Adam Bradford picks college football Power Four conference title games
JA
18 hours ago7 min read1 comments
The final whistle on the 2025 college football regular season has blown, and the stage is now set for the ultimate proving ground: conference championship week. This isn't just about trophies; it’s the final, brutal audit before the College Football Playoff selection committee makes its fateful decisions.Having spent the season deep in the analytical weeds of every Big Ten clash, I’m expanding my view to forecast the entire Power Four championship slate, where narratives of redemption, dominance, and survival will collide. In the Big 12, the story is one of sustained excellence versus a shot at revenge.The Texas Tech Red Raiders, my pick to hoist the conference crown over BYU, have been the nation’s most consistent force outside the SEC-Big Ten duopoly. Their offense operates with a surgical precision reminiscent of the peak Oklahoma teams under Lincoln Riley, but with a defensive physicality that separates them.BYU, a gritty and well-coached squad, will bring the fight, but Tech’s multifaceted attack and experience in big moments—they’ve been here before—should see them through. A victory solidifies their claim not just as Big 12 champions, but as a legitimate national title threat capable of crashing the traditional power party in the playoff.The SEC Championship in Atlanta is, as always, the crown jewel of the weekend, presenting a classic psychological showdown. I’m siding with Alabama over Georgia, a pick that feels more historical than analytical.On paper, this Georgia Bulldogs squad might have a slight edge in defensive front-seven depth and offensive balance. They are, by many metrics, the better team.But Alabama under Nick Saban’s enduring legacy, now carried forward, possesses a championship DNA that transcends stats. It’s the same dynamic we witnessed in The Game last week, where Ohio State finally exorcised its Michigan demons.Until Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs physically seize this game from the Crimson Tide—something they’ve failed to do in several of these high-stakes meetings—the burden of proof remains on them. Can Stetson Bennett IV’s successor deliver a legacy-defining performance, or will Bryce Young’s heir again play the role of dream-crusher? This is more than a game; it’s a referendum on a rivalry’s hierarchy.Up north, the Big Ten Championship features a fascinating in-state dichotomy. The Ohio State Buckeyes, my pick over Indiana, are a juggernaut operating at a level we haven’t seen since the 2019 LSU Tigers.Their offense, led by a Heisman-finalist quarterback, is virtually unstoppable, averaging over 45 points per game against conference foes. Indiana’s rise from feel-good story to genuine powerhouse is the season’s best narrative, a testament to elite player development and schematic genius.
#college football
#conference championships
#playoff predictions
#Ohio State
#Alabama
#Texas Tech
#Virginia
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Yet, facing the Buckeyes is like trying to contain a force of nature. Ohio State’s speed on the perimeter and dominance in the trenches create mismatches that even the most disciplined Hoosier defense will struggle with for four quarters.
This result feels inevitable, setting Ohio State up as the presumptive No. 1 seed and leaving Indiana to hope its stellar résumé is enough for an at-large bid.
The ACC Championship is the weekend’s wildcard, a game with massive implications for the entire playoff picture. My prediction of Virginia over Duke is less about the Cavaliers’ brilliance and more about avoiding catastrophe.
A 7-5 Duke team, which miraculously navigated a chaotic Coastal Division, winning the title would be a charming story but a nightmare for the ACC’s prestige. It would almost certainly condemn the conference to exclusion from the four-team playoff, a devastating blow in an era of realignment.
Virginia, with a more balanced and tested squad, carries the weight of the league on its shoulders. Their victory is essential not just for their own banner, but for the ACC’s continued relevance on the national stage, ensuring the conference sends a credible, double-digit-win champion into the selection discussion.
Assuming these results, plus Tulane winning the AAC, the playoff field crystallizes. The projected bracket—featuring Ohio State, Indiana, Texas Tech, Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Virginia, and Tulane—sets up delicious first-round clashes.
Imagine the Rose Bowl atmosphere as Ohio State awaits the winner of a bitter all-SEC rematch between Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Picture the strategic chess match in the Cotton Bowl, where Texas Tech’s air raid would face the monstrous defensive front of either Georgia or Virginia.
These games are layered with regional grudges, stylistic contrasts, and the raw pressure of single-elimination football. This championship weekend is the culmination of a twelve-week data set, where every prediction meets the unscripted drama of the gridiron. The film, the stats, and the matchups tell one story, but as we’ve learned, the heart and history of these programs often write the final, unforgettable chapter.
