It’s championship weekend in college football, as 10 conference title games will be held Friday and Saturday. It’s the last data point before the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff field is selected on Sunday and bowl matchups are finalized. This weekend also serves as an opportunity for top 2025 NFL draft prospects to show their stuff in front of a national audience.

On that note, we asked NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid to dive into the 10 conference showdowns. For each of the Power 4 matchups, they identified one top prospect to watch and one player whose stock could rise with a big performance. For the other six games — the Group of 5 title games plus the SWAC championship — they selected the most interesting prospect for fans to keep an eye on. Let’s dig in.

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Big 12 | SEC | ACC | Big Ten
C-USA | Mountain West | AAC
MAC | SWAC | Sun Belt

Power 4 matchups

Big 12: Iowa State vs. Arizona State

Saturday, noon ET, ABC

Top prospect to watch:Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

Skattebo has been the engine of the Sun Devils’ offense, rushing for 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns — six of which have come in the past two games. He has rushed for 140 or more yards in six different games, including a 262-yard performance against Mississippi State on Sept. 7. At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, he’s a punishing runner, and he has added 35 receptions for 468 yards and two scores. NFL scouts are excited about his potential as a power back — he’s similar to the Atlanta Falcons‘ Tyler Allgeier — and see Skattebo as a mid-Day 3 prospect.

Prospect who can help himself the most:Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Porter was recruited as a wide receiver before moving to defense in 2022. He has emerged as a playmaker for the Cyclones this season, with excellent height, length and explosive speed at 6-foot-3, 192 pounds. He has picked off three passes and allowed completions on only 28.6% of passes in which he is the primary defender.

One scout I spoke to said Porter is Riq Woolen 2.0 in terms of upside and potential. Porter is a sneaky good prospect with Day 2 grades from scouts. And because Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt will air it out Saturday, Porter has a great opportunity to showcase his shutdown skills. — Miller

SEC: Georgia vs. Texas

Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ABC

Top prospect to watch:Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Banks has been the anchor of a Texas offensive front that’s among the country’s best. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Banks has allowed only one pressure and a sack — both coming in the Longhorns’ previous matchup with Georgia on Oct. 19. The No. 1-ranked offensive tackle on my board, Banks will be tested again by Georgia’s edge rushing duo of Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, who are also first-round prospects. There have been question marks about the 2025 offensive tackle class, but a better performance against Georgia can cement Banks as the No. 1 tackle and a top-10 pick.

Prospect who can help himself the most:Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

Beck was viewed as a potential first overall pick prior to the season but has been plagued by inconsistency (12 interceptions, tied for fourth most in FBS). Perhaps he has turned a corner in the past three games. Starting with Georgia’s win over Tennessee on Nov. 16, Beck has completed 64% of his passes for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions, mostly recently going 28-of-43 for 297 yards and five touchdown passes in an eight-overtime thriller to beat Georgia Tech on Nov. 30. He has been great overcoming bad starts.

His ability to play on time and in rhythm stands out, but I want to see his decision-making take the next step. The 6-foot-4 passer has shown flashes of the talent that had scouts excited before the season, and a good showing against Texas — who picked him off three times in their previous meeting — could help his stock rebound. He’s in the early-Day 2 mix at the moment. — Reid

ACC: Clemson vs. SMU

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

Top prospect to watch:Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

Carter was expected to be in the 2024 draft but surprisingly returned to Clemson. He has provided a steady presence in the middle, registering 68 tackles and five tackles for loss. Carter (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) is strong against the run but can also create negative plays for opposing offenses. SMU’s up-tempo attack will test Carter’s instincts and open-field tackling ability, though. He projects as a weakside linebacker in the NFL and should be a mid-Day 2 pick who could eventually become a full-time starter in the NFL.

Prospect who can help himself the most:Brashard Smith, RB, SMU

Smith has made an immediate impact after transferring from Miami and switching from wide receiver to running back. After rushing for only 177 yards in three seasons with the Hurricanes, Smith ran for 1,157 yards on 193 carries (6.0 yards per carry) with 14 touchdowns this season for the Mustangs. He also showcased his receiving skills, catching 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns.

At 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds, Smith is an underrated prospect in a deep 2025 running back group. He is currently receiving fourth- and fifth-round grades from scouts, but don’t be surprised if he rises up boards as we get closer to the draft. I love his versatility out of the backfield. — Reid

Big Ten: Penn State vs. Oregon

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBS

Top prospect to watch:Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

Carter has risen to No. 3 on my board after an excellent first season playing primarily off the edge. He was an off-ball linebacker in his first two college seasons, but Carter has quickly emerged as a premium edge rusher in 2024, registering 10 sacks and a 16.2% pressure rate, which is seventh in the FBS. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound Carter has awesome first-step quickness and closing speed, and he is powerful enough to move offensive linemen when they engage him. He enters Saturday playing his best football, racking up six sacks in November.

Prospect who can help himself the most:Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

The matchup between Carter and Oregon’s tackles (Conerly and Ajani Cornelius) will be worth watching, but Conerly has the most to gain if he can contain the Penn State star. The 2025 tackle class is unsettled at the top, leaving room for Conerly — a 6-foot-4, 315-pound left tackle — to ascend. He has allowed only one sack this season and has star-quality poise and lateral agility, which make him effective in space. If he can quiet Carter, Conerly can improve from his current ranking as an early-Round 2 player and push into the first-round conversation. — Miller

Other title games

Conference USA: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State

Friday, 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports

Most interesting player to watch:Clay Webb, G, Jacksonville State

Once a five-star recruit who committed to Georgia in 2019, Webb transferred to Jacksonville State in 2022 and has excelled with the Gamecocks. He has played 1,512 snaps at Jacksonville State over three seasons, allowing only five total pressures and three sacks. Webb has established himself as one of the top non-Power 4 interior offensive line prospects.

There is some debate about where he fits at the next level; some NFL teams view Webb as a center. But at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, he is a physical run blocker with consistent strength and the ability to anchor at the point of attack. He’s viewed as an early-to-mid Day 3 prospect, but he could rise in the predraft process. — Reid

Mountain West: UNLV vs. Boise State

Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

Most interesting player to watch:Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Jeanty has been one of the best players in college football this season, leading the nation in rushing yards (2,288) and rushing touchdowns (28) while posting at least 125 yards in all 12 games he has played.

At 5-foot-9 and 217 pounds, Jeanty is a compact runner with great contact balance and agility, allowing him to bounce off tackles and pick up yards after contact. He leads the nation with 1,477 yards after contact, and he has forced 97 missed tackles. Jeanty is a top-10 prospect in the 2025 draft and a first-round lock. — Miller

AAC: Tulane vs. Army

Friday, 8 p.m., ET, ABC

Most interesting player to watch:Mario Williams, WR, Tulane

Tulane is Williams’ third school, as he started at Oklahoma in 2021 and played at USC from 2022-23 before joining the Green Wave this season. He has quickly become their go-to receiver. The quick and shifty Williams (5-foot-9, 178 pounds) does most of his work from the slot, leading Tulane in receptions (48) and receiving yards (831) while also scoring four touchdowns. Fresh off a season-high 130 yards against Memphis on Nov. 28, Williams is seen as a Day 3 talent by scouts. But like others on this list, a good outing on Friday could increase his draft stock. — Reid

Mid-American: Ohio vs. Miami (Ohio)

Saturday, noon ET, ESPN

Most interesting player to watch:Brian Ugwu, DE, Miami (Ohio)

This game doesn’t have many draft prospects, but Ugwu is one worth watching. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end has a team-leading 7.5 sacks this season after recording eight in 2023. Along with the agility to stand up in space as a pass rusher, Ugwu has improved his run defense this season, showing better ability to set the edge against offensive tackles. He is a late-round prospect who projects as a developmental pass rusher at the next level. — Miller

SWAC: Southern vs. Jackson State

Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Most interesting player to watch:Irv Mulligan, RB, Jackson State

Mulligan enters the SWAC title game on a tear, as he has exceeded 100 rushing yards in five of his past six games en route to a conference-leading 1,052 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Mulligan (5-foot-10, 205 pounds) averages 6.7 yards per carry and is a tough runner who can make defenders miss in space. His recent hot streak will be tested by a stingy Southern defense, but the scouts I’ve talked to see Mulligan has a priority undrafted free agent. — Reid

Sun Belt: Marshall vs. Louisiana

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Most interesting player to watch:Mike Green, DE, Marshall

Green exploded onto the scene this season, as his 16 sacks rank second in the FBS. His pressure percentage of 17.1% is good for No. 4, too. At 6-foot-4 and 248 pounds, Green is pro-ready if he decides to enter the 2025 draft. He has a potent combination of closing speed and hand usage which, when combined with his production, has boosted his draft stock. Many scouts I’ve spoken to have him as a top-50 player, and I have Green as the No. 56 prospect on my board. — Miller