In 2016, the NCAA regular season had ended, but the real highlight was just beginning.
Unlike the NFL, the NCAA is divided into many leagues, so the playoffs are also divided into two stages:
The first stage, the championship games within each league.
The second stage, the nationwide championship.
The duration of the events was quite extended, with the first stage taking place immediately after the regular season, usually scheduled for the first week of December.
Then, after a three-week break, which was also the time for college final exams, the second stage wouldn't commence until after the Christmas holidays.
Leading off were the league championship games.
The Southeastern Conference games had all concluded, and the league was divided into two divisions:
The East and the South.
Regardless of their individual win-loss records, it always came down to the champions of the East and the South competing for the Southeastern Conference championship.
