BYU ranked No. 9 in 1st CFP rankings; Oregon, Georgia, Miami also in playoff top 4

PROVO — Let the politicking begin.

In the first reveal of the College Football Playoff rankings — revealed, perhaps ironically, on election night in the United States — BYU entered the discussion at No. 9 in the premiere unveiling by the 13-member playoff committee that will decide the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

Because BYU is currently projected as the highest-rated Big 12 team and (presumed) conference champion, the Cougars (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) would earn a top-four seed and bye to the playoff quarterfinals.

Oregon (9-0) was rated No. 1, followed by Ohio State (7-1), Georgia (7-1) and Miami (9-0).

For BYU, it's the highest-ever CFP ranking in BYU history, surpassing the No. 12 national ranking set Nov. 30, 2021 — but also five spots behind No. 4 Miami, one of the presumed top-four conference champions (ACC) along with BYU (Big 12), Oregon (Big Ten) and Georgia (SEC).

CFP selection committee chair Warde Manuel, the athletic director at Michigan, said during a conference call Tuesday night with media that Miami earned the nod because of its "offensive prowess," and "impressive" wins over Louisville, Florida and Cal compared to BYU's wins over SMU and Kansas State.

"It really came down to more of an eye test as it related to looking at both teams," he said, "and the committee as we ranked them saw them in that fashion, and it came out in that order."

Texas was fifth and Penn State sixth, ahead of No. 7 Tennessee and No. 8 Indiana, which Manuel praised for its "dominance" and consistent double-digit victories as reasoning for ranking it just ahead of the Cougars.

No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 11 Alabama followed BYU, followed by Boise State at No. 12 and the top Group of Five rating with a shot at winning the Mountain West.

Manuel pointed to Penn State's "back-and-forth" loss to No. 2 Ohio State, as well as wins over Illinois, USC and West Virginia, as key differentiators to promoting the Nittany Lions over BYU (and others).

"I just think Penn State, in terms of their body of work, came to the ranking of Penn State and 6 and Tennessee at 7," he said.

So was BYU disrespected?

"Indiana's strength of schedule is not as strong as BYU's, but what Indiana has done on the field is win by double digits, averaging 33 points per game more than their opponents," Manuel told ESPN. "They're solid on both sides, offensively and defensively. They're just a really great team, and so is BYU."

The Cougars are one of seven teams nationally with wins over two top-25 teams, a list that also includes SMU — which lost to BYU 18-15 back on Sept. 6, the second week of the season. The Mustangs (8-1) are ranked No. 13, which would be the first team outside the field of 12 and just ahead of No. 13 Texas A&M.

"If I'm BYU, I'm a little frustrated with how things have shaken out," said ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McIlroy on the television reveal. "I just feel like them being at No. 9, four spots behind teams with no wins even close to what they have accomplished (in Tennessee and Penn State) and a couple of losses that they don't have, to me, would be remarkably frustrating."

BYU is the lone Big 12 team in the top 12, though three other programs from the conference are ranked inside the top 20. That includes No. 17 Iowa State (7-1), No. 19 Kansas State (7-2) and No. 20 Colorado (6-2)

BYU will continue the 2024 season Saturday on the road against in-state rival Utah (8:15 p.m. MST, ESPN).

College Football Playoff rankings

Nov. 5, 2024

1. Oregon (9-0)
2. Ohio State (7-2)
3. Georgia (7-1)
4. Miami (9-0)
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pittsburgh (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)

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