🔑 Coaching Points for Conference Championship Weekend

Dec 06, 2024 3:25 pm

Coach -

With a full slate of games this week, there's a lot on the line: pride, trophies, and, most importantly, serious playoff implications. In the first year of the 12-team playoff, we saw the gap narrow between traditional powerhouses and other contenders.

Oregon was the only team to finish undefeated, while all four conferences had the potential to send first-year members to the College Football Playoff. This week, a Heisman candidate aims to lead his team to victory and strengthen his resume. To help you prepare for this exciting weekend and kickstart your offseason, CoachesClinic is here with some insightful clinics.

Conference USA: Western Kentucky (8-4) vs Jacksonville State (8-4)

Friday, 7pm on CBS Sports Network

A rematch of the final week of the regular season might be the best possible way to start this vital weekend. While this game might not have playoff implications this detail certainly adds to the chaos. Expect this to be a coaches war with the first matchup being decided by less than a touchdown. Offenses will run rampant.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

WKU: Get your QB into a rhythm and allow him to replicate and exceed last week's performance.

Jax State: Outpace the Hilltoppers. Literally. Use your tempos to put your offense into advantages regardless of which QB you have and get receivers open.

Ryan Garrett - Implementing Tempo into the Offense and Using it to Control

Mountain West: #20 UNLV vs #10 Boise State

Friday, 8pm on FOX

Add it to the slate of repeat matchups, this might be the most anticipated matchup of the weekend. But definitely for Friday night. Deciding who represents the entirety of the group of 5 is enough to get people excited but adding a tight regular season matchup and one of the Heisman favorites this one is a must watch.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

UNLV: Bottle up Jeanty, make him earn his yards and make Madsen beat you. Get your backs going.

Brennan Marion - Using the Duo Backfield Set to Stress the Defense

Boise State: Win the field position battle again and capitalize on UNLV’s mistakes (conversions, special teams, etc)

Punt Block/Return Philosophy with Stacy Collins

American: Tulane vs #24 Army

Friday, 8pm on ABC

Neither team is likely to have a shot at the CFB playoff anymore. But, as the theme for the weekend, Army looks to be an early winner in their first year in the conference. Expect this one to be tight the entire way and Tulane matching the offensive efforts of Army.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Army: Generate some explosive special teams plays, give yourself an edge.

Sean Saturnio- Creating a "Get To!" Culture

Tulane: Get an early lead, make them play from behind and use the clock against them. Do what you have done against the run all year.

Big 12: Iowa State vs #15 Arizona State

Saturday, Noon on ABC

Jumping conferences and coming out of a bowl ban and NCAA sanctions from a prior staff, what Kenny Dillingham and company have done may be the story of the year. One game left and they head to the playoffs. Standing in their way is Matt Campbell and Iowa State who have been no stranger to spoiling teams' high hopes and seasons.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Iowa State: Lock down their passing attack so you can focus on limiting Cam Skattebo.

Jeff Mills - Rely on Your Technique

Arizona State: Open up a complimentary pass game, forcing the IAST safeties to play on their heels.

Jason Mohns- Must Have a Quick Game

MAC: Ohio vs Miami (OH)

Saturday, Noon on ESPN

Beating a team twice is hard regardless of sport. Beating a rival twice, is a whole other story. These teams started the season very differently and saw the Bobcats riding high. Now the opposite is true for the 7 game win streak Redhawks.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Ohio: Protect the QB and allow him to make good decisions.

Allen Rudolph - OL Pre Snap Process and Eye Fixes

Miami (OH): Create turnovers and disrupt their offense.

Defending RPO from 1 High - Chuck Martin

SEC: #5 Georgia (10-2) vs #2 Texas (11-1)

Saturday, 4pm on ABC

A staunch rematch in this one, expect it to be one of the most exciting matchups of the weekend. Texas looks to avenge their loss and prove they aren’t just a product of strength of schedule. Georgia likely proceeds with a similar game plan. Dominate the run game.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Texas: Get your passing game going quickly and efficiently - protect the ball.

AJ Milwee & Chris Jackson - Texas - Mesh Concepts w/ WR Fundamentals

Georgia: Do what you did last time - run the rock - put it in the OL’s hands.

Stacy Searels- Effort the Georgia way

Sun Belt: Marshall (9-3) vs Louisiana (10-2)

Saturday, 7:30pm on ESPN

Defense is the road to victory here. No if ands or buts, about it. From a red hot offense for the Ragin Cajuns to a threatening run game for the Herd. The team that can get their share of stops stands the best chance.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Marshall & Louisiana: Stout Linebacker play incorporating sure tackling and timely play making.

Scott Stoker: Team Drills, Man Free Blitzes, and LB Drills

OLB Fundamentals in a 3-4 with Josh Miller

Big 10: #3 Penn State (11-1) vs #1 Oregon (12-0)

Saturday, 8pm on CBS

If there was ever a time to prove people wrong, Penn State it is now. After speculation of whether them and Indiana were even worthy they now possess a chance to play themself into a Top 4 seed and bye. The other hand, Oregon can continue to build momentum and boost themselves into the coming month.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Penn State: find a way to scheme your skill players open and have them impact the game.

Andy Kotelnicki - Distorting the Defense with RPO`s

Oregon: Continue stout defensive play and limit the PSU run game to build complementary schemes and plays.

Dan Lanning - Building a Pressure Package to Fit Opponents & Personnel

ACC: #17 Clemson (9-3) vs #8 SMU (11-1)

Saturday, 8pm on ABC

From what looked like Miami’s race to run away with, to Clemson losing in Week 12 and still finding themselves in playoff contention. This is a play in game make no mistake about it. It’s a battle between the new power and the constant contender.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Clemson: Stop the run and control the LOS and this one falls in your favor.

Wes Goodwin - Game Week Process and Hot Pressures

SMU: Get rolling quickly, generate 6 or more explosives through both the run and the pass game. You find yourself as one of two Texas teams in the CFB playoff.

Rhett Lashlee - SMU - Creating Explosives w/ an Up-Tempo Offense