Bold headline-worthy reality: BYU stays steady while Utah slides again in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings.
SALT LAKE CITY — The biggest headline surrounding BYU this week wasn’t a highlight reel or their looming rematch with Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game. Instead, the program faced a high-profile distraction as Penn State pressed to hire Kalani Sitake as head coach, a move that could have overshadowed one of the program’s most significant games to date.
Yet BYU defended its coach and refocused the attention on championship weekend. The immediate question, though, was where the Cougars stood in the penultimate CFP rankings released Tuesday night.
A win over Texas Tech on Saturday guarantees BYU a playoff path, but earning an at-large spot remained unlikely in this final pre-weekend snapshot. With Texas A&M, previously ranked No. 3, dropping after a loss to Texas, BYU remained at No. 11 for the third consecutive week. The only realistic route for BYU to reach the playoff appears to be a victory in the season finale.
Texas Tech climbed one spot to No. 4, benefiting from A&M’s defeat and closing the regular season 11-1 after an away blowout of West Virginia.
Utah, outside the top four but still within striking distance, found itself No. 15 after a 10-point win over Kansas on Black Friday. The Utes had previously crept up to No. 12 but slipped in back-to-back rankings despite winning games.
Rounding out the top 15 are No. 18 Arizona, fresh off a rivalry win over Arizona State, and No. 21 Houston.
The top four teams in this week’s rankings—the playoff byes—are No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 4 Texas Tech.
For the full rankings, see below or click here: https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/26593072/
