College Football: Week 14 announcer pairings

Find out which announcer pairings will be working the biggest games of the year as conferences decide their champions across the country.

It is conference championship week in college football, so we have a slate of games of quality, if not quantity. The added bonus, beyond seeing what should be some of the best football of the year, is that the average quality of announcer will be at its highest point with fewer games to cover.

The Big Ten has the most intriguing College Football Playoff questions still swirling before Selection Sunday. The conference’s two highest ranked teams were both shut out of the conference championship game. College GameDay will be in Indianapolis Saturday morning — their second consecutive week showcasing the Big Ten. Fox’s lead announcer Gus Johnson will be on the call with Joel Klatt and sideline reporter Shannon Spake providing support.

ESPN will go head-to-head with the game their pregame show featured earlier in the day. The ACC Championship Game will broadcast on ABC starting at 8 p.m. ET. Kirk Herbstreit and Sam Ponder will have a slightly longer flight than they otherwise would have had to catch up with their play-by-play announcer, Chris Fowler, in Orlando. The game was moved from Charlotte because of North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2.

Verne Lundquist, one of the most revered announcers in the country, will work his final SEC Championship game on Saturday afternoon. Top-ranked Alabama and Florida meet in Atlanta for the second straight year. The Crimson Tide, who are already a lock for the playoff, look to win their third straight SEC title and fourth in five years.

The conference championship weekend actually gets started on Friday night. Western Michigan goes for an undefeated season in the MAC Championship game on ESPN. The Pac-12 will decide a champion on Fox.

This year’s Bedlam game has the added stakes of deciding the Big 12 race. The game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET, Saturday on Fox with announcer Tim Brando doing play-by-play.

Friday

Nov 25, 2016; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; The Western Michigan Broncos enter the field before the first half against the Toledo Rockets at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

MAC Championship: No. 17 Western Michigan vs. Ohio 7 p.m. ET

Nov 25, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) drops back for a pass against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Pac-12 Championship: No. 8 Colorado vs. No. 4 Washington- 9 p.m. ET

Saturday

Nov 26, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Navy Midshipmen running back Toneo Gulley (2) carries the ball on a 39-yard touchdown run against the SMU Mustangs during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

AAC Championship: Temple at No. 19 Navy-12 p.m. ET

Sep 24, 2016; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers running back Anthony Wales (20) dives into the end zone to score on a 20-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the Vanderbilt Commodores to give WKU a 21-14 lead during a NCAA football game at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Conference USA Championship: Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky- 12 p.m. ET

Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs the ball for a touchdown in the second half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Sooners defeated the Cowboys 58-23. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Oklahoma State at No. 9 Oklahoma- 12:30 p.m. ET

Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (13) makes a 32 yard touchdown catch against Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) and defensive back Marcus Maye (20) during the third quarter of the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

SEC Championship: No. 13 Auburn vs. No. 1 Alabama– 4 p.m. ET

Nov 19, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; San Diego State Aztecs wide receiver Quest Truxton (85) makes a catch against Wyoming Cowboys cornerback Rico Gafford (5) during the first quarter at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Mountain West Championship: San Diego State at Wyoming- 7:45 p.m. ET

Nov 26, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs as South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Steven Montac (22) during the second quarter at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

ACC Championship: No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 23 Virginia Tech – 8 p.m. ET

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Mike Gesicki (88) reacts to his touchdown catch against the Michigan State Spartans during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Big Ten Championship: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Penn State- 8 p.m. ET

Announcer pairings courtesy of Daniel Ormsby of Eye on Sky and Air Sports.