The College Football Playoff Selection Committee didn’t throw any curveballs when it came to Arizona State. After a rough 23-7 loss to in-state rival Arizona in the final week of the regular season, the Sun Devils tumbled out of the CFP Top 25 entirely. It was a hard fall, but not a surprising one.
Arizona, on the other hand, made the most of the moment. The Wildcats surged from No. 25 to No. 18 in the rankings, thanks to that rivalry win - a statement victory that gave their postseason hopes real momentum at the perfect time.
Arizona State, which had climbed as high as No. 20 earlier in the season, finishes the regular season at 8-4. It’s a respectable record, but not enough to keep them in the playoff conversation, especially with the loss to Arizona fresh in the committee’s mind.
The Sun Devils did manage to pick up three votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, but that’s more of a footnote than a lifeline. Their focus now shifts to bowl season, where they’ll look to finish on a high note - albeit without a shot at defending their Big 12 title.
Big 12 Eyes Two CFP Spots After Wild Week 14
While Arizona State’s postseason outlook is still up in the air, the rest of the Big 12 is locked in on a much bigger prize: the College Football Playoff. After a chaotic Week 14, the conference is suddenly in position to send two teams into the 12-team playoff - a scenario that looked unlikely just a few weeks ago.
The biggest shakeup came courtesy of Texas. The No.
16 Longhorns stunned previously undefeated No. 3 Texas A&M, handing the Aggies their first loss of the season and shaking up the top of the CFP bracket.
That upset dropped Texas A&M to No. 7, knocking them out of the top four and out of the coveted first-round bye territory.
That opened the door for Texas Tech, the Big 12’s top team, to jump from No. 5 to No. 4. With that move, the Red Raiders are now in position to secure a first-round bye - but they’ll need to take care of business in the Big 12 Championship Game to lock it in.
Their opponent? No.
11 BYU, a team sitting squarely on the playoff bubble. The Cougars didn’t move in the rankings this week, but their path is clear: beat Texas Tech, and they’re likely in.
Lose, and they’ll need help - and a lot of it - from chaos in other conferences.
Bubble Watch: BYU, ACC, and the Fight for the Final Spots
BYU is in the classic "win-and-you're-in" position, but if they fall short, things get messy. The ACC is already in disarray, with no clear playoff contender emerging from the conference. Miami, ranked No. 12, is the ACC’s top team - but they’re not playing in the conference title game and won’t be in the playoff either.
That leaves No. 17 Virginia vulnerable, especially with a tricky matchup looming against a Duke team that’s been playing spoiler all season. If Duke pulls the upset, the ACC could be left without a playoff representative altogether.
That scenario would open the door for champions from the Group of Five conferences. Tulane (No. 20) from the American Athletic Conference and James Madison (No. 25) from the Sun Belt are both in position to snag auto-bids if the dominoes fall their way. Both teams have been steady all season, and the committee has shown a willingness to reward that kind of consistency - especially when chaos reigns elsewhere.
Notre Dame, BYU, and the Final CFP Debate
Then there’s Notre Dame. The Irish slipped from No. 9 to No. 10 this week, and while they’re still inside the bracket, their position is far from secure.
Notre Dame doesn’t play in a conference championship, which means they’re done playing - and done making their case. That leaves them vulnerable if BYU plays Texas Tech close or if another contender delivers a statement win this weekend.
Notre Dame’s strength of schedule down the stretch hasn’t exactly been daunting, and if the committee decides to reward a team with a tougher road - like BYU or even a Group of Five champion - the Irish could find themselves on the outside looking in.
There’s still plenty of football to be played, but one thing’s clear: the final playoff spots are wide open, and the committee has some tough calls ahead. For now, the Big 12 is sitting pretty with a real shot at two playoff teams, while others - from BYU to Tulane to James Madison - are hoping for one more chance to make their case.
Buckle up. Championship weekend is going to be a wild ride.