College Football Championship Saturday: Game Times, TV, and More

After thirteen weeks of College Football, five conference title matchups will be played on Friday and Saturday, with several College Football Playoff spots still up for grabs. Following a dramatic Week 13, this week’s matchups are sure to bring some exciting play. Here’s a list of the best matchups for this week and players to watch. All times are Eastern.

(9) Oklahoma hosts (10) Oklahoma State at 12:30 PM on FOX. While this matchup is not an official Big 12 championship game, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the top two teams in the conference and the winner will be crowned the conference champion. This will be the second year that the "Bedlam rivalry" will determine the conference champion, with the Sooners defeating the Cowboys, 58-23 last year. The Sooners had a deflating start to the season after opening the season as a CFP favorite, but bounced back with a 8-game winning streak. A win on Saturday will still leave them short of a playoff spot, but a Big 12 championship will certainly grant them a significant bowl bid. The Cowboys are looking to claim their first conference title since 2011. A win on Saturday would be a major upset, with them currently being double-digit underdogs. The player to watch in this game is Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is leading the country with a 194.7 passing rating, 11 points ahead of the second highest QB. A big game against a fragile Oklahoma St defense may be key in claiming the Big 12 championship on Saturday.

(15) Florida vs (1) Alabama at 4:00 PM in Atlanta on CBS. The undefeated Crimson Tide will go head-to-head with the Gators this Saturday to crown the SEC champion. Alabama is a double-digit favorite and has been locked in all season. Even with a schedule that provided eight ranked opponents, the Crimson Tide have not slipped up once. They have the number one rated defense in the nation, and their offense has been clicking all season. With a playoff spot already secured, a win on Saturday would guarantee them the number one ranking. The Gators are coming off a 13-31 loss to FSU last week, but due to a relatively weak SEC East this year, they found a spot in the championship game. Their top-five defense has carried the team all year, and a big game on Saturday will keep them competitive. The player to watch in this game is Alabama RB Damien Harris. With a couple injuries on the Florida defensive line, Harris may be key in breaking down the Gators defense. He’s already racked up 897 yards and a 100+ rushing performance on Saturday will secure him an 1000 yard season and an Alabama win.

(6) Wisconsin vs (7) Penn State at 8:00 PM in Indianapolis on FOX. The Badgers and Nittany Lions face off for the first time since 2013 in the Big Ten Championship game. Both teams head into this game with a 10-2 record and hopes for a surprise CFP bid. The Nittany Lions have had a meteoric rise in the rankings that no one could have predicted. A 49-10 loss to Michigan in Week 4 left them unranked until an upset victory against Ohio State in Week 8 propelled their rise to the number seven ranking. While Penn State is a 3-point underdog heading into Saturday’s matchup, their historic win streak proves they can beat anyone. The Badgers’ stellar defense has propelled them to the number six ranking. Close defeats to Michigan and Ohio State have kept them out of the CFP, but a win on Saturday might allow them to sneak in. The Badgers will need their offense to make big plays and convert on third downs in order to get a victory on Saturday.