2020 Week 15 wrap up

Two more conference game spots got clinched this week without games being played.  And who would have thought that the final Pac-12 spot would have gotten clinched due to a noon game?

Now updated with notes about possible replacement teams for championship games, if needed.

Keep watching for any further updates if teams are unavailable to play.

ACC Championship Game - Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-0) vs. Clemson Tigers (8-1)

Both teams are resting prior to meeting up on the 19th.  ND won the first meeting of these teams in 2OT, although Trevor Lawrence did not play for Clemson.

Big 12 Championship Game:  Iowa State Cyclones (8-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (6-2)

Iowa State defeated Oklahoma earlier this season.

The Big 12 will go down their standings list for a replacement team if either team is unable to play.  Oklahoma State is on deck.

SEC Championship Game - Florida Gators (8-2) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-0)

This game will not be a rematch. 

Big Ten Championship Game - Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (6-1)

Since Michigan cancelled the game, leaving the Buckeyes without the six originally required by the Big Ten for conference title eligibility, the Big Ten changed their overly complicated rules.

A lot of folks are deriding the Big Ten for playing favorites because OSU was the affected team, but there's a more balanced way to look at the situation.  Of OSU's three cancelled games, two were due the other team (Maryland and Michigan).  The one game that OSU had to cancelled due to their own problems was a cross-divisional game against Illinois.

Ohio State did everything they could.  Indiana had their chance, but fell short against OSU.  If they had won that game, then the Big Ten wouldn't have had to consider changing the rule.

Pac-12 Championship Game - Washington Huskies (3-1) Oregon Ducks (3-2) vs. USC Trojans (5-0)

The game will be played at USC on Friday.

Washington was scheduled to play Oregon (3-2) this weekend, in a winner-take-all match for the division.  But then Washington got hit with the 'rona and cancelled the game but still managed to advance to the Pac-12 title game.

But then, they had to withdraw from that game, which allowed Oregon to go.

Then, USC clinched the South division by virtue of Colorado (3-1) losing their game against Utah, thus preventing a logjam of two undefeated teams in the division.  If USC is unable to play, they will be replaced by Colorado.

Interestingly enough, the Pac-12 scheduled a slate of games for this weekend similar to the Big Ten's "plus one" model, and included an Oregon vs. Colorado game to be played at USC on Saturday to make it easier for them to slide into the Pac-12 title game if needed.