NCAA Week 12 highlights: Top 25 and Conference Championships

We again had several upsets, but they didn't involve the top teams.  Perhaps that's because so many of the top teams (especially in the ACC and SEC) decided to play FCS or weak FBS teams this week.  And people have complained about Wisconsin's schedule?  Sheesh, such two-facedness and obvious anti-Big Ten bias!  At least I get to be a voice of reason and rationality on the Internet!

Top 25 [Last week's position]
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0) [1]
2. Wisconsin Badgers (11-0) [2]
3. Clemson Tigers (10-1) [3]
4. Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) [4]
5. UCF Golden Knights (10-0) [5]
6. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-2) [6]
7. Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2) [7]
8. Auburn Tigers (9-2) [8]
9. Miami Hurricanes (10-0) [9]
10. Georgia Bulldogs (10-1) [10]
11. Washington Huskies (9-2) [11]
12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2) [13]
13. TCU Horned Frogs (9-2) [15]
14. South Florida Bulls (9-1) [16]
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-3) [12]
16. USC Trojans (10-2) [17]
17. Virginia Tech Hokies (8-3) [18]
18. Boise State Broncos (9-2) [26]
19. Stanford Cardinal (8-3) [19]
20. Washington State Cougars (9-2) [20]
21. Memphis Tigers (9-1) [22]
22. Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-3) [21]
23. Michigan Wolverines (8-3) [14]
24. Toledo Rockets (9-2) [NR]
25. Northwestern Wildcats (8-3) [NR]
Dropped off: Ohio Bobcats [#23], Arizona Wildcats [#24], West Virginia Mountaineers [#25]

On the Edge: San Diego State Aztecs (9-2), Florida Atlantic Owls (8-3), Northern Illinois Huskies (8-3), Troy Trojans (8-2), Louisville Cardinals (7-4), Marshall Thundering Herd (7-4), Army Black Knights (8-3)

Upset Alerts
The MAC once again began the string of upsets, when Akron knocked off division-leading Ohio (and knocked them right out of the Top 25).  Another upset cost another Top 25 team, as Texas became bowl-eligible by defeating West Virginia.

Starting 3pm on Saturday, the pace of upsets increased rapidly.  Kansas State knocked off Oklahoma State, whose heroic fourth quarter comeback attempt, and lackluster performances by some of the lower Top 25 teams, kept the Cowboys in the Top 15.  Purdue destroyed any chance of Iowa returning to the Top 25, Florida dominated UAB, and Tulane ruined divisional title dreams of Houston.  The evening concluded with Oregon knocking off Arizona, and knocking the Wildcats out of the Top 25.

One important upset of note -- poor struggling Georgia Southern, a perennial powerhouse when they played in FCS, finally won their first game of the season.  Not only did they beat South Alabama, they utterly demolished them in a 52-0 blowout!  Georgia Southern fans have to be wondering where that performance had been hiding all season.

Conference Championships
Many of these are set heading into the final full week of the season, so I'll structure this section slightly differently today.  I will start with the matchups already determined, and then look at those races still to be decided.

ACC Championship:  Miami against Clemson
Big XII: They don't really have a championship game, they just manufactured one to satisfy the selection committee.  Oklahoma has already won the conference.  Ironically, if TCU upsets them in the pseudo-championship game, Oklahoma will lose any chance at the playoffs and this attempted appeal to the selection committee will backfire.
Big Ten:  Wisconsin faces Ohio State
Conference USA:  Florida Atlantic takes on North Texas
Mountain West:  Fresno State versus Boise State

Now, let's look at the rest:
American Athletic:  Memphis has clinched their spot.  The winner of the UCF-South Florida game determines their opponent
MAC: This one has both divisions still open.  Toledo clinches with a win, Northern Illinois needs a win AND a Toledo loss.  Akron clinches with a win, while Ohio needs to win AND have Akron lose
Pac-12: USC has clinched their division.  Washington State needs to beat Washington to represent the North; otherwise, Stanford plays USC
SEC:  Georgia will play the winner of the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn
Sun Belt: This one is absurd, but it has two more weeks to iron itself out.  So many of the four teams atop the conference have not played each other, so tiebreakers are hard.  That actually gives Troy the advantage, as they have the better overall record.  Troy wins by winning out.  Arkansas State wins by winning out (as they still face Troy) AND a loss by Georgia State.  Appalachian State needs the most help; they need to win out AND have BOTH Troy and Arkansas State lose.