BYU calls out CFP committee after snub, cites better metrics than counterparts
While the Miami Hurricanes are breathing a collective sigh of relief, the BYU Cougars are furious at their exclusion from the 12-team College Football Playoff field. After its Big 12 Championship loss to Texas Tech, BYU dropped from No. 11 to No. 12. The school expressed its frustration on social media.
Objectively, how do you defend this:
Miami (10–2)
– ESPN SOS: 45
– ESPN SOR: 14
– Did not play for a conference championship
– Losses: Two 8–4 teams (SMU, Louisville)BYU (11–2)
– ESPN SOS: 22
– ESPN SOR: 9
– Played in the Big 12 championship
– Losses: No. 4 Texas Tech on the…— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) December 7, 2025
Miami moved up from No. 12 to No. 10, passing Notre Dame and BYU despite not playing in a conference championship game. In the post, BYU laid out its resume in comparison to the two competitors, neither of which played over the weekend. The Cougars’ only two losses came to No. 4 Texas Tech, while the Hurricanes’ two defeats came against 8-4 teams in SMU and Louisville. Miami’s strength of schedule ranked 23 spots lower than BYU this season.
“We felt like the way BYU performed in their championship game, a second loss to Texas Tech in a similar fashion was worthy of Miami moving ahead of them in the rankings,” CFP chairman Hunter Yurachek said in an interview on ESPN’s selection show.
According to the committee, BYU appears to have been punished for a conference championship loss. That comes as Alabama lost in the SEC championship game 28-7 to Georgia but remained at its previous No. 9 position in the rankings. The Crimson Tide became the first three-loss team in CFP history.
BYU was one of eight power conference teams that won 11 games but the only one of those teams not to make the playoff field. After the second edition of the CFP rankings in November, then-committee chair Mack Rhoades had expressed that conference championship games were largely considered beneficial for CFP contenders.
“Yeah, for the committee, we look at it as a positive if you’re playing in the championship game,” Rhoades said on a call with the media. “It’s another data point. It’s certainly recognized when we think about record strength. Obviously, you win it, that’s a plus. If you lose it, theoretically, it’s not supposed to hurt you. Could it hurt you? If it was a game where it wasn’t competitive and you completely got blown away, then that would be a conversation, candidly, in the room amongst the committee.”
The Cougars fell 34-7 to the Red Raiders in their championship game, a slightly larger margin of defeat than Alabama’s 21-point loss to the Bulldogs. Both teams were beaten handily Saturday. But one team had its ranking affected, and the other didn’t.
In advance of the 2025 season, the CFP committee revealed that it would be making changes to its strength-of-schedule evaluations. That included limiting penalties on losses to high-level opponents. Texas Tech was ranked No. 4 in both of BYU’s defeats. Meanwhile, Alabama’s first loss came to eventual 5-7 Florida State by a score of 31-17.
BYU’s 21 combined wins over the last two seasons have not been enough to give the program its first CFP bid yet. The Cougars agreed to a long-term contract extension with head coach Kalani Sitake last week but will be forced to watch the Playoff from the sidelines.
