BYU's Playoff Dreams on Life Support: Are They Being Disrespected?
The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee just dropped its second-to-last rankings for the 2025 season, and BYU fans aren't happy. The Cougars remained stuck at #11, the exact same spot they held last week. Ouch! If the season ended today, BYU would be on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff contention. This raises a crucial question: Is BYU being unfairly overlooked, and what does it mean for their championship aspirations? Let's dive into the details and explore why this ranking is stirring up so much controversy.
Here's a look at the current CFP Top 25:
- 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: A Strong Record, But Is It Enough?
BYU's resume actually improved over the weekend. Arizona, previously ranked #24, delivered a decisive victory over #20 Arizona State, catapulting them up to #18. You'd think that would help BYU indirectly, right? Wrong. The committee seemingly shrugged it off. And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about winning games; it's about who you beat and how convincingly you do it.
The committee also re-evaluated the teams ahead of BYU. But even this didn't budge them. Despite boasting a superior record, a stronger schedule, and a better "strength of record" (a metric designed to measure the quality of wins) compared to Notre Dame, the committee stubbornly refused to elevate BYU above the Fighting Irish. But here's where it gets controversial... what metrics are really driving these decisions? Is it all about data, or are other factors, like historical reputation, playing a role?
Playoff Hopes Dwindling: Championship or Bust?
Tuesday's rankings essentially slammed the door on BYU's chances of securing an at-large bid to the playoff. For those unfamiliar, an "at-large bid" is an invitation to the playoff extended to a team that didn't win its conference championship. Now, BYU's path to the promised land is crystal clear: they must win the Big 12 championship. Anything less, and their playoff dreams are over. That's a lot of pressure!
"Bid Stealer" Label: A Slap in the Face?
The ESPN crew covering the rankings reveal show even went so far as to label BYU a potential "bid stealer." A "bid stealer," in this context, is a team that wins their conference championship but is perceived as not being among the absolute best teams in the country, thus "stealing" a playoff spot from a more deserving team. This is, frankly, disrespectful to BYU and their impressive resume. Consider this: An 11-1 team in a Power Four conference (like the Big 12) with BYU's accomplishments has never been ranked outside the top 10 before. Yet, shockingly, nobody on the panel seems to be questioning BYU's ranking. This perceived disrespect towards BYU is, according to some, literally unprecedented. (https://www.si.com/college/byu/football/byu-cfp-ranking-is-unprecedented-and-not-in-a-good-way)
And this is a critical point: Should a team with a playoff-worthy resume, built on hard-fought victories and a strong record, really be saddled with the dismissive label of "bid stealer"? It feels like a double standard.
Big 12 Commissioner Speaks Out: Did It Make a Difference?
For the first time this season, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark publicly advocated for BYU. He attended the Arizona-Arizona State game and, during a FOX interview, seized the opportunity to address the CFP situation. Yormark stated that he was thrilled with the conference's performance, highlighting Texas Tech and Utah, before adding, "As it relates to BYU, I think they've been under-appreciated all season long. When you compare them to a Notre Dame, there is no comparison. When you think of strength of record, strength of schedule, and win-loss." So, he clearly thinks BYU is getting a raw deal.
Sadly, Yormark's passionate defense didn't seem to sway the playoff committee. Their decision to keep BYU at #11 suggests that they're sticking to their guns. But here's the real question: Did Yormark's comments actually hurt BYU's chances? Sometimes, publicly lobbying for a team can backfire. What do you think?
What's Your Take?
Is the CFP committee being fair to BYU? Are they undervaluing the Cougars' achievements? Or is BYU simply not as good as their record suggests? Sound off in the comments below! Let's hear your opinions and predictions for BYU's playoff fate. Do you think they can win the Big 12 and silence the doubters?
