The final week of college football’s regular season brought just eight games featuring teams in the College Football Playoff Top 25, although five of them pitted two Top 25 squads against each other, and two of them were top 10 matchups (five other games featuring Top 25 teams, including one featuring two squads, were canceled).
Here’s a brief look at each that was played and how it could affect bowl positioning when things are finalized on Sunday.
No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 7 Florida 46: The Gators had a chance to crash the CFP if they could pull off the win in the SEC championship game, but despite a second-half rally, they could never quite catch up and the Crimson Tide will surely be the top seed in the CFP.
No. 3 Clemson 34, No. 2 Notre Dame 10: In a rematch of what was the best game in the country of the regular season, the Tigers got revenge in the ACC title game and surely locked up a CFP spot. Will the Fighting Irish stay in the top four and get a CFP berth? There should be some drama Sunday when it is announced.
No. 4 Ohio State 22, No. 14 Northwestern 10: Arguably the most controversial team in the country because of the lack of games they played this season, the Buckeyes took care of business Saturday in the Big Ten championship game, which could set up an interesting Sunday.
No. 5 Texas A&M 34, Tennessee 13: In its last chance to try to prove it belongs in the top four, Texas A&M took care of business against lowly Tennessee. The Aggies’ only loss of the season came against Alabama, and a win over Florida is on its resume. Is there any chance that’s enough to crack the CFP?
No. 10 Oklahoma 27, No. 6 Iowa State 21: The Sooners claimed their sixth Big 12 championship in beating the higher ranked Cyclones (who many feel were ranked too high coming into the week). Stadium’s Brett McMurphy is projecting that both slides will get New Year’s Six bowl berths, with Iowa State going to the Fiesta Bowl and Oklahoma the Cotton Bowl.
No. 9 Cincinnati 27, No. 23 Tulsa 24: The Bearcats finished the regular season undefeated at 9-0, although just barely, as it took a field goal as time expired to get the win Saturday. Cincinnati may have an outside argument for cracking the CFP, but they’ll likely end up in an NY6 bowl.
Oregon 31, No. 13 USC 24: It’s only fitting that the dysfunctional Pac-12 season ended the way it did, with the unranked Ducks beating the highest-ranked (but still not all that great) team in the conference. USC announced it will decline a bowl invitation, while the Rose Bowl will not be played. McMurphy is projecting Oregon will go to the Fiesta Bowl against Iowa State.
No. 24 San Jose State 34, Boise State 20: The Spartans finished one of the most fun storylines of the season by going undefeated and winning the Mountain West Conference title, beating perennial power Boise State to do it. San Jose State has accepted a berth in the Arizona Bowl.