RANT SPORTS – The Saturday lineup offers a full day of excitement, featuring major conference battles along with annual rivalry games such as South Carolina vs. Clemson, Louisville vs. Kentucky, Michigan vs. Ohio State, Illinois vs. Northwestern, Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt, Arizona State vs. Arizona, NC State vs. North Carolina, Notre Dame vs. USC, Auburn vs. Alabama, Florida vs. Florida State, Texas vs. Texas A&M, and Virginia vs. Virginia Tech.
Conference Championship slots still open in the ACC
South Carolina at Clemson – 12pm, ESPN – A Clemson win and a Miami loss puts the Tigers in the ACC title game.
Duke at Wake Forest – 12pm, ACCN
Louisville at Kentucky – 12pm, SECN
Pitt at Boston College – 3pm, The CW
Miami at Syracuse – 3:30pm, ESPN – Miami wins and they face SMU in the championship game
California at SMU – 3:30pm, ESPN2 – SMU is in the ACC title game already
NC State at North Carolina – 3:30pm, ACCN
Florida at Florida State – 7pm, ESPN2
Virginia at Virginia Tech – 8pm, ACCN
The SEC – The eyes of Texas are on Longhorns and Aggies
Texas at Texas A&M – 7:30pm, ABC/ESPN+ – Georgia is in the SEC Championship game and it is simple whoever wins the Texas – Texas A&M will face the Bulldogs next week in Atlanta.
A Rant Sorts Exclusive – Texas and Texas A&M renew their rivalry with lots at stake
Louisville at Kentucky – 12pm, SECN
South Carolina at Clemson – 12pm, ESPN
Tennessee at Vanderbilt – 12pm, ABC/ESPN+
Auburn at Alabama – 3:30pm, ABC/ESPN+
Arkansas at Missouri – 3:30pm, SECN
Florida at Florida State – 7pm, ESPN2
Oklahoma at LSU – 7pm, ESPN
The Big 12 wide open
Colorado beat Oklahoma State Friday 52-0 to finish the season with a 7-2 conference record. There are three other tams entering today with 6-2 records. Arizona State University, Iowa State University, and Brigham Young University. If only one of those teams win today then then Coach Prime and the Buffalos are going to Arlington, Texas for Big 12 Championship Game.
For a detailed analysis of the various scenarios in which four teams could advance, we recommend reading our comprehensive Rant Big 12 breakdown.
Boise State and the Big 12 champ vie for a first round bye
Kansas at Baylor – 12pm, ESPN2
West Virginia at Texas Tech – 12pm, FS1
Arizona State at Arizona – 3:30pm, FOX
TCU at Cincinnati – 6pm, ESPN+
Kansas State at Iowa State – 7:30pm, FOX
Houston at BYU – 10:15pm, ESPN
The Big Ten could be a rematch
This one is simple because Oregon is already clinched a spot then an Ohio State win over Michigan sends the Buckeyes to a rematch with the Ducks. But Michigan win and an Indiana victory over Purdue would send the Hoosiers to the championship game.
Illinois vs. Northwestern* – 12pm, BTN
Michigan at Ohio State – 12pm, FOX
Fresno State at UCLA – 3:30pm, BTN
Maryland at Penn State – 3:30pm, BTN
Rutgers at Michigan State – 3:30pm, FS1
Notre Dame at USC – 3:30pm, CBS/Paramount+
Purdue at Indiana – 7pm, FS1
Washington at Oregon – 7:30pm, NBC/Peacock
* at Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Mountain West is up to UNLV
Boise State has secured a place in the Mountain West Championship Game, leaving UNLV’s fate in their own hands. Both Colorado State and UNLV are heading into the final week of the regular season with a single conference loss. On Friday, CSU triumphed over Utah State with a dramatic comeback victory, 42-37. Therefore, if UNLV wins, they will face Boise State on the iconic blue turf Friday night; if they lose, Colorado State will be the team traveling to Idaho.
Fresno State at UCLA – 3:30pm, BTN
Wyoming at Washington St. – 6:30pm, The CW
Nevada at UNLV – 8pm, CBSSN
Air Force at San Diego St. – 10:30pm, FS1
New Mexico at Hawaii – 11pm, Spectrum PPV
The Irish still are a factor
The lone independent team remaining in the race for the CFP Playoffs is, of course, Notre Dame, and they are in Los Angeles to face their rival, USC. It has been a very disappointing first year in the Big Ten for the Trojans, but a win over the Irish could achieve two things for USC. First, they would become bowl eligible, and second, it’s very possible that a two-loss Notre Dame would be eliminated from the 12-team playoffs.
Notre Dame at USC – 3:30 pm, CBS/Paramount+
The official field of 12 for the first ever CFP Playoffs expanded group will be announced next Sunday.
Washington based CEO & Founder of LJC. Media covering politics, sports, & entertainment A seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director, and podcast host. Digital Director and Washington Bureau Chief at News Talk Florida & The Daily Cable
