NCAA Championship Weekend delivered thrilling showdowns as top teams battled for conference titles, highlighted by Oregon’s Big 10 win, Clemson’s ACC triumph, and Army’s hard-fought AAC victory.
The college conference championship games were nothing short of wild. Headlining the action was a highly anticipated rematch between No. 9 Boise State and No. 24 UNLV. Tulane, an unseeded underdog, faced off against No. 22 Army, while No. 18 Iowa State took on No. 12 Arizona State in a tightly matched contest. No. 16 Clemson battled No. 10 SMU, and No. 2 Georgia clashed with No. 3 Texas in a high-stakes showdown. Finally, the marquee matchup featured No. 1 Oregon against No. 4 Penn State in a game packed with playoff implications. In college football conference championships, seedings only matter on paper — upsets are always on the table.
Alex – SEC Championship Game: 2 Georgia vs 3 Texas
The SEC game was the number 2 seed Georgia vs the 3 seed Texas. Georgia and Texas were both going head to head in the first quarter. The only points that were scored were Texas with a field goal. In the second quarter the game was still slow. Texas got another field goal then finally Georgia finally got on the board with a field goal. Before half Texas kicked another field goal and missed, there was half time.
In the second half that’s where things started to get good. Georgia was down by three going into the third quarter and instantly responded with a Trevor Etienne 10 Yd Run for the touchdown. Both defenses were showing out, getting multiple stops and making each team punt before finally Trevor Etienne had a breakout run for 48 yards putting them on the Texas 19 yard line. The Georgia Bulldogs offense got stuck but their kicker made a 24 yard field goal to make it 13-6 before the fourth quarter. Both quarterbacks were going back and forth as just the Texas defense and the Georgia defense were unstoppable. Texas going into the fourth quarter knew they had to make a big play and that’s what happened. Quinn Ewers connects with DeAndre Moore for a 41 yard touchdown pass. Now the game is all tied up 13-13.
Georgia marches down the field holding the ball for 9 minutes and 22 seconds to kick a field goal to go up by three. The score is now 16-13 late into the fourth quarter. Texas marches down the field and gets a clutch field goal to tie the game up 16-16 and go into overtime.
In overtime Texas got the ball first but sadly came up short and had to kick a field goal. Georgia gets the ball and gets to the goal line Trevor Etienne runs the ball and scores. Georgia wins the game and in my personal opinion the running back Trevor Etienne would’ve won mvp.
Hal’e – Big 10 Championship Game: 1 Oregon vs 4 Penn State
The Big 10 Championship Game was a battle between two of the nation’s most electrifying teams, the No. 1 Oregon Ducks and the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions. This highly anticipated showdown featured two of college football’s premier quarterbacks — Oregon’s left-handed superstar Dillon Gabriel and Penn State’s rocket-armed Drew Allar.
The game was every bit as thrilling as expected, a back-and-forth shootout that had fans glued to their screens. Both teams traded big plays and momentum-shifting drives, but in the end, Oregon came out on top with a 45-37 victory to claim the Big 10 title. Gabriel was in top form, throwing for 283 yards, 4 touchdowns, a 68% completion rate, and a stellar 95.4 QBR. Not to be outdone, Allar put up an impressive performance of his own, throwing for 226 yards, 3 touchdowns, a 51% completion rate, and an 81.8 QBR.
Both quarterbacks showcased their elite talent, but Gabriel’s clutch play down the stretch gave Oregon the edge. The Ducks proved why they’re the top team in the country, while Penn State showed they belong on the big stage. This game will be remembered as one of the most exciting Big 10 title games in recent history.
Hal’e – ACC Championship Game: 10 Southern Methodist University (SMU) vs 16 Clemson
The ACC Championship Game was a clash between two powerhouse programs, the No. 10 Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs and the No. 16 Clemson Tigers. Both teams entered the game with explosive offenses and dynamic playmakers, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
Leading the charge for SMU was star quarterback Kevin Jennings, known for his precision passing and ability to extend plays. On the other side, Clemson’s offense was powered by Cade Klubnik, a dual-threat QB with the poise to lead his team in crunch time. The game lived up to the hype, with both teams trading scores throughout, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
In the end, Clemson emerged victorious with a final score of 34-31. Klubnik put on a show tallying 262 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, a 58% completion rate, and a 68.0 QBR. Jennings wasn’t far behind, throwing for 304 yards, 3 touchdowns, a 65% completion rate, and a 76.7 QBR.
This game was a testament to the grit and resilience of both teams, with SMU ultimately securing the ACC title in dramatic fashion.
Alex – Big 12 Championship Game: 12 Arizona State vs 18 Iowa State
Personally I thought this was going to be a good game but to be honest the only way it was a good game is if you are an Arizona State fan. Sam Leavitt threw for 12/17 with 219 passing yards with 3 tds and zero thrown interceptions. Another Arizona st player that went off is Cam Skattebo had 16 carries with 170 yards and 2 td’s. His longest run went for 53 yards. Another key player was Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 21/35 with 1 interceptions thrown but he had 214 yards with 2 touchdowns. Arizona just kept scoring and scoring leaving Iowa in the dust. By far it was the most abusive championship game by far this year.
Alex – Mountain West Championship Game: 9 Boise State vs 24 UNLV
Ashton Jeanty topped off this game. He had a total of 32 carries with 209 yards with 1 touchdown. He is a favorite to win the Heisman award. UNLV was struggling this whole game in the first three quarters they didn’t even put up a single point. They just kept punting and punting. The Boise State offense was doing really good putting up 21 points before the half but the rest of the game was slow. There was only 1 score in the second half. It was a pretty boring game unless you are a Boise State fan. Ashton Jeanty was the most entertaining player to watch. He can be getting stopped all game then he randomly breaks out for a 75 yard run for a touchdown.
Hal’e – AAC Championship Game: Tulane vs 22 Army
The AAC Championship Game featured a thrilling matchup between the Tulane Green Wave and the Army Black Knights. Both teams brought contrasting styles to the field, with Tulane’s high-powered offense facing off against Army’s methodical, ground-and-pound attack.
Tulane was led by star quarterback Darian Mensah, known for his accuracy and ability to make plays under pressure. On the other side, Army relied on its dual-threat quarterback Bryson Daily, who combined physical running with timely passing to keep defenses guessing.
The game was a hard-fought battle from start to finish, with both teams trading touchdowns and momentum swings. In the end, Army secured the AAC title with a 35-14 victory. Daily didn’t have a very impressive stat line throwing the ball, where he only had 2 completions in two attempts, for 17 yards, but while running the ball, he was impossible to catch. He had 25 carries for 126 yards, and 4 rushing touchdowns. Mensah on the other hand had great stats for a QB, throwing for 209 yards, with 2 touchdowns, a 68% completion percentage, and a QBR of 65.5.
Army’s ability to capitalize on key possessions late in the game proved to be the difference, it allowed them to claim their first AAC title in 134 years.
Championship weekend showcased the unpredictability and excitement that defines college football. From underdog triumphs to heavyweight clashes, each game brought high stakes and unforgettable moments. Teams fought not just for conference titles, but for pride, playoff positions, and a chance to prove they belong among the nation’s elite. The intensity, passion, and sheer unpredictability of the weekend reminded fans why college football remains one of the most captivating sports in the nation. As the dust settles, only one thing is certain — nothing is guaranteed in the pursuit of glory.
