Champ Week! The last week of the college football season, which seriously flew by fast. Now there were a bunch of surprising coaching moves earlier this week, starting with Lincoln Riley going to USC, Brian Kelly moving on to LSU and Notre Dame announcing Marcus Freeman as Kelly's replacement.
But the games have been just as exciting. Baylor stunned Oklahoma State with an incredible defensive stop, Alabama upset Georgia for the SEC championship, Michigan routed Iowa to win the Big Ten title and Pitt took care of Wake Forest to claim the ACC crown.
For a complete breakdown on the implications of every championship game on the playoff race, check this out.
Full schedule: All teams | Top 25
Bryce Young's Heisman case
This is just a laser.
BRYCE YOUNG HAS THE LAUNCH CODES π pic.twitter.com/KUGNudRaK0
β The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 4, 2021
Young had quite the day against Georgia in the SEC title game.
π³π³π³π³ pic.twitter.com/fDj90ces7M
β Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 4, 2021
Earlier this week, Alex Scarborough wrote about how the one thing left standing between Young and the Heisman was Georgia's defense, and, well, the case for Young is only that much stronger now.
Case Closed.
β Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 5, 2021
π₯ 421 pass yards (SEC Championship Game record)
π₯ 40 rush yards
π₯ 4 total TD pic.twitter.com/mZLSearuZ5
Play of the day
Talk about defensive effort! Jairon McVea came through when it counted most.
BAYLOR STOPS OKLAHOMA STATE ON 4TH DOWN π± pic.twitter.com/9JlKW4ZLrv
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 4, 2021
Seriously, it was THIS close.
WOW pic.twitter.com/jDRtaTHuds
β Seth Wickersham (@SethWickersham) December 4, 2021
Newly crowned champs
Alabama ... what else is there to say?
SEC CHAMPIONS πͺ#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/jHPapY6hEw
β Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 5, 2021
Sorry, Kirby pic.twitter.com/vPn705Prvs
β RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2021
It was a long time coming, but Michigan left no doubt in the Big Ten title game.
Final: Michigan 42, Iowa 3
β RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2021
Jim Harbaugh bet on himself. Those who stay will be champions. pic.twitter.com/pRQZfQRXSf
Kenny Pickett and Pitt captured the ACC trophy.
PITT WINS THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP π
β ESPN (@espn) December 5, 2021
This is the Panthers' first ACC title and first outright conference title in any league π pic.twitter.com/cyBrl6kLHN
Louisiana's defense sealed the deal for the Ragin' Cajuns to win the Sun Belt.
LOUISIANA'S DEFENSE COMES IN CLUTCH TO SEAL THE GAMEβ pic.twitter.com/RO9iiu6yqK
β ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 5, 2021
Cincinnati took care of business.
An unbelievable season for @GoBearcatsFB π
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 5, 2021
π΄ 13-0
π΄ AAC Championship
Up next: CFP berth? pic.twitter.com/W3AcPUVtAr
And the fans celebrated accordingly as the Bearcats await the final College Football Playoff rankings.
β no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 5, 2021
Utah State beat San Diego State and got a little spicy.
You did it to yourselves to be honest. @CollegeGameDay jinx π€‘#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/EDde2Iru62
β Utah State Athletics (@USUAthletics) December 4, 2021
Alas, the Aggies are the new Mountain West champs.
KINGS of the WESTβΌοΈ
β USU Football (@USUFootball) December 4, 2021
We are THE 2021 @MountainWest Champions!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/uCFyChjh1g
Baylor runs the Big 12.
πππ ππ ππππππ πππππ
β Baylor Football (@BUFootball) December 4, 2021
For the 3β£rd time in program history, Baylor wins the #Big12FB Championship. π#SicEm | #BUncommon pic.twitter.com/dC55mIlyQG
β Baylor Football (@BUFootball) December 4, 2021
Utah won its first Pac-12 championship after handily beating Oregon.
Utah beat Oregon by a combined score of 76-17 this year π³ pic.twitter.com/Va7rSfeA2O
β ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 4, 2021
MEEP MEEP. From Bottom 10 misery to champs, UTSA did it.
MEEP MEEP βΌοΈ
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 4, 2021
12-1 @UTSAFTBL wins its first Conference USA championship! π pic.twitter.com/CCERQVkzOW
Speaking of turning things around, that's exactly what NIU did this season
.@NIU_Football finished last season with an 0-6 record.
β ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 4, 2021
Now, the Huskies are MAC champions for the 5th time since 2010 π
What a turnaround π pic.twitter.com/M00cHTP8Ap
Champ week highlights
Might want to watch out for Jordan Battle.
BENNETT PICKED OFF AGAIN FOR SIX βΌοΈ pic.twitter.com/ldsHsNMawF
β ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 5, 2021
We'll take all the laterals we can get.
Look at the flicka da wrist. π€@_bryce_young
β Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 4, 2021
pic.twitter.com/E9TLDmnyfZ
There's no catching him.
JAMESON WILLIAMS IS GONE@AlabamaFTBL strikes back. pic.twitter.com/JHFIBMwuwF
β CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 4, 2021
Pitt's Kenny Pickett fakes it then makes it to the end zone in the ACC title game.
Michigan's Donovan Edwards is not a quarterback, but he played one on TV in the Big Ten championship.
TRICKERATION π±#B1GFCG pic.twitter.com/zPXxv0lakQ
β Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 5, 2021
The toe drag is everything on this grab!
THIS CATCH ... WOW π€― pic.twitter.com/NPazW2ylPb
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 4, 2021
Matt Jones has some serious hops.
Baylor intercepts Spencer Sanders for the second time in the first quarter π pic.twitter.com/PgL1exrTmN
β ESPN (@espn) December 4, 2021
Let's call it a day and crown the dog the winner, all right?
#MACtion pic.twitter.com/V8ukkd8mXk
β Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 4, 2021
Passing a legend
Kenny Pickett's 80th touchdown pass set the career record at Pitt, passing Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino.
Fantastic finish in D-II
The Division II playoffs are down the last four. Thanks to this Hail Mary touchdown pass, Shepherd will be there.
It's all fun and games
Not exactly fun for any UGA fans right now, though.
What else can I do? #sadfan pic.twitter.com/uSSTXbyWy5
β Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) December 5, 2021
Smile for the camera!
β no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 4, 2021
A football to the face isn't ideal, but hey, it's kind of funny.
Wanna get away? pic.twitter.com/fXdqEMSTCD
β Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 4, 2021
A little headstand practice in the middle of the game? Why not?
β no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 4, 2021
Reese had to step it up a level for her final pick of the season.
It's finally time. Reese picks the SEC Championship with her 11-3 record for the regular season. A little extra flair for this one @GeorgiaFootball @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/UKjXr0mw20
β Laura Rutledge (@LauraRutledge) December 4, 2021
GameDay antics
Future GameDay guests, take notes.
.@TG3II pulled up to the set with his @WWE belt π pic.twitter.com/7xI0ZCq7d1
β College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 4, 2021
And Lee Corso's pick is ...
"Zac, how'd you like that song?"
β College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 4, 2021
Corso trolled @zacbrownband with "Sweet Home Alabama" and picked the Tide to win the SEC title game π pic.twitter.com/vM6e3bsonR
For all the best signs, check this out.
Scene in the stands
Deion Sanders wants to see a full house for the SWAC title game, and he doesn't even care who you might root for.
Coach Prime on Saturday's SWAC title game vs Prairie View:
β Khari Thompson (@_KhariThompson) December 2, 2021
"This is Mississippi vs. Texas. If you can't get up for that, something's wrong with chu. C-H-U." pic.twitter.com/GNpPc1OI1l
Introducing your new head coach
What a warm greeting.
Marcus Freeman already has won over his players it looks like.
a player's coach@Marcus_Freeman1 | #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/pf9E1OygA8
β Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 3, 2021
And, well. Brian Kelly has taken to the South quite fast.
taking the Elle ... anyone posing as a Southern grifter. Lol damn. Thx @ryanmcgee for cameo! pic.twitter.com/RIw55R2jZo
β Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) December 4, 2021
Best of luck to Grace.
Brian Kelly's daughter Grace on Tik Tok. pic.twitter.com/RlbXwgo1QX
β Ben Coil (@CometCoil) December 4, 2021
Latest threads
Lane Kiffin has added some Air Diors to his sneaker collection, and yeah, we're a little bit jealous.
Thanks β¦@Nikeβ© pic.twitter.com/R0WSlqSoe7
β Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 3, 2021
We like anything shiny and eye-catching, and that's exactly what these cleats are that Oregon wore in the Pac-12 title game on Friday night.
Ahead of our time. @OregonFootball will be rocking the Oregon Galaxy Vaporposite at the Pac-12 Championship. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/aHVpMeL8OJ
β GoDucks (@GoDucks) November 30, 2021
For all the best uniforms of the week, check this out.
Feel-good moments of the week
Utah had a moment of loudness rather than silence to honor Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan.
Just a taste of the moment of loudness here pic.twitter.com/BYW6h46NWq
β Josh Furlong (@JFurKSL) December 4, 2021
Nothing better than this: RC Slocum ringing the bell.
I've seen a lot of wins over the years, but seeing R.C.Slocm ring the bell at Baylor Scott and White this afternoon signaling the completion of his cancer treatment was a special victory! We'll hear from @rcslocum at 6 and 10 on @KBTXSports @KBTXNews pic.twitter.com/csqcOBFRKA
β KBTX News (@KBTXNews) November 29, 2021