Conference championship weekend is upon us.
Ten FBS conferences will crown champions this weekend. Here’s a look at Week 14’s slate:
Bix 12 Championship| No. 7 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State (Arlington, Texas) | 12 p.m. | ABC
MAC Championship | Miami (Ohio) vs. Toledo (Detroit, Michigan) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Mountain West Championship | Boise State vs. UNLV (Las Vegas, Nevada) | 3 p.m. | FOX
SEC Championship | No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama (SEC Championship Game in Atlanta) | 4 p.m. | CBS
The American Championship | SMU at No. 22 Tulane (New Orleans, Louisiana) | 4 p.m. | ABC
Sun Belt Championship | Appalachian State at Troy (Troy, Alabama) | 4 p.m. | ESPN
ACC Championship | No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 14 Louisville (Charlotte, North Carolina) | 8 p.m. | ABC
Big Ten Championship | No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 16 Iowa (Indianapolis, Indiana) | 8 p.m. | FOX
Pac-12
No. 3 Washington is the 2023 Pac-12 champion, defeating No. 5 Oregon 34-31 and moving to a perfect 13-0 record — in prime position for a berth into the College Football Playoff semifinals. The CFP committee will announce the 2023 CFP semifinalists Sunday, Dec. 3 at noon ET.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., considered the Heisman frontrunner by some, led his Huskies with 319 yards and one touchdown, but running back Dillon Johnson was his biggest weapon, rushing for 152 yards, two touchdowns and even throwing for a touchdown.
Washington’s final dagger came with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter. Tight end Quentin Moore sped toward the right side of the endzone and pulled in the pass from Penix, widening the lead 34-24.
Oregon kept it very close at the end, scoring a touchdown in 30 seconds with 2:14 remaining, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
The Ducks battled hard in the third quarter, even converting on a 4th and goal to come within three points of Washington. Both teams then traded interceptions, which poised Bo Nix for an incredible Houdini act, during which he escaped traffic for 44 yards to set up an easy 7 points for Oregon’s first lead of the game, 24-20.
Friday’s Pac-12 Championship was the first conference championship featuring CFP semifinalist contenders this week. Still to come on Saturday: The SEC Championship featuring No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama, the Big Ten Championship featuring No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 16 Iowa, the ACC championship featuring No. 4 Florida State and No. 15 Louisville and the Big 12 Championship featuring No. 7 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State.
In Washington’s one and only CFP semifinal appearance in the 2016 Peach Bowl, the Huskies lost to Alabama 24-7. This year, Washington will either play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena or the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Come Sunday, we will have answers.
Conference USA
The Liberty Flames remained undefeated on Friday by knocking off fellow Conference USA newcomer New Mexico State in the CUSA championship game.
The 45-35 win marks the first conference title for the No. 24 Flames ince joining the FBS as an independent in 2018 and keeps them alive in the race for the Group of 5’s coveted spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game. That spot will be awarded to the highest-ranked Group of 5 team, an honor currently held by No. 22 Tulane.
NM State (10-4) kept pace with Liberty (13-0) for most of the night, keeping the game tied entering the fourth quarter. The Aggies appeared poised to take the lead until Liberty’s Brandon Bishop wrestled away a one-handed interception on the goal line.
Liberty proceeded to reel off 14-unanswered, capped off by a 35-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kaiden Salter on what appeared to be a busted play.
SHOW-STOPPING 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Inwj89aKBG
— Liberty Football (@LibertyFootball) December 2, 2023
Salter led the Flames on the ground and in the air with 165 yards on 12 rushes and 319 yards on 20-of-25 passes.
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