College Football Championship Scenarios: Big 12, SEC, Big Ten

As the final week of the college football regular season unfolds, teams from the Big 12, SEC, and Big Ten are in intense competition for championship game spots. According to SB Nation, in the Big 12, Texas Tech and BYU have already clinched spots with matching 7-1 records and identical 10-1 overall records. Texas Tech's path is straightforward: a win against West Virginia on Saturday would secure their place in the Big 12 Championship Game. They can also rely on an Arizona State loss, which was confirmed as Arizona State lost to Arizona, eliminating them from contention. Meanwhile, BYU faces UCF and also needs a win to confirm their spot, although they could benefit from other teams' results, including an Arizona State loss that has already occurred. Utah's hopes were dashed after their win against Kansas, relying on an Arizona State victory to keep their championship dreams alive, but the Sun Devils' loss ended that scenario, confirming their elimination.

In the SEC, the stakes are equally high. As reported by SB Nation, Texas A&M lost to Texas, which means they cannot advance to the SEC Championship Game, allowing Georgia to clinch one of the two spots. With a 7-1 conference record, Georgia watched the results unfold against Georgia Tech, which they won, further solidifying their playoff position. Alabama, with a record of 6-1, plays Auburn this Saturday; a win would secure their place against Georgia. However, if they lose, they would be out of the SEC Championship Game entirely, needing help from Ole Miss, who also needs a win and an Alabama loss to secure a spot. Ole Miss triumphed over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl but faces an uphill battle with scenarios hinging on Alabama's performance against Auburn.

In the Big Ten, the situation is critical as well. Indiana, with a perfect 9-0 conference record, has already clinched their spot after a dominant 56-3 victory over Purdue. Ohio State, with an 8-0 record, controls their destiny against Michigan; a win secures their spot in the championship. However, should they lose, they would need Oregon to also lose against Washington to have any chance of advancing. Oregon still has a chance but must defeat Washington and hope for an Ohio State loss. Conversely, Michigan requires a win over Ohio State and an Oregon loss to secure a championship berth. If both Indiana and Ohio State lose, it opens a pathway for a rematch between Michigan and Ohio State in the championship, depending on various tiebreaker scenarios.

With so much on the line, the final week of the regular season promises to deliver a thrilling conclusion in college football, as teams vie for their coveted championship game spots amidst a backdrop of rivalry and tension.