Utah’s first College Football Playoff ranking of the season came with a number that jumps off the page: No. 3.
That’s the highest the Utes have ever been in the CFP rankings, and it came Tuesday when the committee released its opening top 25. Utah has now appeared in the rankings 51 times, but never from this lofty a spot.
The committee wasn’t bothered by the Utes’ schedule strength, at least not yet. Utah’s strength of schedule sits at No. 83 nationally, one of the weakest marks among the playoff contenders. Still, the Utes landed behind only Miami and Georgia in the first ranking.
BYU also cracked the top 10, coming in at No. 9. That puts the Cougars two spots behind their AP Top 25 position, but they still sit firmly in the playoff mix.
The rankings also created an interesting wrinkle for BYU through Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, who are No. 4 in the AP poll, were placed at No. 11 by the committee.
“They are a very good football team, but when you look at Notre Dame’s schedule and the wins that they have versus the teams that are ahead of them, they don’t have that signature win right now,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said on ESPN.
“They lost in their only top 25 matchup at BYU. Their next best win is on a neutral site against Wisconsin. They’ve got a great opportunity in front of them this weekend at home versus Miami to get that signature win that I think they need to move up in the rankings.”
That Notre Dame placement could end up helping BYU, and a win over Utah would only strengthen the Cougars’ case even more.
The Big 12 had a strong showing in the committee’s first release, with five teams in the rankings: Utah, BYU, No. 15 Texas Tech, No.
17 Houston and No. 22 Arizona.
If the playoff were set today, Utah would receive a first-round bye. BYU, meanwhile, would be on the road against No. 9 UCLA.
CFP rankings
Miami (8-0)
Georgia (7-1)
Utah (8-0)
Indiana (8-1)
Alabama (6-2)
Kentucky (7-1)
Texas (6-2)
UCLA (8-0)
BYU (7-1)
Ole Miss (6-2)
Notre Dame (7-1)
Ohio State (6-2)
Tennessee (6-2)
LSU (6-2)
Texas Tech (7-1)
Wake Forest (7-1)
Houston (6-2)
Missouri (6-2)
Iowa (6-2)
Southern California (7-2)
South Carolina (5-3)
Arizona (6-2)
Oregon (5-3)
Florida (5-3)
Boise State (7-1)
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