BYU’s College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking took a hit after their loss to Arizona State, but the real question was: How much would they drop? Would the CFP committee view a road loss to a ranked team like Arizona State as less damaging than a home loss to an unranked team like Kansas?
In the latest CFP rankings (Week 4, 2024), BYU (9-2) dropped five spots to No. 19. That drop suggests the committee wasn’t too hard on them for losing to Arizona State compared to their earlier loss to Kansas.
Looking at other rankings, BYU is sitting at No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 20 in the Coaches Poll.
While BYU’s dream of making program history in the CFP this year may be fading fast, there’s still a chance for something surprising to happen in the final weeks of the season.
It’s worth noting that BYU has been ranked 15 times in the CFP rankings throughout its history.
Why Do the CFP Rankings Matter?
The CFP rankings are everything now. Since they started in 2014, these rankings decide which teams make it into the College Football Playoff. In the past, rankings like the AP and Coaches polls were the go-to, but now, only the CFP rankings really matter.
With the new 12-team playoff format, a top 12 ranking doesn’t guarantee a spot, but it’s a step in the right direction. The top five conference champions get a spot, with the highest-ranked teams from the Power 5 conferences (like the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC) getting special seeding.
Who Else Matters for BYU?
BYU’s final regular-season opponent is Houston, and they’re not doing well this season. Houston has a 4-7 record, and a win against them probably won’t help BYU’s ranking much. However, a loss to Houston would be a big setback, possibly knocking BYU out of the rankings altogether.
BYU has a few big wins this season to point to. Their win over No. 9 SMU, who is heading to the ACC Championship, stands out. Other solid wins include victories over No. 24 Kansas State and Baylor, who both have decent records. But BYU’s other wins against teams with losing records won’t help their case much.
Still, BYU is ranked well in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric, sitting at No. 13 overall, which is the best among Big 12 teams. Wins against teams like Arizona State and Kansas are making BYU’s schedule look stronger.
What’s Next for BYU?
If BYU can make it to the Big 12 Championship game, they might have a shot at earning a playoff spot. The road to that title is still open for BYU, but they’ll need to finish strong.
Looking at other teams, like those in the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC, could help BYU’s playoff hopes. How the committee ranks teams like Clemson, Alabama, and Illinois after the final regular-season games will determine if BYU has a chance as an at-large team.
The Latest CFP Rankings (Nov. 26)
Here’s a quick look at the top-ranked teams in the CFP as of November 26th:
- Oregon (11-0) – Big Ten
- Ohio State (10-1) – Big Ten
- Texas (10-1) – SEC
- Penn State (10-1) – Big Ten
- Notre Dame (10-1) – Independent
- Miami (FL) (10-1) – ACC
- Georgia (9-2) – SEC
- Tennessee (9-2) – SEC
- SMU (10-1) – ACC
- Indiana (10-1) – Big Ten
- Boise State (10-1) – MWC
- Clemson (9-2) – ACC
- Alabama (8-3) – SEC
- Ole Miss (8-3) – SEC
- South Carolina (8-3) – SEC
- Arizona State (9-2) – Big 12
- Tulane (9-2) – AAC
- Iowa State (9-2) – Big 12
- BYU (9-2) – Big 12
- Texas A&M (8-3) – SEC
- Missouri (8-3) – SEC
- UNLV (9-2) – MWC
- Illinois (8-3) – Big Ten
- Kansas State (8-3) – Big 12
- Colorado (8-3) – Big 12
BYU still has a shot at making a statement in the final weeks, but they’ll need to keep winning and get some help from the teams around them. Let’s see how things shake out!