The race for college football’s conference titles has intensified as teams vie for a coveted spot in the expanded playoff. With the potential for automatic bids for champions of the top leagues, the competition has become increasingly chaotic. Most Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences no longer use divisions, instead matching their top two finishers in the championship game. A detailed review of each conference’s standings reveals how the final stretch of the season is shaping up.
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
In the ACC, Virginia stands as the sole unbeaten team with a record of 5-0. Following closely are Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh, each with 5-1 records. Not far behind are Louisville, SMU, and Duke, all posting impressive 4-1 marks.
Tiebreaker scenarios are already in play: Virginia has defeated Louisville, Georgia Tech has a win over Duke, and Louisville bested Pitt. Critical matchups in the coming weeks include Duke hosting Virginia on November 15 and Georgia Tech taking on Pitt on November 22. With Miami at 2-2, they face an uphill battle to re-enter the title conversation.
American Athletic Conference (AAC)
The AAC has six teams contending closely, each with one loss after Navy‘s recent defeat to North Texas. Currently, Navy leads with a record of 5-1, followed by Memphis, North Texas, South Florida, Tulane, and East Carolina, all within striking distance.
Tiebreakers include Memphis’s win over South Florida and North Texas’s victory against Navy. Memphis will face Tulane and East Carolina in crucial matchups, while Navy hosts South Florida on November 15. The AAC champion could potentially secure a Group of Five bid to the 12-team playoff.
Other Notable Conferences
In the Mountain West, San Diego State leads with a 4-0 record, while Boise State follows at 4-1. The conference has seen a bid to the playoffs recently, and with San Diego State’s upcoming games against Hawaii and Boise State, the race remains competitive.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten features a tight contest at the top with Indiana at 6-0 and Ohio State at 5-0. These two teams will not meet in the regular season, adding intrigue to potential tiebreakers based on their wins against other conference opponents.
In Conference USA, Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State lead with 4-0 records, but overall losses among teams suggest they are not in playoff contention.
The Sun Belt could be a dark horse in the playoff race if James Madison maintains its 5-0 record and other teams falter. The upcoming clash with Coastal Carolina on November 29 will be crucial.
As the season progresses, the conference title races promise to deliver thrilling moments leading up to the playoffs, with various teams still in contention for spots in the expanded playoff framework. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly watching how these critical matchups will unfold in the coming weeks.
