2016 NCAA Conference Championship Weekend Guide: Schedule, Games, TV Coverage, Teams, Selection Show
This has been an extremely exciting 2016 NCAA college football season, and the bowl games are right around the corner, but first, Conference Championship Weekend arrives. There are nine huge games this weekend that will either make the playoff committee’s job easier or much more complicated. Either way, you don’t want to miss a single minute of the football action over the next few days, so here is a complete schedule with TV times, games, and more leading up to the Selection Show on Sunday.
Things are not going to be as easy for the selection committee as they are already under fire for Ohio State likely landing in the playoffs. Many fans wonder if that is really fair considering they won’t even be in their own conference’s championship game since Penn State beat them earlier this season.
Now, there is the possibility that Navy could mess things up as well. As reported by the Washington Post, Navy is set to possibly win the American Athletic Conference, which could help their argument that the AAC should be part of the Power Six. If they do win, it could have an effect on who plays in the Cotton Bowl and the entire bowl/playoff system.
Despite there being just nine games this weekend, the conference championships are going to go a long way to determining how the bowl games pan out. All of the fun starts on Friday with the schedule leading into all day on Saturday before Sunday finishes things off with the Selection Show.
Friday, Dec. 2, 2016
MAC Conference Championship
Site: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN 2
Matchup: #17 Western Michigan vs. Ohio
Pac-12 Conference Championship
Site: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Time/TV: 9 p.m. ET on FOX
Matchup: #8 Colorado vs. #4 Washington
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016
American Athletic Conference Championship
Site: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland
Time/TV: Noon ET on ABC
Matchup: Temple at #19 Navy
Conference USA Conference Championship
Site: L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Time/TV: Noon ET on ESPN
Matchup: Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky
Big 12 Conference Championship
Site: Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma
Time/TV: 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX
Matchup: #10 Oklahoma State at #9 Oklahoma
As pointed out by ESPN, this is not the official championship game for the Big 12 as they really don’t have one. This game between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will end up deciding the conference title, though.
CBS Sports did report earlier this year that the Big 12 has approved the plan for the championship game to return, though, and it will start in 2017.
SEC Conference Championship
Site: Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia
Time/TV: 4 p.m. ET on CBS
Matchup: #1 Alabama vs. #15 Florida
Mountain West Conference Championship
Site: War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming
Time/TV: 7:45 p.m. ET on ESPN
Matchup: San Diego State at Wyoming
ACC Conference Championship
Site: Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Matchup: #3 Clemson vs. #23 Virginia Tech
Big Ten Conference Championship
Site:Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
Time/TV:8 p.m. ET on FOX
Matchup: #6 Wisconsin vs. #7 Penn State
Once all of the games are over for conference championship weekend, the shows that all sports fans around the country will be watching are set to begin. The Selection Show on Sunday afternoon is the moment that teams have been waiting for, and it is when all bowl eligible teams know where they will be going. Fans can enjoy all the action as ESPN will show the festivities.
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2016
- College Football Daily: 8 a.m. – Noon ET on ESPNU
- College Football Playoff Selection Show: Noon – 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Championship Drive: Bowl Selection Show: 4 – 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU
- Championship Drive: Who’s In: 8:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. on ESPN
The 2016 NCAA Conference Championship Weekend is going to help figure out who is supposed to go where for the bowl games. One big problem is that as some things get clearer, they might actually become a bit more complicated. No matter what, everything will be situated and figured out by the Selection Show on Sunday. At least with this helpful guide of games, times, TV schedules, and more, you will be able to know what to watch and when.
[Featured Image by Kevin C. Cow/Getty Images]