The primary season of main convention enlargement has produced an intriguing set of championship video games this week, and never solely as a result of they’ll decide which groups get computerized bids and first-round byes within the School Soccer Playoff.
4 of the 9 video games Friday and Saturday match groups that already squared off within the common season. Texas–Georgia within the Southeastern Convention sport in Atlanta is a kind of rematches and in addition one among two video games matching groups within the prime 5 of The Related Press school soccer ballot.
Every of the Energy 4 video games will embody a workforce that wasn’t in that convention final season. Three of the newcomers have been of their earlier league’s championship sport final yr — Oregon (Pac-12), Texas (Huge 12) and SMU (American).
And never sudden with a lot change on the school sports activities panorama, there will probably be a few first-ever conferences: Arizona State–Iowa State within the Huge 12 and SMU-Clemson within the ACC.
All championship video games are Saturday besides within the American Athletic, Convention USA and Mountain West, which will probably be performed Friday.
No. 1 Oregon (12-0) can lock up the highest seed for the CFP with a win over No. 3 Penn State (11-1) within the Huge Ten sport in Indianapolis. The Geese went unbeaten within the common season for the second time — additionally they did it 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 the then-No. 1 Longhorns 30-15 in Austin on Oct. 19. The winner will get the SEC’s computerized CFP bid; the loser doubtless will probably be an at-large choice. That might result in a 3rd assembly of the groups.
No. 12 Arizona State (10-2) performs No. 16 Iowa State (10-2) within the Huge 12 sport in Arlington, Texas. The Solar Devils, first-year Huge 12 members and picked to complete final within the 16-team league within the preseason ballot, have gained seven extra video games than a yr in the past beneath second-year coach Kenny Dillingham. Iowa State has gained 10 video games for the primary time in its program’s 133-year historical past.
[Related: Check out RJ Young’s end-of-season college football rankings]
No. 8 SMU (11-1) faces No. 18 Clemson within the Atlantic Coast Convention sport in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Mustangs gained the American Athletic Convention title final yr and went unbeaten 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 5 championship video games.
No. 19 UNLV (10-2) faces No. 10 Boise State (11-1) on the blue turf in Boise, Idaho. The defending champion Broncos gained 29-24 in Las Vegas on Oct. 25.
Ohio (9-3) performs defending champion Miami (Ohio) (8-4) within the Mid-American Convention sport in Detroit. The RedHawks beat Ohio 30-20 on Oct. 19 and have gained seven straight after a 1-4 begin. The Bobcats have gained 5 in a row.
Jacksonville State (8-4) and Western Kentucky (8-4) will play for the second time in seven days once they meet within the Convention USA sport in Jacksonville, Alabama. Western Kentucky gained 19-17 on Lucas Carneiro’s 50-yard subject purpose with three seconds left Saturday.
Military (10-1) hosts Tulane (9-3) within the AAC sport in West Level, New York. The groups will play for the primary time since 2020. Tulane, the convention runner-up final yr, has gained 4 straight and is 13-9-1 all-time towards the Black Knights, who’re of their first yr as a football-only AAC member.
Marshall (9-3) visits Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2) for the Solar Belt sport. The Ragin’ Cajuns have gained the one two earlier conferences, in 2021 and ’22.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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