With college football's regular season coming to a close, we approach what has historically been a less-than-compelling Week 12.

This year, however, the Big 12, Pac-12 and a postponed SEC game give this week a little juice.

1. The Joe Alleva Bowl has implications beyond Joe Alleva's ego: So Florida relented and is playing this week's Hurricane Matthew game at LSU. Great. Once LSU fans realize they're playing five SEC road games next season and the next two Florida games in Gainesville, they'll flip. For now, the Tigers have become a prohibitive favorite over the banged-up Gators.

The implications:

  • Purdue is the cradle of quarterbacks -- for the SEC. Florida's Austin Appleby and LSU's Danny Etling face off.
  • A Florida win clinches a second-straight SEC East title for the Gators and gives Jim McElwain two division crowns in his first two seasons in the SEC.
  • An LSU win keeps the Ed Orgeron for president, er, coach momentum going. Orgeron gets to face consecutive backup quarterbacks (Appleby, Texas A&M's Jake Hubenak) in trying to firm up an 8-3 season that looked lost on Sept. 26 when Les Miles was fired.
  • An LSU win allows Tennessee's hopes to rise in the SEC East, assuming it beats Missouri and Vanderbilt.
  • It also guarantees the Sugar Bowl will have an SEC team with at least three losses for the second consecutive season. That is, unless Alabama loses but let's talk reality. If LSU plays in New Orleans, it would be the first eight-win team in the Sugar Bowl since Tennessee in 1990 (8-2-2).

Thanks Matthew.

2. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee loves them some Big Ten: With good reason. This is as good as the league has been in at least 10 years -- three in the top seven, four in the top eight.

One question, though: What does No. 3 Michigan (vs. Indiana) have to do to actually drop in the CFP Rankings? It lost a one-point game to a mediocre Iowa in only its second trip out of the state this season.

No. 2. Ohio State (at Michigan State) has positioned itself to get to the playoff even if it doesn't win the Big Ten.

Their games are a prelude to the biggest Ohio State-Michigan game in 10 years, too.

3. Alabama can afford to rest players these next two weeks: But it won't. No. 11 Chattanooga is a possible playoff participant -- in that other division, FCS. The Mocs (8-2) are good enough to extend the Tide way past the halftime it is expected to take Alabama to post a blowout.

Nick Saban typically uses the November nonconference game to get his players ready for the Iron Bowl. Even though the drama has drained a bit from next week's game, Saban will keep the Tide on point.

But yes, Alabama can afford to rest players -- and even suffer a loss before the season is out -- and probably still play in the College Football Playoff.

4. Pac-12 game of the year? Could be when Washington State visits Colorado. Either that, and/or a Pac-12 Championship Game preview.

Since the Pac-8 was created in 1964, no team has gone from 1-8 to 8-1 in the conference. Wazzu could do that by merely splitting its last two games. That's the biggest turnaround in the league's modern history.

A Washington State win sets up an Apple Cup for the ages. A Colorado win further jumbles the Pac-12 South. No. 1 Pac-12 defense (CU) vs. No. 2 offense (Wazzu).

Take the fightin' Leaches.

5. What used to be USC-UCLA: A shame that the hottest team in college football probably won't make the playoff. Only Alabama is more dangerous to play than USC right now. A diminished UCLA will do that Saturday. A pity that the Battle for L.A. is so under the radar this year you will need one of these.

6. Big 12 after party: While the rest of the country concentrates on playoff prospects, Oklahoma-West Virginia try to bring honor to the conference's tarnished rep. Dana Holgorsen and Bob Stoops have emerged as the conference's two best coaches this season. The winner in Morgantown, West Virginia, holds on to slim hope of a playoff berth.

Oklahoma has a worse record (8-2) than its talent. Both quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Dede Westbrook deserve an invitation to New York. Meanwhile, the general public couldn't spell West Virginia's Skyler Howard if Vanna allowed them to buy all the vowels.

7. Battle of the Broncos: It was a minor outrage that undefeated Western Michigan is ranked so low in the CFP (No. 21) behind a one-loss Boise State.

Both teams likely have to hang a number on inferior opponents to impress the committee. One set of Broncos (Western Michigan) gets a national TV boost being featured on College GameDay for its game against Buffalo. The other (Boise State) plays in relative anonymity against UNLV.

Only a multi-million dollar payday in the Cotton Bowl is at stake.