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UNLV College Football Playoff Competition: All The Games To Watch During The Bye Week

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 20:12 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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UNLV Football Fans: A Playoff‑Ready Road Map for the Bye Week

When UNLV’s football team sits out a week on the field, it doesn’t have to sit idle. The Mountain West’s home‑grown fan base can use the pause to catch the most consequential games in college football’s postseason drama – the College Football Playoff (CFP). In a recently published Sports Illustrated piece, the author broke down the entire slate of matchups that UNLV supporters can stream or watch on the airwaves during their “bye week,” from the conference championships that decide the playoff contenders to the big‑screen semifinals that crown the national champion.

The Heart of the Matter: The CFP Selections

The article opens with a clear, concise explanation of how the CFP works. The selection committee, composed of former coaches, administrators and broadcasters, ranks the top 25 teams in the country. The top four teams receive automatic berths, while the remaining six “at‑large” slots are awarded to teams that may come from the same conference or from the “Group of Five.” The article highlights the 2024 CFP lineup that the committee had announced at the time of writing:

The piece notes that the semifinal games will be played at the Cotton Bowl (Dallas) and the Rose Bowl (Pasadena) on Saturday, January 9, 2024, and that they will be broadcast on CBS and ABC, respectively. It also points out that the “national championship” will take place a week later, on Sunday, January 16, 2024, at the same venue as the Cotton Bowl.

Conference Tie‑Ins and the Championship Calendar

A key element of the article is the explanation of how the CFP’s conference tie‑ins guarantee a minimum of two playoff spots for both the SEC and the Big Ten, while the ACC, Pac‑12, and Big 12 each receive one. The piece goes on to list all five conference championship games that UNLV fans can catch, and it explains why each of them carries playoff implications.

1. SEC Championship – Tennessee vs. Alabama (if Tennessee were the top SEC team that year).
   Date: Sunday, December 17
   Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
   Network: CBS

2. ACC Championship – Florida State vs. Clemson
   Date: Sunday, December 17
   Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
   Network: CBS

3. Big Ten Championship – Ohio State vs. Michigan
   Date: Sunday, December 17
   Time: 4:30 p.m. EST
   Network: CBS

4. Pac‑12 Championship – Oregon vs. Utah
   Date: Sunday, December 17
   Time: 4:30 p.m. EST
   Network: CBS

5. Big 12 Championship – Kansas State vs. Oklahoma
   Date: Sunday, December 17
   Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
   Network: CBS

The article notes that all of these games are live on CBS, with some of them also available via streaming on Paramount+ and CBS Sports. For fans who prefer to follow the action on the web, the article links to the official CFP schedule on CFP.com and to the conference sites – the ACC site for the Atlantic Coast, the Pac‑12 site for the Pac‑12, etc. These links allow viewers to see live streams, betting odds, and pre‑game analysis.

Why UNLV Fans Should Pay Attention

Even though UNLV is a member of the Mountain West and is unlikely to land a CFP spot in 2024, the article argues that the conference’s own championship – the Mountain West title game – is on for the following Sunday, and that it is a must‑watch for any fan wanting to see the best of the Mountain West in action. The game typically pits the two conference champions (e.g., San Diego State vs. Boise State) and is broadcast on CBS as well. The article stresses that the Mountain West’s champion receives an automatic bid to the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, one of the New Year’s six BCS bowls that can lead to a CFP berth for an at‑large team.

In addition, the article provides a brief rundown of the “non‑CFP bowl games” that will be played during the bye week. These include the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and TBD bowl, each featuring matchups that could influence the final CFP rankings. While these bowls do not directly affect the playoff, they are “high‑profile” games that showcase the depth of talent in college football.

A Practical Schedule for the BYE WEEK

For the average UNLV fan, the article ends with a practical, easy‑to‑read timetable that fits into a typical “watch‑list” routine:

The article also recommends checking out ESPN’s “College Football Power Rankings” and Sports Illustrated’s own analysis for pre‑game commentary. Both sites offer live updates and highlight reels that help fans digest the drama as it unfolds.

Final Thoughts

What makes this article a useful guide for UNLV supporters is its focus on what matters: the top teams, the biggest games, and how each tie‑in affects the ultimate national champion. By breaking down the CFP’s structure, listing every conference championship, and offering clear viewing options, the Sports Illustrated piece transforms a simple bye week into a front‑row seat to the most thrilling games of the college football season.

So, if UNLV’s offense is on a break, its fans can still keep their eyes glued to the gridiron. From the battle‑to‑be‑the‑best in the SEC to the showdown that determines the national champion, this bye week is packed with action that will have every college football fan cheering, heart‑broken, or simply amazed. Grab your popcorn, settle into your chair, and let the games begin.