Week 16 viewers guide: A look at the weekend's top championship games
Every Friday, theScore will preview the week's best matchups on the college football calendar. Here are the top games to watch in Week 16.
Oregon at No. 13 USC (8 p.m. ET, Friday, FOX)
In one of the weirdest situations in Pac-12 history, Oregon will face USC in the conference title game due to Washington's COVID-19 outbreak. After three wins to start the season, Oregon has lost its last two games and had last week's contest against the Huskies canceled. The Ducks' most recent win was a three-point victory over UCLA on Nov. 21, but they find themselves in this game thanks to their second-place standing in the North Division.
Expect the points to be plentiful in Los Angeles on Friday. Both teams are top three in the Pac-12 in scoring, and USC quarterback Kedon Slovis leads the conference in passing. If Tyler Shough can avoid turnovers for the Ducks' offense, an upset could be in the cards here.
No. 10 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Iowa State (Noon ET, ABC)
There's almost no chance the Big 12 sends a team to the College Football Playoff this year, but there's still plenty to play for in Saturday's conference championship game. Iowa State hasn't claimed a conference title since winning the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1912 - just six years after the invention of the forward pass.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, has dominated the conference championship scene, winning the Big 12's last four. Lincoln Riley's program also gets a chance to avenge its earlier regular-season loss to Iowa State. This should be another high-scoring title affair, with both offenses ranking among the conference's best.
No. 14 Northwestern vs. No. 4 Ohio State (Noon ET, FOX)
How much respect do oddsmakers give Ohio State compared to the rest of the Big Ten? Considering the Buckeyes are 20-point favorites for Saturday's conference championship tilt, it's safe to say a healthy amount. After the Big Ten waived its minimum-game qualification requirement for this contest, Ohio State's path to the CFP has become crystal clear: Win, and you're in.
Buoyed by a strong defense, Northwestern has enjoyed an impressive season, but it likely doesn't have the firepower to keep up with Ohio State. The Wildcats' sole loss this season was a 29-20 setback against a Michigan State outfit that lost 52-12 to the shorthanded Buckeyes the following week.
No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 2 Notre Dame (4 p.m. ET, ABC)
The projected No. 1 pick of the 2021 NFL Draft will play this time around in a rematch of one of the campaign's best games. Clemson will have Trevor Lawrence to lead the offense Saturday when it faces Notre Dame for the second time this season. Lawrence was forced to miss the Tigers' dramatic overtime loss in South Bend, Indiana, earlier this season due to COVID-19. While backup D.J. Uiagalelei was brilliant in Lawrence's absence, it should still be a boost for Clemson to have its star passer back in the fold.
Notre Dame has been one of college football's most impressive programs in 2020 and boasts one of the top defensive units in the country. If the Fighting Irish can hold Clemson to under 30 points, they have a strong chance to walk away with their second victory of the season against the ACC's powerhouse program.
No. 7 Florida vs. No. 1 Alabama (8 p.m. ET, CBS)
The shine on this contest is somewhat lessened after Florida's stunning home loss to LSU last week, but this should still be a highly entertaining affair for the SEC title. Not only will this contest decide the conference champion, but it will also likely determine the Heisman Trophy winner. Kyle Trask, Mac Jones, and Devonta Smith should all have serious chances to claim the award, and a standout performance in Saturday's game could seal it.
This should be a high-scoring affair, but it's tough to envision the Gators' defense slowing down Alabama's offense just a week after struggling against LSU's attack. Whether Trask and Florida's offense can keep up will decide this one.
No. 23 Tulsa at No. 9 Cincinnati (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Tulsa and Cincinnati already attempted to play twice this year, but COVID-19 complications wiped out both games. They're finally set to play Saturday night - this time for the American Athletic Conference title. The Bearcats haven't lost all season, while the Golden Hurricane enter with six straight wins.
Cincinnati is among the most well-rounded teams in the country, ranking fifth in defense and 20th in scoring offense. Tulsa won't blow anyone away on the offensive side of the ball, but its defense is one of the best in the AAC. That might make for a low-scoring affair that could come down to the wire.