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College Football Championship Weekend: The biggest storylines to follow
Nine conferences will crown a champion this weekend as the 2025 college football regular season comes to an end.
With playoffs, pride, and polished trophies on the line - and every snap streaming live and free on DAZN - here are the biggest storylines to watch as Conference Championship weekend takes center stage.
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Battle of the Invincibles
There can be only one.
There are 136 football programs competing in the FBS. And after 15 weeks of football spanning 5 months, beginning in Dublin, Ireland, there are just two undefeated teams left.
It is quite apt, then, that these two invincibles will bring the curtain down on the 2025 season. Ohio State and Indiana compete for the Big Ten title at the RCA Dome on Saturday evening, in a game that will have little effect on the playoffs, but carries more meaning than hoisting a conference trophy.
The Hoosiers and Buckeyes have proven themselves beyond measure. And the loser of this bout will not be punished by the committee significantly enough to demote them out of the top four seeds. That means, regardless of the result, both these schools will enjoy a bye in the playoffs.
Ohio State are no strangers to winning the Big Ten, with 39 titles in their trophy cabinet. But it feels like there’s a point to prove in Columbus right now. The Buckeyes are suffering a five-year conference drought, and despite the National Championship last year, they’ll want to establish their dominance.
Indiana sits firmly on the other end of the spectrum, having last won the conference 58 years ago - and only twice in their history. Head Coach Curt Cignetti has put a chip firmly on his team’s shoulders, and in his image they play with a point to prove. Winning the Big Ten would validate the Hoosiers; they’ll be throwing everything at Ohio State on Saturday.
In an alternate universe this game would be nothing more than a dog and pony show, a prelude to the bigger picture of the playoffs. That won’t be the case this weekend; these two head coaches won’t allow it.
Mean Green or Green Wave? More than a conference title on the line
Championship weekend begins on Friday night, with four of the Group of Five’s showcase games on the schedule. Three of them have potential playoff implications.
Most will have eyes on the American Conference, where #20 Tulane hosts #24 North Texas. The winner of this conference will undoubtedly stamp their ticket to the postseason bracket; the American has proven to be the strongest non-autonomous league in the FBS, with members Memphis, Navy and USF all ranked at some point this season.
Both these programs have done so well that they’ve seen their head coaches poached. But in a pleasant quirk, Eric Morris (Oklahoma State) and Jon Sumrall (Tulane) will both coach their teams through this game - and beyond, for whoever triumphs.
The Green Wave probably boasts the deeper roster, but the Mean Green have an outrageous offense that scored 50+ points seven times in twelve games this season. This is a game not to be missed.
Elsewhere, James Madison will face Troy in the Sun Belt title game. The Dukes were ranked #25 by the committee on Tuesday, which is significant; if Duke beat Virginia and wins the ACC, it’s very possible JMU will be the 5th conference champion invited to the playoffs, as the Blue Devils have an unappealing five losses.
Finally, don’t discount the Mountain West from gatecrashing the playoff party. If James Madison loses, would the committee include an 11-2 UNLV over an 8-5 Duke? The Rebels would have to beat Boise State on the Blue Turf, but a slim chance is still a chance.
Breathless stuff. Still with me? We’ve not even got to Saturday yet!
Irish eyes on Arlington
Saturday’s action kicks off with the Big 12 title game. BYU face Texas Tech in Arlington, Texas, in a rematch from Week 11. But that’s far from where the narratives end…
BYU have had a season far beyond expectations and are currently ranked #11 by the playoff committee. With two other conference winners coming from outside the top 12, the Cougars currently find themselves as the ‘first team out’, meaning it’s almost certain they need to win this weekend to finish in the knockout.
Their opponents, Texas Tech, share an 11-1 record with BYU but thrashed the Cougars four weeks ago, only surrendering points in garbage time. The Red Raiders are sat comfortably at #4 in the playoffs, eyeing a bye if they win the Big 12 and likely still in should they lose.
There’s also a third party interested in this result. Notre Dame, ranked at #10, are clinging on to playoff relevance. A win for BYU is the biggest danger to their own national championship hopes, and South Bend will feel like West Texas on Saturday. It would be an incredible comeback for the Fighting Irish, who lost their first two contests of 2025 before going on a 10-game winning streak.
TTU have spent that oil money wisely, building a roster that is the envy of the Big 12. But BYU is buoyed by head coach Kalane Sitaki deciding to stay in Provo, and have the ultimate wildcard in quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Can the Cougs break Irish hearts, or will it be raining tortillas in AT&T Stadium?
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