2025 College Football Championship Week Predictions for Every Game

The featured stories of conference championships all revolve around the College Football Playoff, and this piece itself will build that direction.

First, let's keep perspective.

There are only nine league trophies in the Football Bowl Subdivision to hand out. Winning one—no matter whether a "minor" bowl, a great matchup or the CFP awaits in the postseason—is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

Yes, we have problems. Tiebreakers in several conferences need a hard look during the offseason, and we're not simply talking about Miami.

But, again, none of that is the point.

When a program wins a league championship, that achievement is forever enshrined in a glamorous trophy case.

Yes, five automatic bids to the Playoff are at stake—and there's a three-conference chase for the final two spots.

But be careful not to lose sight of what will be celebrated in Conference USA, the Mountain West or the MAC just because we'll mostly be focused on the powerhouse leagues and CFP hopefuls.

Rankings are based on the CFP Top 25.

Tier 3: Champions Will Be Crowned

Loren Orr/Getty Images

Dylan Riley

C-USA: Kennesaw State (9-3) at Jacksonville State (8-4), Friday, 7 p.m. ET

Last year, Jax State hosted the C-USA championship and routed Western Kentucky. This matchup should be much closer, though it's fair to expect many points. Jax State earned a 35-26 victory three weeks ago, but Kennesaw State had a minus-four turnover margin in that contest. Protect the ball—something KSU ordinarily has done quite well—and the Owls can flip the result.

Prediction: Kennesaw State 34, Jax State 29

MWC: UNLV (10-2) at Boise State (8-4), Friday, 8 p.m.

Thanks to a shaky computer-heavy tiebreaker, this is the third straight year of UNLV meeting Boise State for the Mountain West crown. Boise cruised to a 56-31 triumph in the October clash, and I'll take the Broncos again because of UNLV's suspect run defense. I'm not anticipating a second blowout, though.

Prediction: Boise State 33, UNLV 27

MAC: Miami (Ohio) (7-5) vs. Western Michigan (8-4), Saturday, Noon (in Detroit)

Theoretically, the MAC title will be a low-scoring game. Miami beat Western Michigan by a modest 26-17 final in October, too. As long as Miami prevents a string of explosive gains—which are decidedly not in Western's wheelhouse—the RedHawks should claim a second MAC championship in three seasons.

Prediction: Miami 24, WMU 20

Tier 2: The Race for Auto-Bids

Kevin M. Cox/Getty Images

Drew Mestemaker

Sun Belt: Troy (8-4) at No. 25 James Madison (11-1), Friday, 7 p.m. ET

As long as the pending departure of UCLA-bound head coach Bob Chesney does not derail JMU, it might be lopsided here. And I don't believe there will be a loss of focus. James Madison's offense has been a juggernaut for the second half of the season and should spur the Dukes to a Sun Belt championship.

Prediction: JMU 34, Troy 16

American: No. 24 North Texas (11-1) at No. 20 Tulane (10-2), Friday, 8 p.m.

In a battle of departing coaches, UNT's Eric Morris (Oklahoma State) and Tulane's Jon Sumrall (Florida) are aiming to end their tenures with an American title and trip to the Playoff. North Texas has an electric offense, but Tulane is sturdy defensively. In what should be a high-scoring affair, however, field goals are not enough. North Texas is second nationally in red-zone touchdown rate, and Tulane is 101st.

Prediction: North Texas 38, Tulane 30

ACC: Duke (7-5) at No. 17 Virginia (10-2), Saturday, 8 p.m. (in Charlotte)

The ultimate chaos problem developed for the ACC, which has a mediocre Duke squad competing for an auto-bid to the CFP. Nevertheless, what an opportunity in front of the Blue Devils. The issue, however, is UVA straight-up overwhelmed Duke in a 34-17 victory a few weeks ago. Expectations are low for Duke—so an inspired effort is safe to anticipate.

Prediction: Virginia 31, Duke 23

Tier 1: Saturday's Top Games

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Gunner Stockton

Big 12: No. 11 BYU (11-1) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (11-1), Noon ET (in Arlington)

Should BYU be ranked higher? Fair question to ask! The reality is BYU simply must win to avoid any Selection Day shenanigans. But in early November, Texas Tech steamrolled BYU 29-7 while limited the Cougars to a season-worst 255 yards. Lessons were learned, sure, but that's a massive gap to fully make up.

Prediction: Texas Tech 30, BYU 19

SEC: No. 9 Alabama (10-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia (11-1), 4 p.m. (in Atlanta)

Back in September, Alabama played a strong opening half before leaning on its defense after the break to snag a 24-21 win. Fast-forward a couple months, and a similar type of game seems probable. Bama's offense has a few more solutions, but UGA's defense has been tremendous lately. It should be close, physical and uncomfortable, and I'll trust the better defense to make a late stand.

Prediction: Georgia 24, Alabama 20

Big Ten: No. 2 Indiana (12-0) vs. No. 1 Ohio State (12-0), 8 p.m. (in Indianapolis)

Home-state Indiana is aiming for the program's first modern-era Big Ten title, and Ohio State is looking at a return to its familiar throne. Both quarterbacks are terrific, and so are both secondaries. Earning that collective edge in the passing game will have a huge impact on the result, and an OSU offense with receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate is tough to pick against.

Prediction: Ohio State 31, Indiana 24