Welcome to the NCAA Team of the Week for the Conference Championships. As always, our team of over 500 analysts has dissected and graded every snap of every game to bring you the most detailed and valid set of picks you can find anywhere.
The Conference Championship Team of the Week saw many impressive performances across the country and as always, overall grades and playing time have been factored in to make these selections.
The PFF Team of the Week is brought to you by Eckrich, the Official Smoked Sausage of the College Football Playoff.
Offense
Quarterback
Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Conference Championship Grade: 94.3
Haskins set all sorts of records in his dominant performance against Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game. On deep passes (targeted 20-plus yards downfield), he completed 7-of-9 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns for a perfect 158.3 passer rating – all of which led the nation this weekend.
Running Back
Travis Etienne, Clemson
Conference Championship Grade: 89.7
On just 12 carries against Pittsburgh, Etienne gained 156 yards including 72 yards after contact, forcing five missed tackles and two touchdowns. Etienne started the game with a bang, carrying the opening touch 75 yards for a touchdown.
Running Back
Greg McCrae, UCF
Conference Championship Grade: 79.9
McCrae and the Knights spotted Memphis 17 points before storming back to win their 25th straight game. He gained 216 yards on 24 carries and iced the game with his four-quarter effort – rushing four times for 80 yards (60 after contact) and two first-down runs to put the game away.
Wide Receiver
Chris Olave, Ohio State
Conference Championship Grade: 87.5
Olave continued his impressive two-game stretch, hauling in his third touchdown in two weeks. He grabbed five receptions for 78 yards and three additional first-down catches in Ohio State's victory.
Wide Receiver
Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Conference Championship Grade: 86.3
Continuing his strong debut season for the Crimson Tide, Waddle snagged four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown including 52 yards gained after the catch. He forced two missed tackles after his receptions as all four of his catches went for a touchdown or a first down.
Wide Receiver
Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois
Conference Championship Grade: 82.0
Tears had perhaps the catch of the weekend when he made a one-handed grab in the second quarter for NIU's first touchdown of the game. Tears also had a second ridiculous catch called back by a penalty in which he tipped the ball to himself before scooping it off the turf rounded out his solid evening.
Tight End
Isaac Nauta, Georgia
Conference Championship Grade: 78.1
While Oklahoma's Grant Calcaterra had the biggest moment from the weekend with his one-handed touchdown grab, Nauta was tough for Alabama to cover all game long, hauling in all four targeted passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. He saw a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted in the process.
Offensive Tackle
Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
Conference Championship Grade: 76.6
On 42 snaps in pass protection, Scharping didn't allow a single QB pressure and finished with the fourth-highest run-blocking grade this weekend.
Offensive Guard
Paul Nosworthy, Buffalo
Conference Championship Grade: 70.7
Nosworthy was not at fault for a single sack or hit on Tyree Jackson while he also sports the highest run-blocking grade from guards in the conference championships.
Center
Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
Conference Championship Grade: 71.4
Pierschbacher didn't allow a single pressure from 40 snaps in pass protection against the talented Georgia defensive line while finishing with the third-highest run-blocking grade among centers.
Offensive Guard
Malcolm Pridgeon, Ohio State
Conference Championship Grade: 70.0
Allowing just a single QB pressure on 50 snaps in pass protection, Pridgeon also impressed with his run-blocking grade that was fourth-highest among guards.
Offensive Tackle
Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
Conference Championship Grade: 76.2
Cleveland allowed just two QB pressures against Fresno State, on 40 pass-blocking snaps but his run-blocking grade led all tackles this weekend.
Defense
Edge Defender
Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Conference Championship Grade: 81.5
Smith led all defensive players with nine QB pressures this weekend, dominating action when he needed to. He recorded two sacks and seven additional hurries, coming away with several big-time moments in the second half.
Edge Defender
Chase Young, Ohio State
Conference Championship Grade: 80.8
Young was tough to block all game long for Northwestern's offensive line, coming away with six QB pressures that included three sacks. He forced a key fumble and did all his damage without missing a single tackle attempt.
Defensive Interior
Anthony Rush, UAB
Conference Championship Grade: 90.2
Rush was almost unblockable for the Blazers in their championship game victory. He recorded seven QB pressures from the interior of their defensive line as well as two stops in run defense.
Defensive Interior
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Conference Championship Grade: 89.6
Wilkins needed just 18 pass-rushing snaps to record three pressures while he also came away with two run stops on 22 snaps in run defense.
Linebacker
Anthony Wheeler, Texas
Conference Championship Grade: 80.8
A defensive player from the Big 12? Sure. When you record three pressures on 13 blitzes, make seven stops and allow the only targeted pass your way in 28 coverage snaps to go for just three yards, that's a clear-cut recipe for Team of the Week honors.
Linebacker
Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
Conference Championship Grade: 79.1
Hodge was all over the field for the Bulls, recording eight total tackles and no misses. His six defensive stops were tied for fourth among linebackers as he also chipped in with a pass breakup in coverage.
Cornerback
Byron Murphy, Washington
Conference Championship Grade: 85.4
Murphy scored the only touchdown of the Pac-12 Championship game when he happened into a dropped pass that fell into his hands and he scampered for a pick-6. He also grabbed another interception and a pass breakup as he was targeted five times and did not allow a single reception.
Cornerback
Brontae Harris, UAB
Conference Championship Grade: 81.6
Harris has been putting up ridiculous statistics in coverage for UAB all season long and the Conference USA Championship game was just another performance we've come to expect. On five targets, he allowed just three receptions for a mere 14 yards while coming away with a pass breakup and just a 64.6 passer rating when targeted.
Safety
J.R. Reed, Georgia
Conference Championship Grade: 92.5
Reed picked off Tua Tagovailoa in the early stages when it looked like Georgia was going to knock off Alabama once again but his performance went further than that lone moment. On 40 snaps in coverage, he was targeted four times, allowed two receptions for just 22 yards and saw a 27.1 passer rating when targeted.
Safety
Josh Thomas, Appalachian State
Conference Championship Grade: 84.1
Thomas also had a day in coverage for App State – seeing one lone target as the primary coverage defender. He pulled in an interception and saw a 0.0 passer rating when targeted and an 89.7 coverage grade that was the second-highest mark of the weekend.
Flex Defense
Taylor Rapp, Washington
Conference Championship Grade: 77.8
Rapp was all over the field for the Huskies defense, registering plus-grades in all facets. On six pass-rushing snaps, he brought in three pressures while he also made a pass breakup and allowed just one reception for five yards on 26 snaps in coverage.
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