Here's Ken Schreiber's college football Rivalry Week predictions
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Rivalry week is maybe the best week in all of sports, when generations of loyalties are tested against each other in a season finale matchup. As they‘ve been saying for decades, throw out the records because anything can happen and it has. With many CFP berths still up for grabs, upsets could turn this 12-team playoff into chaos.
Let’s examine the conference scenarios:
Who will be SEC champ?
Sixteen teams with only eight conference games makes it an imperfect way of determining a champion. The elimination of divisions was the precursor to this storyline. Some schools (Mississippi, Georgia) would rather stay away from the conference championship game in order to assure a CFP berth. Bottom line is if Texas A&M and Alabama win, they’re going to Atlanta. An upset could create real controversy.
Intrigue in the Big Ten
Easy. No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana. While the Hoosiers are heavy favorites against Purdue, the Buckeyes face their kryptonite in Michigan. More on that later. However, a loss to the Wolverines will keep the Buckeyes in the CFP but probably not the Big Ten championship. Sound familiar?
Big 12 is cut and dried, or not?
Simple. No. 11 BYU and No. 5 Texas Tech win and they play for the championship. A loss by either will shatter their dream and send the league's championship into uncertainty. Don’t expect that here as the Cougars and Red Raiders are heavy favorites against UCF and West Virginia.
ACC is a mess
This weak league is already a mess, also playing just eight conference games with 16 members. They deserve whatever they get with their unbalanced schedule. Their best team, No. 12 Miami, needs a miracle to reach the conference championship and is putting any hope in a long shot at-large bid. If No. 21 SMU and Virginia prevail against Cal and Virginia Tech, they’re in. Even a loss by either doesn’t eliminate them or give Miami much hope. Heck, Duke (6-5) has a better chance.
CFP expansion is on the horizon
The CFP and ESPN, also known as the sports monopoly network, announced they’ve agreed to extend discussions about what next year’s postseason tournament will look like to Jan. 23, 2026. Expect expansion to at least 16 teams with the Big Ten advocating for an even larger number (24) with automatic qualifiers. The SEC is not on board, preferring rankings to determine at-large bids after conference champs are crowned. Here’s predicting the proposal generating the most revenue wins.
The coaches report
Missouri gave coach Eli Drinkwitz a six-year extension as he, too, used the leverage of attractive vacancies to secure another large and long guaranteed contract. Drinkwitz just signed an extension in 2022 through 2029 but this one increases all the yearly figures by millions and through 2031. While Drinkwitz is highly regarded here, the Tigers haven’t won an SEC championship and are 7-4. I know this is the going rate but there’s a sucker born every minute.
Lane Kiffin’s recruitment is reminiscent of Lebron James', when he announced he was “taking his talents to South Beach.” Remember, it’s all a con game designed to maximize publicity and remuneration and Saturday we’ll hopefully put this ridiculous media circus hype to rest. For whatever it’s worth, it says here LSU “wins” the lottery altering the balance of the SEC.
My Top 25 picks
No. 3 Texas A&M (11-0) -2.5 playing at No. 16 Texas (8-3): The last time the Aggies were favored at Texas, Johnnie football was playing. Another disappointing season at Texas after being preseason ranked No. 1 and quarterback Arch Manning favored to win the Heisman. Even with a victory, the Longhorns likely will fall short of a CFP berth. Still, isn’t it great to see these teams playing again every year? Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has changed the package for his quarterback, limiting him to bubble screens and short passes of five- to 10-yards. It didn’t work against Georgia and it won’t work against an Aggie defense allowing just 302 yards per game. Expect Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed to use his arm and his feet to keep his team undefeated.No. 1 Ohio State (11-0) at No. 15 Michigan (9-2) +1: The Game at the Big House. Do the Buckeyes have a weakness? Quarterback Julian Sayin is playing like a Heisman finalist. They have the best combination of receivers (Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate) in the country and the best defensive player in the country (Caleb Downs), who they bought from Alabama. Michigan must win to have any chance at the CFP. The fact that OSU and coach Ryan Day are on a four-game losing streak has some Buckeye diehards saying they would rather have defeated Michigan than win it all last year. Yeah, right. The Wolverines do matchup physically and the question is whether the Buckeyes play “tight.” The pressure is all on OSU and while the Buckeyes like to play fast, expect the Wolverines to control the ball and limit their chances. The Buckeyes kryptonite does them in again as Michigan pulls off the upset!
No . 14 Vanderbilt (9-2) +4 at No. 19 Tennessee (8-3): The Commodores, with a victory on the road, are still alive for the CFP. Their quarterback Diego Pavia has been a difference-maker both with his arm and his legs. Why not Vandy? The 'Dores win in a high scoring affair!
No. 4 Georgia (10-1) -13.5 at No. 23 Georgia Tech (9-2): Ah, what might’ve been. These teams are going in opposite directions and expect it to continue. Dawgs roll!
No. 12 Miami (9-2) -6.5 at No. 22 Pitt (8-3): I know it’s going to be cold and the Hurricanes are used to warm weather but the talent disparity is too much here. The contenders beat the pretenders. Hurricanes roll!
No. 20 Arizona (8-3) at No. 25 Arizona State (8-3)+2: The dual in the desert with the schoolsfor the Territorial Cup. Last time both teams were ranked in this game was 2014. Something about ASU coach Kenny Dillingham, who is doing it this year with backup Jeff Sims, almost 26 years old and playing for his third team. Sun Devils prevail!
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here's Ken Schreiber's college football Rivalry Week predictions
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