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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in USA TODAY Sports and has been republished in its entirety below.
The penultimate weekend in college football typical provides dramatic conclusion ahead of the final Saturday as places in conference championship games are solidified and potential drama ensues during the College Football Playoff race.
But like everything in 2020, this year is very different. Just four teams in the top 10 are in action. ACC championship game participants Notre Dame and Clemson taking the week off due scheduling considerations due to COVID-19. Playoff contenders Ohio State, Texas A&M and Cincinnati had their games canceled or postponed.
That leaves a slimmed-down schedule that has some intrigue, but not the usual high-end implications.
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No. 8 Miami and No. 20 North Carolina meet with a spot in the New Year’s Six as a potential prize. The winner will likely finish as the third-highest ACC team in the playoff committee rankings. That would mean a place in the Orange Bowl should both Notre Dame and Clemson make the playoff field.
The other matchup of ranked opponents has No. 18 Iowa hosting No. 25 Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes could work their way into New Year’s Six consideration with a win and possible crossover game against Indiana on Dec. 19. The Badgers are hoping end a two-game losing streak that has coincided with their offense producing just 13 points.
There are some other interesting games across the country. No. 15 Southern California hopes to lock up the Pac-12 South title, but first must get through rival UCLA. No. 10 Georgia faces a difficult trip to Missouri, which has won five of its last six games.
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