Chaos. Full-blown chaos. College football put on a wild show in Week 13. It has set up a first of its kind Week 14 where a dozen or so teams are all fighting to keep their season and College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Big 12 is the biggest area of chaos. The Big 10 and SEC are pretty straight forward. The ACC has one team locked in while Miami just has to avoid an epic collapse. Then there is the Mountain West where Boise State could be in contention to steal the fourth highest ranked conference champion and a bye week if they just win out. Lots of crazy scenarios in each conference to get here. Here are the top 2024 College Football Games Week 14.
Big 12
I want to start with the Big 12 because this is where the most confusion lies, and the conference with the most teams that still have a shot at playing in the conference championship in Dallas. Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, and Iowa State are in the best positions. If all four win, it’s ASU vs ISU. If two of the four win, those two face each other. If just one loses, it gets crazy.
Arizona State vs Arizona: It feels simple for ASU, who is having an improbable season. Win against Arizona and they are 99% to be locked in. If ASU wins, there are a ton of other things that would have to happen for them to NOT make the conference championship game. Colorado, Iowa State, Baylor, Texas Tech and Cincinnati all win their last game AND Houston beats BYU. That’s the only way. So, if ASU wins, we can assume they are pretty much in.
Iowa State vs Kansas State: Iowa State needs to beat Kansas State to clinch their spot in the conference championship. They would likely face Arizona State. They enter as a 2.5-point favorite.
BYU vs Houston: If Iowa State were to lose (Kansas State is a good team) then BYU would simply need to just beat Houston, and they would likely face Arizona State. BYU has lost two straight games but have lost by a score or less in each of them. Houston is currently 12th in the Big 12.
Colorado vs Oklahoma State: The Buffs face the toughest path of the four teams thanks to their loss against Kansas a week ago. They will now have to beat Oklahoma State and get two losses between ASU, BYU, ISU. The other option is to beat OSU and get wins from Houston & Texas Tech.
Prediction: Arizona State faces BYU in the Big 12 Championship game after Kansas State upsets Iowa State.
ACC
The one and only guaranteed spot in the ACC Championship Game currently belongs to the SMU Mustangs. They will face either Miami or Clemson. It makes this explanation much less convoluted.
Miami vs Syracuse: It’s simple for Miami. Beat Syracuse and advance to play SMU. Syracuse is 4-3 in conference play and they’ve won two straight entering this game. Miami has Heisman hopeful Cam Ward, and they are 6-1 in conference play.
Clemson vs South Carolina: Clemson would need Miami to lose and for them to beat South Carolina to advance. South Carolina has been a better team all year and I think they close out the regular season with a bang.
Prediction: SMU vs Miami in the championship.
Big 10
Oregon is the only team that is guaranteed a spot in the conference championship at this point. Still alive are Indiana, Ohio State, and Penn State. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to one game.
Ohio State vs Michigan: We know how great this rivalry game has been in the past. Michigan has dominated the last few years, but the Wolverines have been weak this season. They are 4-4 in the conference. It’s a win and in for the Buckeyes. But if they lose….
Penn State vs Maryland: Penn State would just need to beat Maryland who they are massive favorites over if Ohio State lost and they would claim that spot in the championship game. I would bet Penn State will win this game.
If both Penn State and Ohio State lost, Indiana would need to beat Purdue and they would advance. If all three teams lost, Ohio State would move on.
Prediction: Oregon will have a rematch against Ohio State in what was one of the best games we have seen all year.
SEC
This is another simple conference to figure out. Georgia has earned a spot in the SEC Championship Game. They play Georgia Tech this week but win or lose, they are going to Atlanta. Their opponent comes down to just one game.
Texas vs Texas A&M: The Lone Star Showdown rivalry is on again after a 13-year hiatus. This game will be the 119th rendition of this storied clash. The Aggies are reeling after a loss to the Auburn Tigers in overtime which could have clinched their conference game spot. Instead, it comes down to this final game. There are talks that Texas QB Quinn Ewers might not be able to go with an injury, however, he is listed as “probable” to play. This game will be played at Kyle Field and it will be loud. The Aggies won’t drop two straight games.
Prediction: Georgia vs Texas A&M in the SEC Championship.