As the final weekend of the regular season approaches, there are several conference races coming down to the wire. Duke/UNC and Michigan/Michigan State highlight a tremendous slate for Saturday. The Washington Huskies clinched the Pac 12 title about a month ago. Here is a look at which other Power Five teams can clinch a conference title on the regular season’s final weekend:
ACC
The two key games in determining the ACC regular season champion on Saturday are Duke vs North Carolina and Louisville vs Virginia. If the Cavaliers take care of business against the Cardinals, they will get at least a share. The Tar Heels need to beat Duke in the season finale in order to clinch a share with Virginia.
For the Blue Devils to win another ACC crown, they need to beat the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill and somehow need Louisville to upset Virginia on the road. If that were to happen, the season would end in a three-way tie for first place. The odds of Duke beating North Carolina without Zion, again, seems highly unlikely though.
Big Ten
The Big Ten has three teams tied atop the standings at 15-4 in Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. The Wolverines and Spartans square off in East Lansing with the winner earning at least a share of the Big Ten crown. Michigan will seek to avenge a loss earlier in the year to rival Michigan State in Ann Arbor.
Meanwhile, Purdue can earn a share or outright title if they beat Northwestern on the road. Regardless of Saturday’s outcome, all signs point to the Boilermakers’ coach Matt Painter to win Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Big 12
The Big 12 race comes to two teams: Texas Tech and Kansas State. The Red Raiders close out the regular season on the road at Iowa State. A win would clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title. The Wildcats host Oklahoma and the same stipulation applies for them: win and earn at least a share.
For the first time since 2005, the Kansas Jayhawks will not be Big 12 champions, ending a 14-year streak. No Power Five conference will ever see a winning streak in regards to conference titles like the Jayhawks’ reign ever again.
SEC
Tennessee and LSU both sit at 15-2 heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Kentucky is just a game back at 14-3. The Vols and Tigers both will win a share if Tennessee takes care of Auburn and LSU handles Vanderbilt at home.
It will be interesting to see how the Tigers will play, as Thursday LSU head coach Will Wade was caught on wiretap discussing the payment of a recruit. Kentucky would need to beat Florida, and need both Tennessee and LSU to lose in order to win a share.
Follow Taron Long on Twitter: @TaronAllDayLong
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