I’m giving this thing a shot again. All season long I always wanted to do the Top 5 Games of the Week, but I told myself not to because I needed a break. This is a test, and I’ll see how this goes. If it works out, I’ll give the College Football Playoff and the NFL Playoff information a go moving forward. If not, I’ll wait until next season.

This is it! We are here and the tensions and expectations couldn’t be higher. Hopefully after this weekend, we have a full understanding of how the playoff placements work. If not, we’ll complain about wanting a 16-team playoff or whatever. Just to be clear, teams in their Top 12 brackets aren’t solidified, but teams within the Top 7 that aren’t in conference title game should be happy they made it. As for the rest of the Top 12 outside of maybe SMU, an underdog outside of the rankings and playoffs could win and shake up everything. Beware of that situation. For now, we have plenty of good matchups for a conference championship weekend with four games featuring rematches from the regular season.

If your team’s in the conference title game, good luck! 🫡

FRIDAY

Western Kentucky makes their fourth C-USA title appearance while Jacksonville State makes their first appearance in just their second season at the FBS level, and both match up again after just six days ago. Expect Western Kentucky’s offensive assault led by quarterback Caden Veltkamp to match against a gritty defensive team featuring safety Antonio Carter III and linebacker Reginald Hughes. The Hilltoppers won that matchup six days ago, but Jax State has homefield advantage and is unblemished against C-USA competition.

MY PICK: JAX STATE

For anyone that kept up with Boise State and UNLV before and after their first matchup, we all expected them to meet up again on Boise’s infamous Blue Turf for the second straight Mountain West title matchup. Boise’s tough because of their brand while UNLV turned into a competitive team thanks to coach Barry Odom. Boise followed Ashton Jeanty the entire season and are a win away from a postseason of a lifetime for the program. UNLV has no quarterback shortage and any one of them are more than capable of running an offense to the Mountain West title game and more. The matchup leans towards UNLV early because they learned after that loss and could pool most of their resources against Jeanty. Jeanty worked really hard to get over 100 with 33 carries, but quarterback Maddux Madsen could be an impact player. He’ll find a way to get it done and get to the playoffs.

MY PICK: BOISE STATE

Army makes their landing in their second ever conference, tanking down every opponent to go undefeated in AAC play with little to no resistance. Quarterback Bryson Daily commands the triple option offense well enough to make their first ever conference title game. He might be capable enough to command his own army someday. Tulane makes their third straight AAC title appearance and first road title game, but they hope to come in attacking early. They had a CFP opportunity but choked it away badly against rival, Memphis. They have a tough task against Army, but they own the last four meetings. I’ll go on a limb and believe that Tulane can upset Army with the amount of experience and tough competition they faced on their schedule. As long as they don’t allow 34 points for the fourth time this season, they have a chance lol

MY PICK: TULANE

SATURDAY

Who would’ve thought that Iowa State and Arizona State would play in the Big 12 Championship Game??? Iowa State was my underrated Big 12 team, so that kinda worked out somehow. First meeting between these two and it could be a good one. The Cyclones have a balanced offense with an underrated defense that can be vicious. Remember the name, quarterback Rocco Becht because he is a good quarterback to watch. Arizona State was the preseason projected last place team to make it to the Big 12 title game in their first season in that conference. Main reason? Workhorse vintage back Cam Skattebo. He’s a bruiser who can also catch out of the backfield and protect for his quarterback Sam Leavitt. Expect an offensive battle with plenty of defensive impact. However, Matt Campbell and Iowa State are no stranger to a Big 12 title game and should barely eclipse it for their first ever title in program history.

MY PICK: IOWA STATE

I love me some MAC football, and the MAC title game is the icing on the cake! Ohio makes their sixth appearance (2 in 3 seasons) while Miami makes their seventh (2nd straight title game), and both were former MAC East division representatives. Miami runs through quarterback Garrett Gabbert and is accompanied by running back Keyon Mozee in this well improved rushing attack. Ohio’s offense is mid at best, but if they need a play, they go to quarterback Parker Navarro. He sets the tone for the rest of the offense along with lone 1,000 plus yard receiver Coleman Owens. There will be plenty of defense with both teams being in the MAC’s Top 5 in most categories. The only difference is Ohio’s 0-5 MAC title record. They’re currently 0-2 against Miami after Frank Solich’s retirement from Ohio, and they lost four of their last six meetings to Miami. Unless the offense has an answer beyond two players, the Redhawks easily have the edge.

MY PICK: MIAMI (OHIO)

Georgia and Texas clash for the second time this season. I can’t say if this is the pinnacle of SEC matchups in 2024, but Georgia has a foundation while Texas built this roster for SEC competition. In their last meeting, the game wasn’t perfect, and Texas suffered most of it. Quinn Ewers struggled and was benched for the rest of the 2nd quarter in favor of Arch Manning before halftime. Georgia wasn’t the bell of the ball either with Carson Beck’s three turnovers keeping Texas in. Will we see a similar situation like this in the SEC title game? Probably. Georgia only won two SEC title games since 2017, and Texas plays their second straight conference title with the SEC title being their first. I feel huge regret and disdain as an Oklahoma fan, but I’m siding with Texas for the equalizer. Carson Beck is in question and Georgia’s hampered with injuries and fatigue coming off an eight-overtime thriller.

MY PICK: TEXAS

Louisiana quietly ran the table for the Sun Belt title game and ensured themselves with a win over rival, UL Monroe. Marshall fought through overtime to stave off James Madison and prevent Georgia Southern from stealing their East division title. Both collide for the third time in four seasons after they first met in the 2021 New Orleans Bowl. The matchup might be intriguing because both teams have capable quarterbacks. However, Louisiana’s more balanced offensively and could outshine Marshall’s team at home.

MY PICK: LOUISIANA

In the unlikeliest of scenarios that’s more farce than the Big 12 title matchup, we still have Clemson after a turbulent season, and ACC newcomer SMU, which tore apart most of their opponents with ease. Interesting times such as this, but we never expected an intriguing matchup like this. They collide for the first time, and both have plenty to prove. Clemson finished November at 3-2. They shouldn’t have qualified for the ACC title game, but lady luck was on their side after Syracuse upset Miami. This team has talent across the board, but their offense betrays them sometimes due to lack of consistency. Whoever this SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is, he’s the reason (along with running back Brashard Smith) that SMU is here for their second straight conference title game (1st in ACC). Defense is underrated and has plenty of impact players across the board. I felt strongly towards SMU, but Clemson was given a mulligan by Syracuse and could use it to humble SMU in the ACC title game. Defense and running back Phil Mafah could be the reason they win.

MY PICK: CLEMSON

In the unlikeliest of matchups after everyone expected Ohio State to be in it, it’s instead Penn State facing Oregon. Penn State must feel very good about being there in the post-division conference since they were belittled by Michigan and Ohio State since 2016. It seems fitting because both teams Top 4 statistically in most categories on offense and defense. Penn State hasn’t had a whiff of a Big Ten title game since 2016 and hope to change that because that was their only title win under James Franklin. They have running back duos, Drew Allar with a cannon arm, and a stingy defense that’s one of the best in the conference and nation. Oregon appears in their first Big Ten title in their annual season, and their fifth conference title game in six seasons. Everything goes through Dillon Gabriel. No matter how much talent they have, including running back Jordan James, everything goes through Gabriel, and that’s what got them there. They will also be the only team to face Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State as the Big Ten’s Big 3. Penn State could surprise plenty if they run the ball a lot, but I can’t trust them to do it consistently after going away from it against Ohio State.

MY PICK: OREGON