10 Key Storylines to Watch Heading into Championship Week
After a wild rivalry week, it's championship week in college football, and it's time to see what are the biggest storylines are.
Ohio State and Florida State are each one win away from playing for the BCS Championship. But that doesn't mean Michigan State and Duke don't have different plans.
The Big 12 title is also up for grabs, as Oklahoma State and Baylor are battling for a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.
Checkout more on those and the other top 10 headlines of championship week.
Can Ohio State Make It 25 Win in a Row?
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Urban Meyer is 24-0 as Ohio State's head coach.
But for the Buckeyes to get to the BCS National Championship Game, he'll need to make it 25-0 with a Big Ten title game victory over Michigan State.
At No. 10, the Spartans will be the highest-ranked team Ohio State has faced all year. Michigan State boasts the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation (11.8 points), so the Buckeyes' third-ranked scoring offense (48.2 points) will be put to the test.
The Buckeyes are coming off their biggest scare of the year to archrival Michigan, so they know what it's like to be tested. But with so much on the line for both OSU and MSU, anything can happen.
Will Duke Pull off the Impossible and Upset Florida State?
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The Duke Blue Devils are ACC Coastal Division champions and just one more win away from appearing in the school's first ever BCS bowl.
But to do that, David Cutcliffe and Co. must do the improbable and upset top-ranked Florida State.
The Seminoles possess one of the nation's most prolific offenses behind the play of quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Jameis Winston. But Duke has held its opponents to 21 or fewer points six times this season, so Cutcliffe certainly has the talent to possibly limit Florida State.
Duke will certainly be heavy underdogs against the Seminoles. But that's been typical this season for the Blue Devils football team. Nobody has given them a shot, which makes the ACC Championship all the more intriguing.
Continued Developments in the Jameis Winston Sexual Assault Case
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According to a report from Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel (h/t Chicago Tribune), a decision on whether or not to charge Florida State Heisman Trophy candidate Jameis Winston with a crime in the sexual assault investigation regarding him could come as early as this week:
""I do think it’s going to be hopefully by the end of this week, possibly into next,” chief assistant state attorney Georgia Cappleman told the Orlando Sentinel on Monday afternoon regarding when Winston could be charged.
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Should Winston be charged, FSU athletic department policy states that he would automatically be suspended until all criminal proceedings are taken care of. The Seminoles could make an exception for Winston if there are extenuating circumstances.
Winston is obviously a crucial part of the Seminoles team, and his suspension could devastate the team's hopes of reaching and/or winning the national title.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Is This Truly Arizona State's Year?
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Arizona State hasn't smelled the roses since 1997. But a win in the Pac-12 title game against Stanford would secure a berth in the Rose Bowl for the Sun Devils.
With seven straight wins, the Sun Devils are one of the hottest teams in the entire conference. They are led by quarterback Taylor Kelly, who's passed for over 3,300 yards and 27 touchdowns.
The Sun Devils can certainly beat the Cardinal. The team's only Pac-12 loss was a 42-28 contest to Stanford, but that was in September. Since then, Arizona State has won eight games, seven of them by double digits.
If Arizona State can get it's eighth-ranked scoring offense going early, they could prove once and for all that they, not Oregon or Stanford, are the team to beat in the Pac-12 this year.
What Does Bedlam Have in Store?
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The Oklahoma State Cowboys are one win against archrival Oklahoma away from securing the Big 12 title and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
But although the Cowboys are among the hottest teams in the country following their win over previously unbeaten Baylor two weeks ago, it's Bedlam in Stillwater, and anything can happen.
In fact, the Oklahoma Sooners have been playing some of their best ball lately. They have won for of their last five games, with the latest win coming two weeks ago against Kansas State.
Should Oklahoma State fall in this game, a Baylor win over Texas would give the Bears the Big 12 title. But for now, the Cowboys control their own destiny.
Does an Auburn Win Put Them in the BCS National Championship?
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The Auburn Tigers are fresh off possibly the biggest win of the 2013 college football season with their thrilling Iron Bowl victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
But does a win in the SEC Championship Game against No. 5 Missouri give Auburn a berth in the BCS title game?
It'll be hard for Auburn to pass over Ohio State and Florida State should they both win their conference championships and finish the season undefeated. But if one of them loses, that could pave the way for Auburn to return to the national title game.
What's Next for Bo Pelini?
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It's been a wild year for Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini, and it got even more hectic this past week.
According to ESPN, Nebraska was fined $10,000 for Pelini's tirade on the sidelines in last Friday's game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. In the statement, Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst spoke of the school's disappointment in Pelini's behavior:
"We were disappointed with Coach Pelini's actions this past Friday regarding game officials...We immediately recognized and addressed the situation with Coach Pelini and the Big Ten Conference. In addition, Coach Pelini acknowledged and accepted responsibility for the inappropriateness of his actions and issued a public apology in advance of this reprimand.
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While Eichorst has come out in support of Pelini as the school's head coach, Pelini is certainly starting to skate on thin ice in Lincoln.
Can NIU Secure a BCS Bid with a MAC Championship?
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Jordan Lynch and the Northern Illinois Huskies are just one win away from a perfect 13-0 season, a MAC championship and an almost guaranteed bid to a BCS bowl game.
The Huskies face Bowling Green in the Marathon MAC Championship Game on Friday. NIU is ranked No. 14 in the latest BCS standings. In order to make a BCS game, the Huskies need to finish ahead of UCF in the rankings and in the top 16.
Lynch has been one of the best players in the country, and he's certainly got his sights set on a return trip to a BCS game.
Well, his squad is basically just one win away from being one of the few non-BCS schools to make back-to-back trips to a BCS game.
Is Mack Brown's Job on the Line This Weekend?
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Mack Brown has been on a roller coaster ride this year, with fans in Austin calling for his firing to Texas being in the Big 12 title hunt.
But this weekend could be do or die for Brown as Texas faces off against the Baylor Bears.
The Bears are looking to stay alive in the conference-title chase themselves, so it may be a lot to ask for Texas to compete against one of the nation's most prolific offenses.
But if Texas can't be competitive against the Bears, then Brown could pay for another disappointing season with his job.
Will UCF Finish the Season Without a Loss in the American Conference?
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UCF has already sealed up at least a share of the American Athletic Conference title. But a win against SMU will secure the Knights the conference's first ever berth in the BCS, putting the exclamation point on a magical season.
The Knights have won seven straight games, including their huge upset of Louisville on Oct. 18. But the Knights need either a win or a Cincinnati loss to Louisville to guarantee a BCS bowl.
While the 5-6 SMU Mustangs haven't been great this year, a win would give them bowl eligibility, so you have to think they are going to pull out all the stops to pull off the upset.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
