BYU and Utah Clash for Playoff Hope as CFP Rankings Reveal Narrow Miss
Nov, 20 2025
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee dropped its third rankings of the 2025 season on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 — and for the first time in decades, two teams from the same state sit just outside the playoff cut line. The Brigham Young University Cougars at No. 11 and the University of Utah Utes at No. 12 both climbed one spot from last week, thanks to dominant wins over the weekend. But here’s the twist: they’re still not in. Not even close enough to breathe the same air as the top 10. And the reason? A 10-1 Texas Tech University Red Raiders team that beat them both.
Why a One-Loss Team Is Left Out
It’s not supposed to work this way. A 9-1 record should be sacred. But in 2025, it’s not enough. Three two-loss teams — the University of Oklahoma Sooners (No. 8), University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (No. 9), and University of Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 10) — sit ahead of BYU. That’s not just odd. It’s unprecedented. The College Football Playoff system was designed to reward strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships. Yet here’s BYU, undefeated in conference play, beating ranked teams, and still watching from the sidelines."It’s a numbers game, not a moral one," said Deseret News reporter Jay Drew. "The committee sees Texas Tech’s win over Utah as a stronger resume builder than BYU’s win over Cincinnati. And they’re not wrong — but it feels wrong."
The Big 12’s Playoff Paradox
The Big 12 Conference is in a bind. It has two teams ranked in the top 12, but only one — Texas Tech — is in the top 10. And Texas Tech’s victory over both BYU and Utah is the elephant in the room. The Red Raiders, based in Lubbock, Texas, didn’t just win — they dominated. They beat Utah by 17 and BYU by 21. That’s not a fluke. That’s a statement.But here’s the deeper problem: the Big 12 doesn’t control its own destiny anymore. The conference championship game on December 6 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, might not even matter if the committee decides to prioritize conference champions over pure win-loss records. The Atlantic Coast Conference champion — still unknown — is projected to jump ahead of Utah. And the Tulane University Green Wave, the highest-ranked Group of Five team, already has a playoff spot locked in. That’s the new reality: a 12-team playoff isn’t more inclusive. It’s more confusing.
Who’s Ahead — And Why
The top five teams tell the story: Ohio State (10-0), Indiana (11-0), Texas A&M (10-0), Georgia (9-1), and Texas Tech (10-1). Georgia’s only loss? To Alabama. Alabama’s only loss? To Texas. Texas? They lost to LSU — but beat Georgia. The chain of logic is a Rube Goldberg machine. Meanwhile, BYU beat Utah, beat Cincinnati, beat Arizona State — and still trails teams that lost to unranked opponents."It’s like being the best student in a class where the teacher grades based on who you sat next to," said former Notre Dame linebacker and current ESPN analyst Brian Kelly. "BYU’s schedule isn’t weak. But it’s not flashy enough. The committee still rewards Power Five pedigree. And that’s the real issue here."
What’s Next — And What It Takes
For BYU and Utah to sneak in, the math is brutal. At least three of the teams ranked 6 through 10 — Ole Miss, Oregon, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Alabama — must lose in their final two games. And not just any losses. They need to lose to unranked teams. Or worse — lose in their conference championship games.BYU’s next two games? Home against University of Cincinnati Bearcats (8-2), then a potential showdown with University of Houston Cougars (8-2) in the Big 12 title game. Utah faces University of Texas Longhorns and University of Oklahoma Sooners. Neither path is easy. But both are possible — if the stars align.
The next ranking drops on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Then the final one on December 2. After that, the conference championships decide who gets the last few spots. And for BYU and Utah fans? It’s a waiting game filled with hope, heartbreak, and a whole lot of "what ifs."
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about two teams. It’s about whether the 12-team playoff is actually fair. The system was sold as a way to give more teams a shot. But in practice, it’s creating new hierarchies. Group of Five teams get automatic bids. Power Five conference champions get priority. And teams like BYU — dominant, consistent, but outside the traditional power structure — are left in the cold."We’re not asking for a trophy," said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake in a post-game press conference. "We’re asking for a chance to prove we belong."
That’s the question hanging over college football. Is it about who you beat? Or who you’re allowed to beat?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is BYU ranked higher than Utah if they both have similar records?
BYU’s 9-1 record includes a win over a ranked Cincinnati team, while Utah’s two losses came against Oregon and Texas Tech — both top-10 opponents. The committee values strength of schedule and quality wins more than total wins, and BYU’s non-conference slate included a road win at Arizona State, which helped tip the balance. Still, the difference is razor-thin — just one spot separates them.
Can BYU or Utah still make the playoff without a conference title?
Technically yes, but it’s nearly impossible. The committee has historically favored conference champions, especially from Power Five leagues. For either team to make it without winning the Big 12 title, at least three teams ranked 6–10 would need to lose — and ideally to unranked opponents. That’s a five-game domino effect, and the odds are less than 15% according to ESPN’s predictive model.
Why does Texas Tech’s win over BYU and Utah matter so much?
Texas Tech’s 21-point win over BYU and 17-point win over Utah are the two most decisive victories by any team in the top 10. The committee uses head-to-head results as a tiebreaker — and Texas Tech’s dominance over both Utah and BYU gives them a clear resume edge. Even though Texas Tech lost to Texas, that loss came by only three points, and they’ve beaten four teams ranked in the top 25.
What’s the role of the Group of Five in the 12-team playoff?
The top-ranked Group of Five champion gets an automatic bid — and Tulane has locked that spot. That’s a big win for non-Power Five programs, but it also means one fewer spot for teams like BYU and Utah. The committee’s priority is clear: protect conference champions, reward Power Five dominance, and give the Group of Five one shot. That leaves no room for two-loss teams from major conferences — or one-loss teams from the periphery.
When will we know if BYU or Utah made the playoff?
The final selection will be announced on Sunday, December 7, 2025, after all conference championship games conclude. The last rankings drop on December 2, giving the committee five days to weigh results. If BYU or Utah win their conference title games and other top teams collapse, they could still sneak in — but it’ll require a perfect storm.
Has a one-loss team ever been left out of the playoff before?
In the 4-team era, yes — like Alabama in 2017 and Clemson in 2019. But never in the 12-team format. This is the first time a 9-1 team sits outside the bracket. The new system was supposed to fix this. Instead, it’s exposed a new flaw: the committee still favors tradition over merit. And for BYU, that’s the hardest loss of all.