Conference newcomers to play for titles in Power Four. Oregon-Penn St, Texas-Georgia top-5 matchups
The first season of major conference expansion has produced an intriguing set of championship games this week, and not just because they'll determine which teams get automatic bids and first-round byes in the College Football Playoff
The first season of major conference expansion has produced an intriguing set of championship games this week, and not only because they will determine which teams get automatic bids and first-round byes in the College Football Playoff.
Four of the nine games Friday and Saturday match teams that already squared off in the regular season. Texas-Georgia in the Southeastern Conference game in Atlanta is one of those rematches and also one of two games matching teams in the top five of The Associated Press college football poll.
Each of the Power Four games will include a team that wasn't in that conference last season. Three of the newcomers were in their previous league's championship game last year — Oregon (Pac-12), Texas (Big 12) and SMU (American).
And not unexpected with so much change on the college sports landscape, there will be a couple of first-ever meetings: Arizona State-Iowa State in the Big 12 and SMU-Clemson in the ACC.
