BYU’s playoff path still exists, but the wiggle room is almost gone.
The No. 10 Cougars return home to Provo on Saturday to face Baylor with their College Football Playoff hopes still alive at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12. But after two losses in their last three games, the message is simple: another regular-season defeat would shut the door on both a CFP bid and a shot at the Big 12 title game.
That makes last week’s 28-20 loss to No. 2 Utah more than just a setback. It’s the kind of result BYU has to flush immediately.
"We can’t let the Utah loss linger into (this) week, but what we can do is use it as motivation to get better," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said.
The Cougars had their chances in that one. They erased an early 14-point hole and took a 20-14 lead into halftime, only for the game to swing hard after the break.
Bear Bachmeier, who had been sharp early with 213 passing yards and a touchdown in the first half, was picked off four times. Two of those interceptions came in the end zone on BYU’s final two possessions, ending any chance at a tying score and overtime.
Bachmeier completed only six passes after halftime in a jarring turnaround. He also dealt with heavy pressure while LJ Martin was limited to 19 yards on seven carries in his first game back after a high ankle sprain against TCU in early October. Sitake said Martin will be more involved against Baylor.
Even with the loss, Sitake said he liked what he saw from his team’s effort.
"Obviously, we didn’t come away with the victory, but I am really proud of the way the guys played," Sitake said. "We can build on things we saw on film, and I am looking forward to seeing how the team responds from that game."
Baylor arrives with a different kind of momentum. The Bears are 6-3 and 4-2 in league play, and they’ve won two straight since firing Dave Aranda.
Their most recent win was a 42-31 rally over Iowa State, a game in which DJ Lagway put together a full showcase as a dual-threat threat. He threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns and added 119 rushing yards and another score.
The Bears’ offense has picked up steam over the last two games, averaging 41.5 points and 463.0 yards in wins over UCF and Iowa State. That surge now gets tested against a BYU defense that has been much tougher to move.
For Baylor, Saturday is a chance to find out whether this recent run is real or just a short burst. Interim coach Joe Klanderman made it clear he wants to see conviction carry over onto the field.
"It’s got to be in the players’ souls. They have to believe that (they can win)," Klanderman said.
"It’s one thing to say that. It’s another thing for those guys to go out there and believe that.
We’ll see how that manifests itself on Saturday when we step onto that field. If our guys really have that look in their eye like we can get this thing done, then we’ll know we’re turning a corner.
If they look catatonic, then maybe we haven’t turned that corner yet."
This will be the sixth meeting between the Big 12 teams, with BYU holding a 3-2 edge in the series.
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Bachmeiers Holy War Slide Just Raised A Bigger BYU Question
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For BYU, the bigger question is less about the rankings themselves and more about where its own quarterback situation fits in a league that keeps demanding answers every week. With the top eight Big 12 quarterbacks being sorted by recent form and the next slate of challenges already in view, the Cougars are watching closely to see whether their position in that conversation holds or slips as the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Defense Has Become A Real Concern At The Worst Time
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The response has been to get back to basics in practice, with more emphasis on tackling fundamentals and drills as BYU prepares for a critical matchup against Baylor. For a defense trying to steady itself late in the season, the challenge is no longer just about effort or alignment, but about cleaning up the kind of mistakes that can turn a solid series into a long gain in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is Suddenly At The Center Of A Big 12 Playoff Push
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What makes the discussion especially interesting from BYUs side is the broader shift in how the league is being viewed. The argument now is less about brand names and more about resumes, with the Big 12 suddenly looking capable of stacking up well against the Big Ten and even making a case for as many as three playoff bids. For BYU, that means every week carries more weight in a conference race that could end up shaping the national field. [Read more 🡒]