The first week of the College Football Playoff rankings were released Tuesday night with a surprise decision by the committee.
Although BYU is ranked No. 8 in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ Polls, the Cougars checked in at No. 14 in the playoff rankings. Not only is BYU out of reach for the playoff, the undefeated Cougars aren’t even starting in a position to reach a New Year’s Six bowl, which typically falls to teams within the first 12 spots.
To make matters worse, the Cougars are behind several two-loss teams in No. 9 Georgia (5-2), No. 11 Oklahoma (6-2) and No. 13 Iowa State (5-2). BYU’s low ranking caught the attention of the country with many shocked at how the committee evaluated the Cougars.
“I’m still blown away we’ve got BYU down at No. 14, and Indiana at No. 12,” said ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit. “BYU’s AD better get on the phone with Seattle and get as many games as it can.”
BYU’s original 2020 schedule featured games against six Power 5 opponents: Utah, Michigan State, Arizona State, Minnesota, Missouri and Stanford, all of which were canceled when the Pac-12, Big Ten and SEC went to league-only schedules due to COVID-19. As an Independent, BYU had to redo nearly its entire schedule and still managed to get several respectable opponents in Boise State, Houston and Navy. The Cougars ended up blowing them all out on the road and have outscored its opponents 428-125 this season.
Here’s how the media, fans and BYU players reacted after the rankings came out:
More fuel to the fire. Keep doubting.
— Khyiris Tonga ?? (@khyiristonga) November 25, 2020
It is what it is…however, like we said, ANY TEAM, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE!!
— neil_pauu#8 (@pauuneil) November 25, 2020
I’m heated
— Nicole Auerbach ? (@NicoleAuerbach) November 25, 2020
I'm genuinely surprised the eye test year didn't reward BYU more. the "I know what I see" portion of that room let me down here.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) November 25, 2020
@BYUfootball at #14? Completely disagree.
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) November 25, 2020
If the committee “watched the games” they’d certainly have BYU ahead of some of these other teams.
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) November 25, 2020
The @CFBPlayoff committee is doing the best they can…However, they are flawed & every iteration as been flawed…The system is atrocious with no guidelines or firm criteria…a 13 variable equation is far inferior to one with hundreds of inputs…tonights rankings were suspect
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) November 25, 2020
"It would be very interesting just to see @BYUFootball or @GoBearcatsFB, @NUFBFamilyIn get a chance here. In all other college sports the underdog gets a chance, not in College Football." pic.twitter.com/4iWEoLJdxx
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) November 26, 2020
Yes… the SOS is awful… but clearly the #CFBPlayoff didn’t watch a minute of BYU football this season.
— Anish Shroff (@AnishESPN) November 25, 2020
Firmly believe the committee was looking for reasons to rank #BYU low… instead of looking at the positives they've shown to determine their ranking.
They aren't a playoff team in my mind, just not 14… most mis-ranked team in these rankings.
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) November 25, 2020
Eye test should play a huge role w schedule imbalance.. I’m stunned BYU is 14 in the first release.. they only have one more game left on the schedule and it’s December 12th. Dec 5th is an open date and Cincinnati has an open date. We can all dream about that showdown.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) November 25, 2020
College Football Playoff rankings reaction: BYU disrespect, an SEC lovefest and more https://t.co/D9EfbRQrze Wow, is this the #power5 protecting their ba$e or what? @BYUfootball
— Todd Harris (@TheToddHarris) November 25, 2020
Wish BYU could go back and leave Zach Wilson in all 4 quarters with their foot on the throttle. Ignore the crying and middle fingers from the opposite sidelines. Push until the last second leaks off the clock…And see what voters would say then. https://t.co/7eyozTd9AN
— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 25, 2020
Iowa State is ranked ahead of BYU….. they have 2 losses… one to Louisiana Lafayette?
— The Blue Brethren (@BlueBrethren) November 25, 2020
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) November 25, 2020
BYU biggest loser in inaugural @CFBPlayoff rankings. At No. 14, doubtful BYU could climb high enough to earn New Year’s 6 at-large bid
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 25, 2020
I understand BYU's schedule is dreadful, but two-loss Georgia's wins came against opponents that are a combined 15-22. Auburn only team w/ winning record they beat.
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) November 25, 2020
BYU at 14 is as ridiculous as anything the committee has ever spit out. Watch the damn games. https://t.co/qAS47rVPbs
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) November 25, 2020
Anybody who just blurts out "their schedule" for why BYU is ranked No. 14 has clearly not watched BYU. I like their odds against at least half the teams above them
— Michael Perchick (@MichaelPerchick) November 25, 2020
If BYU had wins against Kansas, Vanderbilt, Washington State, Kentucky, Texas Tech, Illinois, Arkansas, Arizona, or Illinois, would you consider them a playoff contender for for being 9-0 against P5 schools? I don't the hype of playing P5, when half of the teams are trash anyways
— Vitamin-J (@JasonGIles5) November 25, 2020
BYU's original schedule:
Utah 0-1
Michigan State 1-3
Arizona State 0-1
Minnesota 2-3
Utah State 0-4
Missouri 3-3
Houston 3-3
Northern Illinois 0-3
Boise State 4-1
San Diego State 3-2
North Alabama 0-4
Stanford 0-2Overall Record: 16-30
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) November 25, 2020
It gets funnier:
Being P5 doesn't mean ?
Those 6 P5's we originally had on our schedule have a combined 6-13 record! ?? BEING ? P5 ? DOESN'T ? MEAN ? YOURE ? GOOD ?
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) November 25, 2020
Looks like the CFP committee is hiring pic.twitter.com/2crs44G8ZR
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) November 25, 2020
On a conference call, Barta says Cincinnati rose to No. 7 because they are ranked "in the top-20" in both scoring offense, defense.
Cincy: #3 scoring defense, #13 scoring offense.
BYU: #6 scoring defense, #9 scoring offense.— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) November 25, 2020
College football is so brand driven. It's the worst part of the sport. If you aren't a traditional powerhouse you have to do twice as much to prove you belong.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) November 25, 2020
Also, BYU is way better than No. 14.
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) November 25, 2020
I've written this a few times now, but always remember: no matter how many times they say they're picking the "best" teams, they're picking the "most deserving." It's who you've played, not how.
— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) November 25, 2020
I’m fine with where Cincinnati is. BYU is getting scorched for the strength of schedule. Really not sure what else BYU is supposed to do. You can’t really say “PLAY SOMEBODY, ANYBODY” when all of those bodies are pretty much locked out from non-conference games this year.
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) November 25, 2020
BYU should be in the top 10. Put them behind Cincinnati if you want. But they should absolutely be in the top 10 the way they have played this season, regardless of competition.
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) November 25, 2020
These rankings are really bad
— Chris Vannini ? (@ChrisVannini) November 25, 2020
Whooosh, I can hear the BYU fans mobilizing now.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 25, 2020
Even the ESPN pundits are stunned by BYU being #14. And now Gary Barta is–of course–telling people sadly how their schedule hurt them. How about WATCHING them play? Ridiculous…
— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) November 25, 2020
Initial CFP ranking has 9-0 BYU #14. Tells us the committee values quality wins to a degree over eye-test. BYU looks great on tape, but best win is over then-#21 Boise. Three two-loss teams are ahead of them, incl 6-2 Iowa State, who lost to unranked Louisiana, but beat Oklahoma.
— Trevor Matich (@TMatich) November 25, 2020
PURE PLAYOFF PRIVILEGE! I have an answer for Kirk, no this committee hasn’t watched the games we’ve watched. @BYU being where they are nonsensical regardless of schedule. Watch the games. It’s almost as if they’re punished for leaving the @MountainWest I didn’t like the move!
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) November 25, 2020
BYU at 14.
Not all that dissimilar to where Baylor started last year. They were 8-0 and ranked 12th by the committee in the initial rankings.
— Greg McElroy (@GregMcElroy) November 25, 2020
David Pollack: "My gosh, BYU (at) No. 14? That is absolutely nuts to me, just watching how dominant they are, not just analytically, but physically, when you turn on the tape."
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) November 25, 2020
BREAKING: CFP Committee also retroactively suspends Yoeli Childs for an additional 9 games.
— Mark Durrant (@DurrantMark) November 25, 2020
“BYU being all the way down at no. 14… I just don’t understand it.”
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) November 25, 2020
What was BYU was supposed to do up to this point?
The schedule was down to two games.
BYU is 9-0 and winning by an average of 47-14.
14th? I don't get it.
Yeah, the SOS is weak but BYU has blown everybody out but one.
3-0 on the road vs Navy, Houston, ranked Boise St.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) November 25, 2020
any top 10 football teams wanna play a turkeybowl? Lavell Edwards stadium? ….Asking for a friend
— Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) November 25, 2020
UNC is overrated. Iowa State is overrated. BYU is massively underrated
— Blue and Gold Report (@bluengoldreport) November 25, 2020
Northwestern is not a better football team than BYU#CFBPlayoff
— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) November 25, 2020
We just feel bad (not really) for whoever we have to play next ?
— The ROC (@byuROC) November 25, 2020
Nights like this where I really need a burner…
Kalani will show the country how classy he is though. #GoCougs
— Eric Mateos (@CoachMateos) November 25, 2020
Live look at the CFP committee pic.twitter.com/tCYDtIHZMH
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) November 25, 2020
There’s always some kind of excuse, it’s cool we are use to it https://t.co/1bqVpPFfDd
— Uriah Leiataua (@lopa54) November 25, 2020
Honestly. Hella rooting for the Utes this weekend. Lost a lot of respect for Washington after the way they handled everything.
— Kyle Griffitts (@kgee42) November 25, 2020
That’s crazy….
— Masen Wake (@masenwake22) November 25, 2020
BYU at 14 ?! They only doing that cause the homies Mormon… NO CAP lol
— 999 (@Squally_Canada) November 25, 2020
?
— D'Angelo Mandell (@Dlo_Gunter) November 25, 2020
I am so proud of Kalani and the way he represents BYU! I am also so proud of the players for rising up and playing their best every game! We are just getting started! Let’s go! All in! @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/99uw5ChgcJ
— Chad Lewis (@Chadlewis89) November 25, 2020
Kirk, what do you think of UGA at #9?
“I’m still over here just shocked BYU is at 14. I can’t believe that.”
— P Norton (@P_Norton) November 25, 2020
That interview with @BYUfootball Head Coach Kalani Sitake was gold on the @CFBPlayoff Top 25 show. Respect for BYU.
— Morgan Uber (@Morgan_Uber) November 25, 2020
Kalani Sitake said what he needed to in that interview. Made it clear BYU was preparing for Washington (which likely has to play Utah now), said they're not scared and asked anyone to give them a call for 12/5 or 12/19.
Let's hope something happens.
— Chris Vannini ? (@ChrisVannini) November 25, 2020
Wins over shorthanded teams are only discounted if they're BYU against Boise State. https://t.co/oeiPC1338d
— WWF Hall of Famer Ivan Bologna (@PV_GIA) November 25, 2020
BYU at 14? College football is a joke.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) November 25, 2020
BYU fans rn pic.twitter.com/uxQXnafgj7
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 25, 2020
The CFB Playoff Selection Committee has BYU 14th. Can catch loser of Big12 title game, but can get passed by #15 Oregon. Cincinnati is 7th. Not sure why the Bearcats will want to play the Cougars.
— David James (@DavidDJJames) November 25, 2020
BYU is not being ranked low for their strength of schedule. BYU is being ranked low because they are BYU.
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) November 25, 2020
BYU #14…
Wow.— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 25, 2020
Multiple ESPN personnel are basically accusing the CFP committee of not even watching BYU play. I think it’s pretty clear they didn’t.
— CougarStats (@CougarStats) November 25, 2020
College Football Playoff Rankings — Nov. 24
1. Alabama (7-0)
2. Notre Dame (8-0)
3. Clemson (7-1)
4. Ohio State (4-0)
5. Texas A&M (5-1)
6. Florida (6-1)
7. Cincinnati (8-0)
8. Northwestern (5-0)
9. Georgia (5-2)
10. Miami (7-1)
11. Oklahoma (6-2)
12. Indiana (4-1)
13. Iowa State (6-2)
14. BYU (9-0)
15. Oregon (3-0)
16. Wisconsin (2-1)
17. Texas (5-2)
18. USC (3-0)
19. UNC (6-2)
20. Coastal Carolina (8-0)
21. Marshall (7-0)
22. Auburn (5-2)
23. Oklahoma State (5-2)
24. Iowa (3-2)
25. Tulsa (5-1)
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