Weekend watchdog

By late Monday night, we will have
A college national champion
A champion of the playoff division
Our final eight NFL teams.
The NCAA National Championship Game between Alabama and Notre Dame caps the big football weekend. ESPN has the action Monday at 8:30 p.m. as the Crimson Tide attempt to defend their national title.
Notre Dame last topped the nation in 1988. The Fighting Irish have won eight national titles since 1936, just one behind Alabama.
Before the big game, a few more bowls fill the schedule. Fox has the Cotton Bowl between Texas A&M and Oklahoma Friday at 8:30 p.m. Pittsburgh meets Mississippi in the Compass Bowl Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN, and then the GoDaddy.com Bowl matches Kent State and Arkansas State Sunday at 9 p.m.
Sam Houston State and top-seeded North Dakota State clash for the FCS title Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.
The NFL playoffs begin Saturday with a doubleheader on NBC. The Bengals travel to Houston in a rematch of last year's contest at 4:30 p.m., while the Vikings and Packers battle again at 8 p.m. Sunday, the Colts take on the Ravens at 1 p.m. on CBS before RG III and the Redskins meet Seattle on Fox.
ESPN adds high school football to the schedule Friday at 5 p.m., with the Under Armour All America Game. NBC offers the U.S. Army All America Game Saturday at 1 p.m.
ACC basketball coverage begins Saturday at noon on the ACC network, with the Hokies facing Maryland. Miami visits Georgia Tech at 2:30 p.m. Comcast shows Clemson-Florida State at 4 p.m.
CBS has Temple-Kansas Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
ESPN2 offers Memphis against Tennessee Friday at 8 p.m. There's Big East play at 11 a.m. Saturday with Rutgers going against Pittsburgh.
There's five games on MASN Saturday, starting with a pair from the Big East. Seton Hall faces Notre Dame at noon, followed by Georgetown-Marquette. West Virginia hosts Big 12 foe Oklahoma at 4 p.m., then it's off to the Big South for UNC-Asheville at Liberty at 6 p.m. Big East action closes the day at 8 p.m. as DePaul faces Providence.
Syracuse travels to South Florida Sunday at noon.
Comcast offers CAA basketball Saturday, with Delaware at Old Dominion at noon followed by George Mason against William & Mary.
NBC Sports network features Lehigh and VCU Saturday at 5 p.m. and Florida travels to Yale Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
ESPN features the battle of L.A. Friday at 10:30 p.m., with the Clippers meeting the Lakers. The Bulls take on the Heat at 8 p.m.
The Wizards host Brooklyn Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, then travel to Miami Sunday at 6 p.m.
CBS offers women's college basketball Saturday afternoon as the NFL playoffs kick off. Purdue battles Nebraska at 2 p.m., followed by Connecticut against Notre Dame. The Virginia women head to Miami Sunday at 1 p.m. on Comcast.
ESPN2 has high school basketball between Montverde from Florida and Simeon of Illinois Saturday at 6 p.m.
The PGA tour year starts in Hawaii, and NBC shows the Tournament of Champions Sunday at 3 p.m.
Colorado College plays Nebraska-Omaha in college ice hockey Friday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.