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The American, B1G, Big 12, Conference, MAC, Pac-12, and Sun Belt conference championship matchups were finalized on the final weekend of regular season play. Along the way, the No. 2, 5, 8 and 9 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings went down to defeat.
No. 2 Ohio State's 45-23 loss at home to Michigan didn't completely destroy the Buckeyes' chances of being invited to the party, but it bolstered the possibility of being overtaken by No. 6 USC which wrapped up its regular season with a 38-27 home win over Notre Dame. The Trojans are now the only team that was sitting outside the top four that has a serious chance of breaking through.
No. 5 LSU was a stunning 38-23 loser at a Texas A&M team that still failed to make the bowl season and that defeat certainly eliminated the Bayou Bengals.
No. 8 Clemson's chances of going to the dance were already slim to begin with, but became zero with its fall-from-ahead 31-30 loss at home to South Carolina that ended a 40-game home winning streak.
Likewise, No. 9 Oregon didn't have much of a chance, but now has none after it's collapse at Oregon State that resulted in a 38-34 loss after leading 31-10.
No. 1 Georgia was sluggish for awhile, but woke up in the 2nd half and distance itself from Georgia Tech, 37-14.
But it was No. 4 TCU that best took care of business by cruising to a 62-14 rout of visiting Iowa State.
The top players for Final Four consideration still feature Georgia, Michigan and TCU, without a doubt. Ohio State and USC are the best bets for the fourth spot.
80 teams are bowl eligible for the 82 available slots. As many as 3 teams - Army, Buffalo and New Mexico State - have one more crack at getting there.
SEE: Schedule, Picks and Scores
The Tigers (Atlantic) and Tar Heels (Coastal) both lost over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. North Carolina dropped a second straight and fell to 9-3 over-all with its 30-27 loss at home to NC State in double-overtime. Clemson fell to 10-2 with the 31-30 loss at home to South Carolina as home winning streak stopped at 40, and its winning streak over the Gamecocks was halted at 7.
When it's over, the ACC will officially say farewell to the two-division system. The PAC-12, American Conference, and CUSA have already switched to staging a title game between the top two teams in the entire conference. The Mountain West, like the ACC, will implement that type of format next year while the B1G, SEC, MAC and Sun Belt will continue to use divisions.
Miami and Georgia Tech each failed to attain bowl eligibility when the 'Canes were demolished 42-16 at home by Pitt, and the Jackets lost 37-14 at Georgia.
Bowl eligible members (9):
ATLANTIC: Clemson (10-2, 8-0), Florida State (9-3, 5-3), Louisville (7-5, 4-4), NC State (8-4, 4-4), Syracuse (7-5, 4-4), Wake Forest (7-5, 3-5).
COASTAL: UNC (9-3, 6-2), Pittsburgh (8-4, 5-3), Duke (8-4, 5-3).
Tulane was a 27-24 upset winner at Cincinnati to clinch hosting duties.Saturday at 4 ET on ABC. UCF later averted the upset at USF by scoring a late TD for a 46-39 win. Both of Tulane's losses this season came at home. The first was startling upset to Southern Miss. The second was a 38-31 setback to UCF on November 12.
Tulane's win over the Bearcats ended an 0-for-61 mark against AP-ranked teams in the poll era that began in 1936. It also ended Cincinnati's 32-game home winning streak, and Tulane's 4-game losing streak in the series. What's more, it lifted the Green Wave to their first double-digit win season since 1998 (12-0) and just the fourth all-time (11-1 in 1931 and 10-1 in 1934). Most importantly, in the age of the college football playoff, it puts the Green Wave in the driver's seat for the automatic Group of Five bid to a New Year's Six bowl game. It's last appearance in a 'major' bowl game came in the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 1939 season.
Bowl eligible members (7): Tulane (10-2, 7-1), Cincinnati (9-3, 6-2), UCF (9-3, 6-2), SMU (7-5, 5-3), Houston (7-5, 5-3), East Carolina (7-5, 4-4), Memphis (6-6, 3-5).
Once again, the season-ending rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan was a de facto East division championship game and, for the first time since 1999-2000, the Wolverines have won back-to-back games against the Buckeyes. Michigan trailed 20-17 at the half, but outscored Ohio State 28-3 after intermission for the 45-23 win.
Purdue clinched the west division with a 30-16 victory at Indiana after Iowa was upset 24-17 at home by Nebraska on Friday. Illinois stormed to a 44-3 win at Northwestern but needed a Purdue loss to go with it.
Michigan State was the last B1G team with a chance to become bowl eligible on the final weekend but lost 35-16 at Penn State.
Bowl eligible members (9):
EAST: Michigan (12-0, 9-0), Ohio State (11-1, 8-1), Penn State (10-2, 7-2), Maryland (7-5, 4-5).
WEST: Purdue (8-4, 6-3), Illinois (8-4, 5-4), Iowa (7-5, 5-4), Minnesota (8-4, 5-4), Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5)
Kansas State got in with a 47-27 home win over Kansas. Texas needed a Kansas State loss after the Longhorns won 38-27 at home over Baylor.
TCU won the regular season matchup 38-28 at home on October 22 by scoring the last 28 points of the game.
Texas Tech vaulted to 4th in the final conference standings with a 51-48 win at home over Oklahoma in overtime. The loss gave the Sooners their worst regular season record since a 5-6 mark in 1998, the year before Bob Stoops was hired.
Bowl eligible (8): TCU (12-0, 9-0), Kansas State (9-3, 7-2), Texas (8-4, 6-3), Texas Tech (7-5, 5-4), Oklahoma State (7-5, 4-5), Baylor (6-6, 4-5), Oklahoma (6-6, 3-6), Kansas (6-6, 3-6).
UTSA secured hosting duties with a win 41-7 romp at Rice on November 19. A week later, North Texas beat Rice 21-17 at home to secure the other slot. The Owls came up a game short of bowl eligibility.
FAU failed to get to the requisite 6 wins with a 32-31 loss at home to Western Kentucky in overtime when the Hilltoppers succeeded on a 2-point conversion attempt.
UTEP also came up short with a 34-31 loss at UTSA after leading 24-0 halfway through the 2nd quarter, and 31-14 in the 3rd. The game was knotted at 31 by the time the 4th quarter began, but no one scored again until the Roadrunners hit a 28-yard field goal with 4 seconds left.
UTSA is 19-1 in its last 20 games against CUSA opponents, including last year's championship game win at home over Western Kentucky. The lone loss in that time frame came in last year's season finale at North Texas when the Mean Green scored a 45-23 upset.
UAB achieved bowl eligibility on the final weekend with a 37-27 win at Louisiana Tech as DeWayne McBride ran for a school record 272 yards and a score on just 16 carries.
Bowl eligible (5): UTSA (10-2, 8-0), North Texas (7-5, 6-2), Western Kentucky (8-5, 6-2), MTSU (7-5, 4-4), UAB (6-6, 4-4)
Liberty went down in flames at the end of the year. After starting the season 8-1, Liberty lost its last 3 games, including a 49-14 smackdown at home by New Mexico State in the season finale.
The win left New Mexico State a game shy of bowl eligibility, partly because its home game against San Jose State was canceled back on October 22. Reportedly, the Aggies have lined up a game against FCS member Valparaiso for next weekend, but need the NCAA to grant a waiver for that happen.
Bowl eligible (4): Notre Dame (8-4), Liberty (8-4), BYU (7-5), UConn (6-6).
Still bowl possible (1 or 2): Army (5-6) definitely has one more game to get to 6 wins as the Black Knights play Navy on December 10. If New Mexico State (5-6) can finalize a home game with Valparaiso, then 2 more independents could become bowl eligible.
Toledo is in the championship game for the first time since 2017 when the Rockets beat Akron in the championship game at Detroit. Toledo is limping in to that game after losing 20-14 at Western Michigan on Black Friday for its second straight loss and winds up in a tie with Eastern Michigan for the MAC West crown after the Eagles doubled-up Central Michigan 38-19 at home on Friday. Toledo won the regular season match against EMU on October 29 at Ypsilanti.
Ohio defeated Bowling Green 38-14 on Tuesday night in a de facto MAC East Championship game.
Ball State was eliminated from bowl consideration with a last-minute 18-17 loss at Miami (O), and Miami wrapped up bowl eligibility and secured a Bahamas Bowl bid.
Buffalo was denied bowl eligibility on Saturday when Kent State upset the Bulls 30-27 in OT. However, the Akron at Buffalo game that was snowed-out on November 19 has been rescheduled for Friday, December 2, so the Bulls will get one last crack at making the bowl season.
Bowl eligible (5):
EAST: Ohio (9-3, 7-1), Bowling Green (6-6, 5-3), Miami (6-6, 4-4).
WEST: Toledo (7-5, 5-3), Eastern Michigan (8-4, 5-3).
Still bowl possible (1):
EAST: Buffalo (5-6, 4-3).
The championship clash will be a rematch of the regular season game that Boise State won 40-20 on the smurf turf on October 8 for Fresno State's only conference loss.
Both division winners hosted their regular season finale games on Friday. The Broncos beat Utah State 42-23 to wrap up a third undefeated conference season in the last four years. The Bulldogs defeated Wyoming 30-0 for their 7th straight win after a 1-4 start.
Bowl eligible (7):
MOUNTAIN: Boise State (9-3, 8-0), Wyoming (7-5, 5-3), Utah State (6-6, 5-3), Air Force (9-3, 5-3)
WEST: Fresno State (8-4, 7-1), San Diego State (7-5, 5-3), San Jose State (7-4, 5-3).
USC's conference championship game opponent could've been either Oregon, Washington or Utah. Utah handed USC its only loss, 43-42 in Salt Lake City on October 15. The Trojans did not play either Oregon or Washington.
As it turns out, the Trojans will get a rematch with Utah in Las Vegas after all the dominoes fell in favor of the Utes over the holiday weekend. Utah was aided by UCLA's 35-28 win at Cal on Friday, then took care of its own business by clobbering Colorado 63-21 at Boulder on Saturday afternoon. After that, Oregon fell by the wayside with its 38-34 fall-from-ahead loss at Oregon State. And late Saturday night, Washington was a 51-33 victor at Washington State to help the Utes punch their ticket.
Washington was eliminated when Colorado failed to upset Utah.
Bowl eligible (7): USC (11-1, 8-1), Utah (9-3, 7-2), Washington (10-2, 7-2), Oregon (9-3, 7-2), UCLA (9-3, 6-3), Oregon State (9-3, 6-3), Washington State (7-5, 4-5).
Even after its 38-23 upset loss at Texas A&M, LSU is one of the more surprising success stories of the 2022 season. The Tigers are 9-3 and could possibly be 10-2 were it not for a blocked PAT at the end of regulation in the opener against FSU. Georgia is what was expected of Georgia. Alabama had a down year with 2 losses by a total of 4 points.
Texas A&M was the only program fully eliminated from bowl consideration heading into the final week, but neither Vanderbilt or Auburn came close to winning their last game of the regular season. The Commodores were flattened 56-0 at home by Tennessee, and Auburn lost 49-27 at Alabama.
Missouri upset Arkansas on Friday, 29-27, to become bowl eligible.
Bowl eligible (11):
EASTERN: Georgia (12-0, 8-0), Tennessee (10-2, 6-2), South Carolina (8-4, 4 4), Kentucky (7-5, 3-5), Florida (6-6, 3-5), Missouri (6-6, 3-5).
WESTERN: LSU (9-3, 6-2), Alabama (10-2, 6-2), Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4), Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4), Arkansas (6-6, 3-5).
Coastal Carolina was thrashed 47-7 at James Madison which gave the Dukes the east division title, but JMU isn't eligible for the conference championship or a bowl game per NCAA rules in their first year of transition from FCS to FBS.
Troy and South Alabama entered the week in a tie on the other side with Troy owning the head-to-head tie-breaker. As it turns out, both teams were victorious as the Trojans won 48-19 at Arkansas State and the Jaguars beat ODU 27-20 in Mobile.
Troy goes in to the championship contest on a 9-game winning streak.
Georgia Southern became bowl eligible on Saturday with a 51-48 upset of Appalachian State in overtime. The loss dropped the Mountaineers to 6-6 for their worst record since entering the FBS in 2014 when they went 7-5.
Southern Miss became bowl eligible, too, with a 20-10 win at Louisiana-Monroe.
Louisiana also qualified for the postseason on the final weekend with a 41-13 win at Texas State.
Bowl eligible (8):
EAST: Coastal (9-2, 6-2), Marshall (8-4, 5-3), Georgia Southern (5-6, 2-5), App State (6-6, 3-5).
WEST: Troy (10-2, 7-1), South Alabama (10-2, 7-1), Southern Miss (6-6, 4-4), Louisiana (6-6, 4-4).
Ineligible (Transition season): JMU (8-3, 6-2)
The last of the 119 FBS vs. FCS matchups this season will took place on Saturday with Austin Peay losing 34-0 at Alabama, Utah Tech falling 52-26 at BYU, ETSU getting smacked 56-0 at Mississippi State, and North Alabama losing 59-0 at Memphis.
116 of the 131 FBS schools played at least one such game while with Appalachian State, Army and Marshall each played two.
The FBS was 111-8 (.933) vs. the FCS this year, and is now 1,685-148 (.919) since we began tracking this in 2003.
Here are the FCS wins in 2022:
September 2: William & Mary 41, Charlotte 24
September 3: Delaware14, Navy 7
September 10: Weber State 35, Utah State 7
September 10: Incarnate Word 55, Nevada 41
September 10: Holy Cross 37, Buffalo 31
September 10: Eastern Kentucky 59, Bowling Green 57 (7 OT's)
September 17: Southern Illinois 31, Northwestern 24
September 24: Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 10
GEORGIA - Won 14 straight over-all. Won 11 straight true road games.
Last: Won 37-14 at home over Georgia Tech on Saturday, November 26.
Next: SEC Championship game vs. LSU in Atlanta on Saturday, December 3.
CLEMSON - 40-game home winning streak ended with 31-30 loss to South Carolina.
Last: Lost 31-30 at home to South Carolina on Saturday, November 26.
Next: ACC Championship game vs. North Carolina in Charlotte on Saturday, December 3.
ALABAMA - Won 20 straight home games.
Last: Won 49-27 at home over Auburn on Saturday, November 26.
Next: Awaits playoff or bowl fate.
MICHIGAN - Won 14 straight conference games.
Last: Won 45-23 at Ohio State on Saturday, November 26.
Next: Big Ten Championship game vs. Purdue in Indianapolis on Saturday, December 3.
NORTHWESTERN - Lost 11 straight over-all, and 8 straight at home.
Last: Lost 41-3 at home to Illinois on Saturday, November 26.
Next: Season complete.
AKRON - Ended losing streaks of 12 straight conference games and 9 straight over-all with a 44-12 rout at Northern Illinois.
Last: Won 44-12 at Northern Illinois on Saturday, November 26.
Next: Visits Buffalo on Friday, December 2. (Make-up of Saturday, November 19 game that was cancelled due to heavy snow).
USF - Lost 13 straight conference games.
Last: Lost 46-39 at home to UCF on Saturday, November 26.
Next: Season complete.
MASSACHUSETTS - Lost 15 straight to FBS schools, and 24 straight road games.
Last: Lost 44-7 at home to Army on Saturday, November 26.
Next: Season complete.