Bold statement first: BYU’s playoff dream ends here, and the path to a national title slips away in the final CFP rankings. But here’s how the rest of the story unfolds—and why it matters to BYU fans, recruits, and program momentum.
BYU will not participate in the College Football Playoff this season. After a loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game, the Cougars dropped to No. 12 in the final CFP rankings, leaving them as the second team outside the bracket.
Even though Tulane and James Madison (JMU) were ranked just behind BYU, they were the fourth- and fifth-highest ranked conference champions respectively, which effectively boxed BYU out of the 12-team field. In contrast, two two-loss teams that did not play in conference championship games—Oklahoma and Miami—were placed ahead of BYU, widening the gap.
Alabama, finishing at 10-3 and coming off a SEC title game loss, earned a spot in the Playoff ahead of BYU as well. This combination of outcomes sealed BYU’s playoff fate for the year.
A potential automatic berth would have been within reach if BYU had defeated Texas Tech in the title game. That victory would have changed the math, highlighting how one game can shift a season’s ultimate implications.
Two notable BYU alumni who left Provo earlier in the year will be in the Playoff mix this season: Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff and Miami wide receiver Keelan Marion. Their contributions illustrate how player movements can influence the postseason landscape beyond a team’s own conference.
Looking ahead, BYU now shifts focus to bowl season. The team will learn its bowl destination on Sunday afternoon, a moment that will cap a roller-coaster playoff bid and begin charting the next steps for the program.
Questions for readers: Do you think the CFP selection process adequately accounts for conference strength and late-season momentum? Should BYU have prioritized different scheduling or a stronger performance in the conference title game to secure a playoff berth? Share your take in the comments and weigh in on whether a single game should determine a season’s postseason fate.
