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Jackson's Week 15 college football predictions for all conference championship games. His picks for Indiana vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Georgia, and more.
College Football Conference Championship Predictions
After 14 weeks of exciting regular-season action, it’s time to crown conference champions! No, these games might not feel as important as they did before the expansion of the CFP, but they still matter for smaller conferences, and you never know how to College Football Playoff committee will react to these games.
Will Ohio State suffer its first loss, or will it hand Indiana its first loss? Can Georgia finally beat Alabama? Will five-loss Duke win the ACC crown? Those questions will be answered by the end of the night on Saturday, so let’s get to some predictions!
Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State
The Kennesaw State Owls are just in their second season in the FBS, and after a 2-10 campaign in 2024, they are set to play for a Conference USA title under first-year head coach Jerry Mack. Mack won three MEAC championships at North Carolina Central from 2014 to 2016, so he’s no stranger to coaching in these kinds of high-stakes games.
Jacksonville State is in its third season in the FBS, so needless to say, these programs could be a problem for the rest of the CUSA for years to come. These look like two evenly matched squads, but Jacksonville State’s elite offense might present many issues for the Owls’ defense, which ranks near the bottom of the conference in most key stats.
Prediction: Jacksonville State 37, Kennesaw State 27
Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan (in Detroit)
Miami began the season 0-3 with losses to Wisconsin, Rutgers, and UNLV, but it has rattled off seven wins over the final nine games, and the 6-2 MAC record was good enough to put them in the title game. 12th-year coach Chuck Martin has had the Red Hawks in the MAC Championship Game five total times, including each of the last three seasons.
Miami doesn’t do much exceptionally well, but they do most things at an above-average level. The Broncos, who walk into Week 15 with a 7-1 MAC record, suffered their only conference defeat at the hands of Miami. It’s a revenge game, and I think Western Michigan gets it done at Ford Field in a tight contest.
Prediction: Western Michigan 23, Miami 20
UNLV at Boise State
Since joining the Mountain West in 2011, the Broncos have won the conference six times and finished as the runner-up another four times. It’s the program’s final year in the conference before the move to the Pac-12, and they’re looking for one final data point in the resume.
Despite the loss of Ashton Jeanty, the rushing attack is still potent, and sophomore QB Max Cutforth has filled in honorably for Maddux Madsen. But this is UNLV’s year. Dan Mullen is proving he can do more with less, once again.
Prediction: UNLV 30, Boise State 24
No. 25 James Madison vs. Troy
If James Madison wins on Friday, there’s a possibility the Dukes are headed for the College Football Playoff. Ironically, they need Duke to knock off Virginia in the ACC title game, and that’s not far out of the realm of possibilities. Vegas sees this one as the biggest blowout on the board, and it’s hard to disagree.
If you haven’t watched quarterback Alonza Barnett III this year, be sure to tune in. He’s electric.
Prediction: James Madison 35, Troy 14
No. 24 North Texas at No. 22 Tulane
Based on the current College Football Playoff rankings, the winner of the American Conference Championship Game is playoff-bound. North Texas head coach Eric Morris is heading to Oklahoma State when the season ends, and Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall is headed to Florida to coach the Gators. But thankfully, both are staying for this game and the CFP if they make it.
This is a battle of a great offensive mind vs. a great defensive mind, but I think North Texas has a better balance of both. However, Jake Retzlaff can be the X-factor and take over this game. Let’s see it!
Prediction: Tulane 41, North Texas 40
No. 17 Virginia vs. Duke (in Charlotte)
Everyone has eyes on this game, because remarkably, five-loss Duke could walk away as the ACC Champion on Saturday night. How is this possible? The Blue Devils lost three games out of conference but went 6-2 in the ACC, avoiding matchups with Miami and SMU altogether.
Darian Mensah is a special quarterback, but he’s not surrounded by a ton of talent. Virginia has not looked overly impressive via the “eye test,” but it keeps finding ways to squeak out wins. Not this time! Duke wins and sends the CFP committee scrambling.
Prediction: Duke 34, Virginia 28
No. 11 BYU vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (in Arlington)
The last time these two met, it was a blowout win for Texas Tech. BYU couldn’t find anything offensively, and it is once again listed as a big-time underdog against the talent-loaded Red Raiders. Texas Tech has been dominant all season long, and its one loss game with its backup quarterback in action.
Unless BYU develops a high-powered passing offense overnight, it’s difficult to imagine the Cougars staying competitive here.
Prediction: Texas Tech 37, BYU 17
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 3 Georgia (in Atlanta)
Kirby Smart is 1-7 against Alabama in his coaching career, and he’s 0-2 against Kalen DeBoer so far. He’s dominated almost every other SEC program, so what is it going to take for the Bulldogs to get over the hump? Well, despite its mediocre showing against Georgia Tech last week, Georgia is playing much better all-around football since its meeting with Alabama in September.
On the flip side, Alabama’s offense hasn’t looked the same as of late, and the Tide still has no ground game to speak of. I don’t see Georgia losing to the same opponent twice in one season, and I expect it to win a low-scoring, physical, SEC title game.
Prediction: Georgia 20, Alabama 17
No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Ohio State (in Indianapolis)
Ohio State has rarely trailed this season, and it hasn’t allowed 17 points against any opponent. Seriously. Its offense has continued to improve, but the Matt Patricia-led defense has been elite all year. Its biggest test is ahead, though, as Indiana and Fernando Mendoza will be on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Curt Cignetti has only lost two games at Indiana, and one of them was last year at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have the big talent edge, but doesn’t it just feel like there’s something special surrounding the Indiana program here? The 10-point win over Oregon in Eugene should give us reason to believe they can pull this one off, too.
Prediction: Indiana 23, Ohio State 18
