Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark “surprised” by BYU’s low CFP ranking despite undefeated record

CINCINNATI – When the College Football Playoff selection committee unveiled the first batch of this year’s rankings on Tuesday, BYU quickly became a major topic of conversation. The undefeated Cougars enter this weekend 8-0 and alone atop the Big 12 standings, but were ranked No. 9 by the CFP selection committee despite a pair of top-25 wins over No. 13 SMU and No. 19 Kansas State classified. Five of the eight teams ranked ahead of BYU enter this weekend with a loss.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark joined the chorus of voices wondering why BYU wasn’t given more respect in the first rankings.

“I was a little surprised,” Yormark said The athlete. “I just want to make sure people don’t focus on the logo on the helmet, but rather on the resume and performance of the team.”

Yormark was in attendance at Saturday’s game between West Virginia and Cincinnati as the Bearcats celebrated the 100th anniversary of Nippert Stadium. BYU plays in the Holy War rivalry game at Utah on Saturday night.

“If you think about BYU specifically, I would say they should have been a little higher (as No. 9 in the CFP rankings),” Yormark said shortly before kickoff in Cincinnati. “BYU had two great wins against top 25 schools and a really impressive one against SMU on the road trip I was there. But they have to keep winning and earning their way, and I think they will do that.”

BYU won 18-15 at SMU in a non-conference matchup earlier in the season when neither team was ranked and the Cougars held the Mustangs without a touchdown. A few weeks later, BYU defeated Kansas State 38-9, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season. BYU ranks fourth among FBS programs in ESPN’s record strength data, behind only Georgia, Oregon and Miami, and has better quality wins than fellow unbeatens Indiana (No. 8) and Miami (No. 4), which sparked a debate this week about whether “helmet bias” and BYU’s lesser pedigree factored into the rankings.

“I have a lot of confidence in the selection committee that (BYU gets the attention it deserves),” Yormark said when asked what might have lowered BYU’s place in the rankings. “This was only the first week of the rankings. I’m optimistic about our conference and where our schools will end up at the end of the regular season.”

Despite being ranked No. 9, BYU was projected to finish No. 4 in the newly expanded 12-team playoff bracket as it is the fourth-seed team currently atop the conference standings.

The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically receive a spot in the playoffs, with the four highest-ranked receiving a first-round bye. No. 12 Boise State is projected to be the fifth-seed league champion; The Broncos (7-1) are currently tied for first place in the Mountain West, and their only loss was a last-second field goal against top-ranked Oregon.

Aside from BYU, the Big 12’s chances of sending multiple teams to the 12-team playoffs were hurt last weekend by losses by Kansas State and previously unbeaten Iowa State to unranked opponents. Iowa State (7-1 overall, 4-1 in the Big 12) is the league’s second-ranked team at No. 17 in the CFP poll and is currently outside of the seven playoff bids. The Cyclones entered Saturday tied for second place in the league with No. 20 Colorado (6-2 overall, 4-1 in the Big 12).

“At the beginning of the season we wanted to have two teams in the playoffs. We felt like this was going to be a good year for the Big 12, and I’m still very confident that we can do that,” said Yormark, who noted that 14 of the conference’s 16 teams are still competing this weekend Moving into the Big 12, 12 fought for the title game.

“If someone comes into the (Big 12) championship with a loss or no loss, they should definitely be considered for a CFP spot,” Yormark said. “A lot has to happen between now and December 7th, but I think we’re chasing two chances.”

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Yormark also acknowledged the additional attention generated by Colorado and two-way star Travis Hunter, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Colorado plays at Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon.

“Travis is a special player and the country sees that. He deserves the Heisman as much as anyone,” Yormark said. “He has a great teammate in (quarterback) Shedeur (Sanders) who is also worthy. Luckily, Big 12 players are part of the conversation.”

(Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images)