Five championship matches.
No. 19 UNLV (10-2) faces No. 10 Boise State (11-1) on the blue turf in Boise, Idaho. The defending champion Broncos received 29-24 in Las Vegas on Oct. 25.
Ohio (9-3) performs defending champion Miami (Ohio) (8-4) in Mid-American Conference play in Detroit. The RedHawks beat Ohio 30-20 on Oct. 19 and have received seven straight after a 1-4 begin. The Bobcats have received 5 in a row.
Jacksonville State (8-4) and Western Kentucky (8-4) will play for the second time in seven days after they meet in Conference USA play in Jacksonville, Alabama. Western Kentucky received 19-17 on Lucas Carneiro’s 50-yard discipline objective with three seconds left on Saturday.
Army (10-1) hosts Tulane (9-3) in AAC play at West Point, New York. The groups will play for the primary time since 2020. Tulane, the convention runner-up final yr, has received 4 straight and is 13-9-1 all-time in opposition to the Black Knights, who’re of their first yr of soccer . sole member of the CAA.
Marshall (9-3) visits Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2) for Sun Belt play. The Ragin’ Cajuns have received the one two earlier conferences, in 2021 and ’22.
Associated Press reporting.
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