Week 12 College Football Games Impacting Playoff Picture

As the college football season barrels toward its climax, the pressure’s cranked up for teams fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP). With just three weeks left in the regular season, Week 12 brings a bunch of pivotal matchups that could flip the playoff picture upside down.

This article takes a look at the top games of the week, what they mean for the CFP, and how the teams stack up as they chase a postseason berth. If you want the full breakdown, check out the original article.

Honorable Mentions: Key Games to Watch

Before we dive into the top 10, let’s give a nod to some matchups that might not grab headlines but definitely matter in the playoff race.

• Clemson at No. 20 Louisville (Fri.)
• Minnesota at No. 8 Oregon (Fri.)
• South Carolina at No. 3 Texas A&M
• No. 18 Michigan at Northwestern
• North Texas at UAB
• UCF at No. 6 Texas Tech
• App State at JMU
• Memphis at ECU
• Florida at No. 7 Ole Miss

Cincinnati vs. BYU: Big 12 Championship Implications

Cincinnati and BYU meet in a game that both need to win if they want to stay in the Big 12 championship hunt. Cincinnati’s coming off a bye—and, well, a blowout loss to Utah—so they’re desperate to get back on track.

The Bearcats are six-point favorites, but BYU has shown some serious grit this season. Wouldn’t count them out just yet.

Miami’s Slim Playoff Hopes

The ACC’s been pure chaos this season. Miami sits as the highest-ranked team at No. 15, but they’re only seventh in the league standings, which is kind of wild.

The Hurricanes have to win out and then just hope the rest of the conference keeps eating itself. They’re favored by 14.5 points in their next game, but nothing’s guaranteed in the ACC right now.

Top 10 Games of Week 12

Alright, let’s jump into the top 10 games of Week 12 and how they might shake up the College Football Playoff.

1. Utah’s Path to an At-Large Bid

Utah, sitting at No. 13, has had a season that’s been all over the place. They got blown out by Texas Tech and barely lost to BYU, but their schedule’s looking friendlier now.

They’ve got winnable games left against Baylor, Kansas State, and Kansas. Utah’s got about a 22 percent shot at the CFP, but if they run the table, their resume gets a serious boost.

2. The American Conference Race

Whoever wins the American Conference probably grabs the fifth automatic bid for the 12-team playoff. USF leads with a 34 percent chance, North Texas trails at 23 percent, and James Madison’s right there at 21 percent.

If USF beats Navy—who’s honestly been struggling—USF could set themselves up for a strong finish.

3. Duke’s Unlikely ACC Championship Hunt

Duke, somehow, is still in the ACC championship hunt with a 5-4 record. Even after a non-conference loss to UConn, they’re 4-1 in conference play.

They’ve got a huge game coming up against Virginia, another ACC contender. Duke’s favored by four, but this one’s a toss-up.

4. USC’s At-Large Hopes

USC’s clinging to a 20 percent chance of making the CFP as an at-large team. If they beat Iowa, they set up a do-or-die playoff game with Oregon next week.

The Trojans are favored by 6.5, but Iowa’s not a team anyone should overlook.

5. BYU vs. TCU: Big 12 After Dark

If BYU wins and Cincinnati pulls one out too, next weekend’s matchup between those two could be electric. BYU just lost a tough one to Texas Tech, so they’re looking to bounce back against TCU.

The Cougars are slight favorites at 3.5 points, but this one’s got late-night drama written all over it.

6. Pitt’s Influence on the CFP Race

Pitt has the ACC’s top scoring offense and can play spoiler in the playoff race. Their non-conference clash with Notre Dame could shake things up big time.