COLUMBUS — College football closes its regular season with championship weekend, leading to selection Sunday when the playoff is set and the bowls are matchups are finalized.
Big Ten Championship Game
(6) Ohio St. (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten East vs (21) Northwestern (8-4, 8-1 Big Ten West)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.
Sat. Dec. 1 (8:00 p.m./FOX)
Urban Meyer arrived in Indianapolis on Friday with one goal: heading home with another Big Ten championship trophy.
Meyer ignored speculation about his coaching future and deflected talk about what No. 6 Ohio State would need to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Instead, Meyer stuck to the same message he’s relayed to his team all week: Just focus on football.
Coach Pat Fitzgerald has No. 21 Northwestern playing in the Big Ten championship game for the first time. After starting out the season 1-4, the Wildcats have won seven of their last eight games, including wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin, to take their first Big Ten West title.
“You know, this year, I think the group has really bought into just that one percent better every rep, that improvement mentality,” he said.
If they pull off the upset, they will make their first Rose Bowl appearance since Fitzgerald was a star linebacker on the 1995 team.
No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Georgia will play in in the SEC title game while Kyler Murray and No. 5 Oklahoma take on No. 9 Texas for the Big 12 Championship.
For the Buckeyes to find themselves in the final four, Oklahoma and Georgia would probably both have to lose. The final pairings will be announced on ESPN between 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Sunday.
No 2 Clemson plays Pitt in the ACC championship game where a loss by the Tigers is unlikely and No. 3 Notre Dame’s regular season is over.