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College Football: Previewing every conference championship game

By Grant Britton

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Rashaan Evans #32 and Da'Shawn Hand #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate their 54 to 16 win over the Florida Gators during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Rashaan Evans #32 and Da'Shawn Hand #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate their 54 to 16 win over the Florida Gators during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ACC Championship Game

Saturday, Dec. 2 – No. 7 Miami vs No.1 Clemson, 7:00 p.m. CT, Bank of America Stadium, ABC

The clear headliner for this weekend is the ACC Championship game, pitting Clemson against a rising Miami team that lost last week against Pitt. Former Miami quarterback Mark Richt has led his alma mater to a wonderful season in his second year as the Hurricane’s coach.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney has made Clemson into a power in the ACC, which is impressive considering Clemson’s history as a program. Before Swinney, Clemson hadn’t won a championship since 1981. But Swinney has put the Tigers in a great spot to compete year in and out for the Playoff.

Miami struggled to put teams away this year, until they played Notre Dame in a hyped game that turned out to be a Hurricane blowout. Clemson lost quarterback Kelly Bryant to injury, but he has come back ready to play. He is not as dynamic as Deshaun Watason was, but still fully capable. Miami has brought back some of the swagger that made them a national focus in the 80s and 90s, without many of the issues that came with it.

College football misses The U, and they are on their way back. The winner of this game should make the Playoff, as a 1-loss conference champion cannot be left out like this.