Pac-12
The Pac-12 Championship Game between #4 USC (10-1) and #11 Utah (9-3) will be played on Friday in Las Vegas at 5 p.m. CST. The game is a rematch from an epic meeting on October 15 in Salt Lake City, where the Utes handed the Trojans their only loss of the season as Utah quarterback Cameron Rising scored the game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 48 seconds left in the game.
If USC wins, they should earn a trip a CFP semifinal game. As the Pac-12 runner-up in this scenario, Utah will be available to the Rose Bowl along with #12 Washington, #15 Oregon State, #16 Oregon, and #17 UCLA. The Valero Alamo Bowl options would then select from the four available ranked Pac-12 teams after the Rose Bowl’s selection.
If Utah beats USC again, the Utes will return to the Rose Bowl as conference champions. As the Pac-12 runner-up, USC will either go to a CFP semifinal game if they remain in the Top 4 of the final CFP poll, play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl if they are the highest remaining ranked at-large team, or be available along with #12 Washington and #16 Oregon when the Valero Alamo Bowl selects. If USC goes to the Cotton Bowl, the Valero Alamo Bowl’s pool will include all the remaining ranked Pac-12 teams including #15 Oregon State and #17 UCLA.
Big 12
The Big 12 Championship pits #3 TCU (12-0) against #10 Kansas State on Saturday at 11 a.m. CST in Arlington. The game is a rematch from October 22 in Ft. Worth, where the Horned Frogs overcame an 18-point deficit to win 38-28. TCU quarterback Max Duggan threw for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns, while injuries forced the Wildcats to play three different quarterbacks.
If TCU wins again, they should earn a trip a CFP semifinal game. As the Big 12 runner-up in this scenario, Kansas State will fill the Big 12 slot in the Allstate Sugar Bowl making the Valero Alamo Bowl pool of teams #20 Texas (8-4) and Texas Tech (7-5).
If K-State beats TCU, the Wildcats will play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl as the Big 12 Champion. TCU will either go to a CFP semifinal game if they remain in the Top 4 of the final CFP poll, play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl if they are the CFP’s highest remaining ranked at-large team, or be available when the Valero Alamo Bowl selects.