Here’s a hard truth: BYU’s College Football Playoff dreams are hanging by a thread, and it’s not because they’ve faltered on the field. But here’s where it gets controversial—despite a stellar 11-1 record in a Power Four league, the Cougars remain stuck at No. 11 in the latest CFP rankings, released Tuesday. That’s right, the same spot they held last week, even as their resume strengthened. So, what’s going on here? Let’s break it down.
If the season ended today, BYU would be left out of the playoff picture entirely. Here’s the updated top 25 for context:
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Notre Dame
- BYU
- Miami
- Texas
- Vanderbilt
- Utah
- USC
- Virginia
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Tulane
- Houston
- Georgia Tech
- Iowa
- North Texas
- JMU
BYU’s case for a higher ranking isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s backed by numbers. Over the weekend, No. 24 Arizona dominated No. 20 Arizona State, leaping to No. 18. That should’ve boosted BYU’s stock, right? Wrong. And this is the part most people miss—despite having a better record, strength of schedule, and strength of record than Notre Dame, the committee refused to budge BYU ahead of the Fighting Irish. It’s baffling.
Tuesday’s rankings all but crushed BYU’s hopes for an at-large bid. Now, the Cougars’ only path to the playoff is winning the Big 12 championship. But let’s be real—a team with BYU’s credentials shouldn’t be in this position. ESPN labeled them a potential “bid stealer,” but that’s just another way of saying the committee isn’t taking them seriously. Here’s the bold truth: A Power Four team with an 11-1 record has never been ranked outside the top 10. Yet, here we are. The disrespect is unprecedented, as highlighted by Sports Illustrated (https://www.si.com/college/byu/football/byu-cfp-ranking-is-unprecedented-and-not-in-a-good-way).
Even the Big 12 commissioner, Brett Yormark, stepped up to defend BYU. During a FOX interview after the Arizona-Arizona State game, he praised the conference’s success but didn’t hold back on BYU’s treatment. “They’ve been under-appreciated all season long,” he said. “When you compare them to Notre Dame, there’s no comparison. Strength of record, strength of schedule, win-loss—BYU has the edge.” Yet, his words fell on deaf ears with the playoff committee.
So, here’s the question: Is BYU being unfairly overlooked, or is there something we’re missing? Let’s spark a debate. Do you think BYU deserves a higher ranking, or is the committee justified in keeping them at No. 11? Sound off in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
