What a week. Rivalry Weekend delivered every ounce of chaos, emotion and drama we’ve come to expect in late November. As the final whistles sounded, some teams punched their ticket to Week 15 and the Conference Championships, while others immediately shifted toward the uncertain churn of a new offseason.
And churn there is. A dizzying wave of coaching movement dominated headlines, none bigger than Lane Kiffin’s stunning departure from Ole Miss to become the next head coach of the LSU Tigers. The high-profile, messy public nature of the move feels like an indictment of the broader college football structure as much as Kiffin himself. After guiding the Rebels to the College Football Playoff, he exits before getting the chance to finish the job. Some will say he made his bed. Still, moments like this will continue until the NCAA finally aligns the football and academic calendars.
Players are moving too. More and more high-profile names are entering the transfer portal seeking better situations, clearer roles and improved NFL Draft trajectories. It’s another wrinkle in the sport that somehow always finds ways to introduce more chaos, more intrigue and more reasons why this is the greatest sport in the world.
But despite the noise, games remain and these are massive ones. The Conference Championships weekend arrives with College Football Playoff (CFP) seeding, first-round byes and hosting rights all on the line.
2025 College Football Conference Championships Preview: Best Bets & Devy Fantasy Football Storylines
Week 15 Games of the Week & Devy Storylines to Watch
Conference Championships Slate
SEC Championship: Georgia vs. Alabama
Conference USA Championship: Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State
Sun Belt Championship: Troy vs. James Madison
AAC Championship: North Texas vs. Tulane
Mountain West Championship: UNLV vs. Boise State
Big 12 Championship: BYU vs. Texas Tech
MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan
Big Ten Championship: Indiana vs. Ohio State
ACC Championship: Duke vs. Virginia
Every matchup has storylines. Some feature devy-relevant prospects, others offer glimpses at potential breakout players heading into bowl season or the offseason. Whether you play college fantasy football (CFF) or Campus to Canton (C2C) or just love this sport, this weekend is loaded with opportunities to discover your next devy dart throw.
Big Ten Championship: Indiana Hoosiers (2) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (1)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis – Saturday, Dec. 6
Betting Odds: Ohio State -5.5 | Total: 48.5
Even as a self-described Alabama fan, it makes little sense that “College GameDay” will be at the SEC Championship instead of in Indianapolis for a No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown. This game has everything: two elite quarterbacks, future first-round skill players, top-tier defenses and perhaps the Heisman Trophy on the line.
The presumed 2026 QB1, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, faces off against Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who has surged into the 2027 QB1 conversation with his play down the stretch. Both quarterbacks have been phenomenal, but both face defenses capable of forcing mistakes.
Ohio State Offense vs. Indiana Defense
Indiana’s defensive coordinator, Bryant Haines, deserves serious attention for both college and NFL openings. His unit is disciplined, physical and excellent against the run, with a deep, experienced secondary. It’s a legitimate test for a loaded Buckeyes offense.
True freshman running back Bo Jackson has transformed the offense. With five 100-yard rushing games, including three straight, his emergence has taken pressure off Sayin and added balance to an already explosive attack. At receiver, Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith are household names even after battling injuries, and both delivered big-time touchdowns against Michigan. Brandon Inniss has quietly become the clutch option in recent weeks, and his developmental trajectory makes him an intriguing buy-low devy target if managers have grown impatient.
Indiana Offense vs. Ohio State Defense
Fernando Mendoza will need his best performance against Matt Patricia’s elite Buckeyes defense. Few defenders in the nation have risen faster in draft circles than linebacker Arvell Reese, who has become the fulcrum of an aggressive, suffocating unit.
Indiana will again rely on wideouts Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt. Both have been big-play threats all season, but they’ll need to be more than that on Saturday; they’ll need to be game-changers.
My Pick
Ohio State -5.5
Ohio State feels more balanced, healthier and more explosive at the right spots. If Bo Jackson establishes the run early, the Buckeyes’ depth will win out.
SEC Championship: Georgia Bulldogs (4) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (10)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – Saturday, Dec. 6
Betting Odds: Georgia -2.5 | Total: 47.5
Here we go again. It’s another chapter in the SEC Championship rivalry that so often determines the national title picture. History says winning this game is everything, and in the College Football Playoff era, the winner is almost always alive deep into January.
Georgia will return to Atlanta thanks to Texas upsetting Texas A&M last week, reopening a door many assumed was closed. And who handed Georgia its lone loss? Alabama, fresh off an Iron Bowl victory that clinched their trip back to the title game.
Georgia’s Outlook
Quarterback Gunner Stockton has settled in as a first-year starter. Although not a major devy name, he has operated the offense efficiently while leaning on a deep cast of weapons. Running back Nate Frazier is rounding into form after early-season ball-security concerns. Averaging 104 yards across his last four games, he gives Georgia the downhill presence they lacked in September. Zachariah Branch has also been a highlight-reel machine since transferring from USC. The speed, the open-field explosiveness, the RAC ability, it’s all there. But questions about his NFL projection persist due to size. What can’t be denied is that Branch has become far more than the gadget player he was at USC.
Alabama’s Outlook
Alabama’s season has been the Ty Simpson story. Like Stockton, he’s a first-year starter. Unlike Stockton, Simpson has often elevated the players around him. His processing speed and lightning-quick release have opened up the entire playbook. Turnovers have crept in as he’s pressed for big plays, but the offense has blossomed with contributions from Germie Bernard, freshman Lotzeir Brooks and last week’s Iron Bowl star Isaiah Horton, who caught three touchdowns.
Then there’s Ryan Williams. After a dominant freshman year, expectations were sky-high. Instead, his season has been marked by nagging injuries, inconsistency and a surprising goose egg in the Iron Bowl box score. Still, his body control and speed remain elite traits. This feels like a “buy the dip” moment in devy formats.
My Pick
Alabama +2.5
Over the last month, Alabama has shown a higher offensive ceiling than Georgia, generating explosive passing plays from multiple receivers rather than relying on one or two focal points.
Defensively, Alabama matches up well with what Georgia wants to do. The Crimson Tide’s front has improved significantly at setting edges and winning early downs, which helps slow Nate Frazier’s recent hot streak. If Georgia is kept behind the chains, more pressure will placed on Gunner Stockton to create outside structure, something Alabama already exploited in their regular-season meeting. Stockton has been steady, but he hasn’t consistently shown he can elevate the offense when the run game stalls.
Alabama is healthier than it was earlier in the year, has a more dynamic quarterback and has already proven it can dictate tempo against this Georgia roster. Getting points with the team carrying more momentum makes the Tide the sharper side.
Devy Spotlight
Ahmad Hardy (RB, Missouri Tigers; 2027)
Ahmad Hardy has become one of the most talked-about young running backs in college football, rising from an electric true freshman at ULM to a genuine SEC star in his first year at Missouri. At 5’10” and 205 pounds, he brings an ideal blend of compact power and dynamic acceleration that makes him difficult to neutralize for four quarters.
His calling card is his physicality. Hardy consistently runs behind his pads, lowering his center of gravity on contact and bouncing off defenders who fail to wrap up. His contact balance is among the best in the country, regardless of class, and a large portion of his production comes after first contact. He forces missed tackles at a rate comparable to early-career Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson, which is the type of company that draws the attention of both devy managers and NFL scouts.
Hardy’s vision is advanced for his age. He shows patience pressing the line, allowing blocks to develop before decisively attacking cutback lanes. His footwork is clean and efficient, enabling sharp lateral cuts without losing momentum. He’s become more comfortable as a receiver at Missouri, running simple checkdowns and angle routes with soft, reliable hands.
His production backs up the film. Ahmad Hardy posted 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman at ULM, then transferred and immediately became Missouri’s offensive engine with more than 1,150 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He has yet to fumble in his college career, which only enhances his profile.
Among 2027 running backs, few have a stronger early résumé or a clearer trajectory toward NFL relevance than Hardy.
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2025 Heisman Trophy Outlook
- Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana) +115
- Julian Sayin (QB, Ohio State) +155
- Diego Pavia (QB, Vanderbilt) +340
- Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) +2200
- Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State) +20000
As noted above, the Heisman Trophy likely comes down to the Big Ten Championship. Fernando Mendoza entered last week as the favorite, but a shaky performance against Purdue brought Julian Sayin right back into the race.
Diego Pavia continues his remarkable season as Vanderbilt’s tone-setter. After a rivalry win over Tennessee, the Commodores remain alive for a CFP berth, and Pavia deserves credit for transforming the program’s trajectory.
Thanks for reading my article on “2025 College Football Week 15 Preview: Best Bets & Devy Fantasy Football Storylines”. For more Devy and College Fantasy Football content, follow me on Twitter/X @PoshplaysFF.
*Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch – USA TODAY Sports*
