Only four divisions in all of FBS football are secured heading into the final full week of the 2016 season. Here are the games that matter for the upcoming week:
AAC
UCF (6-5) at USF (9-2), East Carolina (3-8) at Temple (8-3)
USF needs this win and a Temple loss to steal the AAC East title for a shot to play Navy in the conference title game. The problem is that Temple plays East Carolina, and should be heavily favored.
ACC
NC State (5-6) at North Carolina (8-3), Virginia (2-9) at Virginia Tech (8-3)
UNC has been severely inconsistent this season, and this seems like a trap game. The Tar Heels need a win coupled with a Virginia Tech loss to play against Clemson in the ACC title game. The problem here is that Virginia Tech has a cupcake of a game coming up against Virginia.
Big 10
Michigan (10-1) at Ohio State (10-1), Michigan State (3-8) at Penn State (9-2)
This game not only has Big 10 East title aspirations, the winner likely goes on to play in a national semifinal. If Ohio State wins, however, neither team wins the division, but Ohio State could still play in the playoff. Weird world we live in.
Penn State will be scoreboard watching as they hit warm ups at home prior to taking on Michigan State. All of State College will be pulling for the Buckeyes.
Nebraska (9-2) at Iowa (7-4), Minnesota (8-3) at Wisconsin (9-2)
Nebraska has a huge trap game this week heading into Iowa City. The Huskers need a win, coupled with a Wisconsin loss to the Gophers to make the Big 10 title game as the West champ. All Wisconsin has to do is beat Minnesota, and they get in.
Conference USA
Old Dominion (8-3) at FIU (4-7), Western Kentucky (8-3) at Marshall (3-8)
Both ODU and WKU are tied in the CUSA East, with WKU holding the tie breaker. If WKU beats Marshall on the road, they are in. If they fall, and ODU wins at FIU, the Monarchs are in. Both teams should win this week, which sends the Hilltoppers to the CUSA title game against a waiting Louisiana Tech.
MAC
Ball State (4-7) at Miami (Ohio) (5-6), Ohio (7-4) at Akron (5-6)
If Miami (Ohio) can win, they become bowl eligible. If they win, and Ohio falls to Akron, which could happen, Miami strangely wins the MAC East, which was inconceivable in August. Ohio has been stumbling towards the finish line, and Akron needs this win to become bowl eligible themselves. This is a strange division.
Toledo (9-2) at Western Michigan (11-0)
The Broncos have been the darlings of college football this season, and are one of only two unbeatens left in the nation. SOS be damned, this team is solid. What would be tragic for them would be to get this far and drop the ball against a very tough Toledo team. Expect a war here on Friday night. This is for the MAC West title.
Mountain West
Boise State (10-1) at Air Force (8-3), Wyoming (8-3) at New Mexico (7-4)
The Broncos are having an amazing season, yet they do not control their own destiny in the Mountain Division race. That distinction belongs to Wyoming, a Cinderella story that keeps on growing. If the Cowboys beat New Mexico, they are headed to the MWC title game for a rematch against San Diego State, who the Cowboys just beat last weekend. If Boise State wins, and Wyoming loses to a rock solid New Mexico club, Boise State gets back into the title game. New Mexico blew their shot to have more at stake by getting clubbed by Colorado State last weekend.
PAC-12
Washington (10-1) at Washington State (8-3)
This Friday afternoon thriller will be one of the most important Apple Cup games ever played. The winner wins the North, and if it is Washington, they could be in the national semifinal. If Washington State wins, it could cap one of the most up and down seasons in recent memory for the Cougars.
Utah (8-3) at Colorado (9-2)
Colorado was a team on the verge of being very good after the 2015 season ended. Nobody realized it could be this good. Colorado wins the South with a win over a reeling Utah club that blew their shot at a division title by losing to Oregon last weekend. Utah is now relegated to spoiler, and Colorado has to have their eyes wide open here.
SEC
Auburn (8-3) at Alabama (11-0)
The divisions have been won in the SEC, and Bama will take on Florida in the SEC title game, but this game is more aligned with the playoffs, as Alabama has to win to lock their spot down. Auburn would more than love to ruin the Tide run this week in the Iron Bowl, and they seem to be the team that could do it.
Sun Belt
Arkansas State (6-4) at UL-Lafayette (4-6), Troy (8-2) at Texas State (2-8)
Arkansas State, despite a run that has seen wins over Troy and Appalachian State, still needs to win out in Sun Belt play to lock down the conference title. Both the Red Wolves and Troy have games against bad teams this week, but nobody can sleep in this chase. If Arkansas State wins, and Troy somehow loses, Arkansas State could lock it all up. I don't see that happening this week.
FCS Playoffs (1st Round)
Cal Poly at San Diego
Youngstown State at Samford
Villanova at St. Francis
Wofford at Charleston Southern
Chattanooga at Weber State
Richmond at North Carolina A&T
New Hampshire at Lehigh
Central Arkansas at Illinois State
D2 Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
California (PA) vs Indiana (PA)
LIU Post vs Shepherd
UNC Pembroke at North Alabama
Tuskegee at North Greenville
Emporia State at NW Missouri State
Harding at Sioux Falls
Texas A&M Commerce at Grand Valley State
Ferris State at Colorado Mines
D3 Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
Linfield at Mary Hardin Baylor
North Central at Wheaton
Coe at St. Thomas
UW Oshkosh at St. John's (MN)
Western New England at Alfred
Johns Hopkins at Mount Union
Wesley at John Carroll
UW Whitewater at Wittenburg
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