College football: Regular season finale reels in age-old rivalries

New York, New York - Whew! After 12 long and grueling weeks of college football, we've finally made it to the final week of the 2022 season.

Ohio State will host Michigan as USC welcomes Notre Dame with a spot in the College Football Playoffs on the line.
Ohio State will host Michigan as USC welcomes Notre Dame with a spot in the College Football Playoffs on the line.  © Collage: MIKE MULHOLLAND / JOE ROBBINS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

The regular season finale always brings old rivalries to the forefront of the gridiron.

This year, many age-old showdowns will have a huge impact on what will happen in the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture.

In the biggest rivalry of the week, Ohio State and Michigan will battle in what has been dubbed "The Game" for a solidified spot in the playoffs.

The Wolverines took down quarterback CJ Stroud and his Buckeye team last season to punch a ticket to the semifinal bowl game, and revenge will be on the minds of everyone in Columbus on Saturday.

On the same day, USC will host Notre Dame with another possible playoff spot on the line.

The Trojans are the Pac-12's best chance at the CFP this year but will first have to get past the Fighting Irish, who have won five consecutive games so far and are aiming for a New Year's Six bowl game appearance.

South Carolina will take on Clemson after annihilating Tennessee in their best performance of the season last week while a low stakes Iron Bowl spot is up from grabs as Alabama takes on Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Oregon and Oregon State will meet as the Ducks hope to compete for a chance to take on USC in the Pac-12 championship game, while Tulane will hit the road to face Cincinnati with a spot in the American Athletic Conference title game up for grabs.

With so many options of great college football games ahead, be sure to grab your Turkey Day leftovers and not to miss out on any of the exciting showdowns coming to your TV screens on Saturday.

Cover photo: Collage: MIKE MULHOLLAND / JOE ROBBINS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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