College football today on TV: Championship Saturday times, matchups, and playoff stakes
Championship Saturday has arrived, packing a full day of title games that will shape the expanded College Football Playoff. From a noon doubleheader to primetime showdowns, today’s slate delivers venue-sized drama, rivalry rematches, and a rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 conference title clash.
Today’s college football TV slate (ET & UK times)
The games below air on national television in the U.S. with standard live-TV and authenticated streaming options; check local listings. UK times shown in GMT.
| Window (ET) | Window (UK GMT) | Game & Venue | What’s at stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Big 12 Championship: No. 11 BYU vs. No. 4 Texas Tech — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) | Texas Tech seeks a near-lock berth; BYU can punch its ticket with a statement win. |
| 12:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan — Ford Field (Detroit, MI) | League crown and improved bowl position for a pair of turnaround programs. |
| 4:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | SEC Championship: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 9 Alabama — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) | Blue-blood rematch with direct CFP implications for both. |
| 8:00 p.m. | 1:00 a.m. (Sun) | ACC Championship: Duke vs. No. 17 Virginia — Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) | Winner claims the league and strengthens postseason seeding. |
| 8:00 p.m. | 1:00 a.m. (Sun) | Big Ten Championship: No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Ohio State — Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN) | A No. 1 vs. No. 2 title bout that doubles as a national semifinal-level test. |
Note: Some conferences concluded additional championships Friday night.
What matters most for the College Football Playoff
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The Big Ten decider is a seismic bracket shaper. A No. 1 vs. No. 2 meeting in a conference title game is exceedingly rare. The winner controls a top seed; the loser still has a strong case but would need help elsewhere.
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SEC rematch could reorder the top four. Georgia aims to avenge an earlier loss; Alabama tries to complete the two-game sweep. Margin of victory may influence seeding.
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Big 12 has “win and you’re in” vibes for Texas Tech. BYU’s path is straightforward: beat a top-five opponent on a neutral field and ride that résumé into the field.
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ACC winner hunts security. Virginia’s ranking and Duke’s late-season surge make the primetime bout a résumé validator with bowl positioning and CFP seeding consequences.
Quick storylines to track today
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Quarterback poise under lights: Neutral-site domes and playoff-level atmospheres tend to compress margins. Red-zone execution and two-minute drills will decide titles.
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Defensive fronts vs. tempo offenses: In multiple games, the favorite’s edge lives on the line of scrimmage. Early pressure rates often predict second-half separation.
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Special teams in controlled environments: Indoor venues amplify the kicking game; long field goals and hidden yardage on punts can flip a quarter.
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Health and depth: Short-week adjustments after rivalry games stress depth charts. Rotations at corner and along the offensive line will be pivotal.
How to watch, wherever you are
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United States & Canada (ET): All five kickoffs above are on national television with mainstream streaming options through most live-TV providers and network apps.
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United Kingdom (GMT): Evening and late-night windows align with 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. kickoffs; check local carriage and listings.
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Cord-cutter tip: If you’re sampling a short-term service, verify your plan includes the primary national sports channels that carry conference title games.
What’s next
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Selection show (Sunday): Final seeds and first-round pairings for the expanded playoff are unveiled Sunday morning (ET).
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Bowl grid fills in: Title-game results cascade through bowl tie-ins by conference and ranking.
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Awards and portal season: Individual honors and transfer movement accelerate once the bracket is set.
Set your reminders: a balanced day with heavyweight centerpieces (SEC, Big Ten) and high-leverage bookends (Big 12, ACC) makes today the most consequential Saturday of the season.
