With Selection Sunday just around the corner, the College Football Playoff picture is starting to take shape-and the Big 12 is right in the thick of it. On one side, you’ve got No.
5 Texas Tech, a team that’s all but locked in. On the other, there’s BYU, a program sitting just outside the cut line, staring down a must-win scenario with everything on the line.
This week, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark stepped into the spotlight to advocate for his conference-and specifically, for BYU. His message was clear: forget the brand names, look at the body of work.
“Let’s not look at logos. Let’s look at résumés,” Yormark said.
“Any blind résumé comparison has BYU in the top 10. No question about it.”
He’s not wrong to push the case. At 11-1, BYU has quietly built a playoff-worthy resume.
The Cougars have just one conference loss, and while that used to be a feather in their cap, it now puts them in a precarious position. According to CBS Sports projections, if the playoff were selected today, BYU would be on the outside looking in.
That makes Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game against Texas Tech a de facto playoff play-in. Win, and BYU likely punches its ticket.
Lose, and the Cougars may be left out entirely. It’s the kind of high-stakes matchup that makes December in college football so compelling.
And here’s where things get interesting: this isn’t just about BYU. If BYU beats Texas Tech, there’s a real chance both Big 12 teams make the 12-team playoff field. But if Texas Tech wins, they’ll likely go in alone, leaving BYU-and the Big 12’s hopes for a second team-on the outside.
Yormark’s comments weren’t just about BYU, though. They were a challenge to the College Football Playoff committee to evaluate teams based on merit, not marketability. In his eyes, BYU’s résumé stacks up favorably against bluebloods like Notre Dame-better record, stronger strength of schedule, and more quality wins.
“I am confident the CFP will get it right for BYU,” he said.
It’s a pivotal moment for the Big 12. The landscape of college football has shifted dramatically thanks to the expanded playoff, NIL, and the transfer portal.
In theory, those changes should level the playing field. But in practice, the SEC and Big Ten still dominate the narrative-and the rankings.
Last season, only Arizona State made the playoff out of the Big 12, and they had to win the conference to do it. Many fans and analysts believe that’s the new normal: the Big 12 and ACC get one spot each, and the rest goes to the SEC and Big Ten. That mindset could push deserving teams like BYU out of the picture, and it raises old concerns about systemic bias-just with a new playoff format.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire is feeling it too. He’s been vocal about the need for fair evaluation, saying he’s personally reached out to media members to advocate for both his team and BYU.
“I’ve even sent texts to different reporters or different media people that I know of like, you’ve got this logo, this logo, this logo-and they’re leaving out whether it’s us or BYU,” McGuire said. “But when you look at the numbers, we have better numbers than teams that they’re putting up there.”
Yormark echoed that sentiment: “I think we’re the deepest conference in America. I’ve always said we’ve got to earn it on the field.
I don’t want any gimmies. I think we did that this year, and I anticipate doing that moving forward.”
The Big 12 title game between No. 5 Texas Tech and No.
11 BYU kicks off Saturday at Noon ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be broadcast on ABC. It’s more than a conference championship-it’s a proving ground for two programs and a statement game for the Big 12.
For BYU, it’s simple: win and make your case undeniable. For Texas Tech, it’s about sealing the deal and possibly bringing a conference mate along for the ride.
And for the Big 12? It’s a chance to show the college football world that its teams belong in the conversation-logos aside.