Saturday in Review: Championship Week

Bowling Green won their title game by a wider margin than
any other conference champion. The Falcon defense played
better than expected, holding the often prolific NIU offense to
just one touchdown (the Huskies also scored off a pick-six).
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The champions of 2015 have claimed their crowns, the bowl schedule has been arranged, and all that's left of the regular season is the Army-Navy game this upcoming weekend. Only one team, Alabama, repeated as a conference winner, but there weren't many upsets this last Saturday or champions that would have surprised us this preseason.

Bowling Green sealed up the MAC with a dominating performance over Northern Illinois. In total offensive yards, the Falcons almost doubled the Huskies, who were relying on a third-string quarterback due to injuries. The win marked Bowling Green's 12th MAC title.

Early, critical takeaways helped Houston defeat Temple for the American title. The Cougar defense bent, but didn't break while holding the Owls to a season-low in points scored. Good ball control by Houston, who did not commit a turnover, also negated one of Temple's usual advantages.

The biggest upset of the week wasn't in a championship game. It was when Texas knocked off Baylor, who were forced to use a fourth-string quarterback after an unfortunate string of injuries. The Bear passing game, usually something fearsome, looked totally inept, even though their rushing attack ran all over the Longhorn defense. Turnovers and missed field goals ultimately doomed Baylor and eliminated them from contention for a top bowl game.

Western Kentucky pulled away late from Southern Miss, winning their first conference title since joining the FBS in 2008. In the end, the Golden Eagles couldn't keep up with the Hilltopper offense. The Hilltoppers' Conference USA title was their first conference championship of any kind since 2002, despite being quite competitive through most of the last decade.

Arkansas State clinched sole possession of the Sun Belt title with their blowout win over Texas State. In the last five seasons, the Red Wolves have topped their conference four times.

The Alabama defense was too strong for Florida, as the Crimson Tide captured the first back-to-back SEC title since Tennessee in 1998. The Gator defense played well, considering they were on the field for over 43 minutes, but the offense couldn't get enough going to hang on with the Crimson Tide. Thanks to a punt return touchdown early in the second quarter, the Gators actually led until late in the first half. However, the Alabama defense held Florida to just three yard during the second and third quarters, and the Alabama offense was eventually able to wear down the Gators. The Crimson Tide held the Florida offense to just seven first downs and did not allow a third down conversion all game. Alabama has now won four of eight championship games against Florida and are one title shy of tying the Gators for most SEC Championship Game victories.

Clemson's Deshaun Watson had his way with UNC, throwing
for 289 and running for 131 against the Tar Heel defense.
Jeff Siner - charlotteobserver.com

The San Diego State Aztecs returned to the top of the Mountain West with their narrow win over Air Force. The game was closely-contested throughout, with it ultimately being decided by a fourth-quarter field goal. The Aztecs held strong late in the game, smothering the Falcons' final attempts to score.

Stanford became California's second in-state conference champion after their victory against USC in the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans were unable to contain Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, who accumulated 207 rushing yards, 149 return yards, 105 receiving yards, 11 passing yards, and touchdowns of all three offensive types against the USC defense and special teams.

The breaks mostly went Carolina's way, but Clemson was able to overcome UNC for their first ACC title since 2011. A controversial call overturned a late onside kick recovery by North Carolina, but Clemson generally outplayed the Tar Heels through most of the night. Due to the conclusion of the Big Ten title game, the Tigers will enter the postseason as the only unbeaten team in the FBS.

Michigan State reigns as champions of the aforementioned Big Ten after a thrilling victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in Indianapolis. An epic defensive struggle, the game was led 13-9 by Iowa with 9:31 remaining. Then ensued a remarkable nine minute, four second drive in which the Spartans punched in the game-winning touchdown while leaving just 27 seconds left for Iowa to retaliate. The Green and White defense wouldn't let that happen, and the Spartans earned their spot for a playoff appearance.

Championships:

• MAC: Bowling Green (10-3) over Northern Illinois (8-5), 37-30 34-14
• American: 22 Temple (10-3) over 19 Houston (12-1), 24-17 24-13
• Conference USA: Western Kentucky (11-2) over Southern Mississippi (9-4), 45-41 45-28
• SEC: 18 Florida (10-3) over 2 Alabama (12-1), 14-13 29-15
• Mountain West: San Diego State (10-3) over Air Force (8-5), 28-21 27-24
• Pac-12: 7 Stanford (11-2) over 20 USC (8-5), 31-24 41-22
• ACC: 10 North Carolina (11-2) over 1 Clemson (13-0), 34-31 45-37
• Big Ten: 4 Iowa (12-1) over 5 Michigan State (12-1), 28-24 16-13

State of Florida: 

• Florida Atlantic (3-9), END OF SEASON
• 9 Florida State (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Miami (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• South Florida (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• UCF (0-12), END OF SEASON
• FIU (5-7), END OF SEASON

Southeastern Conference:

• Arkansas (7-5), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Auburn (6-6), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Georgia (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Kentucky (5-7), END OF SEASON
• 21 LSU (8-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 13 Mississippi (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Mississippi State (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Missouri (5-7), END OF SEASON
• South Carolina (3-9), END OF SEASON
• 25 Tennessee (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Texas A&M (8-4), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• Vanderbilt (4-8), END OF SEASON

Top 25:

• 12 Baylor (9-3) over Texas (5-7), 49-13 23-17
• 3 Oklahoma (11-1), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 6 Ohio State (11-1), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 8 Notre Dame (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 11 TCU (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 14 Northwestern (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 15 Michigan (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 16 Oregon (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 17 Oklahoma State (10-2), END OF REGULAR SEASON
• 23 Navy (9-2), BYE
• 24 Utah (9-3), END OF REGULAR SEASON

Championship Week Record: 4-5 (44%)
Season Record: 281-82 (77%)