The regular season has come to an end, and now it’s time for the conference championship games. Then we’ll find out who the 12 playoff teams are. The top four spots in the playoff go to the four highest ranked conference champs. Boise State has jumped the Big XiII for a potential bye. Clemson had a bizarre day. The Tigers lost a heartbreaker to arch-rival South Carolina, but got a spot in the ACC title game when Miami lost to Syracuse. There will be politicking and positioning for those 12 spots.

1. Oregon – The Ducks took care of rival Washington to close out the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record. A rematch with Ohio State is put on hold, and it will be Penn State for the Big Ten title. The Ducks are in the playoff, this one is for the league and a bye.

2. Texas – It was especially sweet for the Longhorns to beat Texas A&M and earn a spot in the SEC Championship Game. In their first year in the league. The Aggies have never been. The Longhorns will take on Georgia, who won in Austin in October.

3. SMU – This has been a dream season for the Mustangs, who sit at 11-1 and will play Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. This is their best team since 1982, when Eric Dickerson led SMU to an 11-0-1 mark, SWC title and Cotton Bowl win over Pitt.

4. Boise State – The Broncos are 11-1 and sitting pretty. If they win the Mountain West Conference Championship Game, they’ll get a bye. Ashton Jeanty is a top contender for the Heisman Trophy. He went over 200 yards in last week’s win over Oregon State.

5. Notre Dame – The Fighting Irish won the great old intersectional rivalry game with Southern Cal. It was 49-35 Notre Dame, and it’s 11-1, with the lone loss coming to Northern Illinois. Will the Irish be the fifth seed? It’s a lock they’ll host in South Bend.

6. Penn State – It might have been nervy for Penn State for a few minutes, as Maryland jumped to a 7-0 lead. But the Nittany Lions dominated the rest of the way and won 44-7. Now comes the Big Ten Championship Game and a battle with No. 1 Oregon.

7. Georgia – In what may have been the thriller of the season in all of college football, the Bulldogs edged in-state rival Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes Friday night, improving to 10-2. Now it’s off to Atlanta and the SEC Championship Game with huge stakes.

8. Tennessee – It has been an outstanding season for Tennessee, and the Volunteers are a playoff lock. They rallied from an early 14-0 deficit in Nashville to beat Vanderbilt 36-23, finishing the regular season at 10-2. Dylan Sampson is a fantastic running back.

9. Indiana – The Hoosiers annihilated Purdue 66-0 to bounce back from the lone loss of the season at Ohio State. This Indiana team is one of the biggest stories in college football. This is shaping up as their best season ever. Will they host or travel in the CFP?

10. Ohio State – The Buckeyes, a heavy favorite, were absolutely stunned in The Horseshoe by then 6-5 Michigan 13-10. Ohio State is now 10-2, and Ryan Day’s program has dropped four in a row to the Wolverines. They’ll now play the CFP waiting game.

11. Arizona State – The Sun Devils put a stamp on an outstanding regular season with a 49-7 victory over rival Arizona. It’s 10-2 and onto the Big XII Championship Game. Sam Leavitt is playing terrific at QB, and Cameron Scattebo is an outstanding tailback.

12. Miami – The Hurricanes are 10-2, losing two of their last three. Miami lost to Syracuse 42-38 in the Carrier Dome, as the Canes had a 21-0 first half lead slip away. There will be no trip to the ACC Championship Game. The Canes are hoping for an at large.