We are here. Week 13. The last week of regular season football. It’ll be filled with rivalry matchups, division or conference clinching games, and teams desperate for a sixth win to qualify for bowl-eligibility (based on number of teams qualified and past matchups played). We know who’s playing in the conference championship next week, but we must know what’s at stake for the last week of the regular season.
Here’s a list of teams with scenarios in order to win the division or clinch a spot in a conference championship. I also have a list of teams that need a sixth win to qualify for bowl-eligibility. If 5-win teams qualify for a bowl, that’s the decision made by the NCAA. Note: If USC and Cal win their fifth game, they must play each other next week after their matchup earlier this season was cancelled over COVID.
DIVISION/CONFERENCE CLINCHING GAMES
THURSDAY
FRESNO STATE (8-3; 5-5) AT SAN JOSE STATE
- The Bulldogs need a win and a San Diego State loss to win the West division.
FRIDAY
WASHINGTON STATE (6-5; 5-3) AT WASHINGTON
- The Cougars need a win and an Oregon loss to clinch the Pac-12 North.
BOISE STATE (7-4; 5-2) AT SAN DIEGO STATE (10-1; 6-1)
- The winner wins their separate divisions. If Boise loses, they need losses by Utah State and Air Force to win the Mountain. If San Diego State loses, they need a Fresno State loss to win the West.
UTAH STATE (8-3; 5-2) AT NEW MEXICO
- Utah State needs a win and a Boise State loss to clinch the Mountain division of the Mountain West.
IOWA (9-2; 6-2) AT NEBRASKA
- Iowa needs a win and a Wisconsin loss to clinch the West division of the Big Ten.
AIR FORCE (8-3; 5-2) VS. UNLV
- Air Force needs a win and a Utah State loss. They would then jump over Boise State for the division title because Air Force won a head-to-head matchup against them earlier this season.
NC STATE VS. NORTH CAROLINA
- NC State needs a win and a Wake Forest loss to potentially stay alive to win the Atlantic division.
SATURDAY
BAYLOR (9-2; 6-2) VS. TEXAS TECH
- Baylor needs a win and an Oklahoma loss to play Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship.
WISCONSIN (8-3; 6-2) AT MINNESOTA (7-4; 5-3)
- Wisconsin’s win clinches the West division in the Big Ten. Minnesota needs a win and an Iowa loss to clinch it.
OHIO STATE (10-1; 8-0) AT MICHIGAN (10-1; 7-1)
- The winner clinches the Big Ten East division.
WAKE FOREST (9-2; 6-1) AT BOSTON COLLEGE
- Wake Forest’s win clinches the Atlantic division.
MIAMI (OH) AT KENT STATE
- The winner clinches the MAC East division.
OREGON STATE AT OREGON
Oregon State needs a win and a Washington State loss to clinch the Pac-12 North division. Oregon’s win clinches the North.
WESTERN KENTUCKY AT MARSHALL
- The winner clinches the C-USA East division.
OKLAHOMA (10-1; 7-1) AT OKLAHOMA STATE (10-1; 7-1)
- Oklahoma’s win clinches the second spot in the Big 12 title game and round two against Oklahoma State down in Arlington.
CLEMSON (8-3; 6-2) AT SOUTH CAROLINA
- It doesn’t matter what happens to Clemson this weekend. All they need is a Wake Forest loss to clinch the Atlantic division.
TEAMS NEEDING A SIXTH WIN
BALL STATE
SAN JOSE STATE
TCU
MARYLAND VS. RUTGERS
WEST VIRGINIA
CAL (4-6 OVERALL)
FLORIDA STATE VS. FLORIDA
NORTH TEXAS
CHARLOTTE VS. OLD DOMINION
TROY
SOUTH ALABAMA
VIRGINIA TECH
TULSA
LSU
MID TENN VS. FAU
SYRACUSE
MEMPHIS
USC (4-6 OVRALL)
HAWAI’I (5-7 OVERALL)
- Hawai’i is a little complicated. They play 13 games in one regular season in most years. They went bowling back in 2016 after a 6-7 record in the regular season. If they win their sixth game next week, they could qualify depending on the statistics from 2021 and the bowl spots available.
DIVISIONS THAT COULD FINISH THE SEASON WITH A .500 RECORD AVERAGE OR MORE OVERALL
ACC ATLANTIC
MAC EAST
SEC WEST
The Wolf's Cave 
Leave a comment