Tulane can begin its College Football Playoff preparations. The No. 20 Green Wave is almost certainly bound for its debut appearance in the bracket by virtue of its 34-21 victory over No. 24 North Texas in Friday's American Conference Championship Game.

The Tarblooders toppled Shelby on Friday in the always unusual 10:30 a.m. kickoff. They didn't seem to have a problem waking up ready to go. They defeated Shelby, which was playing in its first final, by a 45-7 score.

Texas Tech is playing for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff in the Big 12 championship game against BYU. The Red Raiders were moved up to the No. 4 seed in the penultimate CFP top 25 rankings after then-No. 3 Texas A&M lost in Week 14.

No. 26/SN No. 24 Clay-Chalkville defeated Saraland to win its third Alabama AHSAA Class 6A state title in five years

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has a 1-7 record against the Crimson Tide, though, including an 0-2 mark against second-year Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer. Smart was 1-5 against former Alabama coach Nick Saban, whom he coached under as a defensive coordinator from 2008-15.

The Tulane Green Wave takes on the North Texas Mean Green in the American Athletic Conference football championship game. The winner is likely headed to the College Football Playoff.