The College Football Playoff committee dropped its penultimate rankings Tuesday night, and for BYU, it was more of the same - stuck at No. 11 for the second straight week. And while the Cougars didn’t move, the conversation around them absolutely should.
Let’s be clear: BYU’s résumé got better over the weekend. No.
24 Arizona didn’t just beat rival Arizona State - they dominated, and the committee rewarded them by bumping them up to No. 18.
That’s a quality win on BYU’s schedule, and it should’ve added more weight to their profile. But when the committee reshuffled the deck, BYU was left holding the same hand.
Again.
What’s frustrating here isn’t just the lack of movement - it’s the inconsistency in how the rankings are being applied. BYU has a better record, a tougher strength of schedule, and a stronger strength of record than Notre Dame.
Yet the Fighting Irish are still sitting ahead of the Cougars. The numbers favor BYU.
The wins favor BYU. The eye test?
That’s subjective, sure - but even there, BYU has passed every challenge but one.
If the season ended today, BYU would be on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff. And that’s a tough pill to swallow for an 11-1 team in a Power Four conference.
Historically, no team with BYU’s résumé has been ranked this low at this point in the season. That’s not opinion - that’s precedent.
The ESPN crew labeled BYU a potential “bid stealer” during the rankings reveal show. That’s the kind of tag you give to a mid-major team that sneaks in with a conference title and a hot streak.
BYU doesn’t fit that mold. They’re not Cinderella crashing the party - they’ve been in the room all season.
Calling them a “bid stealer” ignores the body of work they’ve put together and downplays what they’ve accomplished in a loaded Big 12.
For the first time this season, someone from the conference office stepped up to say what a lot of people have been thinking. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, speaking during FOX’s broadcast of the Arizona-Arizona State game, made it clear he believes BYU deserves more respect from the committee.
“If you would have told me a couple of months ago that we would have 3 in the top 13 I would have taken it,” Yormark said. “And I'm thrilled where this conference is going.”
He went on to praise Texas Tech and Utah - both having strong seasons - but saved his strongest comments for BYU.
“I think they’ve been underappreciated all season long,” Yormark said. “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.”
He’s not wrong. The data backs it up. But clearly, it didn’t make a dent with the committee.
So here’s where we are: BYU’s path to the playoff is now crystal clear - win the Big 12 Championship, or they’re out. There’s no at-large lifeline coming. The committee has drawn its line, and BYU’s only way to cross it is by forcing their hand with a title.
That’s a tall order, but it’s also an opportunity. A statement win in the conference championship could be the kind of final impression that’s impossible to ignore. Because at this point, BYU isn’t just playing for a playoff spot - they’re playing to prove they belong in a conversation they’ve earned their way into all season long.