"After Georgia knocked off Georgia Tech to close out the regular season last week, coach Kirby Smart lamented the new era of college football, in which the playoff supersedes everything, and some programs would rather miss a conference championship game to rest up and get healthy than chase a trophy. It's true. Championship Week isn't what it used to be,"
"while a Duke win could potentially push the conference out of the playoff completely. The Big Ten championship doesn't have much in the way of playoff implications. Indiana and Ohio State are both shoo-ins, and both probably getting first-round byes. But that doesn't mean there's nothing on the line. A showdown between quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin could ultimately determine who wins the Heisman Trophy."
Conference championship weekend features diminished stakes for some teams because playoff selection often secures berths regardless of title-game outcomes. Several top programs have already locked playoff spots and may prioritize rest and recovery over competing for conference trophies. The Big 12, ACC, Big Ten, American, and Sun Belt title games carry varied implications, including potential playoff bids, Heisman Trophy narratives, and Group of 5 representation. BYU, Virginia, Duke, Tulane, North Texas, and James Madison represent pivotal cases with direct playoff or ranking consequences. Georgia and Alabama face an SEC title matchup with significant playoff implications for Alabama.
Read at ESPN.com
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