CFP rankings 2026: BYU ranks #9 in first playoff rankings

· Yahoo Sports

PROVO, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Kalani Sitake of the BYU Cougars looks at the jumbotron during a review during the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

The first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings were unveiled Tuesday and BYU debuted at 9, two spots below where they are in the AP Poll. Utah is ranked 3, setting up a top 10 matchup this weekend. One of the biggest differences with the AP Poll was Notre Dame at 11, 7 spots lower than their AP ranking. The CFP committee clearly sent a signal that Notre Dame’s lack of top 25 wins overshadowed other metrics and how they looked on the field. Other Big 12 teams ranked included Texas Tech (14), Houston (17), and Arizona (22). BYU has ranked wins over Arizona and Notre Dame.

Saturday’s game at Utah almost feels like a CFP elimination game for BYU. A win over the Utes would put BYU in a great position to get an at-large CFP bid, but a loss would just about knock BYU out of the Big 12 title race and require some fortune to get back in the top 11 and in position for a CFP bid.

According to FanDuel, BYU has the 14th best odds to make the CFP at +160.

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